mobile Apps.
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Being an open source application, Android has never went through restrictions over development. But as a leader to the Open Handset Alliance, Google devised a path that allowed a native code development, which will enable developers to execute the code directly on the micro-processors of a device. Recently, Google released its NDK 1.6, which is much-hyped as a blaster kit allowing rapid native application development to derive the results.

What is NDK?

The NDK (Native Development Kit) is an adjunct to the Android’s SDK (Software Development Kit), which enables developers to generate and execute native machines within application packages. This code adopts the same restrictions as the Virtual Machine code, but it can embed a big list of operations, rapidly. This is a kind of ultimate tool to Android app developers since it can do heavy computations, digitized processes and developers can even port some performance-sensitive portions of their existing applications coded in ARM assembly language C and C++, which can call-out a live Java application through Java interface. Few types of applications that are inefficient in creating interpreted Java, for instance, a real-time business intelligence supported by the mobile device, will work as native code. This kind of approach by the native code does not allow the application to slip out the sandbox created by the Operating System and specially, the native coded apps can’t be executed from the GUI, directly.

NDK 1.6 , What it has?

It’s a good news for Android app developers, that some new improvements have been introduced in the recent NDK 1.6. As seen in the Android’s official site, the new release has:

The capability to directly call-out the OpenGL functions which enhances the graphic rendering to big screen mobiles.

The new NDK can parse the properties and can find which platform it was targeted. Then, it will automatically generate libraries in the native code. All sources like C, C++ and Java can be placed under the same tree for easier editing. Increases the performance of memory-intensive operations, and promises a big-drop in battery drain

And hot fixes to increase the host system abilities.

X code and Eclipse:

X code (iPhone’s IDE) is a great development kit. Its like a rainbow of different tools which range from interface designing tool, debugging tool, advanced compilers, memory analysis tools, memory leak finders, simulation and even icon designing tools. That’s pretty much more than you need.

But Eclipse, (Android’s IDE) is a Java-based kit. We can say that it is a pretty straight-forward SDK, since you can easily know what’s going on from the start till end. Luckily, Android SDK allows to integrate all libraries, compilers, emulators into a mixture.

Like Apple’s App store, Google is positioning itself to design and run its own Android market. But it will take a long time, since iPhone’s app store is considered as the most organized integrated application market on the Internet. Till the second quarter of 2009, app store reached 1.5 billion downloads. The reason is the smooth integration of iTunes with the device but Google thinks that the concept of App Store will eventually vanish and the web will take over, everything else.

Since, Android is open source, it liberally allows introduction and execution of innovative technologies. The platform will grow as a big giant as the open-source developer communities constantly support the path. Android has gained a global recognition all over the world but Apple’s iPhone takes the credit to spark up the industry where in the past, most mobile applications were either media players or simple race games that looked like 16-bit Nintendo stuff. ?

The release of the Android 1.6 NDK to the developing community indicates that the Android team had started to attract more developers to the platform – especially the Symbian developers, and possibly, the iPhone developers who feel that their hard work plunges in to the pool of hundreds of thousand apps, which is clogging the enormous iTunes App Store. Let’s wait and see, what this open source application, will bring to the world.

Author bio:

Dot Com Infoway is a software development company specializing in mobile application development and iPhone Application Development . To know more about the company’s Android applications visit Android Application Development section.

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BlackBerry is synonymous with business right from its launch. As an emerging market, RIM’s BlackBerry caters to the business user and provides a rich and diverse enterprise-focused applications segment. This is why it is important to gain success in the BlackBerry App World.

Below are eight steps to guide you in building and marketing a breakthrough BlackBerry business application:

1. Warm up to the BlackBerry Platform: A breakthrough business application gets started with the Java-based BlackBerry platform. There are two SDK options to develop apps on the platform: MIDP/CLDC and BlackBerry specific APIs. Most BlackBerry business app developers build BlackBerry-specific applications as it means using the highly flexible and free-to-download BlackBerry Java Development Environment. With the JDE, you don’t even need a BlackBerry handheld as it comes with a BlackBerry device simulator and includes all essential tools to develop, package, test and debug applications. Hence the first crucial step is to warm-up to the BlackBerry platform by downloading the JDE and start creating simple apps using it.

2. Develop the App concept: The BlackBerry platform may lag behind in giving your app that instant, modern and flashy outlook. However, a committed development approach would unravel the built-in wonders of the BB platform, which supports development of full-scale business applications of any magnitude. So, develop an app concept that is unique and business-specific. With BlackBerry, business is always a winning bet.

3. Keep the UI simple & utility-oriented: As mentioned earlier, the BB OS does not weigh high on the fancy part, but is extremely supportive of the business factor. Hence it is crucial to keep your interface simple and appealing instead of overdone or over-crowded. It is essential to build the app in such a way that, at one look, the user understands the functions and options available in the application. Better to explain your fields, check boxes and radio buttons with short, descriptive words.

4. Test your app, get support: Though the simulator is a near-perfect system, it is not the real device. It is always better to test run your app in an actual handheld BlackBerry before launching it. If the BlackBerry platform is difficult to crack, you can always seek help from BlackBerry developer programs or explore BlackBerry developer resources. There are also a lot of third-party forums, eBooks and guides available to help you learn the nuances of BlackBerry app development.

5. Pricing the App: The next step is to price the app. Set a competitive price. If this is your first attempt at BlackBerry app development and if you feel there are several similar apps around, offer the app for free. Call it the beta version and measure how users receive it. Later, you can setup affordable price tags for the upgraded versions of the app.

6. Digital Rights Management (DRM): How do you make sure that users pay for your app? And how do you avoid users from paying again for the app if their device breaks? Setup a logical and practically- feasible yet secure DRM system to make sure that users who buy your app pay for it and get access to it. Also, decide if users need to pay again in case of their device failure or if they switched devices.

7.Selling the App: Now that you have an app with a price tag, you need to find ways to sell it. You can sell the app directly through RIM’s BlackBerry App World or through retailers like MobiHand or Handango. Make sure that your presentation of the app in the Reseller’s channel or in the App World is appealing. Five important criteria that count in the selling process are:

Short description of App

Long description of App

Application icon

Screenshots/preview videos of App

Trial versions of App (this has great commercial value as it helps user gain practical knowledge of your app).

8. Upgrades, customer support & user community: Everything does not get over with the selling process. In fact, an application’s success is gauged only after the initial sales. Sales stats and user feedback help you modify or upgrade the application. As a developer, you need to provide customer support to your users. Keeping in constant touch with your user community through forums will help you get direct, positive feedback which in turn will guide you in upgrading your app.

Author bio:

Dot Com Infoway is one of the leading IT company specializing in mobile application development and Internet marketing,iPhone apps marketing.To know more about the company’s BlackBerry apps development visit BlackBerry application development.