ChatterBox is a cool new chat application concept for iOS and Android designed by GoodWorkLabs. It is a customisable theme that you can be used to suit your chat app requirements, be it integrating into your existing mobile app or creating a stand alone chat mobile app.

Here are the key features –

1. Sign up / Sign in with phone number

2. Invite friends / contacts to chat. Block users if required.

3. Profile picture, settings, get push notifications

4. Create group and have group conversations

5. Contacts – search quickly, add new, see recent conversations

6. Status – update status and broadcast

7. Share pictures, video, audio – with just few taps

8. Stickers – select cool stickers and add a dash of fun to your conversations

9. Settings – manage notifications depending on the group, contact, etc.

Contact GoodWorkLabs to create your custom chat application.

Java has gained substantial traction as a holistic development ecosystem over the last few years. With this level of adoption and popularity comes the need for better development tools. Changing user preferences, better business viability for Java and increased market demand means the need for faster development. In order to cope better with the fast turnaround, it is critical to have the right testing tools so that none of the errors are skipped through in the fast paced development environment.

Here is a rundown of some of the best error tracking tools for Java

1. Takipi – Unlike other testing tools, Takipi can scan multiple methods, modules and machines. It then reports when a production code has encountered an error break and the reason for the same.
Some key characteristics –
a. It handles caught and uncaught exceptions, as well as HTTP and logged errors
b. You can also get to know if the error is a new or edited code or if it is a recurring issue
c. It has the ability to overlay error in variable state over actual program
http://www.takipi.com

2. Stack Hunter – It allows developers to track exceptions on a self-hosted platform. They can now know about exceptions as soon as they happen in a well laid out centralized location.
Some key characteristics –
a. It provides a standalone, self-hosted, web-based interface for exception and error tracking
b. It collates and shows critical metrics such as user affected and session affected exceptions in addition to overall listing of exceptions
c. It also groups different exception by root cause thus allowing for batch-wise resolution
http://stackhunter.com

3. Raygun – App exception tracking is made convenient with help of Raygun, a simple web based tool for tracking and managing errors on desktop, web or mobile app development languages. It also facilitates error handling through APIs.
Some key characteristics –
a. Allows text search of error groups and individual exceptions
b. Facilitates third party integration with GitHub, Gira and HipChat
c. All occurrences of error is presented within groups with access to all instances and methods including stack trace.
https://raygun.io

4. Sentry – With a web interface, this open source tool helps in real-time error tracking, grouping and simplified error management. It helps gauge uncaught errors based on impact and recurrence to help priority based resolution.
Some key characteristics –
a. Developers get to see how new deployment impacts the overall project in real time
b. Great for payment and financial transactions with its alerts on high number of failures in purchase or authentication
c. Facilitates easy integration with third party applications such as GitHub and Heroku
http://getsentry.com

5. Airbrake – Developed by Rackspace, the tool provides application specific view over the web for easy error handling and management. If you use Ruby, Java or PHP, then this tool is meant only for you.
Some key characteristics –
a. Detailed grouping by parameters such as user type, error type, and environment variables
b. Facilitates greater team collaboration by knowing who is causing the error in which module of the project.
https://airbrake.io

Hope these tools help you in successful and timely deployment of your Java application. Write in to us and let us know if you had experience in any of these.

Delicious is a beautiful, easy-to-use and unbelievably useful restaurant finder mobile app, which also lets you order food just with a few taps of your finger. The app can be used to find restaurant reviews, ratings, menus, prices, cuisines and the most happening places in your city.

Features –

1. Find restaurants in your area or search

2. Get restaurant listing, ratings, location info

3. See what’s trending

4. Browse through food and beverages menus and prices

5. Place your order and check out

6. Make instant payment or choose cash on delivery

7. Get SMS and/or email to get order confirmation

8. Rate or review a particular restaurant or bar

9. See where your network is dining and what are their favourite hangouts

To create a restaurant app or food delivery app, contact GoodWorkLabs – the leader in high-end mobile app and product development.

You must have encountered multiple instances of swiping your card at a store to conclude your purchase. Now imagine this scenario in an online world. What changes here is that payment gateway replaces the credit card transaction setup. While the end user sees a seamless movement from shopping cart to the bank and back to the shopping site, what actually happens is, a series of complex actions that allow this seamless transition and successful payment made. This is enabled by payment gateways that bridge the gap between the customer, the merchant and the financial institution/ bank. All this while it also keeps a tab on the security of the extremely confidential credit card/ net banking information that passes through different channels.

With our experience in designing highly functional e-commerce solutions, today we present a few types of payment gateways and its workflow.

1. Hosted payment gateways – this takes the customer out of merchant site to payment service provider (PSP) site. Once the payment is done, the customer will be re-directed to the merchant site.

Pros –

a. Card and financial details are kept secure at PSP end

b. Merchant simply worries about core operations and leaves all security and integrity responsibilities to the PSP

c. Merchant logo and design can be added on PSP site for providing confidence to customer

Cons – An end-to-end experience is missing as the customer has to leave merchant site during the checkout.

Example sites – Paypal Standard, Setcom, Payza

2. Self-hosted payment gateways – Here the customer has to provide details on merchant site itself. The site then routes the data to PSP for further processing.

Pros – Total customization of the look and feel of the page for consistent user experience.

Cons – It is the merchant’s responsibility to maintain the security and confidentiality of the customer details. He will also need to maintain the PCI DSS protocols.

Example sites – Authorize.net ARP, Paypal Pro payment

3. API based non-hosted gateways – In this one, the merchant has full control over the payment process. Right from cart checkout, card authentication, payment details and payment confirmation, everything is carried out on merchant site itself

Pros –

a. The merchant has full control over the checkout process and this gives his customers more confidence to shop with complete peace of mind.

b. By using an API, the merchant can expand the coverage of the payment gateway to other devices such as smartphones and tablets

Cons – The merchant is solely responsible for the security of the transaction. He may have to invest in additional SSL certificates for enhanced security.

Example sites – Braintree, Authorize.net CIM, Stripe

4. Platform based payment gateway – This type of gateway provides a medium to sell goods online directly from their own server. When customer surfs online for a product it is done on the merchant site, but when it the transaction reaches checkout stage, it is re-directed to the payment gateway site.

Pros – Customer can view local language and currency, which in turn, improves overall customer experience

Cons – Offers limited customizability as it is a totally separate platform from the merchant site

Write in to us and leave us a word on which payment gateway do you employ in your e-commerce website.

Coupon Shopping App is a refreshing new design concept created by GoodWorkLabs to assist clients to quickly get up and running with their e-commerce / m-commerce mobile apps by customising it according to their needs. Available on iOS and Android.

Key Features mentioned below –

1. Customer account
2. Offers, discounts, promotions
3. Categories
4. Catalog pages
5. Product detail pages
6. Shopping cart
7. Wishlists / favourites
8. New arrivals and other classification of products
9. Payment process
   • User account
   • Shipping address
   • Delivery options
   • Payment gateway
   • Coupons / Gift vouchers / Promo codes
10. Order tracking
11. Contact details for customer support

GoodWorkLabs specialises in designing, building, maintaining and scaling e-commerce /m-commerce websites and mobile apps. Contact us today for a free quote and consultation to start your e-commerce business.

Last week (https://goodworklabs.com/avoid-cross-platform-app-design-mistakes-by-knowing-more-about-these-distinct-android-elements-part-1/) we had an interesting look at how the spurt in demand for Android operating system has spawned a whole new generation of developers seeking to gain expertise in this challenging yet captivating domain. We continued by looking at how developers tend to re-use iOS app design elements in Android app design and how the common design element unique to Android need to be considered in order to provide an enriching user experience to Android app users.

Some of the common design elements that are found only in Android ecosystem and not in the same form in iOS will include

1. Distinct back navigation
2. Spinner choice selection element
3. Tab navigation
4. Flexibility in screen size

While we covered point1 in our earlier blog (https://goodworklabs.com/avoid-cross-platform-app-design-mistakes-by-knowing-more-about-these-distinct-android-elements-part-1/), we will now continue with other Android-specific design elements that developers need to be careful while porting iOS design elements to Android –

2. Spinners – In Android, selection out of multiple options is enabled by the spinner element. They are extremely easy and versatile to use, and can be used across a multitude of functionalities within an app. One common usage is for data selection in form. For instance if you’re looking to fill up ‘State’ information is US, you might be presented with a spinner that reads a list starting from ‘Alabama’ and ending with ‘Wyoming’. Of these states, you can select one that pertains to your details. In iOS, this is taken care of by iOS action sheet. An example is the calendar that shows different design for Android and iOS.

3. Tab navigation – The key difference between iOS and Android in tab navigation is the placement. While iOS recommends placing it at the bottom of the page, Android suggests keeping the tabs at the top. Remember the different tabs that come up in Google Play Store – ‘Top Free’, Top Paid’ or ‘Featured’? These are the tabs placed on top in Android that allows relevant navigation.

4. Screen size – Since iOS develops apps only for Apple devices, the screen sizes are pretty much standardized (though the advent of iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, change just change all that in Apple). Thus, when using iOS elements, developers need to ensure that they also work on a mind-boggling variety of Android device screen sizes – from 3.5 inch to 7 inch. This huge fragmentation of screen size and device capability brings is own set of design challenges. Android developers need to ensure that their designs are fluid and supple to suit all screen sizes on Android.

Our take on this – Of course development costs do matter, but it should never be at the expense of UI/UX needs of the Android user. When it comes to deriving top class user experience, it is not an option but rather a necessity. Android itself has a great user experience to offer, and extracting the maximum from these unique Android-only elements/functionalities is a good way to enable this. Let us know if you know of any other element that is singularly unique to Android and which needs to be altered specifically if taken from iOS environment.

As of Q3 2013, Android commanded a staggering 81.3% of global smartphone shipments¹. With such a huge market, it is certainly a rewarding career opportunity as an Android app developer. An Android app development company has a challenging task of keeping up with industry evolutions and shifts in customer preferences.

Also, iOS and Android together commanding a mind-boggling 94.7% of market share in Q3 2013¹ in terms of operating systems. Considering this fact, it is no surprise that companies will look to port their existing Android app development proficiencies in making iOS app too or other way round. Many developers tend to begin their app development project by assuming that they will devise an app for iOS too concurrently. While this does work to some extent in bringing down development costs, what if the expenses of cross platform app design mistakes is higher than the benefits provided?

This is precisely what we witness when we try to do too many things at one time. It is a common pitfall to try using a previously designed iOS and simply trying to tweak the iOS experience to suit the Android ecosystem. Though there are similarities in navigation or basic elements of UI, the actual modality in achieving native UI/UX experience is what convinces us to treat Android as a separate development project altogether.

Our take on this – If we know the common mistakes that occur by using iOS designs for Android, and take care to avoid/repeat the same, we can still achieve a distinct look for both iOS and Android app by using most of the elements/components from one platform to another. Today, in this first part of a 2-part blog, we look at some such unique elements in Android that is completely different from iOS and should be accounted for specifically, when porting iOS elements.

1. Back navigation – The iOS comes with its unique and quite visible ‘back’ button. It usually appears on top left corner when user navigates one level above. The rectangular box with left side in form of an arrow shows the name of the ‘one-level-below’ folder as label. Tapping on this takes the user to the previous page or to the earlier level. In Android the same effect is achieved by a curved ‘back’ arrow usually appearing on the bottom left corner. In addition it also has a similar top left placed ‘up’ button on action bar where the main app icon is located. So what do these buttons do exactly?

The ‘back’ bottom button navigates to previous screens and continues doing so till it reaches the Android home screen, even it means traversing across multiple apps in the process. In the ‘up’ arrow however, it will go back one level only till the time it reaches the main view / first view of the app.

Next up in the 2^nd and concluding part, we continue with some more Android-specific elements that need to be looked into when executing cross-platform app design to achieve a fabulous native Android app experience.

1 – http://thenextweb.com/mobile/2013/10/31/strategy-analytics-android-smartphone-shipments-81-3-q3-2013-ios-13-4-windows-phone-4-1/

The restaurant digital menu iPad and Android tablet app made for the restaurant and bar owners helps them enhance customer experience and stand out in the crowded hospitality industry.

Charm your customers! Give them a beautiful, easy-to-use, and engaging app to view and order food and beverages sitting in a restaurant.

Features –

• Upload menus and HD pictures
• Choose from different design styles
• Clients can browse food items & order instantly
• Instant communication to the waiters and chefs
• Highlight today’s special and offers
• Delight your customer with Do-It-Yourself dishes
• Collect instant feedback from customers
• Automatic billing and receipts
• Analytics and reports
• Multi language support

Contact us to get more details.

FinBuddy is a next-generation finance mobile app for do-it-yourself investors to make smarter and confident decisions with insights from experts and friends.

How did GoodWorkLabs help Finbuddy build a mobile application?

GoodWorkLabs is a leading mobile app development agency in India, the US, and Europe. They specialise in developing mobile applications that are engaging, scalable, and efficient in solving real-world problems. The team at GoodWorkLabs comes with an experience in using trending and cutting-edge technologies while developing best web and mobile applications. GoodWorkLabs developed a mobile application for Finbuddy to leverage smart investment using insights from experts and friends.

GoodWorkLabs conducted in-depth research to analyze the business, industry functionality, and audience pulse. This helped them build an effective mobile application with all the touch-points for one to take an informed and confident investment decisions. The team at GoodWorkLabs made sure that the details like font, color, visuals, etc are taken care of. They used the best visual design and language to keep the users hooked and easily navigate. GoodWorkLabs developed a simple, easy-to-use, and interactive mobile application for Finbuddy.

What were the salient features of the Finbuddy app? 

• Simple Portfolio and Stock Analysis – FinBuddy provides you with a simple portfolio score, similar to your credit score, along with the context needed to use it.
• Personalized Actionable Insights– FinBuddy provides personalized suggestions about what stocks or funds you should consider for, or remove from your portfolio to improve your portfolio score.
• Tap into your trusted friends and experts– With FinBuddy you can validate your next move with qualified and trusted friends, contacts and experts. What you share, and who you share it with is entirely up to you.

While doing end-to-end mobile app development for Finbuddy, we achieved:

• Enabled more users to make informed decisions about investments
• Helped simplify a complicated industry

Services Rendered:

• UI/UX Design
• Software Development
• User Research

Technologies used:

• Android Native (JAVA)

Give this awesome app a sign, try Finbuddy finance app today!