Dec 29, 2014

The Rewards, Challenges and Inevitability of e-Commerce

Not only must businesses create and implement mobile platforms, they must also sufficiently manage those platforms to ensure they are constantly optimized in a way that meets customer expectations through all or most devices.

Smartphones have turned city navigation into a near hazardous experience. How you ask? Well, just walking along a sidewalk is bound to earn you a few bumps and bruises, as hurried passerby’s, engrossed with their mobile devices blindly rush by. Smartphones have made their way into our daily, scratch that, hourly lives. They are the proverbial Robins to our Batman selves, always available and ready to help. A handy little personal assistant- who could turn that down? Who would? And so we carry on, tolerating the little run-ins we encounter with people who cannot tear their attention away from their phones.

Pedestrians however, aren’t the only ones to have noticed the smartphone saturation and likewise, they aren’t the only ones making an effort to accommodate this evolution in culture. Studies show that more ecommerce transactions are being processed than ever before. While commuting, working, exercising, eating, you name it, busy little fingers everywhere are tapping away at their phones to source, compare and purchase products and services. Savvy business owners have increasingly taken note and risen to the occasion, supplementing their websites with mobile sites and applications in an effort to capitalize upon the growing ecommerce market. In fact, for many companies, mobile site traffic is beginning to surpass that of their original webpage, and according to digital analytics provider Comscore, 78% of mobile-based searches for a local business or product do result in a physical sale. That’s a compelling statistic for businesses wishing to remain competitive in a digital world.

To simply create mobile sites and applications aren’t enough however. The world has certainly gone digital, but the scope of that technology is constantly changing. Not only must businesses create and implement mobile platforms, they must also sufficiently manage those platforms to ensure they are constantly optimized in a way that meets customer expectations through all or most devices.

Security is another factor that has increasingly become a concern. It used to be that stores were worried about being beguiled by forged checks and fake hundred dollar bills. The rise of ecommerce has led to a completely new dimension where an enterprise must be a mindful of their own loss potential as well as that of their customer. Transactions taking place online must be accomplished in a highly secured environment, to avoid any interception of a consumer’s financial information. If a breach should occur, the cost it could have on a company is significant.

While it has its own set of challenges, there is no denying the positive effect a good mobile experience can have for a business. Consumers love to shop and that enthusiasm, coupled with the endearment for all things mobile is shaping up to be the future.

(Omnie Solutions is an enterprise application development company providing custom web and enterprise mobile application development services to global business. Omnie Solutions has extensive experience and expertise in app development for smart gadgets like Google Glass and smart watches. Follow Omnie Solutions on Facebook, LinkedIn , and Google+ for technology updates).

Dec 22, 2014

Enterprise Technology in the New Year-2015

Technology and business- the two are no longer mutually exclusive. Once upon a time, a company who had no immediate dealings in tech (say for instance, a pet store) didn’t need to concern itself with technology except perhaps to own and operate a POS system. These days however, it is becoming more and more of a necessity for business owners to produce and manage a solid digital existence. Not only does it provide access to a significantly broader range of consumers, but also, online and mobile connectivity enables businesses to stay competitive in a new era of digital consumption.

Of course, technology is not stationary. It is an amazingly adaptive and evolutionary field, with advancements in its discipline constantly being unveiled. This year alone saw the revelation of 3D printers, the advancement of the Cloud and the competition of wearable tech. With 2015 right around the corner, here’s a look at some of the business tech trends the experts are forecasting.

Mobile Banking and Payment- Apple may have put the term NFC at the tip of everybody’s tongue this year, but truthfully, Near Field Communication has been around and nearing great heights for a while now. With a record number of participating mobile devices and vendors, we can expect to see a sharp rise in mobile pay and banking.

Big Data gets Refined- The Introduction of High Speed Analytics, as well as Big Data as a Service will serve to filter excessive amounts of data, resulting in a larger pool of more relevant information.


 Mobile Applications for Enterprise Operations- Businesses are already wisely tapping into the Ecommerce market share with dedicated mobile apps. A different side of every business however is their operations management. Day to day functions like purchasing, logistics and sales will be receiving more dedicated apps then ever.

Augmented Reality Applications- The future is here, folks! Similar to Yelps monocle, AR Apps will allow users to point their smartphone in any direction to receive guided information on product locations. Say you’re in the market for sneakers- an AR App will quickly show where you can find them in your vicinity!

Never before has the relationship between business and technology been so profound! The opportunities created for both the company and consumer are numerous and exciting. If you’re a business owner, make sure you’re partnered with the right tech solution company so your business remains at the lucrative forefront of innovation!

Dec 19, 2014

‘Google My Business’ App Has Potential to Change India’s SMB’s

"India is a strategic market for Google and we are committed to invest in solutions that cater to the needs of SMBs in India."

These were the words of Suryanarayana Kodukulla, Head of Google Small and Medium Business Sales. His speech was given in the wake of Google’s latest application, titled “Google My Business".

The App was designed to create a simplified way for business owners to forge and manage an online presence for their companies. Available on both desktop and mobile, the app allows small/medium sized business owners to easily update their profiles on the likes of Google+, Google Search and Maps, effectively building an online source of company information, even if the enterprise doesn’t have an actual website. Google My Business brings together all of the ways Google can help your business shine in one, easy-to-use location.



India’s Internet market has risen astonishingly in the past few years, with a growth rate that has been more than doubling itself on a consistent basis. Currently, the country ranks third in the global Internet market and is projected to overtake the second position from China within a year.

Despite the number of Internet consumers however, the country still shows a disconnect between SMB owners and the need for mobile development. In fact, out of 48 million SMB in India, only five to six percent of those businesses have a functioning website.

Acknowledging this deficiency, Kodukulla stated “Globally, over two million businesses use Google’s advertising platform to find potential buyers on Internet. We have very ambitious plans of bringing down the barriers that inhibits SMBs in India from embracing the Internet."

Available in both Hindi and English, the 'Google My Business' App is poised to be one of the stepping-stones towards greater digital efficiency in India’s flourishing Internet and SMB economy.

Dec 17, 2014

Microsoft Now Accepting Payments Through Bitcoins

Microsoft one of the popular multinational corporation that influences world’s computing infrastructure with its Windows OS. Microsoft is heading towards opening up new payment options for its users. It is a good news for all the Microsoft product users. It has now started to accept Bitcoin payments on its Windows, Windows Phone and Xbox stores.


Bitcoin a digital currency, which can be created and held electronically. Bitcoins aren’t printed, like dollars or euros. This is an example of a growing category of money which is known as cryptocurrency. Bitcoin can help you exchange money in a different way than with usual banks. The Bitcoin virtual cash is based on a complicated math and cryptography system issuing unique ‘virtual coins’. The ‘mining’ process for the global Bitcoin community generates codes for new Bitcoins, which are limited to a finite quantity.

It has now started to accept Bitcoin online for its digital products. At present this is live in America only. It can now fund Microsoft/Windows Live or XBox Live accounts using Bitcoin, at the current exchange rate. Once this Bitcoin acceptance is fully operational worldwide then various businesses and end users can pay for services such as Azure or even Windows Phone apps.

By using this cryptocurrency, Bitcoin helps its users to add money to a Microsoft account in order to buy apps, games and other digital content from its various online stores. Microsoft also confirmed that the payment via Bitcoin may not be smooth one at present. It is advised that the Bitcoin transactions are expected to process immediately, however it may take upto two hours at times. It is to be noted that the money added to Bitcoin cannot be refunded. This service can only be used with Bitcoin payment processor such as BitPay, noted Coindesk.

With this move, now Microsoft has joined the long list of other companies who have started to offer Bitcoin options. Take for example BitPay is used by over 44,000 businesses and organizations, which includes PayPal, electronics retailer Newegg and space tourism company Virgin Galactic.

However Microsoft’s involvement with Bitcoin began in February 2014, when company’s Bing search engine was modified to let its users generate Bitcoin price conversions. Let’s wait for the moment when this payment option would be open in other countries for Microsoft users also.

(Omnie Solutions is a Microsoft partner enterprise application development company that provide custom web and enterprise mobile application development services to global business. Follow Omnie Solutions on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn for technology updates)

Dec 11, 2014

Skype and Lync – Now Microsoft Enables Video Calling

These days be it for office or personal use a better and easy source of communication across varied platforms is very much important to make our life easy. Skype owned by Microsoft is the telecommunication application software that provides video chat and voice calls from computers, tablets and or any mobile device to other devices.

Skype has made it easy for its users to make communication by voice by the use of a microphone, video or instant messaging over the Internet. The calls from Skype-to-Skype are free of charge.

Lync has the feature of providing a consistent, single client experience through instant messaging, voice, video and meetings for increasing the business productivity which is now owned by Fortune Global 100 companies.

Last year, it was announced by Microsoft that Skype and Lync customers all over the globe can now be connected to each other across these platforms. Such connectivity between Lync-Skype helped its users to reach to a broader network of colleagues, partners and customers hence letting the connection between various organizations of all sizes easy. Also last year it was announced that Lync users can now do instant messaging, audio calling to the users on Skype. But now this year the feature of video calling between the Lync and Skype has been added.

Now recently this news was announced by Microsoft that it has now merged communication between Skype and Lync.

The users who are using an updated version of both Skype and the Office app Lync can now make video calls to one another and it is not mandatory that they should use the same app. Now whether you make call from Lync or Skype the other user can receive it on both the applications and vice versa.

It is however to be noted that the video calling feature is only available on the Windows platform, and on Windows 7 and later. Microsoft made it clear that soon other platforms will get the ability to do conference with Lync users, by starting with Android and iOS in the next few months.

Microsoft has planned to release a latest version of Lync in 2015 by the name of Skype for Business.

This is supposed to be a better-behaved app which can be minimized when you are using another application on the PC. With the added feature of simple call transferring, which can help you to send a caller to someone else on Skype or Lync.

Hope this merger of Skype and Lync provides its users much more convenient way of interaction which in turn will lead to better business communication resulting into overall business growth all across the globe.

(Omnie Solutions is an enterprise application development company providing custom web and enterprise mobile application development services to global business. Omnie Solutions has extensive experience and expertise in app development for smart gadgets like Google Glass. Follow Omnie Solutions on Facebook, Google+ and LinkedIn for technology updates).

Dec 1, 2014

You Might Be Losing Your Business If Your Website is not Mobile Friendly


Google is trying every possible ways to enhance its search result quality and provide most of the information about the websites which appear in search results. Google is continuously updating its algorithm to make its search results better as per demands.

As technology is changing very fast and time has become very crucial factor for everyone. Internet and mobile has completely changed the landscape of communication and business. Internet has broken the barrier of distance and opened the door for globalization and mobile has broken the barrier of time gap. And Google has broken the barrier of searching information globally.

Combination of Internet, Mobile and search engine is playing crucial role in our life. Searching information has become easy through these technologies. Smartphone users are increasing day by day and searches on mobile phone also growing continuously.

Google, as we know that, is the most popular mobile search engine globally and widely used for searching the information on internet. To make search result more user friendly, Google recently announced a new feature for mobile searches which will help users to find mobile device compatible websites or results. Sometimes it happens with users when they tap on a Google search result on their mobile phone, they land on a page where the page text is too small, links are tiny, and they have to scroll sideways to see all the content. This usually happens when the website is not optimized to be viewed on a mobile phone. This can be a frustrating experience for mobile users. To resolve such type of issues, Google has just started adding ‘’mobile friendly’’ label to mobile search results to make it easier for people to find the information that they are looking for.


Google is stated that a page is eligible for the “mobile friendly” if it meets the following criteria as detected by Googlebot;

  • Avoids software that is not common on mobile devices, like Flash
  • Uses text that is readable without zooming
  • Sizes content to the screen so users don't have to scroll horizontally or zoom
  • Places links far enough apart so that the correct one can be easily tapped

If you want to make sure that your site pages meet the mobile-friendly criteria go through with the following tools and suggestions provided by Google:


Google see these labels as a first step in helping mobile users to have a better mobile web experience and also experimenting with using the mobile-friendly criteria as a ranking signal.

If your business is search engine centric then it might get affected directly or indirectly by this change. Your website will receive less clicks in search results if it is not mobile friendly. It has become essential for a business to optimise their website for mobile device to gain competitive advantage. It’s just starting and we hope Google will come with more such updates to make mobile search user experience better.

(Omnie Solutions is an enterprise application development company providing custom web and enterprise mobile application development services to global business. Omnie Solutions has extensive experience and expertise in app development for smart gadgets like Google Glass. Follow Omnie Solutions on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn for technology updates).

Nov 28, 2014

Firefox Favors Yahoo in New Partnership

Some would say that the introduction of Google Chrome in 2008 was a direct conflict of interest to their ongoing relationship with Mozilla, with whom they had been the default search engine for four years. Now, as their tenth contractual year comes to a close, Mozilla has officially announced that they will not be renewing their relationship with Google, opting instead to sign a five-year deal with Yahoo.

Though the strain caused by Chrome (whose users now outnumber Firefox) seems clearly significant, Mozilla CEO Chris Beard insists that the severing of ties with Google is instead contributed to the pursuit of new competitive options, stating:

“Google has been the Firefox global default search engine since 2004. Our agreement came up for renewal this year, and we took this as an opportunity to review our competitive strategy and explore
our options. We are adopting a more local and flexible approach to increase choice and innovation on the Web, with new and expanded search partnerships by country.” – Mozilla CEO Chris Beard

Expanded partnerships by country indeed! Though the United States will be switched to Yahoo, Firefox users in China will be routed to Baidu search and users in Russia will be directed to Yandex. Despite the changes, Mozilla has gone on record stating that all Firefox users will still have the option to choose Google as their default search engine.

Marissa Mayer, CEO of Yahoo expressed her excitement about the new deal, stating on her blog, “Mozilla is an inspirational industry leader who puts users first…This is the most significant partnership for Yahoo in five years and we’re so proud that Mozilla has chosen us as their long-term partner in search”.

The potential for Yahoo’s growth in the search market is as unlimited as it is needed, with the company currently only accounting for 10% of US searches. In an effort to accommodate their new partner, CEO Mayer has confirmed that Yahoo is creating a new search engine for Firefox that will feature a “clean and modern” design. The new look is scheduled for release early next year.

(Omnie Solutions is an enterprise application development company providing custom web and enterprise mobile application development services to global business. Omnie Solutions has extensive experience and expertise in app development for smart gadgets like Google Glass. Follow Omnie Solutions on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn for technology updates).

Nov 26, 2014

Apple Pay: Adaptation of Mobile Payment on The Rise


Gone are those days when we used to make payment by exchanging something in the form of materials like gold, etc. Technology is changing very fast and it’s making payment method easier day by day. Making payment via mobile device is in trend these days. We all know that mobile tech has completely changed our way of communication and business. A mobile device has become an essential part of our lives. In coming days it is for sure, we can’t imagine life without mobile phone.

Companies that are working in mobile industry are very much aware of the fact that there is much more new yet to emerge in the mobile. In coming days, with the advent of the internet of things age, mobile will be used as a key device to perform multiple tasks like checking if your home is closed or not, to close and shut down the car door and many more. Keeping this point in mind tech companies have introduced the method of making payment via a mobile device easier for users and businesses as well.

Although many companies are working on this technology but the leader in this field is Apple which has already created a buzz around this. Apple has provided as a feature called Apple Pay in its latest mobile operating system iOS 8.1. Users can use this feature on iPhone 6 which Apple had launched last month with support at over 220, 000 stores operated by participant merchants, including Apple stores, American Eagle, Aeropostale, Bloomingdale’s, Champs Sports, Chevron, McDonald’s, Nike, Office Depot, Radio Shack and Walgreens. Initially, number of supportive retailers is limited but now it continues to grow.

Many companies have gained maximum profit in the mobile payment. A recent information listed on New York Times, Whole Foods, the high-end grocery chain, said it had processed more than 150,000 Apple Pay transactions since this service started. Walgreens says its mobile payments have doubled, while McDonald's says that Apple Pay now makes up half of its tap-to-pay purchases.



Source: New York Times

From another source, users can use Apple Pay for parking and rent as well. Chicago-based start-up SpotHero updated its app earlier this week with support for Apple Pay mobile payments.

Other companies who provide same service like Google and Softcard said they have off course noticed an increase in the users due to increased awareness of tap-to-pay services.

Saying something about the future of Apple Pay is little bit tough but the way companies are seeing the increase in mobile payment it is for sure going to change the landscape of payment system.

Nov 19, 2014

Microsoft Makes Moves For the Future – Open Source and Cross Platform

Microsoft has been busy lately! The software giant has just released a string of new announcements marking the commencement of a few unexpected, but so far, very well received efforts.

Office 365 has long been Microsoft’s claim to fame, and through the years the company has diligently strived to keep that software at the forefront of the ever changing and evolutionary technology development industry. To that end, Microsoft has previously released Office mobile in an attempt to satiate markets outside of PCs.

Though Office mobile has been available for some time now, there have been distinct issues with the functionality and more specifically, the cohesiveness of the App. Previous criticisms of Office mobile pointed out that the programs were often wildly differentiated, making it difficult for consumers to adjust to the different platforms.

In response, Microsoft is endeavoring to improve Office’s mobile presence with the following:

- An Updated Office for iPad App

- New Office for iPhone Apps

- An Office for Android Tablets Preview


The new offerings are all available for free, and they are centered on retaining the loyalty of Office users, with the company’s VP, John Case, stating, “With Office on nearly every device, it’s incredibly important to us that customers have a consistent experience and the ability to do more- anywhere and everywhere…”

Also recently unveiled is Microsoft’s plan, in partnership with Mono, to open source.net, releasing it to the popular web hosting service, GitHub. This decision marks a departure from Microsoft’s previously exclusive nature, and it signals a changing tide in the way developers may choose to build their future applications. As a follow up to the release, Microsoft also plans to fully open source all of the .Net server stack, which would enable developers to build cloud applications on several platforms.

And if that were not enough, Microsoft has also revealed that they are in the midst of creating a brand new Visual Studio Community App. The tech empire has stated that this free edition will replace previous versions with its wider list of functionalities and claims that “…no matter the platform you are targeting or the app you are creating, Visual Studio…will help you be successful.”

Despite Microsoft’s obvious financial success, the brand has struggled intermittently with their popularity amongst consumers. Tell us, do you think the company’s latest strategic moves will help to turn the tide?

Nov 12, 2014

Not Just for War - Changing the Perception of Drones


Unfortunately, drones are probably most commonly associated with the nightmarish scenarios playing out on everyday news. Reports of violence and political turmoil seem to plague these sophisticated machines which is really quite an injustice considering how useful they can be. Fortunately, not all is lost on the potential surrounding drones, and now more than ever they are finding acceptance and purpose within everyday society. Drone applications are plentiful, and the enthusiasm surrounding their use is stemming from just about every angle imaginable! Here are some of the creative ways drones are being used for good:

Delivery

Amazon is reportedly clamoring to capitalize on this technology, launching efforts to create a drone doorstep delivery system. This ambitious goal would need to solve several roadblocks, like coordinating and gaining permission from the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) as well as extending the current battery life of the average drone. Even so, several companies seem up to the challenge, with big names like Google and Dominoes joining in on the drone delivery bandwagon!

Search and Rescue

SAR is a volunteer organization which is dedicated to search and rescue missions. The group passionately touts the lifesaving potential of drones, citing their video cameras and live feed capability. Capable of surveying large areas of land and reporting specific grid details, drones are also able to deliver crucial life support, like food and water. In addition, drones can theoretically be used to help alleviate the tremendous cost of a traditional search and rescue, which leaves a very large finance and resources footprint.

Photography & Video

Drones have opened up new doors in the creative and practical sides of photo and videography. Photographers, amateur and professional can both enjoy the benefits of an eye in the sky. It captures angles and moments that would have otherwise been missed, and this high tech photo op is becoming an increasingly favored feature at weddings and other memorable social events. The video and picture capability can also be used practically, as a diagnostic tool to help with home improvements and other large projects.

Recreation

Despite all its functionality, you can’t overlook the sheer “cool factor” of owning your very own drone. They have the same appeal as any RC gadget, but kind of on steroids. Racing and outmaneuvering other drones has become a popular hobby and even if racing isn’t your thing, casually flying a drone through the park while checking the live feed can be a lot of fun!

Interested in your own drone? It will still cost a pretty penny, but thanks to their popularity, there are affordable versions for those of us who just have to have our own! Have a look at below mentioned list of popular drones available in the market:

Storm Drone FF Flying Platform- $360.00

This fun drone boasts 9” x 4.7” rotors which helps steady the machine against wind. When equipped with a GoPro camera, it can record for up to seven minutes at a time and produce quality videos.

H-King Darkwing- $167.00

Living up to its name, the sleek design and lengthy wingspan of this drone is striking! Its construction is specifically meant for a stunning first-person viewing experience.

LaTrax Alias- $150.00

Beginners will find this manually operated drone to be a helpful introduction to flying. It’s durable construction means it won’t break easily and it’s still large enough to fit a small camera for the full drone experience!

Already own your own? We want to know- what do you use your drone for?

(Omnie Solutions is an enterprise application development company providing custom web and enterprise mobile application development services to global business. Omnie Solutions has implemented augmented reality based digital solution, 3D Digital Sand Model, for planning mission critical activities and monitoring the country borders on a 3 Dimensional Digital platform. Follow Omnie Solutions on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.)

Nov 6, 2014

FitBit’s Charge, Charge HR and Surge New Wearable Fitness Trackers to Lineup



Once upon a time, pedometers and good old-fashioned counting used to be the only options for tracking the amount of steps you took in a day. Of course, you’d probably appear a little “off” if you opted to use the latter approach; so most fitness buffs ultimately decided upon pedometers.

With the onset of wearable tech however, the humble pedometer began to see a lot of competition from smart wear, most commonly integrated into watch-like designs. Though there have been many companies and various designs that have been introduced to the market, one of the clearer standouts began to take hold of the industry in 2007.

Fitbit was founded on the idea that sensors and wireless technology had advanced to a point where it could make waves in fitness and health applications. With that vision they created a successful line of smart fitness bands that could not only count your steps, but also track your nutritional intake and sleeping patterns. The company scored a hit with their “Fitbit Force”, but a slight debacle ensued after the wristband caused allergic reactions, forcing the company to shelf their most popular product.

Now, Fitbit appears to be preparing for their comeback, as the company has slated three brand new models of wristbands for release. Whether you’re a Fitbit fan or just curious, here’s the scoop on their latest gear!

Charge

Essentially a reincarnation of the former “Force” line, the Fitbit Charge has retained the same design of its much-adored predecessor. It will log your activity and track your sleeping patterns, but the Charge will also provide workout summaries and send you message notifications. This new and improved model is the cheapest of the new lineup, and available for sale at affordable price $130.00. Oh, and this one promises not to leave welts on your skin.

Charge HR

While the Charge band is said to carry a battery life of seven hours, the Charge HR will only hold five. Everything boils down to opportunity cost however, because despite the HR’s shorter charge, this model offers both continuous heart rate monitoring and an attractive, alternative clasp that boosts the bands aesthetic considerably. Interested? You can purchase your very own Charge HR beginning early next year at a moderately priced $150.00.

Surge

For those who want it all, Fitbit has created Surge. Somewhat of a fitness band/smart watch hybrid, Surge will provide all the fitness, nutrition and sleeping capabilities the Charge and Charge HR has to offer, but it will also bump up the ante with advanced workout options. In addition, this model will contain smart watch extras like GPS and a customizable LCD face. Surge will also be made available early next year and it will cost roughly $250.00 to take one home.

So what do you think? Will Fitbit successfully overcome its mishap with their new trio of products? Tell us why or why not- we’d love to hear from you!

(Omnie Solutions is an enterprise application development company providing custom web and enterprise mobile application development services to global business. Omnie Solutions has extensive experience and expertise in app development for wearable devices like Google Glass and smart watches. Follow Omnie Solutions on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.)

Oct 31, 2014

7 Amazing New Features in iOS 8 You Need to Know

The release of Apple’s new operating system has unleashed a bevy of new features and updates in an ongoing effort to improving user experience. Subtle changes can have a major impact on functionality, and Apple’s improvements have aimed to do just that. Available as a free upgrade to iPhone’s 4s and newer, here’s some of what you can expect!

-Photos


Apple’s photos now have a comprehensive searching method that allows you to search by time, location, date or album. You can even use a smart search function by entering keywords that pertain to the photo you are looking for.

Advanced editing features allow greater photo manipulation, as you can choose to manually adjust settings like brightness or shadowing.

-Typing



It’s been long overdue really. iPhone has not messed with the functionality of its keyboard since pretty much its conception. They have finally stepped it up a notch with the introduction of typing predictions that are so advanced it can even differentiate between the contacts you are messaging and adjust its predictions accordingly.

-Messaging


Now, a simple swipe or tap to your phone can easily send image, audio and video files. It is also possible to mute and exit group conversations, as well as quickly send locator maps to an acquaintance you are meeting. No more dreaded repetition by having to reenter an address into a search engine!

-Health Application



One of the proud revelations at this year’s Apple reveal, Home Kit will be available on iPhone’s 5s or newer! Installed motion processors get to use the new Apple Health App, which logs physical activity.

-Apple Pay



Another innovative reveal this year was Apple’s mobile payment system, called Apple Pay. An upgrade to iOS 8 system means you can start using this convenient wireless payment method on the iPhone 6 or 6 plus.

-Sharing


In a generous move by Apple, the new Family Sharing Feature allows a user to share pretty much any of their iTunes purchases, like books or movies with users they have approved.

-iCloud Drive



Similar to Google Drive or Dropbox, the iCloud Drive allows you to browse, edit and share files across different Apple Devices. Mac users beware however! You’ll have to wait until the OS X Yosemite operating system update is released later this year.

With such a diverse range of upgrades it’s kind of hard to choose our favorite (Although a speedier typing experience thanks to predictions is a definite contender). What are you most looking forward to, and why?

(Omnie Solutions is an enterprise application development company providing custom web and enterprise mobile application development services for leading mobile platforms like iOS, Android, and Rim to global business. Follow Omnie Solutions on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn).

Oct 29, 2014

Artificial Intelligence and Email- A Good Idea?

It could probably be reasoned that anyone over the age of say, twenty-one could use a personal assistant. Truthfully, the same could be said for people under that bracket as well, but it doesn’t count because they’ve already got assistants- they’re called parents, duh! For the rest of us however, it’s pretty safe to say that mom and dad aren’t calling to remind us about deadlines and responsibilities (darn it!). And unless you’ve reached the status where you’re actually afforded an assistant, managing our day-to-day lives is really a solo act, isn’t it? For now, maybe.

A Palo-Alto based company by the name of Robin Labs has announced the onset of a new Android application called Less.Mail. The premise is that the App utilizes artificial intelligence to help you manage and respond to your emails. An intriguing video released by the company shows a user going about his everyday tasks as Less.Mail voice alerts and reads incoming messages aloud. The user then issues a simple command, such as “No, thanks- but please decline politely”. Less.Mail proceeds to draft a polite rejection email, which it presents to the user for approval before issuing the final response.

See the video here:



Both the potential and potential drawbacks are clearly seen here. If the AI is as advanced as Robin Labs has made it appear to be, it could be a huge convenience for professionals and students everywhere. As it’s been demonstrated in the video, being able to respond to your emails while en route to your destination would be an obvious time saver.

Of course, the flip side to that equation is equally known to anyone who has ever been a victim of auto-correct’s well-intentioned, but ultimately flawed services. At the end of the day, could a machine really be trusted to accurately convey your messages? Especially when those messages are addressed to, oh, I don’t know- your boss?

Despite that sobering comparison, Robin Labs is confident that Less.Mail will work optimally. The company’s CEO Ilya Eckstein has reasoned that “Approximately 80% of our emails are routine”, which clearly indicates that the program can adequately adapt to and generate accurate responses due to recurring themes.

At this point, the App is available by invite only. If you agree with Eckstein’s logic, and you’d like to take Less.Mail for a spin, you can apply for an invite here: http://robingets.me/lessmail/

If you’re a skeptic, or Elon Musk, hang back while others test the accuracy of Less.Mail’s AI first. The reviews will surely pour in soon enough!

Sep 16, 2014

How Internet of Things (IOT) is Reshaping the World




After social media, it’s time for internet of things which helps devices to connect to each other virtually. Difference between both is that in social media people are getting connected and in internet of things devices will be connected. Gartner list internet of things (IOT) is one of the top ten strategic technology trends in 2014. Business Insider estimates that nine billion devices will soon be connected to the internet. IOT is reshaping the world in following ways.

Better connected world

From a source, research shows that by 2020, there will be 8 billion people on earth and 50 billion connected things with 5 million apps, representing nearly 6 things per person. It is estimated that by 2035 there will be around 1 trillion connected things with 100 million apps.

By the connected world we mean to say it will be easier to access and share information. For example; suppose you are on the way to somewhere and the road on your route gets damaged due to some unforeseen conditions. Then with this new technology communication link will be developed between your car and the road via cloud hence informing you about the condition of road. For example, in future it is expected that the morning routine is going to be slightly different all credit goes to Internet of Things technology. Your alarm may ring up earlier than usual time indicating some traffic jam on your route. If you are allergic and you decide to wear a suit with sensors to detect the air quality. So with the IOT you may be warned about some high pollen count in air which could otherwise unnecessarily trigger an attack.

Better manageability

With the introduction of this connected world technology, people can now manage things easily. Our home, Car, and other things will be connected to each other and people will now be able to manage all things through their mobile phones.

Big data for making things better

Internet of Things technology will help industries to gather huge information as everything will be connected through internet via cloud. This information can then be used to understand the consumer behaviour by using data to make things better. For example; in medical industry the data collected from various sources can be used to understand the type of diseases and provide better care to the patients. Businesses can make use of the data collected via cloud by using internet of things technology to improve marketing practices and also quality of their products.

New opportunities

Internet of Things is totally a new concept and a big trend. It is not only going to transform the way things are communicating with each other but will also create numerous better opportunities. For example; IOT will bring the new opportunity for app development companies to create varied apps for internet enabled devices. In future it is for sure that as the internet of things will be on rise it will surely demand new apps and platforms alongwith new mobile devices.

It will not be false to say that those days are not far away when we will be living in a world where each and everything in our surrounding will be connected and also interact with each other and make our earth a smart planet.

[Image credited: Ocean Data System]

(Omnie Solutions is an enterprise application development company providing custom web and enterprise mobile application development services to global business. Omnie Solutions has extensive experience and expertise in app development for smart gadgets like Google Glass. Follow Omnie Solutions on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn for technology updates).