After over a year of development and lots of user feedback, we are excited to announce that tawkon is now available FREE on supported Samsung Galaxy S devices (Vibrant, Captivate, GTI 9000)!
tawkon for Android (beta) is the only mobile application that lets you see and avoid mobile phone radiation.
Download available from the tawkon website or find 'tawkon' on the market
Real-time Radiation IndicationOur tiny icon on your home screen changes from green to yellow to red indicating low-moderate-high levels of radiation exposure at any given time.
Live Prompts & Feedbacktawkon subtly alerts you when exposure to radiation rises, with simple prompts to avoid radiation just when you need to. Live feedback confirms that your actions were effective.
Map your Home or OfficeActivate tawkon in “prediction mode” to see low and high radiation zones in your home, office or neighborhood.
Personal StatsDynamic graphical statistics clearly demonstrate how much radiation you avoided by using tawkon during the last call, day, week, month and six months.
The World’s First Live Radiation MapThe tawkon community is creating the world’s first user-generated radiation map. Our tawkon-enhanced Google Map shares the collective data of radiation exposure levels from our users worldwide. Contribute to this valuable collective information source by just activating tawkon on your Android!
Extensive accuracy testing and RF calibration means we introduce tawkon supported devices one-at-a-time, even on Android We therefore don’t yet support all Android models but we’re qualifying more all the time. Remember – tawkon also supports selected BlackBerry devices and we’re waiting (a while now…) for Apple approval to get tawkon on the iPhone. So whatever phone you have, click on this download button, and if your phone isn’t yet supported, we’ll let you know when we’re ready for you!
Are you protected? Get tawkon and keep talking!
very interesting. I'll give it a look for.
Related
Web site: http://www.cs.teilar.gr/8/
The Department of Computer Science and Telecommunications at the TEI (Technological Educational Institute) of Larissa, Greece has partnered with Microsoft Hellas to launch another developer contest. The program will be broken into two parts, the first being a month-long phase to train participants in Windows 8 app development. A team of personnel will organise workshops and camps to help students develop knowledge and experience in Windows programming. The second phase is the actual contest, where participants will build a Windows 8 app. It's good to see Microsoft also addressing and pushing development for the desktop OS too.
The competition is open for apps that have not been publicly available on the Windows Store prior to April 7th, 2013 (see website for more details). The submitted apps will be judged by a panel and winners will be announced on May 21st. The five winning placements will see developers receive a Nokia Lumia 620, while all qualified participants will receive a certificate for their efforts.
Apps will be judged on the following criteria:
- Originality & Innovation (30%)
- Programming Level (30%)
- Visual Appeal (20%)
- Consumer Appeal/Focus (20%)
The contest has already kicked off (it did so on April 7th) and will close on May 10th, so be sure to stay tuned for the announced winners. If you're an eligible developer, remember to submit your app before time is up. Also, if you're using a touch screen, the website has been optimised for that added touch of awesome. It's well worth checking out and is an impressive feat of design and deployment.
Web site: http://www.cs.teilar.gr/8/
Sources and references : This list, by Charles Hudson, was a part of a talk he gave this week at an event put on by Yetizen. Betable reposted it on their blog and we couldn’t resist re-re-posting it.
1. Fragmentation
Problem: Unlike the iPhone, there are many types of Android devices, which leads to OS fragmentation, varying screen size and resolutions, and types of hardware. This means that the user experience can vastly differ from user to user. Also, developers can drown themselves in work trying to make their game compatible with everything.
Solution: Charles suggests that you test your game on multiple devices to make sure the user experience can consistent across a sea of devices. He said that he bought old, “well loved” Android phones from resellers to cheaply test his game on each type of hardware. As for OS, if you need to draw a line in the sand and not supporting older OS versions to provide a consistent experience, then do so. According to Ngmoco, which spoke later in the evening, 94% of Android gamers are on 2.1 or above, so you won’t miss many customers by cutting out the troublesome 1.6 and 1.7 versions.
2. Development & Testing
Problem: Because it is so easy to launch new applications and versions on Android – you are essentially just one button away from pushing new versions – developers can sometimes get trigger happy. This can overwhelm users and stop them from updating your game.
Solution: Android users typically don’t update their apps as often as iOS users, so Charles recommended a minimum period of one week between app updates, excepting urgent bug fixes of course. And as we mentioned before, you should test your game on each major type of phone and supported OS version before an update goes live. This can prevent unforseen hiccups and help you avoid those urgent bug fixes.
3. Metrics
Problem: Developers are typically flying totally blind when it comes to the way that users are interacting with their app, especially on Android.
Solution: Look into integrating with an analytics platform that fits your budget. Google Analytics is free, but can be a trickier integration as it isn’t built for mobile. If you are looking for an easier and more mobile-friendly solution, there are mobile game analytics platforms that are free to try such as Flurry and Localytics.
4. Platform Wars
Problem: 23% of all smartphone customers are on iOS devices, and conventional wisdom states that iOS users are more likely to pay for apps and complete in-app purchases than their Android counterparts.
Solution: To paraphrase Charles Hudson, “it is better to build a great game on one platform instead of a mediocre game on two platforms.” Each platform has different capabilities, so focus your resources in building an awesome game on one platform before you worry about iOS. Bionic Panda is an Android only game studio, so Charles clearly practices what he preaches.
Human exploration will never stop. We should set our sights beyond what we see now and look to the future, shifting from innovation to invention. We’re seeing rapid changes to life, work, and society as every industry adopts emerging technologies like 5G, cloud, big data, IoT, and artificial intelligence.
We are building a world in which everything is connected, sensing, and intelligent. The fusion of ICT’s nascent strands is creating new business models, new capabilities, and new possibilities for how we approach life and business. Intelligent devices and systems are making all kind of service paradigms possible that were once the realms of sci-fi, from robots in the home and immersive VR to zero search, frictionless communications, and more.
Since our inaugural GIV report in 2018, we’ve been seeing the deeper adoption of ICT by enterprises and industries, opening new doors to innovation, inclusion, and sustainability. 2019’s [email protected] presents Huawei’s insights into the opportunities that new technologies will create across 17 industries, including transport, retail, finance, manufacturing, and aerospace.
GIV2025 sets out 10 trends and key predictions for 2025. These are as follows:
1. Living with Bots: Advances in material science, perceptual AI, and network technologies are powering the uptake of robotics in a variety of home and personal scenarios. GIV predicts a global penetration rate of home robots of at least 14%.
2. Super Sight: The convergence of 5G, VR/AR, machine learning, and other emerging technologies will let us see beyond distance, distortion, surface, and history, opening up new vistas for people, business, and culture. GIV predicts that VR/AR will have a user base of 337 million.
3. Zero Search: As data-driven and sensor-equipped appliances and devices begin anticipating our needs, information will find us. Future searches will be button-free, personal social networks will be created effortlessly, and industry will benefit from “zero-fault maintenance”. GIV predicts that 90% of smart device owners will use intelligent personal assistants.
4. Tailored Streets: Intelligent transport systems will connect people, vehicles, and infrastructure, creating zero congestion, rapid emergency response, and other functions that will make life smoother. GIV predicts that 15% of vehicles will have Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything technology.
5. Working with Bots: Already transforming many industries, smart automation will take on more hazardous, repetitive, and high-precision tasks – a boon for safety and productivity. GIV predicts that there will be 103 robots in industry for every 10,000 employees.
6. Augmented Creativity: Cloud AI will cut the cost and barrier of entry to scientific experimentation, innovation, and art, opening up a goldmine of creative potential that’s available to all. GIV predicts that 97% of large companies will have deployed AI.
7. Frictionless Communication: AI and big data analytics will create seamless communication between companies and customers and break down language barriers. Accuracy, understanding, and trust will underpin tomorrow’s communications. GIV predicts that enterprises will fully use of 86% of the data that they produce.
8. Symbiotic Economy: Companies across the planet are adopting digital tech and smart applications on unified access platforms – that means greater collaboration, resource-sharing, stronger global ecosystems, and higher productivity. GIV predicts that cloud technology penetration among enterprises will be 100%.
9. 5G’s rapid rollout: 5G is here and it’s landing far faster than any previous wireless generation – the potential for individuals, businesses, and society is enormous. GIV predicts that 58% of the world’s population will have access to 5G.
10. Global Digital Governance: Advancements in digital tech must be balanced by shared data standards and principles for data use. GIV predicts that the annual volume of global data will reach 180 ZB (1 ZB = 1 trillion GB).
By combining Huawei’s own data with the findings of international organizations, market researchers, and industry leaders, it is our aim to demonstrate the value of ICT in business and society.
Led by artificial intelligence, 5G, and cloud computing, the Fourth Industrial Revolution is accelerating the arrival of the intelligent world. Huawei is committed to building digital platforms, user experiences, and intelligent technology that power ubiquitous connectivity in every scenario. It’s our mission to offer every person, home, and organization an intelligent future and the benefits of entirely new opportunities for growth.
We hope the report inspires you to touch an intelligent future. So, please visit our minisite and download the full Huawei Global Industry Vision [email protected]
Sami Qasem
VP, Global Head of Content, Huawei CBG
In this issue, Sami Qasem shares his thoughts on how 5G will influence mobile app development moving forward.
As 5G technology slowly becomes a reality for both consumers and enterprises, it also opens up all sorts of opportunities for developers to create ground-breaking mobile apps that can leverage the technology’s enhanced capabilities. For instance, the app industry will likely see a rise in cloud-based apps as developers move the processing load off the device and instead utilise 5G speeds to transmit the data between device and server. However, because 5G is still a budding technology, it comes with its own set of unique challenges and roadblocks. As such, there are still uncertainty within the industry on how mobile developers can best prepare themselves ahead of mainstream adoption.
How will 5G impact mobile apps developers?
· How will 5G disrupt the mobile app development space in terms of innovation and consumers’ expectations?
As 5G is rolled out to more countries and cities around the world, consumers will expect an in-home WiFi experience while using their mobile networks. Users will be able to enjoy faster loading of rich media, high quality content on the go and faster browsing, but it also opens up a world of possibilities to developers.
Things we’ve only imagined in sci-fi movies could become a reality. Real-time haptic feedback between users, VR and AR won’t be limited to the home, richer 3D and 4D advertising and fewer delays over mobile networks will push developers to keep up with consumer expectations.
· What are the main verticals that will stand to enjoy the maximum benefit from 5G technology?
There are a number of industries that will benefit from 5G – location-based apps, IoT devices, healthcare, education and the self-driving automotive industry are just a few. The one I’m most excited about however, is gaming. I think we’ll see a bleeding between entertainment, gaming and eSports, as well as a rise in AR/VR Gaming. The stability and speed of 5G will allow for real-time feedback and interactions.
· What should developers’ main priority be when incorporating 5G technology into their apps?
Developers will need to innovate quickly. Consumers already expect high quality content, and once they’ll be able get this reliably outside of the home, they’ll be looking for the next big thing. This might be 5K movies on their mobile or tablets. Or the next leap in the gaming experience. Hardware will need to keep up, but so will software.
As consumers get more accustomed to their content loading faster, they’ll expect their Apps to do the same. Developers should consider making their apps as light as possible, relying on cloud technology for on-demand resources. Testing will also become extra important for developers – ensuring they guarantee a good experience for customers on both 5G and non-5G devices.
· What are some available resources which can support smaller app companies in developing app features that can take full advantage of 5G exceptional capabilities?
Developers need to be pro-active and ensure they don’t get left behind, they should consider implementing technologies that are available now, where possible. Similarly, they’ll need to ensure they’re not exclusively 5G compatible, just yet. As they consider future development they should keep an eye out for articles and technologies via AppGallery Connect, as well as wider tech blogs.
The improved connectivity offered by 5G will decrease an app's load time, making it more responsive. This will significantly improve user experience by lending higher visual clarity to the app and enhancing its performance. Developers will be able to pack in more functionalities into the mobile app while boosting UX.
There is no denying that 5G will significantly upend our ways of living. It is being coined as the catalyst for the fourth industrial revolution. While 5G could disrupt industries, it has the potential to create a multitude of new business opportunities.
Author: Martin Alvarez，Web Standards Expert at EU.SID (Standards and Industry Development) Huawei Consumer Business Group，shares his thoughts on the compatibility between Quick Apps and digital lifestyles in the 5G era.
5G is envisioned as the ultimate solution to cellular connectivity – promising multi-Gbps peak data speeds with ultra-low latency of just 1 millisecond, alongside a wealth of other improvements. As users get accustomed to these changes, it induces further changes in user expectations – such as for greater efficiency and performance in mobile apps.
However, the technology is still in infancy and imperfect – IDC warns in a whitepaper that enterprises should not fall into the trap of viewing 5G as a simple “plug and play” technology that will deliver increased mobile connectivity. Developers should leverage this transition period to explore how different technologies – such as Quick Apps – can best take advantage of what 5G can offer and adapt accordingly.
In this article, Martin Alvarez shares his thoughts on the compatibility between Quick Apps and digital lifestyles in the 5G era.
What are the major disruptions that developers will experience with 5G technology?
• As users' needs evolve to reflect the faster-paced 5G lifestyle, traditional apps will likely lose favour among mobile users due to the inherent friction in the user journey, including tedious installation and registration processes.
• Quick apps are the perfect complement in the new era due to their easy discoverability, direct access, immediate response, as well as growing capabilities that are on par with traditional native apps.
• This transition between traditional to Quick Apps is likely to meet attraction from both users and developers. Users only pay attention to the appealing and efficient product/service, rather than the underlying technology. Additionally, quick apps are based on frameworks and standards that are popular with developers.
RESILIENCE and AGILITY
As competition within the app industry intensifies, developers looking to stay competitive must be of a certain calibre. This includes being resilient as well as capable of adapting quickly to societal changes and disruptions.
More importantly, businesses and developers must possess the agility to cater to the rapidly-changing users’ demands. As a result, developers will need the support of toolkits and frameworks that are easy to maintain and help them build products swiftly. These tools will have to involve less coding, less complexity in the framework, reusable components, pluggable third-party services.
FRICTIONLESS APPS
As online services’ capabilities continue to improve and expand exponentially, it encourages consumers’ reliance on them for daily tasks. This explains why smartphone usage is at an all-time high at the moment – the devices are needed to even perform the most common day-to-day tasks, such as accessing virtual loyalty cards or viewing a restaurant’s digital menu.
In addition, mobile users only interact with a significantly small number of apps installed on their devices on a regular basis. The fact that the app discovery journey is fraught with friction and pain points further hurts traditional apps’ standing in mobile users’ eyes. On the other hand, Quick Apps are the perfect replacement in the new era due to their easy discoverability, instant access, and growing capabilities on par with traditional native apps.
QUICK RESPONSE
Each individual Quick App is designed to perform one task – this specialization allows the developers to home in on the necessary processes and guarantees maximum efficiency.
Along the same vein, consumers’ expectations will be conditioned to match that high level of speed and efficiency for all other aspects of their interaction with the apps. Thus, it is crucial for Quick App developers to ensure that users can access their services in the timeliest fashion, which will be where 5G comes in. The new generation of network technology would guarantee the provision of the service with the lowest latency while preserving the quality, privacy and security of the service.
BETTER TOOLS
This transition between traditional to Quick Apps is unlikely to meet resistance from both users and developers. Users historically only pay attention to the end product/service, rather than the underlying technology.
Additionally, Quick Apps are based on frameworks and standards – such as HTML-like components, CSS, and JavaScript – that are popular with the developer communities, encouraging a smoother adoption of the more efficient Quick Apps.