Integration with Third Party Library Like ZXing for QRCode

Today we can clearly see that the world as a whole has come in the hands of a whole new force as most of our phones today are android based. With the development and spread of Android based phones there arises a need for both software/application based firms to make their earlier products and create new products so as to integrate with the android phones in general and Android in particular. With this rise outsource android development – android development in various countries especially India; and also offshore android development are seen huge opportunities.

Today’s smartphones have the latest and best features and functions.  The Android platform is changing fast and is moving forward rapidly; and to meet the demand there are widows open for both Third party libraries like ZXing and its QR code as well as android developers. With the help of Android various developers are now creating state of the art mobile applications easily.  Android uses Java support and therefore there is the link between Android and Java thereby opportunities for Third Parties arise.

A QR code (Quick response code) is a special kind of matrix barcode or a two dimensional code which is made specifically to be read by smartphones and Android applications.  This code is nothing but black modules on a white background in the form of squares. The information within the code can be of different kinds – text, image, URL, or any other information.

ZXing i.e “zebra crossing” is an open source 1D and also 2D barcode or quick response code processing library that works on Java. Their main aim is to help in android applications by using the camera on phones to decode pictures on other phones without needing the help of an internet server.  Their library is broadly divided into various components:

1.    The core which has an image decoding library and test code
2.    Javase which is a J2SE specific client code
3.    Android client which is a barcode scanner
4.    The android test application i.e. androidetest
5.    Android integration as it supports integration with ZXing  Barcode Scanner through their servers

Location based application using GPS & Google Maps

The Android developers have created a lot of great apps for your Android phone. You can enjoy them on the market because the Android application development allows more and more of these great apps to appear. This is clearly one of the best apps you could use on your Android phone because it uses the well known Google Maps. You can easily convert your phone into a GPS thanks to the recent Android development which allows you to use GPS and Google Maps directly on your phone.

Google navigation

You will surely enjoy turning your phone into a real working GPS. Of course, you are probably used to the “my location feature” which is an older Android development. You could click on the blue button and your location would appear on the screen. Thanks to outsource Android development, you will also access Google Maps and thus the map will be created on your phone. You will be able to enter new locations and use your Android OS phone exactly like a real working GPS.

The pros and cons

Like any other Android development, this one also has advantages and disadvantages to take into consideration. Thanks to the Android developers, you will notice that the application refreshes itself very often and you will get the same rate just like your Google Maps from back home. As downsides, people need to be aware that this application might cost a lot of money in the end. Besides, it can kill your battery very fast too.

Payment options

If you think about using the latest Android development, you need to know your payment options. You can simply pay for the data transfer itself. The price will vary depending on the data package of your phone. The second option you have for enjoying this GPS application is by paying for the maps upfront. Unfortunately, you will need to pay for updating your maps on a regular basis if you want to use it. This can be quite costly in the long run especially because these maps do not come in cheap and new directions appear at least once year.

OCR Applications For Android Development

One of the oldest and best OCR engines was the Tesseract OCR engine. It was the most accurate and was used for Accuracy tests.  The source code reads binary grey and colour images as well as text.  A reader is inbuilt so as to read TIFF images that are uncompressed and libtiff can be added if you need to read compressed images.

Another application specially made for the Android development platform is the Mezzofanti and it allows augmentation of various forms of text and in various viewing options. All the augmentation of the text can be used in plenty of ways:

• You can translate it in any of the forty languages available
• You can search it on Wiki as well as Google
• You can even look it up in a dictionary.

The name is Mezzofanti in honour of the Italian Giuseppe Caspar Mezzofanti who was an excellent linguist as well as a hyperpolygot. He didn't speak just a few languages but a whole bunch of them - thirty eight to be precise and a total of forty dialects. What better name could be found for this application which can translate into forty languages as well?

The Technology behind this:

The OCR engine is nothing else but a whole new version of Tesseract 2.03 which has been developed by Google for Android development as it holds the licence under Apache.  It is currently available in 5 different languages namely - English, German, Spanish, Italian and French.  There are no worries as the OCR works with all other languages as well, but the only condition is that they should be written with the Latin script.
 

• The core of the OCR is programmed in Java
• The translation engine gives you almost perfect translations even along with grammar as it works with Google translate
• The interface amongst the OCR engine which works on C++ and Java is done within JNI

Licences:

All the code is available to android developers the world over for free under the Apache Licence version 2.0 and is posted at Google code whether they may be considered with offshore android development or outsource android development.

Google APIs Gives Outsource Android Development

Android is basically a collection of great software's specially enhanced and suited for mobile phones and comprises of middleware, operating system and different types of key applications.  You can now create and manage your very own android application and become an android developer yourself with the help of libraries and tools provided by Android SDK. Your applications will be able to run on every Android powered device.

Google APIs gives outsource android development as well as offshore android development a boost as it offers all possible android development help to future and present android developers. If you have it in you to create Android applications, or are just interested in learning then; Google APIs will surely be a feather in your hat.

Google APIs have introduced an Add -On system which works like a part and parcel of the Android SDK development itself.  This lets Android developers create their very own applications for various devices including Google's own applications, devices, libraries and services.  Best of all these features is that Android developers can now add excellent mapping features to Android application with the help of the add-on Maps external library.

With the help of the add-on compatible Android Emulator you can now check you're newly built application - debug it, check its profile and check whether it runs as needed before you publish it to the users.  The maps library along with the customized system components will be needed for applications like Maps library, etc and these are available with Google.  Once your feel your application is up to the mark and is ready to be published you can do so by deploying it to any of the many Android-powered devices that function with a similar version of the Android platform; and the system you choose should also possess Google services, components and libraries.

Some of the features of the Google API:

• A USB Open accessory Library
• The external library belonging to maps to help in the addition of mapping
• A fully functional Android system image
• There is also a MapsDemo which is an example of Android development application to help you out.
• Also available is a package of full maps library documentation.

Webservice - KSOAP2 By The Android Development

The Webservice KSOAP2 is a project undertaken by the android development team and provides us with an efficient SOAP library that is built for the entire Android platform. It is a branch of the KSOAP2 library which has specifically been tried and tested keeping Android as the basis. It's packed with features and the android application development team often releases enhancements to help fix any bugs that may creep up.

KSOAP2 has been completely improved compared to KSOAP1 and all this is done especially for the android developers both outsource android development as well as offshore android development.   Major changes that have taken place are:

• The overall structure has been made less compact and is now easily accessed.
• Now you get the best support system for literal encoding.
• The SOAP serialization support which was always present is now not mandatory and you can obtain it from a separate package. 
• There is an addition of various classes that have been combined into this class namely - SoapSerializationEnvelope which provides you with SOAP support and lots more
• A newly introduced dotNet flag can be used so as to switch over to the namespace handling from SoapSeriaizationEnverlope.

Creating your very own Android Project

You can now quickly and easily create your own Android project using the ADT plugin's new Project Wizard.  Easy steps to get your Android project up and running:

1.    Go to Android and select android Project and once in click next to proceed to the important steps.
2.    You will now need to select content for the project:

• Enter AndoridWSAccess as this is the name of the folder where your project will be based. 
• Now you need to go to the contents option and select Create a new project in workspace, once there choose the location you wish to store it in.
• Once you've entered the target section you now have to decide and choose a particular Android target to use as the build target (To specify the android development platform you need your application built on)
• Now go to properties and complete the tasks as directed.

3.    Now that's it lick finish and you've created your very own android project and can call yourself an android developer - thanks to the help of the webservice KSOAP2.

Performance Of Custom Android Development

Your dream of creating your very own UI can easily be realized with the help of the new and powerful model set up by Android, which is in particular based on layout categories - view and view group.  To begin you need to know that each of these two categories has a lot of sub-features that will be of utmost importance towards creating your very own UI namely - widgets and layout. Let's just take a peek into some of the widgets awaiting your use - Button, EditText, ListView, TextView, TextSwitcher, ImageSwitcher, AutocompleteTextView, Spinner and lots more. Some of the layouts at your disposal include - LinearLayout, FrameLayout, RelativeLayout and various others.

If at all you're not satisfied with the already available widgets and layouts or they just don't meet your needs then you can simply form your very own View subclass.  If you're not happy with a widget, you can simply make minor adjustments to them by sub -classing them to make them fit for custom use. Android development is now made easy and you can perform custom android development:

Custom Control

Some ideas of what you could do with the customization options:

• You could create some sort of combos like combining view components to form just one unique component. 
• Another thing that you could do is change the way Edit Text works and creates some classy looking Tutorials.

Custom List Views: -

Creation of Custom List Views is rather simple once you know how to do it.  Just follow three simple steps to create your own list view:

• Firstly you will have to extend an already formed View class or subclass with a class of your own.
• Next you will have to override particular parts of the superclass, for starters try OnDraw or OnKeyDown.
• Lastly once you've completed your new extension use it instead of the one it was earlier based on.

For Custom Dialog:-

Most of us have problems whilst creating Custom Dialogs. To overcome them just follow these steps:

• You will have to use a setter in Alert Dialog builder and keep in mind your requirements.
• You now need to pass reference variables into the nested class along with definite parameters.
• Lastly you have to qualify the entire interface just created using android.view

Using J2ME Platform Mobile Applications Development

Mobile applications developer can use a number of different tools to effectively develop and deploy different kinds of the mobile applications for the mobile application development platform. The J2ME technology for the mobile applications development offers a large number of tools that are extremely beneficial to the development of successful applications. J2ME IDE helps in simplifying the development process through allowing integration of device vendor SDK’s with other tools.

 
Features and benefits of using J2ME platform

• J2ME offers a suite of generic productivity features and these include project-manager, debugger, editor and different kinds of documentation tools to aide the mobile applications developer. 

• J2ME also lends support for a multiple number of SDKs and this is undoubtedly one of its core features. 

• Since J2ME applications are typically meant for outsource mobile applications development platform therefore they do need a greater level of both performance and security. Hence, the J2ME applications that are developed can also be optimized for different types of deployment centric devices based on the different resources.
• J2ME applications are also implemented over public wireless networks and this over the air (OTA) deployment support the standardization for downloading, authenticating, testing and implementing mobile Java application. 

• Since J2ME devices are not robust enough to store large amount of data on their own therefore a really good IDE should let mobile applications developers to create complete end-to-end projects. This helps in reducing costs and the effort required for project coordination.

• Undoubtedly, J2ME application development is an intricate process and often help is sought through the various tutorials and documentations available. Mobile applications developers can use these resources to understand IDEs and ensure it is successfully adopted.

• There are some IDEs that offer the use of RAD or also known as Rapid application development tools to create mobile user interfaces visually.

These are just some of the features that J2ME platform offers and mobile applications developers can use to their benefit to create effective mobile applications. When adhering to the requirements of outsourced clients, mobile applications developer can use this particular tool to implement the requirements and offer successful outsource mobile applications development solutions.

Tools for iPhone Development Platform

iPhones are extremely popular and consumer-centric devices that already comes with a suite of apps to facilitate in the application development process. There are a variety of tools available that help with the outsource iPhone development applications. There are a number of free apps available that will help with the offshore iPhone development process.

Applications and Tools for offshore Iphone development platform

• TaskPad HD: This is a task managing app that allows iPhone developers to synchronize tasks across all the devices as well as manage them through the web browser.

• LiveView: This particular application gives iPhone developers a remote screen view that enables them to develop interesting and varied graphics for mobile applications. This is a handy tool that can help developers and designers to develop demos, simulations and experience models.

• Craigsphone: This is a kind of Craigslist for iPad that makes one search and find information related to the design work as well as web development.

• DropBox: This is a kind of tool that allows one to easily carry with them all the desired photos, documents and videos wherever one goes. Once this is installed on the PC, the information saved on the DropBox will also get automatically saved on the PC.

• Codepacity: This is a great tool for iPhone developers when they are away and need to access the website or server in regard to outsource iPhone development project. The website or the server status can be checked through the network utility from anywhere. With this tool offering a number of features, it is designed to provide terminal-like network tool support through an iPhone GUI.

• Pocket jQuery: This offers complete documentation for jQuery 1.4.2 Api and iPhone developers can use this for a quick reference. Some of the apps that this includes are selectors, core, attributes, CSS, events, manipulation, utilities etc.

• Javascript-Cheat-Sheet: This application offers iPhone developers working on outsource iPhone development projects to help find the desired information conveniently. The categories are well defined and include properties, descriptions and methods to work with dates, arrays, strings, math, DOM, regular expressions etc.

These are just some of the tools that iPhone developers can use to create powerful offshore iPhone development projects for their clients through even the iPhones.

Google Maps 5.7 – A Leading Android Apps

Android application development offers a dynamic platform for which different kinds of applications are developed on a frequent basis. Google Maps 5.7 is the latest addition to the Android application development platform that lends support for enhanced transit navigation, improvised search as well as the capabilities to save map data on one’s Android device. There are a number of features supported through the latest version of Google Maps for the Android apps development platform that help users to conveniently navigate and find the exact location on the map.

Android developers remain attuned to the latest advancements that would enable them cater effectively to the requirements of Android applications development. Google Maps 5.7 version for the Android platform presents plenty of opportunities to the Android developers to use it to build useful applications.

Google Maps 5.7 features

Steps to download map data:

This latest version of Google Maps 5.7 for Android applications development offers the feature of downloading map data even for offline viewing. This is a useful feature as one can easily enable offline maps and download them onto the Android mobile phone.

• In order to download data for any particular location, the user needs to enable the ‘Download Map data’ through the ‘Labs’ page.
• Next, a customized geographical location needs to be opened and then the tab for ‘Download Map data for this location’ needs to be clicked on.
• Finally, the location data and the information needs to be saved on the Android enabled mobile phone and can be referred to as and when needed through the Android apps development platform.

Improvised Search:

This new version of Google Maps 5.7 offers improvised search and also showcases better display interface for the Android application development platform.

• This new Android apps development also helps in showing the differences between the places through different types of category icons.
• For instance, there will be a clock for a used term, a star for a location, a person for contacts etc.  
• If one has already visited to one of the nearby places then Google map will also gather the data from the Google account and display the name of the same location in the search suggestion list.

Google Maps 5.7 for the Android application development platform does offer a unique array of features that simplify the task of searching for a particular location through one’s Android enabled device.

Effective Mobile Office Solutions

Mobile solutions have become an integral part of today’s communication in both the arena of professional as well as personal. Mobile solutions can be of different forms and it completely depends on what one is looking for. There are a host of business mobile solutions available and one can choose the one that suits their requirements perfectly. There are a wide range of outsource mobile applications and they can be developed keeping in mind the requirements and needs of a particular organization. These mobile solutions allow people to stay connected and enhance the levels of productivity through the variety of comprehensive mobile solutions for businesses that are available:

Web hosted SaaS:

The web hosted SAAS offers plenty of solutions in regard to real-time collaborations. There are many who offer reliable and intelligent SaaS tools such as Oracle, Google, SAP and Cisco and these tools can play a significant role for IT professionals, project managers etc. when on the move and need to share data with other team members, partners etc.


Virtual Desktop:

There is always some kind of data that remains critical and cannot be copied and taken out of the office servers. But often there is a need to access them from an offsite location and in such instances the virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) services comes in handy. This type of application allows one to remotely access applications, files and computing environments that have been installed on office-based machines.


Disk Encryption:

Data security is an important issue for most organizations and businesses and therefore there’s always a requirement for ensuring safe data security practices. One effective solution in this regard is the data encryption, which is an efficient way of protecting sensitive and critical data where files, folders and data are scrambled into unrecognizable characters. The data can be unscrambled and accessed through the usage of unique keys that are created during encryption. This is one of the ways of ensuring the effectiveness of mobile solutions.


IP Telephony:

When on the move, the need to be completely mobile and be able to constantly communicate is of immense importance. There are a number of VOIP technologies available that offer all kinds of solutions to help create and manage communications effectively. These mobile solutions help in different ways that can entail starting a webinar, virtual meeting or even a confirmation call. Such type of outsourced mobile applications can be created to cater to the essential needs of professionals always on the move.

Developing Websites for SmartPhone

Smartphone are extremely popular and each day different types of Smartphone application development solutions are introduced in the market. One such Smartphone Apps development solutions are the websites made for the Smartphone. Smartphone apps developers have to have the essential experience and skill when developing the websites for Smartphone Apps because a lot of factors need to be looked into.

There are a number of parameters that one needs to keep in mind when developing websites for the Smartphone and some of these include:

Understanding the customer:

It is important to understand the customer’s requirements clearly before creating a website for the Smartphone device. The reason being there are inherent differences in the web development environment of the mobile and the desktop. A website that may open and function properly on a desktop may not appear in the same manner as Smartphone apps. Every platform is distinctive and therefore it is important to meet the customer’s expectations correctly with the right kind of technology.


Customizing the site for the SmartPhone:

It is important to understand a website viewed on the desktop is a different experience from the one viewed on the Smartphone. The purpose and perspective are completely different therefore Smartphone Apps development team has to keep this in mind and make websites that take less time to load and provide the details in an uncluttered format.

Using the Smartphone’s capabilities:

The native features of the Smartphone can be utilized to develop engaging and interactive websites.  Once, the Smartphone Apps development team is aware about the capabilities and limitations of the platform, it will become simpler to develop design and development strategies to leverage the site’s capabilities.

Usability and navigation:

The navigation and usability part plays an important role because a lot of Smartphone have touch screens and therefore the tabs have to be designed in a manner that there is enough space between them. This has a direct impact on the users who will use their fingers to navigate through the various pages. Where usability is concerned most native Smartphone devices have some common elements because the user has become used to seeing these controls at certain places. It is important to keep this in mind when building Smartphone apps development solutions.


Viewport:

The web browser screen of the Smartphone may also be referred to as the Viewport and through a bit of modification, the viewport’s default ‘zoom’ can be set without showing the extra space on the left and right side of the website design. Through this, the Smartphone apps development for creating websites can be made more effective and user-friendly.

Blackberry application tools for developers

There are a number of tools Blackbery developers can use to build robust Blackberry applications. Blackberry 6 offers a number of features that makes it suitable for developers to capitalize on and use it to their benefit. Blackberry applications can be developed that can be integrated with the core Blackberry SmartPhone apps. Blackberry application developers will find this suite of tools highly useful and are perfect to leverage significant advantages from it.

Blackberry Application Development Tools

Updated UI:

Blackberry 6 offers an updated UI that helps Blackberry application developers to improvise their productivity through

• The pre-installed UI elements such as tables, pop-up menus, indicators, tools bars and pane managers
• The ability to create a particular context related pop-up menu showcasing menu options
• Blackberry developers will be able to customize lists and tables and even offer different models
• Outsource Blackberry application development team will also be customized menus and display UI objects that are often used actions.

Blackberry Browser:

The Blackberry 6 Browser also includes a webkit that allows Blackberry application developers to develop dynamic portals and websites as well as feature centric mobile applications or even widgets.

• Blackberry application developers will be able to load both information and data on the Blackberry SmartPhone so that it can also be accessed when network connection is not available.
• The resources can be stored that are needed to run or implement the web-based application therefore ensuring the particular Blackberry application is always in use.
• Blackberry application developers will be able to develop scripts that can even function in the background therefore ensuring the Blackberry application runs even when the browser is closed.

Device Integration:

Since new APIs are introduced on a frequent basis, hence Blackberry application developers can easily integrate the different apps with the features of the Blackberry SmartPhone core functionalities.

• Blackberry application developers can make use of the unified search that offers complete integration and even lets users to conduct search on the web and access third-party applications.
• Blackberry developers can also customize the look and feel of the location data as well as the number and size of the mapfield.
• Blackberry application development team can also utilize multiple mapfiels at one time on the same screen.