Best Android cloud apps for your data storage

With the increasing popularity of Android-operated smartphones and tablets, it has become imperative to have cloud storage facilities. The internal storage capacity of mobile devices is quite limited due to their sizes; accordingly the importance of cloud storage services is being felt by most people. To cater to this demand several cloud storage services have come into existence which provide free storage to the customers. These services help store all kinds of files, photos, movies, music as well as videos for free and these can be accessed anywhere anytime on the go. The service providers ensure that the data is perfectly safe; the chances of stolen or crashed hard disk are literally zero. Here are some apps that have become the top picks for many Android users around the world.

Google Drive- Google Drive is a top choice for Android-users for its easy familiarity as well as ease of use. The service is integrated with Google+ accounts along with other services. The services are merged such that 15GB storage is included across Google Docs, Gmail, Google+, Google photos as well as Google Drive. It can support virtually all kinds of files that include Microsoft Office docs and PDFs.

Dropbox- This is the most popular choice for most people since it is the first app for Cloud storing. Anything and everything may be uploaded as well as accessed by the users without any issues. Not only can you use free cloud storage of 2GB but if you can refer it to friends then 16GB additional free storage can be earned as well. If you want more, then even the charges are quite nominal.

Box- The popularity of Dropbox is limited to individuals; Box’s popularity rests among enterprise and business users. Personal users may get 5GB free storage to store all kinds of files. Beyond that a fee of $10 per year must be paid which enables you to have storage space of 25GB. The functionality as well as navigation is really easy to adopt. The uploading, downloading, sharing, editing and commenting on the files is quite simple. In case of changes in shared documents you get a notification through its widget.

Cubby- Through this app, users get a space for storing of important documents, movies and pictures. The cubby folders may be made as well as managed so that they stay in sync with all the devices that you use. The online storing space is of 5GB. A backup Cubby version can be kept on your desktop with the original data still remaining where it really belongs.

SugarSync- Space-wise it is not too different from the other apps with 5GB being offered for free. But what makes it stand apart is that it is extremely fast as well as simple. Also there are more methods for payment and you can invite friends so that they can use your files. It also has connections with social networks. The clarity as well as simplicity makes it easy to locate files.

Ubuntu One- 5GB of storage granted originally by the app can be easily increased to 20GB by referrals. It is used for storing of photos over years. This very reliable app can be used by just creating an account from the web version or the application itself. The setting may be made such that photos in other apps like Instagram can be added to its library. An additional feature is its online music player which helps download music to listen on cloud service or on your device.

These are some of the most popular Android cloud apps for data storing. Besides these, there are many other useful ones such as SkyDrive, Crucial, IDrive, etc. Most of the ones mentioned here are multifunctional and can be used to store almost anything to be accessed anywhere. If you are planning to hire service of Android application development company, you must evaluate them to see if they are sufficiently agile or not!

We provide Android application development services. If you would like to talk to one of our expert Android developers, please get in touch with us at Mindfire Solutions.

New Features of Android 4.0 for Easier Apps Development

Within a very short span of time, Ice Cream Sandwich has become one of the widely used versions of Android. The Android 4.0 comes with a number of innovative features that help developers to build, debug and test their mobile apps without putting any extra time and effort. The new features further enable programmers to create robust enterprise apps according to the most recent trends in various industries including finance, travel, healthcare and entertainment. If you are new to build apps for Android Ice Cream Sandwich, it is time to have a look at some of these most prominent features.

New Android 4.0 Features that Simplify Mobile Application Development

1. A Single UI for Both Tablets and Phones: Unlike Android 3.0, Ice Cream Sandwich provides a unified user interface for both tablets and phones. The unified interface makes the operating system found on a large number of devices. Thus, the developers now have option to build apps that will run on a wide variety of devices. At the same time, the UI makes it easier for programmers to engage users through refined animations, clearer pictures, better readability and higher resolution.

2. An Open API for All Social Networking Platforms: Android 4.0 also comes with an open API that supports all social media providers. The programmers can use the API to allow social media providers to plug themselves in. Also, they have option to invite members or share content with others without mentioning specific social platforms. The API can be used to enable users to share content and stay connected with friends across all social networking platforms.

3. Secure Exchange of Information between Devices: Ice Cream Sandwich also includes Android Beam that is developed based on a near field communication technology called NDEF Push. The feature enables users to securely exchange a variety of information across two Android devices in close proximity (about 4 centimeters). Thus, the developers can facilitate exchange of web pages, videos, contacts and similar application-related information securely without writing any extra code.

4. Customizable Widgets: Android 4.0 further comes with widgets that are highly customizable and adjustable. The widgets enable developers to interact with several applications at a time without launching those. For instance, the information about the apps can be collected directly for the home screen. Also, users can play music or check their emails from the home screen. They also have option to respond to an incoming call, without unlocking the device, by sending a text message or through any customized action.

5. Quick and Easy Notifications: Often programmers have to write lengthy codes to display notification to users without affecting their experience negatively. The updated version of Android allows users to swipe and clear the notification off the home screen, without dismissing the notifications individually. They can simply choose the desired action from the settings menu to manage messages and notifications. Thus, the developers can optimize notification handling without writing additional code.

6. Enhanced Web Browsing Experience: The speed of the web browsers often affects the performance of mobile websites. Android 4.0 comes with enhanced browser speed. Also, the users now have option to open up to 16 tabs in a single window. They can further read the web pages offline, along with saving the pages by using the Request Desktop Site option. The optimized browsing experience will make it easier for programmers to popularize mobile websites without putting any additional effort.

7. Support for Additional Media Types: The Ice Cream Sandwich further supports a set of additional media types and containers. The support enable developers to access the media formats of their choice. For instance, WebP content and streaming VP8 content is supported through the media framework. At the same time, the framework further supports HTTP Live streaming protocol version 3, and ADTS-contained AAC content encoding.

Along with a set of fresh and practical features, Google has further designed Android 4.0 with enhanced responsiveness and slicker look. The developers can avail these features to create more powerful applications, while customizing the existing widgets and apps by using new fonts, styles and UI components. To get maximum benefits of Android apps, you may consider hiring services of a Android application development company.

We provide Android application development services. If you would like like an Android app developer for hire, please get in touch with Mindfire Solutions.

Why should your business invest in building Android apps?

Mobile ecosystem believes in general that apps for iOS should be developed first by developers. This is due to the fact that Apple has an advantage since it had moved first in the market. However, with time, the circumstances are changing and now developing apps on iOS has become a risky business due to increased competition. On the other hand the Android market is steadily growing with growing demand for apps but with low competition and less risks. You will get an environment that is more agile, helping you test and perfect the app design. Here are some of the reasons for your business to invest in building Android apps.

Growing market- Many people may think that the market is quite small since smartphones are used in minority when compared to worldwide usage of mobile phones. However, rate of usage is growing at an incredible pace due to its hardware independence as well as affordability. Almost 50% of the market share of the US is dominated by Android while the iOS holds just 32%. In the US, Android activations are at 60% while iOS boasts of only 29%.

Upcoming potential- This platform is an upcoming one with a lot of potentials. The general public might not appreciate it but the savvy ones realize its potential. This can be held in sharp contrast with the platform of iOS which may be desirable but it is extremely expensive. According to research, in iOS, apps find it quite hard to position themselves in top 100. However, Google Play is increasing in market size. This may be attributed to the fact that alternate paths are provided by the platform for app discovery, making it very easy for new entrants in the market.

Open source- Android's feature of being open source offers it a huge advantage over other platforms. This signifies that its development cannot be restricted by any industry player or changes that might go against interests cannot be introduced. There is full access to functionality of the phone such as using camera, handling phone calls or receiving or sending SMS. This also offers another advantage in the form that various developers working on it can introduce all latest revolutionary technologies.

Apps distribution- Developing for this platform is preferred by a lot of people since android market is used for the distribution of apps. They get reviewed as well as approved extremely fast which is in sharp contrast to the Apple store where there is a long waiting period before being approved. In fact constant updates and enhanced functionality will ensure that the application gets noticed. The distribution is also quite easy with a one time fee to be paid instead of yearly sums of money to be paid.

Customized home screen- Android phone's home screen can be customized by the user and useful applications can be used whenever they want. The possible areas for creation of such applications are broadened as well. The developers may not think that it is too important but customized home screen may offer many practical applications, enhancing the user experience offered by it.

Java- Objective C invented by Apple is used to build anything for Apple product. But for development of Android app you need knowledge about Android API for Java along with Java. This powerful language has been practiced for a long time, resulting in a lot of materials and books which may guide and help you grasp the concept better. The Java programming experience will also benefit you in many other fields.

The richness as well as diversity of Android app ecosystem has resulted in a marked change in the lives of the users. Some serve many while some serve just few but in every case the transformative power is immense as they act as informative portals. So businesses should jump on the bandwagon and take advantage of improved monetization, low customer acquisition costs and largest smartphone market among other benefits and start developing the appropriate applications meant for this platform. You can hire developers from top Android application development company in India who can help you build Android apps within allocated budgets and time schedules.

We provide Android application development services. If you need to hire Android app developer from us, we would be glad to assist you at Mindfire Solutions.

Resources Every Android Developer Must Know About

Within a very short span of time, Android has emerged as the most popular operating system for smartphones and tablets. The rapidly growing popularity of the open source mobile operating system launched by Google also encourages many enterprises to launch new mobile apps. So a gradual increase is noted in the demand for experienced Android application developers. Also, many beginners are learning Android app development to target the recent trends in mobile computing. As the mobile operating system has matured over the years, both experienced developers and beginners have option to access a large collection of resources. A developer must know about and use some of these key resources to optimize the look, feel and performance of the apps without writing longer lines of code.

Important Resources Every Android Developer Must Know About

1. Books

Many people nowadays avoid reading books. But books are still one of the most effective ways to learn Android programming. A developer can further consider building his personal library that can be referred while writing code. Also, each programmer has option to choose from the conventional or digital version of the same book. Some of these books also explain the Android SDK is a detailed and simple way, along with highlighting the frequent updates. Each programmer also has option to choose from a wide variety of books according to his specific needs.

2. Online Articles and Blogs

Whenever a developer needs any information, he simply initiates a web search. In addition to gathering information on a specific aspect of Android app development, a developer can further read the online articles and blogs to stay tuned to the latest trends and updated in mobile application development. It is also a great idea to bookmark certain websites that frequently publish content related to Android development. However, a reader also needs to consider the professional credibility and reputation of the blogger while reading the online articles and blogs.

3. Discussion Forums

Regardless of your experience in developing mobile apps, you will still needs answers to specific questions. That is why; you must know the discussion forums where Android developers frequently post their doubts and answer questions. The online discussion forums will make it easier for you to write code without any interruptions. Some online forums like StackOverFlow.com also allow you to get your questions answered by experiences Android developers, framework engineers and experts.

4. Source Code of Open Source Android Apps

If you are new to Android development, it is advisable to access the source code libraries. As Android is an open source operating system, many developers share the code written by them. Some programmers even distribute code to help others in developing robust apps without putting any extra time and effort. There are also many websites that help beginners to understand specific aspects of mobile application development. For instance, you can access a website to learn how to optimize caching, image loading and displaying.

5. Android SDK

As an open source mobile operating system, Android is open to all types of users and developers. Google further allows developers to access the source code know as Android SDK. However, a programmer needs to download the complete SDK to start developing apps. He has option to download and use specific resources according to the needs of his project. Google recommends developers to use the Eclipse IDE which is available as a simple Android Developer tools plug-in. The plug-in enables programmers to download, install and use only specific SDK.

6. Application Development Frameworks

A programmer must be familiar with several Android application development frameworks to avoid writing lengthy code. Each library provides a set of libraries and tools that help developers in building robust apps at a rapid pace. Further, they can use a set of APIs to perform some of the basis and standard tasks. However, a developer must choose the framework according to the nature and requirements of the app. So he needs to understand some of the widely used Android development frameworks.

In addition to understanding the key Android app development resources, you also need to know some of the important best practices for developing to mobile apps. The combination of these resources and best practices will make it easier for you to build rich and highly engaging apps which get downloaded heavily from the app store.

We provide mobile app development services. If you would like to talk to one of our top mobile app developers, please get in touch with us at Mindfire Solutions.

Android Apps: Fastest Growing Market of Application Development

As the Android application development fever grips India, the companies offering software consulting are rapidly gearing up to render support to this new technology, which is the primary open-source mobile platform. Android is categorized as the software load for mobile devices including key applications, operating system and middleware.

Components of Android app development

An Android SDK provides application programming lines as well as tools which are needed for starting app development across this mobile platform through Java programming. The developers are empowered to take the benefits from approach location information, device hardware and also background services. It is the greatest benefit of leveraging this open-source software.

So far as India is concerned, we have the fastest growing market for mobile application development wherein most of the developers are in their early thirties or even below. The main reason that has triggered the growth is the accessibility of Android handsets with respect to any network. This makes the technology available to a large number of subscribers. Applications built over this operating system can be circulated for free as well as monetized with the advertising aspect. They are generally based on Email and SMS, Wi-Fi and GPS, use of Google maps, multimedia, browser and contacts.

Presently, the software consulting companies are rendering support to this mobile development platform to keep in line with the latest technological developments. The rise in the development of these applications is directly proportional to the enhancement in the user base. This implies that with the increase in the number of users the demand for android apps will see a rise. Hence, the software firms are considering investment in skilled and proficient developers who are experts in the mobile apps.

Android application for tracking phones

Majority of the business organizations are considering third parties for the development of the maximum number of applications. Nevertheless permission is required before the apps can access definite features such as writing to or reading the memory cards along with the address books belonging to the users.

During the development procedure, developers make use of android NDK as well as android SDK. Most of the professionals have considerable experience in mobile application, an aspect which has contributed significantly to their success. The companies offering software services dedicatedly test and get conversant with newer and newer technologies so that they can effectively team up with their clients for providing result-oriented outcomes. Prior to the initiation of any project, the companies indulge in performing a possibility study which is followed by project management that takes place in phases. After the implementation is done and the client is satisfied with the results, the termination of the project takes place.

In the domain of Android development, background services are also included and there is a well organized supporting system in case of the GUI navigation. Compared to the iPhone platform, this OS is extra flexible, both in case of development as well as deployment of the applications. The mobile operating systems which happen to be the most recent ones are currently getting extensive support from the recognized players operating within the mobile market along with the support that is provided by Google.

Considering the domain of app development across this mobile platform, the Android App Inventor may be considered as a great alternative tool. The app is in fact a do-it-yourself device for designing the applications, wherein no programming expertise is required. Given this, the drag-and-drop application may be utilized for addition of features within your application.

Android has indeed become a ground-breaking Smartphone operating system, more so because of integration with a plethora of cutting-edge technologies, which helps the operating system in supporting loads of games and applications. You can hire developers from top android app development companies in india who can help you build mobile apps within allocated budgets and time schedules.

We provide mobile app development services. We are glad to share that all our mobile apps developers are certified. If you would like to hire android developers from us, we would be glad to assist you at Mindfire Solutions.