eastpointsoftware

 
A  survey by Ofcom has revealed that the majority of people in the UK   prefer to go online using their mobile phone ahead of laptops, tablets,   and desktop computers.

 It's the first time the survey has put smartphones on top, with laptops being the most popular previously.

 How important is mobile app development?

 So what does this mean for websites? If more people are viewing   websites and apps on their mobile, should development be prioritising   mobile-specific designs?

 Our feeling is that the survey shows that mobile should, when   applicable, always be an option, but that it's often best alongside more   traditional software development.

 People preferring mobile doesn't mean laptops are not being used.   Think of your own browsing habits. Do you reach for your mobile most of   the time all things considered, but prefer to make purchases on a  laptop  or desktop?

  That is certainly the case for me. While I would have to pick mobile   for preferred device due to the amount of times a day I check emails and   new websites, I much prefer using my huge desktop monitor to view   websites. I would appreciate a mobile friendly website, but I also want   to be greedy and be able to see desktop designs and tablet-sized   websites too.

 But  even so, for certain areas, mobile development is the way to go.  You  don't necessarily need to 'cover all bases' and it very much depends  on  your target consumers/users, as well as budget.

 What now for desktop development?

 The survey shows a decline in website browsing via a desktop computer   as a preferred method, which is to be expected. How many people do you   know who still fire up a desktop pc at home?

 But there are other factors to consider. Mostly, that checking your   phone to check something like a news headline is fine, but often people   will want a larger screen to do anything more involved. A lot of people   will still have desktop computers at work, and view websites via a   standard monitor while browsing on lunch breaks.

 In terms of web design, desktop and laptop are covered by the same   scale design, so although less people prefer desktops, plenty of people   still use it, and plenty still prefer laptops. So a regular   “desktop/laptop” design (ie, the usual full size website or application)   should still be your first port of call in many situations.

 The most important thing is to offer choice when possible, and take into account what will work best in specific circumstances.

Navigating web and mobile development – what should I get?

 We always help our clients understand the pros and cons of creating   apps for different devices and, with their input, weigh up what is best   for them.

 If a  client has a budget in mind, we make our suggestions for what we  think  might be a good starting point based on that budget, and how to  reach  the most people in the best way, for their spend.

 About us – Mobile Apps Development in Cambridge, London and UK:

 Eastpoint Software Web and Mobile App Developers and Development Company Cambridge, London and UK.   Our team has decades of experience and are always striving to learn  and  stay up to date, to give our clients the best possible mobile app   development.

  Visit us:  https://www.eastpoint.co.uk/Mobile-Apps/
https://www.eastpoint.co.uk/Mobile-Apps/

Why develop a mobile app?

Use of mobile devices is set to overtake desktop for accessing   websites . Think about how often you use your phone, or you see other   people using theirs. It's common to use your mobile to browse websites, search for information and make purchases.

A mobile app enhances the user experience further and achieves a   greater engagement with your users. Often a mobile app offers features   that a mobile web site (or web app) isn't capable of because it can have  greater access to the mobile device's hardware (such as GPS, camera and  microphone).

Planning:

Thorough understanding of what you want and ensure we've got all the information that we need to design a solution to meet that.

Design and user experience:

We will look at who your app needs to appeal to, and be appropriate   for, the intended audience. It needs to be consistent with existing   branding where applicable.

Development:

Creating the working product based on those things using our   experience with various technologies to devise and develop a solution.

Testing:
We make sure that what we've produced is what we set out to produce, and ensure it all works correctly on varied device types.

We like automated and manual testing, making sure that where possible   we have automated tests to cover the design functionality, backed up   with the manual testing. You can't beat a human set of eyes looking at   it.

Support, analysis and improvement:

We'll work to ensuring that product continues to perform in the way that it's expected long after the product is launched.

Long term support for mobile apps is key to it's success as new   devices and device updates often change the underlying systems which   could otherwise harm performance of the application.

And as user uptake of your application grows, we'll work with you to   collect and analyse information about usage and help to guide design   changes and enhancements.

We like to maintain relationships with clients over the years,   supporting systems, offering advice, and remaining a part of the   project.

Native, web and hybrid apps:

There are options for type of mobile app you can build, depending on how you want it to be used.

A native app is specific to, for example, Android or iOS (Apple).   Generally, the result is slicker and perhaps better access to things   such as accelerator, camera, location, because it has built   specificially for that device.

Mobile web apps are applications run via a website, and can be seen in the browser on your mobile phone.

A hybrid app is a HTML5, CSS and Javascript web application (the same   technology used for normal websites), that is then adapted to be used   on various devices. Hybrid apps are installed in the same way (through   App Store or Play Store), so depending on the features and/or design the  user may never be aware of the difference. Hybrid apps do have some   limitations, but they have the benefit of being much quicker to develop and deploy to different devices types.

Eastpoint Software Mobile Application Development Company in UK, London and Cambridge.  We have offices in Cambridge and London, and are based in Cambridge.   Our office is at the Hauser Forum, do come and meet us to discuss   projects. Get in touch with us at info@eastpoint.co.uk or, as Blondie   would say, call me on 01223 690164.

Visit us: https://www.eastpoint.co.uk/Mobile-Apps/

As we've discussed before, mobile phone apps can be created for Android, iOS (iPhones etc), or both, as well as for other (less used) devices. When building an app this is a fundamental question, and a decision you will likely make early on in the project. Should I build my app for iPhone or Android?
 
What are the statistics – which is most used?
 
As we've discussed before, mobile phone apps can be created for Android, iPhone, or both, as well as for other (less used) devices.
 
In the UK, both Android and iOS are popular, but slightly more people are on Android. It is understood to have overtaken iOS devices in 2012.
 
So pick Android then?
 
Maybe, although there are other factors to consider. Android is used over a huge variety of devices and brands. So in theory, that's a huge amount of devices to test. In reality, just like with iPhone, you can chose which devices you want to make your app available to.
 
It doesn't mean it can't be used on other devices, it just means you are not marketing your app as supported/tested on all phone, just specific ones.
 
Obviously, if you already know your target market closely, or perhaps have a customer that has already explained that the app will be used on iPads, your decision is made for you.
 
Are iPhone apps or Android apps cheaper to develop?
 
Let assume you're picking between either a purely iPhone or Android app (ie, you're doing one or the other only). Is one cheaper to develop than the other?
 
You would probably expect the app development to be roughly the same. However, resources needing for testing can be different. There are a finite iPhones and iPads to test on within the Apple brand.
 
Android is used over a huge variety of devices and brands. So in theory, that's a huge amount of devices to test. In reality, just like with iPhone, you chose which devices you want to make your app available to. It doesn't mean it can't be used on other devices, it just means you are not marketing your app as supported/tested on all phone, just specific ones.
 
Is there a way to build one app and adapt it to suit both Android and iOS?
 
Yes, there is. The benefits are clear – reach more people for less money. The downside is that, since the app needs to work across two platforms, there will most likely be some compromise involved.
 
There more about this in our previous article about hybrid apps, plus some more on Android and iOS.
Other types of app:
 
While iOS and Android are the most popular systems that apps are built for, others include Blackberry and Microsoft.
 
We are Eastpoint Software iOS and Android Mobile Apps Development Services Company Cambridge, London and UK. Our clients, and prospective clients, often ask about the benefits of developing an app in Android or iOS (iOS is also known as Apple or iPhone). Other options include Windows apps and Blackberry apps (although I would say less people enquire about those). If you have any questions and are looking for mobile app development, please give us a call on 01223 690164 or Mail Us info@eastpoint.co.uk. Our tech team love building apps, and are keen to take on new projects.
 
 
Visit us:  https://www.eastpoint.co.uk/Mobile-Apps/

 
Our clients, and prospective clients, often ask about the benefits of developing an app in Android or iOS (iOS is also known as Apple or iPhone). Other options include Windows apps and Blackberry apps (although I would say less people enquire about those).
 
So those are some of the devices you can build apps for, and deciding which device type to target depends on your audience and your requirements.
 
If you're finding it difficult to narrow it down, to start off with, think of it like this:
 
Do I want a native app or a hybrid app?
 
This means – do I want to build an app for a specific device (say, Android phones) or do I want to create an app that will run on several devices?
 
Native= built for one type of device
 
Hybrid = intermediary technologies used to create a single version across different types of devices
 
The basic pros and cons of each are as follows:
 
Native apps pro:
 
Native apps are built specifically for one particular device, so all functions are designed to run , to a high standard.
 
Native apps con:
 
Potentially you are missing out on other phone markets because those with an Android mobile cannot use your app. If you have the budget, this isn't much of a con, since you would simply invest the money in a sister app that is designed to run on a different device. But if your funds are limited, investing it all in one app could limit opportunities.
 
 
Hybrid apps pro:
 
Most likely money saved on rolling your app out across several devices, while still maintaining a very good, but maybe not optimum, standard.
 
Hybrid apps con:
 
The app will potentially not work as well as if it had been made exclusively for that device, since it has been adapted to run across more than one device.
 
So that's something to think about – native or hybrid. Next, you need to think about what device or devices it will run on.
 
Android Mobile App Development Cambridge, London and UK:
 
In the UK, most people are using either an Android or an Apple phone, and most mobile apps would be made for either or both of these, if the objective was to make it available to as many people are possible.
 
iOS Mobile App Development Cambridge, London and UK:
 
As mentioned above, this is one of the most used and most popular type of app, along with Android.
 
Windows Mobile App Development Cambridge, London and UK:
 
After those two, Windows is probably the third most enquired about from our perspective. If building a Windows app, it will usually be for a specific reason that you are targeting Windows and not Android or iOS.
 
Some final thoughts: What's the difference between an app for a phone and an app for a tablet?
 
See my upcoming article!
 
Mobile app development, Cambridge
 
If you have any questions and are looking for mobile app development, please give us a call on 01223 690164. Our tech team love building apps, and are keen to take on new projects. We are Eastpoint Software Android, iOS and  Windows Mobile Application Development Cambridge and London, UK.
 
We work with big and small companies and also have experience as an outsourcing partner, if your company does not have the skills needed in-house. You can email us any app development enquiries at info@eastpoint.co.uk
 
 
 
Visit us:  http://www.eastpoint.co.uk/Mobile-Apps/