Thursday, November 21, 2013

HTML5 Browser Support

HTML5 is slowly and surely making it's way out there, despite getting a bad rap a few years ago.

More and more browsers, not just chrome, are supporting HTML5 web apps, graphics, audio/video and more.

Here's a chart for web apps:




Here's one for graphics and embedded content:




You can find more of these charts showing HTML5 and CSS3 support per browser at http://fmbip.com/litmus




By the way, would  you like to test your own browser to see how well it supports HTML5?

Check out http://html5test.com

As soon as you access the page, it will score your browser in regards to how well it supports HTML5. Very cool!


The results for the browser I am using right now was a good 503 of 555.
You can see a portion of the scoring in the pic below. Go head and try it out yourself.







There are a lot of other tools out there to help you check browser support like Modernizr. The software runs when a page is loaded to detect HTML5/CSS3 features, then creates a JavaScript  object showing the results of the test.


You can also check out http://www.w3schools.com for a complete list of HTML5 tags.


There are tons of really useful resources on the web to aid HTML5 development....and for free, too.


If you haven't started with HTML5 yet, now would be a great time. Don't miss out on the boom that is creeping up!



Monday, October 28, 2013

Hidden Champions of the App Economy

As mentioned in a previous post, overall cost performance for cross platform tools by users are quite high, reaching 85%. However, Research2Guidance, a research firm in Germany, finds that despite high satisfaction rates for such tools, less than 5% of apps in major app store are developed with them. (Ref: Mobile app development: Cross-platform tools realize 30% time and cost savings for most developers)





The article goes on, explaining that 75% of developers say that they do not see problems with building cross platform apps at similar quality levels with native apps, thus nullifying the assumption that cross platform leads to low quality, which would in turn lower cross platform tool user rates.


Cross platform tools = high satisfaction rates, no problems with the quality of resulting apps, high cost performance...

So why aren't more developers using cross platform tools?



After analyzing results from their worldwide study, it seems that the tools are not the problem -- awareness of cross platform tools as a whole is low and information about them are not reaching devs.


Research2Guidance offers the following advice to developers:

"For app developers, IT managers, but also app services buying companies, the research results suggest checking if one of the existing CP Tools fits with the project requirement before starting the next app project. With the overall positive user feedback cross-platform tools have received and the low awareness they have in the app market, they are really the hidden champions of the app economy."


With increasing fragmentation, varied devices, OS, screen sizes and the like, cross platform development should definitely be a part of any developer's agenda. The benefits that could be reaped by developing once to accommodate numerous platforms is only a dream come true especially when considering time and cost.

As more and more of these tools are surfacing, don't settle for big name brands that simply have the marketing power to catch developer's eyes like Sencha and Kendo UI. They are great tools, but there are probably other tools out there that suit you better that you just don't know about.






Monday, October 21, 2013

Smart Cars on the go

You might recall Nokia's unveiling their connected car platform 'Here Auto' this past summer, in which an embedded infotainment and navigation system contains all the key features of its Windows Phone 8 app accessed through a PC browser.

But it's not only Nokia that is making ground in this field -- Obigo has also released their HTML5 car platform that boasts of a custom home screen, dynamic mash-up, more interactivity, and better responsiveness. It also has an engine, defroster, ventilation and temperature control system.

Other features of the automotive HMI include bluetooth & WiFi support for mobile connectivity, multimedia players (music/video), systems to obtain vehicle information (driving info, HVAC info), as well as internet radio, weather, and news applications. 

Here is an outline of the system's components:



By using HTML5 for the platform, a rich, dynamic UX can be created and cross-platform app development becomes a reality. The system will always be connected to cloud so users can update contents at any time -- no need to worry about an outdated GPS and maps as push updates will add in new info whenever and wherever you go.




DaVinci Lab just announced our partnership with Obigo in this exciting new field. Obigo will continue with working on it's platform and DaVinci will be providing the tools and technology needed to create applications for it. 

Certain Hyundai models have already been successfully mounted with the Obigo system and we can expect more and more to be released in the market from both western and eastern automobile manufacturers.


Perhaps we are on the road to the futuristic car Michael J Fox road in Back to the Future?



Hm...

Maybe not quite yet, but something like this may not be too far away:



DaVinci is paving the way to the future -- not only for smartphones, but also for smart cars and beyond!


Friday, October 18, 2013

Cross Platform Tools

In a report recently released by Research2Guidance on cross platform tools, we see that more developers opt to use tools and are quite satisfied with them.

Here is a quote for the report,

"Overall, CP Tools are rated well by developers. A high rating has been indicated for platform coverage (83%) availability of pre-installed apps (57%), API cloud service (52%), access to device hardware features (64%) and support (63%). The overall cost-performance of CP Tools is rated by 85% of the users as high or very high."

However, it does point out that many developers are still not quite aware of many tools available out there. As overall user ratings are quite high, it is easy to say that developers should serious consider investing in a cross platform tool to increase efficiency and especially platform coverage.


Another subject that the report makes note of is that many of the tools out there concentrate on support smartphones and tablets without giving attention to lingering needs for PCs as well as newer media such as TV-sets, games consoles, and in-car devices. Many of the tools had emerged when smartphone use started to rocket -- but we can't just stop there. TV and in-car HTML5 platforms will become a major app platform within the next few years and we must prepare for it now.

DaVinci is one of the first that do address these needs, allowing for easy development across a wide spectrum of devices.


As you can see, DaVinci offers the widest range of device optimization among oter web app toolkits, including Kendo UI.


Research2Guidance also showed how access to hardware features is important to app developers -- thus, we can conclude that the more their tool gives them access, the more satisfied they are.



DaVinci also scores high in this area with 10's in every platform that it supports. Take note that although Kendo UI covers more of the mobile OS, it lags quite a bit for both desktop and other devices.


DaVinci also shows high marks for accessibility to pre-installed apps on phones:


Although DaVinci is new to the market, it is definitely make a name of it's own. If you are looking into HTML5 or work with jQuery, DaVinci might be the solution you've been looking for.



Monday, September 16, 2013

The World of Difference Between N-Screen and Multi-Screen

We went a little over "multi-screen" support in a previous blog about responsive design, when a web page "responds" to device screen size and automatically alters it's layout and appearance.


However, when it comes to video, things get a little more complicated.
Many of the videos even on YouTube cannot be played on smartphones due to the resolution and size of the video.

Thus, in order to go around this, many devs resize their videos and apps to accommodate multiple screens.


In other words, for "multi-screen" support, you simply have different versions that are used for different screen sizes.


So what is "N-screen" support?


Taking you back to basic algebra, the "N" here is a variable for an unknown value.

In other words, you are supporting all screen sizes without a defined size to support.

This happens through transcoding, in which one source will be automatically re-coded and optimized for not only the detected screen size, but network speed and screen resolution.


Now I would say that's a HUGE difference.


With the various smartphone sizes and tablets, not to mention smart TV and soon to be HTML5 car navigation in the works, N-screen support will become a must when choosing your SDK.


Just imagine creating an animated ad or even a video ad that could be play across all devices without having to alter it manually for specific screen types.


Now that's efficiency.



Monday, September 9, 2013

"New Excellent Technology" Certified

DaVinci was officially deemed as NET (New Excellent Technology) on September 3. This certification is given by the KOITA (Korea Industrial Technology Association) and recognizes DaVinci as state of the art, new technology.  

Here is DaVinci Lab CEO receiving the certification at the ceremony.



KOITA searches for and hand picks new technology developed by companies, research institutes, and universities and certifies them for their excellence, also denoting the reliability of products resulting from the application and use of such new technology. 


By the way, DaVinci was also selected as GS (Good Software) Certification by  Korea's Telecommunications Technology Association in April of this year. 


Don't take it from us -- government institutions have given us their nod of approval.



Thursday, August 29, 2013

Web Design and Dev Trends to Watch For

Web design and development has changed quite dramatically over the last few years due to the increasing use of smart devices and SNS platforms. Here are a few of the most recent trends of this year.


Fixed Headers

We've seen these before and they are not something new. But fixed headers are coming more and more into play, possibly because we see them so much when we use social networks.

I'm sure this screen looks quite familiar.


Users can go through content and still be able to navigate throughout the site with ease. Gives your site a organized look. 

Just by using CSS property "position: fixed", you can attach any header you want to most layouts.


CSS Transparency

You can use CSS3 to control opacity and transparency shown in the browser for the elements you choose, thus omitting the need to use Photoshop to create a picture and upload the whole thing.

Here's an example:


Just give the background container the property "background: transparent".

Or, you can use "r gba()" syntax to manipulate transparency. This is a fairly new technique as it alters specific colors -- red, gree, blue, and alpha-transparency values.

Thus, rgba(255,255,255,0.3) would generate the color white at 30% opacity. 


Infinite Scrolling

This, too, is not something new, but has really become mainstream just recently. 



Click to see more and more, without having to number pages. This simplifies the design and structure of search results.


Responsive Layouts

This part was already covered in a previous blog, but it's definitely something worth mentioning again. Responsive design has become a must due to the widespread use of smart devices. We are accessing the web more with these devices than our PCs, making designers change the way they think regarding design flexibility. What better way to accommodate various screen types than having the site respond to the user's device?




Retina Display


Apple released iPhone 4 with a Retina Display, allowing for higher pixel density and clearer screens. Designers are forced to keep these new vibrant screens in mind, implementing larger images with double the resolution.


It's just a slight difference...but definitely a huge impact.


Sliding Page Panels

As touch screens are now the norm, we see a lot more sliding panels to give sites a dynamic kick. Instead of just clicking buttons or scrolling, you can actually move the panels to find the button you want.



To wrap it all up, we see better user experience, more simplicity, and convenience for both designers and users. Web technology is giving us more freedom every day.




Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Have you noticed?

DaVinci's site has undergone yet another renewal!

Lots of more materials and information so you can get to know DaVinci.


Check out the App Gallery and Animator Gallery to see actual products made with the tool. You can even see how ads made with DaVinci Animator actually work by clicking on them. (Requires Chrome)

Click here to see the Animator Gallery.

For example, click on the "Ray" ad, then click on the screen one more time when the animation plays. You will be taken to a screen in which you can rotate the car 360 degrees with your mouse! Just click and drag.

Smooth animation, interactive features, and all in HTML5.




Moreover, DaVinci Studio and Animator manuals have been completely renewed to match the upgraded version. (Check out "Installation Guide" link on the "Download" page)


DaVinci training seminars are currently in the works and we will let you know when dates have been set.

Have a nice day~


Wednesday, July 3, 2013

DaVinci Animator 1.0 Officially Released!

Exciting news for web designers! DaVinci Animator's full version is now available to the public. You can find a copy of our press release below.

You can download the free (and paid) version of Animator or as well as DaVinci Studio for developers at our homepage: http://www.davincisdk.com


Rocking the HTML5 World: DaVinci Lab ‘DaVinci Animator’ 1.0 Release
Seoul (I-Newswire) July 3, 2013 - ‘DaVinci Animator’, a HTML5 based rich media content development tool, is making a lot of noise with its initial 1.0 version release, especially as the tool has emerged at a time when Apple iOS and Google Android has announced that they will no longer support Flash.
Software company “DaVinci Lab” specializing in HTML5 authoring tools (CEO Jaewon Lee) announced on June 26th that DaVinci Animator 1.0 is now officially available to the public. DaVinci Animator is an authoring tool that allows web designers to create interactive animation purely with standard web technology HTML5. It offers ready-made presets and an action editor with which HTML5 content may be created without a single line of coding. Such features packed in the tool’s easy to use structure are said to increase development productivity.
The Preset Editor consists of four categories, “Style” and “Typography,” which handles the way objects look, as well as “Effect” and “Motion,” which controls animation. Presets simplify complicated animation development work and cut development time, allowing experts as well as first time developers to use the tool with ease. With the Action Editor, developers may combine and process already defined actions, then connect them to existing events without JavaScript code work. Developers can also save scripts they write into the module and reuse them over and over again.
DaVinci Animator’s editor also works on a timeline, which most designers are familiar with, and offers a WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) setup, allowing property and layout editing to be processed instantly through drag and drop.

Resulting works created by the DaVinci Animator is completely compatible with websites that use jQuery, Prototype, Ext.js, and other JavaScript frameworks and may be viewed on any HTML5 browser, whether PC, smartphone, or tablet PC.

DaVinci Lab Senior General Manager Jong Pil Cheong said, “DaVinci Animator has bee developed purely through Korean technology. It is available through an online download as well as an offline packaged version. A free and paid download is offered on our homepage at http://www.davincisdk.com.” He also added, “We are currently looking for distributors that will handle offline package distribution, partners that will handle HTML5 training using DaVinci, and SI partners for DaVinci business system integration.”


Wednesday, April 17, 2013

HTML5 evolving faster than you know it

HTML5 is getting better everyday and devs are obtaining more options and more freedom with web app development.

Once notorious for its limitations, HTML5 is offering more than just cross-platform support. And it will only get better from here.



Web Open Font Format (WOFF) is gaining popularity, especially through Fonts.com, Typekit, and Google Web Font API. By using web fonts, devs and designers have more options with their text and therefore do not have to use images to get the look that they want. 

And we all know that text is a HUGE part of apps and web sites. By having more freedom with something that is so indispensable, UI will in turn become more expressive, thus also benefiting users as well.


HTML5 Boilerplate first released in 2011 is being used for a growing number of websites, providing devs and designers with a great kick-start "template" they can use when implementing HTML5 into their projects. They can use as much or as little as needed from the template allowing for freedom, while providing devs with the basics, supporting lighttpd, Google App Engine, NodeJS, Apache, Nginx and IIS.


We can only expect that devs will be provided with even more frameworks and toolkits in the future (ehem, can we say, "DaVinci"? =P) adding to HTML5's new world of possibility.



Even nay-sayers will have to admit that HTML5 is on the rise, while Flash and third-party plug-ins are dying a slow and painful death.



 

Monday, April 1, 2013

The Up and Coming Mobile Health Market



By now, you might have heard of several reports on how health and diet-related mobile apps are on the rise.
Even at the MWC, there were quite a few health-related gadgets/accessories on display. 


I personally use an app that shows me how far I've run on a jog as well as diet-helping apps that tell me how many calories I consume when I search for foods. Like for instance, you can search for "Pizza Hut Cheese Pizza" and the calories per slice would come right out. Very handy.

I am sure more and more people are using these types of apps as America get more and more health conscious.


A new report released this past March said that the global mobile health market is projected to reach a whopping $26 billion by 2017. 


It also says that the market is in a commercialization phase in which there is a massive increase in solutions, new business models, and tightens its focus on health-interested people, patients, and business.



However, only 9% of the total market revenue is predicted to come from app downloads -- 84% is to come from related services and products, such as sensors and remote monitoring. This is expected to drive up even further as many mHealth apps are actually designed for healthcare professionals who use them to aid remote monitoring and health management. (Fierce Mobile Health Care)


A report published earlier this year by Transparency Market Research also confirms this, as the report noted that in 2012, monitoring services took up 63% (the largest chunk) of the mHealth market and that the trend will continue to go strong, especially due to rising chronic disease rates alongside the increasing percentage of smartphone adoption.


In other words, the mobile health market will grow quite rapidly, but not because of public use, but rather hospital and professional adoption of mobile solutions.



Another opportunity for HTML5? I would think so.


Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Another HTML5 OS: Firefox

Mozilla's Firefox OS is based purely on web standards and everything in it runs as an HTML5 app. Yes, everything, including the phone's dialer.

That means whatever features you have on your phone run as web apps. 

This is great news for developers, because whatever apps they create for Firefox may also be used on iOS, Android and other OS via web browser. Develop once, work for all.



As noted in a previous blog about trends shown at this year's Mobile World Congress,a total of 18 operators have announced their support for Firefox OS, including Telefonica, Deutsche Telecom, Sprint, KDDI, KT, China Unicom, and Telecom Italia.

Adding to this list, as HTML5 apps do not depend so much on hardware, Mozilla has opted to target low-end phones in developing countries. South America has been noted to be their initial market with  Hungary, Montenegro, Poland, Serbia, and Spain also on the list for the end of this year.


Mozilla says that Firefox does not aim to beat down iOS and Android, but rather "provide for a cheaper alternative with comparable if not better performance."


Firefox OS also allows users to easily customize and alter their phones, as long as they know how to work with HTML or CSS. General smartphone users may not have such expertise, but compared to jailbreaking an iPhone, it will make a lot of people's lives easier.


What can we expect from this new HTML5 OS? 
2013 will definitely be an interesting year.


Tuesday, March 26, 2013

HTML5 setting new ground for web games

For the last few years, web game apps have gotten a bad rep for its heavy plugins, 2D graphics,  and lack of functions. HTML5 may be the obvious answer for business apps, but it still hasn't shown to be quite up to par for games...until now.

World Wide Maze is a Chrome Experiment that allows users to sync their smartphone and PC browsers, then use their mobile phone as a controller, moving a ball out of a 3D maze you see on your PC screen. In other words, you basically move the ball on the PC by tilting or tapping your phone.

Of course, there is still a bit of lag and the tilt sensitivity is not 100% yet, but it's a huge step for smartphone gaming and brings a Wii-like experience to users.


But the really big thing about this game is that it is PURELY based on HTML5, using the WebGL standard. It's graphics are pretty good for a web game -- and really shows users what kind of potential HTML5 has.

Although the game itself is quite simple and may only interest you for the first few minutes, my point is that it is a good display of web technology and is a sign of a new wave of HTML5 games that is to come.


Here is a video showing you what the game is like:



You can also try it out at http://www.chromeexperiments.com





Sunday, March 24, 2013

DaVinci Animator in action


Here is an introductory video, giving you a general idea of what the animator is like, how to use it, and what it can do.

It works just like Flash, so designers will be right at home.






After watching the video, I can't see how you wouldn't want to try it out and tinker around with it. Especially since it's free.


(You may can also visit Vimeo to watch videos about DaVinci Suite --> http://vimeo.com/davincisdk )


Have a successful week all!



Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Website Renewal and DaVinci Suite Release!




Lots of exciting things happening with DaVinci!


Website Renewal

Our website renewal is finally complete and is now available in English, Japanese, and Korean.
Enjoy it's new high-tech look as well as more to download.




DaVinci Animator Release

DaVinci Suite is now complete with the Animator available for download (of course, for FREE). Use it to create rich media content in HTML5.
Designers with be right at home with the WYSIWYG layout editor and animation timeline.



  • Easily manage and reuse complicated property values that you frequently use. Find an abundant amount of convenient presets divided in Style, Typography, Effect, and Motion categories.
  • Need to process events, but not familiar with JavaScript coding? Event handling is a piece of cake with DaVinci’s powerful Visual Action Editor.
  • High level script developers will find the light-weight animation framework handy for detailed control.


DaVinci Studio ver2.0 Release

Try out the latest version of DaVinci Studio today by downloading it for FREE at our website.



Major changes include:

1) Eclipse IDE will automatically install with DaVnici, so you no longer need to download/install each separately. Just click and go!

2) Mac OS X support

3) Version 2.0 is even easier to use and is completely based on jQuery. That means no more going through the DaVinci framework to use jQuery functions – freely use jQuery tags and codes. But DaVinci will still offer all the additional functions you need that are not originally included in the jQuery framework. All functions will be added and found within the framework for a perfect package.


Tizen OS Samsung phones to be released this summer!

Chipping away at the Android and iOS monopoly.



According to an interview with Samsung Mobile Chief J.K. Shin published in the Wall Street Journal, Samsung plans on releasing smartphones with Tizen OS sometime in the third quarter of this year.

Tizen is an OS based on web standards such as HTML and supports a wide range of devices from smartphones to tablets, smart TVs and the like. It also supports open-sources such as LiMo and Linux foundation.

The platform further encourages HTML5 app development, which Intel, Samsung, and many others are betting becoming mainstream in the next few years.








Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Think HTML5 is overhyped?

Well then you are the minority.


In a global developer survey conducted early this year by Kendo UI,
only 24% of devs strongly agree that HTML5 is overhyped, compared to a whopping 78%  that strongly agree that HTML5  is usable for building apps and 68% that strongly agree that HTML5 is important for all devs who build apps.



Let's face it, HTML5 is big...and will only get bigger within the next few years.

With all the new devices coming out and more support given to non-Android/iOS platforms (refer to my previous blog on this year's World Mobile Congress),  HTML5 provides real solutions for addressing fragmentation issues. re-developing the same app over and over is just not efficient.

Apparently, total of 84% of devs agree with me as they plan to integrate HTML5 in some way to deal with platform issues. (70% for complete HTML5 adoption and 14% for partial)



Currently for mobile devices, 36% of HTML5 use are for for mobile web apps, while 32% are for hybrid.


Further details on the developers for the HTML5 use breakdown -- global enterprises have the highest rates of HTML5 use (36% for hybrid and 39% for pure HTML5 implementation), but these rates are, in general, high all across the board. 

It's obvious that if you are thinking of going global, you will want to stay away from one native app for each platform and just go with HTML5.


These statistics are quite clear-cut -- there's no mistaking that HTML5 is not just a hype that will come to pass. I'm not saying to "jump on the bandwagon," but the majority of devs see the real benefits of HTML5. There is a reason why everyone is making the shift, so why let yourself be left behind and do things the old fashioned, one app per platform way?

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Mobile World Congress in Barcelona

When looking at the reports on this year's Mobile World Congress held in Barcelona, seems like we have quite a few trends starting up.

Waterproof.




Lots of waterproof devices -- not just phones, but also tablets.

Who would ever thought there would be a flood of waterproof note PCs? (or at least something close to that. Now you can take your devices, even tablets, into the bathtub with you.


Accessories.

I had actually mentioned this earlier in another blog, but we are seeing more and more accessories pop up -- "add-ons" to your smart device. Moreover, we will not only see more accessories, but more focus on fitness/health related fields.

This is the Withings Smart Body Analyzer that analyzes body mass index, body fat percentage, heart rate, CO2 levels, etc. It can transfer data to the Withings app installed on your smart device for personalized, accurate tracking and help you with your fitness goals.


Among other Withings products, there is the Wireless Scale, Activity Tracker, and Smart Baby Monitor, which are all compatible with Android.


Another accessory which I had already mentioned would come up in a previous blog was 3D glasses. Well, here they are!



Larger Screens.

Doesn't come as a big surprise, but screens are getting larger, closing the gap between smart phones and tablets.

According to reports, large screens are gaining popularity among women as they carry their device in purses instead of sticking them in their pockets. Chinese manufacturer Huawei came out on top with the largest screen -- Ascend Mate at 6 inches. The next was ZTE Grand Memo with 5.7 and following third was Korea's LG Optimus Pro at 5.5.




Tablets, tablets, tablets.

Mentioned time and time again that tablet users are expected to rise in the next few years. A wave of tablets had been displayed at MWC including Sony Experia Tablet Z, which boasts of a new design and waterproof characteristics.


Samsung came out with Galaxy Note 8.0 to rival the Apple iPad mini -- an 8 inch tablet with Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean OS. It includes functions to aid multi-tasking, high quality voice call functions, and the intelligent S Pen that allows users to not only write directly on the screen, but convert hand-written articles into text. 



Chipping away at the Google and Apple monopoly.

Many manufacturers have jumped on other platforms, such as LG, Samsung, Sony, ZTE, and Huawei. A total of 18 operators have announced their support for Firefox OS, which offers users a friendly interface and unique functions. Among these include Telefonica, Deutsche Telecom, Sprint, KDDI, KT, China Unicom, Telecom Italia, etc. Samsung also showed off a new Tizen OS.



With a variety of devices, screen sizes, arising OS, new functions and accessories, competition is getting fierce on all ends of the market.





Sunday, February 24, 2013

Responsive Design Going Mainstream

About 10 years ago, Responsive Design was like a "plus alpha" to websites. It wasn't an absolutely necessary aspect of web design -- just something cool to add to your site.


However, with the growth of smartphone and tablet users, a variety of screen sizes has made Responsive Design go mainstream. Many reports claim that it will really take off this year, so keep your eyes peeled.


But what exactly is "Responsive Design"?


In simple terms, Responsive Design uses multiple fluid grids and layouts as well as CSS media queries to automatically adjust your site according to screen size, platform and orientation. In other words, layouts and image size/resolution, etc. automatically switch to accommodate the user's environment.

Some web designers use a mixed approach in which medium to large screens take on an Adaptive Design, which has multiple fixed screen layouts, and use Responsive Design for small screens.


Here is an example of the various screen sizes we have out there:




However, Responsive Design is actually more than just making your site "flexible" with adjusting layouts, resized images, and disappearing bars. It is rather a new concept for design, making web designers think differently and change their approach to the overall design of a website or web app. It is something designers consider from the start of creating a site, rather than simply adjusting and adding at the end.


To show you an example of Responsive Design concepts being applied, here is The Boston Globe's website.


Wide Screen:




Medium Screen:




Small Screen:



 With HTML5 slowly taking off and increasing rates of hybrid apps being released, it can only be expected that Responsive Design will become an essential element not only for websites, but also for mobile web/hybrid apps. If you're planning on using HTML5 to make an app run on web browsers in order to support all OS and devices, it is only natural that you have the app's layout and design "respond" to each user's environment. We are far past the point where designers assume that one layout works for all -- because it doesn't.


Friday, February 22, 2013

New Opportunities with Tablets

According to eMarketer, more than half of internet users in the US will use a tablet.
This growing number is opening doors for the digital ad platform.

The funny thing about tablets is that they show better results and are more engaging than smartphone ad campaigns.

Paid clicks are increasing at rapid rates --  the report claimed that 42% were more likely to click on ads on a tablet then they would on a desktop PC.



The chart above is based on results of 6 tablet and 240 mobile ad campaigns conducted between 2007 and 2012.

Users are more aware and have an increased purchase intent with tablet ads.

When it is predicted that half of internet users in the US will own a tablet, you could only try to image how digital advertisers are celebrating and jumping at the chance for this new gold mine.


This won't come as a surprise, but in order to make full use of this opportunity, ad creators must be able to present fun, interactive, and eye-catching ads. And HTML5 will allow you to do this without using Flash or other non-standard technologies. 

All the more reason to jump into HTML5 and get a hold of an authoring tool that will provide you with the best results possible -- interactive, rich media that can be used on any platform.

DaVinci Animator can do just the trick and we will be showing you samples in just a bit so stay tuned.


Have a nice weekend!





Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Major changes in app development to come - are you ready?

Mobile devices and apps are evolving even faster than you think they are.

I came across an article by SD Times Suzanne Kattau who covered a recent Forrester report called, "The Future of Mobile Application Development." In the report, Jeffery Hammond and Julie Ask draw out major changes that mobile app developers must take into consideration within the next few years.

Focus will go from touch to voice

Touch will remain an important aspect, but voice functions will become more and more intertwined with apps.

Mobile apps have already become a part of everyone's daily lives -- but the whole point of having a mobile device is being able to take it with you somewhere and being allowed to access it when you are doing something else.

Apps will make it easier on users to be able to do other things, like go for a run or drive, and voice functions will do just that. Operating your mobile device without looking at it will be the big wave users are waiting for.

As mentioned, that is not to say that touch will become anywhere near obsolete. When you are in a noisy environment (or a quiet one in which you don't want to make noise), you will want to switch back to touch. Developers may want to keep in mind mode changes between the two.

Accessory integration

Everyone has heard of virtual glasses, but they still seem quite like something out of a sci-fi movie.

But!

The report says that glasses that are plugged in to mobile devices will be available by 2014. The mobile device itself will simply be the processor you leave in your bag.

I expect that this will completely change UI and UX as we know it. More 3D and virtual reality functions will also come into play.

Blending in with platforms

Less and less apps will be released stand-alone and more will come through a platform and as a part of other services.

We have so many apps out there and it is becoming more and more difficult for people to find. Apps will serve more as "plug-ins" to other services.

Better web support

As mentioned in my other posts, more apps will integrate web support into their apps, whether becoming a full-blown web app or a hybrid.

This part of the report is completely consistent with other reports mentioning how a majority of apps will integrate HTML5 into their architecture.

With the growing number of devices and OS, flexibility and coverage will definitely remain a huge issue.


These next few years will be an exciting time for app devs!



Tuesday, January 29, 2013

DaVinci noted in Wikipedia!



Wikipedia is one of the largest reference websites with over 4 million articles in English. It includes various items with notability, from historical facts, household goods to celebrities.

Check out the article about DaVinci by searching for "DaVinci (software)" or you could just click here.

DaVinci has just gone into history!




Monday, January 28, 2013

Mobile apps challenging TV?

As we all know, app revenue is skyrocketing, leaving PCs in the dust.

People are spending more and more time on their phones...challenging TV to be the most time-consuming form of media today.

According to Venture Beat, the US accounts for 181 million smart devices (iOS/Android), China is next with 167 million, and 35 million in the United Kingdom.

 

 

Mobile app use in the US has reached an average of 127 minutes, while averages for TV amount to 168 minutes and 70 minutes for web browsing. In 2010, it was only 66 minutes for mobile apps!

 
 

Now, in one of our previous blogs, we mentioned that games account for 43% of users' time and that social networking apps account for 26%.

However, did you know that Facebook alone accounted for 88% of that social networking chunk?
That's a huge number, meaning that 23% of users' total time went solely to Facebook, driving it to become the number one app in the US for 2012.

Google came in with the next five popular apps with Google Maps, Play, Search, Gmail and YouTube.

The most popular apps to follow was Pandora Radio, iTunes, Cooliris, and Yahoo! Messenger.