Best Taxi Apps!!

We live in app-centric age where almost every industry is making an app for themselves, making “there’s an app for everything” a reality. One such industry is the Taxi industry. For the past year, before smartphones took the world, getting a Taxi could be such a hassle. Sometimes, you might even need Superman level whistling skills just to land one. Now, hailing a taxi could not be simpler thanks to a myriad of taxi apps. Still, with a lot of choices out there, which one is really the Best Taxi app to use?

Should it be UBER?

Probably the service that popularized the idea, UBER is like the premium taxi-limo service that people have begun to love. You get excellent service from UBER “professionals” and you can keep track of your ride anytime using your phone. Transactions are kept cashless, and you can keep track of the whole ride with the app. It is currently the largest “private-like” taxi service in the world, but it can be a bit pricy at times. Read more

iBeacon: Looking beyond Hardware

Being a pioneer in iBeacon app development, Dex has always tried to provide best to its clients. Following the custom, we are bringing some insights on iBeacon technology straight from companies who live and breath iBeacons. To begin with here is a excerpt from our discussion with Wojtek Borowicz (@Esti_Wojtek), Community Evangelist at Estimote and what Estimote has in store for its customers  Read more

iBeacon: Transcending Boundaries and Limits in Museums and Exhibits

With the rise of iBeacons in different establishments such as restaurants and retail stores, museums and exhibits have also joined the cause. The incorporation of iBeacons in museums and exhibits, coupled with its audio tours and tour guides, will make any person’s visit a memorable one.
The introduction of smartphones paved the way, the possibilities of iBeacon in museums and exhibits are limitless, from augmenting the visitor experience to constructing the next generation of museums and exhibits. Some of the possibilities that are currently exploring are:

1) Content annotation

This will allow visitors of the museums and exhibits to leave feedback on all artifacts and paintings. These feedbacks will be seen by other visitors in the area.

2) A digital “like” of the real thing such as a painting or statue

Developers are exploring the functionality of “like” button similar of Facebook. Visitors will have the option of “liking” a specific piece in the museum or even tweet them into their Tweeter.

3) Saving content for later use

Specifically useful for student tours or art students, they can obtain information about the artifacts and paintings in a museum and save it for later use, just like bookmarking. These will vastly improve the post-experience of visitors.

4) Interactive guides

Interactive guides are one of the most useful functionality of iBeacons in museums and exhibits. This will assist and help visitors making their way through the gallery, providing them information and history of artifacts and paintings within a specified area via their smartphones. Highlights and announcement of museums and exhibits will be easily accessible to all visitors.

5) Special events and surprises such as treasure hunt

Push notifications indicating new events or emergencies will be easily send through the smartphones of visitors. Special surprises such as treasure hunt can also be part of the push notifications and maybe played by visitors of the museums and exhibits.

6) History and other information of artifacts and paintings

In-depth information, such as history and owners, can be added to the artifacts and paintings and visitors may access them through their smartphones, provided they are within the specified area. Audio tours could also be utilized with iBeacons, rendering information as visitors walk through the area.
These are the just some of the limitless possibilities that can be incorporated into museums and exhibits.
A device called Glimworm Beacons, based on iBeacons, is made to utilize the potential uses of iBeacons. According to glimwormbeacons.com, Glimworm Beacons “are small Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) transmitters that use Apple’s iBeacon standard to send a small radio signal to smartphones up to 50 meters away..”
They recently help Wag Society to test run an application that provides seamless information about plants at the Hortus Botanicus in Amsterdam. The Philips Museum in Eindhoven will be the first integrated museum app, using Glimworm Beacons, in the Netherlands.
The application called the mApp is the newest museum platform created by LabWerk. It is designed to redefine the overall experience when visiting museums and exhibits. The application is used in synchronize with iBeacons.
These applications and possibilities will help museums and exhibits transcend the traditional visitor experience and augment the overall display and personal interactions of museums and visitors alike.

Improve your brand image through mobile apps

In this day and age, there is no shortage of ways to advertise and improve your brand image. Sure, there is the traditional media of web based advertisements, radio plugs, and TV ads. Of course, if you want to be “IN” with the latest trend, the first thing you should consider are mobile apps.

Yes, Mobile apps are basically the biggest attention grabber of the century. While most will not like to admit it, our lives are increasingly centered and dependent on our mobile devices, and within these mobile devices are apps. According to the Flurry Five-Year Report: It’s an App World. The Web Just Lives in It, people spend an average of over 2 hours a day using apps on a smart phone.

The most important bit here is that people tend to use these mobile apps during opportunistic times for an advertiser – during meals, while shopping, on the way to work, and just about every idle moment that a person can have in a day. Its reach is far more penetrative than the average advertising media.

So how exactly can we improve your brand’s reach and image with apps? Mobile Apps can range from a wide variety of forms, which can give you a lot of ways to be creative. Let’s take a look at HasBro’s Transformers and how they did it back in the day:

Step 1: New Autobot toy is created
Step 2: New Autobot toy is featured in the TV show.
Step 3: Profit from sales of new toy that kids saw on TV.

It is the same principle with apps. If you have a new product, like a new toy lineup, a new lineup of clothes, or maybe a new service, why not incorporate it somehow in an App? You can sponsor a development of game that would feature your product. You can even create desktop and keyboard themes that would hint towards your product.

There’s also a more direct approach – creating the official app of your brand. This is becoming increasingly popular, especially for brands that have something to sell. They create online shopping apps for their online store, or even create a loyalty program with the use of mobile app, which is something big names like Pizza Hut and McDonald’s are using. Not only do they put their products closer to the reach of the customer, but they also improve their standing thanks to how well the app worked and through their app based promotions.

Lots of companies are starting to migrate their business closer to mobile apps just like the proliferation of App based Taxi services and app based online shopping and book reading. It is very clear that if you want to have better brand image, recognition, and penetration, then you better start investing in a good app developer.

Venture into Enterprise Mobility: Four Reasons to go Mobile

Mobile technology has played a major role in transcending boundaries in technological advancement. As year passed by, more opportunities are offered by mobile technology in the area of consumerism, GPS, online experience, and gaming. Business and companies have utilized these to market their services and products to better their advertisement and increase their revenue.

Here are four reasons to go mobile for your business.

1)  Most people have smartphones and access to the Internet.

According to eMarketer, 4.55 billion people all over the world will be using a mobile phone in 2014. Furthermore, between 2013 and 2017, an increase of 61.1% to 69.4% of the global population will be seen on mobile phone usage. eMarketer also estimate that the total number of mobile phone internet users will rise 16.5% in 2014 and maintain double-digit growth through 2016.

2) Another form of advertisement and marketing method.

Mobile applications have been one of the innovative inventions in today’s history. Almost 70% of the world’s population has smartphones, and access to the Internet has never been easy via the Wi-Fi technology. These factors led to mobile applications as a form of advertisement and marketing method.

Consumers spend more time on their smartphones rather than on their computers. Most features of the computer are also incorporated into smartphones, with smartphones having unique features of its own. Businesses and establishments who go mobile are likely to increase their return of investment and annual profit.

Apple Inc. launched the iBeacon technology which it calls “a new class of low-powered, low-cost transmitters that can notify nearby iOS 7 devices of their presence.” iBeacon helps smartphones and other iOS 7 devices show notifications of items and services that are on sale, and it can be used to make payments for purchased goods. This technology offers the mobile enterprise an ample amount of opportunities to explore and grow.

3)  Increase brand perception by target audience.

Going mobile through the use of mobile website or by creating mobile applications for your businesses and establishments not only create more attention and advertisement for your products and services but also increase brand perception. According to bMobilized, “mobile searches make up 1/4 of all searches – chances are 25% of your customers as searching for your business on their mobile – if your site is not optimized for mobile, you are essentially invisible to those customers!”

Most searches people made are connected to finding businesses and establishments such as restaurants, hotels, and clubs. Restaurants have outstanding 90% search-related transactions with 64% converting within one hour according to moralmobile.com.


mobile enterprize

4)  Provides information to target audience and potential customers.

TV commercials are expensive especially to new businesses and establishments. Alternatives such as flyers and posters are not enough to disseminate information such as promos and sales from your businesses and establishments. The introduction of mobile technology offers low-cost advertisement that is easily accessible to your customers.

Customers will be able to see information such as locations, operating hours, promos, sales, products from your business. Online payment is also a privilege most customers want to have, avoiding the hassle of waiting over long lines.

Whether it is a mobile application or mobile website, going mobile present opportunities for your businesses and establishments to expand its territories and market its products and services to other potential customers.

One Step at a Time – iBeacon in Restaurants

The newest technology introduced by Apple Inc. called the iBeacon, is the new center of attraction for developers around the world especially in the United States.

Apple Inc. describes iBeacon as “a new class of low-powered, low-cost transmitters that can notify nearby iOS 7 devices of their presence.” This technology utilizes the Bluetooth installed in each Apple products and communicates with them directly.

The main function of iBeacon is to expand the technological capabilities of the retail industry. Point of sales (POS), product announcements, and product discounts are just some of the services iBeacon could offer.

iBeacon has been integrated into different establishments and businesses such as hospitals, universities, and hotels. Some restaurants have also integrated iBeacon into their system, hoping it would increase their sales and attract the attention of potential customers.

A concept was launched by two-man hack team Ray Ho and Mark Watson at the 2014 Tech Crunch Disrupt SF hackatahon, which is integrated into the restaurant’s software Clover and will improve the experience of customers waiting on tables.

Ray Ho and Mark Watson embedded iBeacons into every table in the restaurant so that they can monitor the activity of each customer in the table such as ordering food. The problem of constantly checking the customers for their orders will decrease and staffs such as waiters will have more time for other things such as cleaning tables.

Customers will have the option of knowing the available tables via the SmartTable application, before coming to the restaurant. How convenient it may seems, this does not demote human interaction as customers can still order through the cashier, knowing that their order is being processed.

Another advantage of iBeacons in restaurants is that customers can check their bills at any point before paying. They can check how many appetizers they have eaten and how much all those appetizers cost. Now that’s a convenient thing to have especially for those with awkward social skills.

In Germany, a restaurant has produced another innovative way using iBeacons which track the dining habits of their customers. Christian Mook, owner of the Mook Group that has five restaurants, utilizes iBeacon to record his customers’ habits such their favorite food to order up to their favorite table to occupy.

Customers need to download their application to avail the technology. Not only does this setup benefits the Mook Group, customers will earn rewards by using the application, by ordering foods in any of their restaurants, or just by hanging out in one of their restaurants. Customers will also earn points that can be used for special services and trade for rewards.

This move by the Mook Group was devised to improve quality service for the customers.

iBeacon has been the stepping stone of developers to improve the quality of life and improve the technological experience of many businesses and establishments. Since its release, it has gained popularity and the amount of work invested by different people to reveal all of its potential is massive. It just been a year since the release of iBeacon but the way iBeacon changed the experience of many people is forever treasured.

Apple Pay

It took them a while, but Apple has finally unveiled their Apple Pay Mobile payment platform. It is a payment platform that builds on the current credit card system where you tap your phone to a payment terminal instead of swiping a plastic card. This uses a technology called NFC (near field communication) that allows easy transfer of data through a very short distance, allowing it to be more secure and preventing data interception.

When Google failed to popularize and implement the Google Wallet payment system (a predecessor to Apple Pay) many believed that it would take an Apple-based implementation to truly popularize the mobile payment scheme. Does Apple really have the chops to succeed where Google – a much larger reaching company – failed?

Apple has been extremely successful at making originally geeky and extremely technical products work for even the absolute beginner. Their slogan “It just works” is expected and experienced by most of their customers. On top of that. They have such a massive market pull, brand loyalty, and an amazing brand recognition. Now, all those factors will shape how Apple Pay will succeed in this market dominated by plastic credit cards.

The Apple Pull

Let’s face it, when Apple moves, the market budges. Boasting the largest library of accessories and third-party market support in the world, Apple’s products can change and affect the industry far more than other companies. Adoption rate of the Apple Pay system is expected to exceed that of previous implementations. Apple is also known to make carriers bend to their will so we might not see the same carrier blocks that prevented Google Wallet from making any progress.

The Apple Loyalty

Fans of Apple’s products tend to fully use what the iPhone can do. They are also more likely to make payments using their expensive smartphone. As such, they are definitely more likely to try out and eventually adopt Apple pay unlike many of the other mobile payment systems in the market.

The Apple Brand Recognition

This is Apple, a brand that is recognized all over the world for 2 things – security and dependability. It is also a brand that is recognized for customers who are more likely to spend. With that in mind, more companies are likely to adopt an NFC payment terminal to be able to receive payments from such customers. With more stores encouraging the use of Apple Pay, it is only a matter of time before it dominates the mobile payment system.

While Apple may not end up being the most widely used mobile payment platform in the end, it will definitely be the torch that leads the way. With Apple making people more aware of the technology, other platforms that preceded Apple Pay will also start receiving some attention, thereby changing the credit payment system across the globe. This move could practically replace plastic credit cards in a smartphone dominated country.

Untapped potential of iBeacons

iBeacon is a new technology introduced by Apple Inc. and they call it “a new class of low-powered, low-cost transmitters that can notify nearby iOS 7 devices of their presence.” It arrived in iOS7 which means it works with iPhone 4s onwards, iPad third generation onwards, iPad mini and iPod touch fifth generation and later. It was only introduced midyear of 2013 and was commercially available last December 2013.

More stores and establishments such as malls, restaurants, retail stores, among others are adding are iBeacons into their system. This alert nearby customers of their promos and sales, and also makes payment of goods and services a breeze. Almost all technological innovations are for payment and availing of goods and services, iBeacon is not an exception. What if iBeacon could help raise the standards and quality of education not just in the US but all over the globe? What are the ways on how iBeacon can help raise the bar in education?

One way of incorporating iBeacon into education is through the classroom. Through iBeacon the teacher will be able to identify the number of students attending his/her classes and will be able to tell who is absent.

The major downside of this system is that all students and teachers each need an Apple product with iBeacon installed for this scenario to be successful. This system is difficult for some countries to adapt as not all students and teachers can afford an Apple product which is very expensive compared to some phones. But if the Apple Inc. really wants to make an impact with its iBeacon technology, then developing it for the greater good of education would be the best.

However, the drawback of iBeacon in education sector has put a light in a new direction. When we say that it is quite impossible to use iBeacon and apple phone in schools, since schools will not change their ecosystem for this only thing. We can make use of the same phenomenon in corporate sector i.e our offices, factories so and so forth. Skipping the process of marking attendance through biometric ways, punch cards, online markings etc, we can move to a new and innovative way of marking attendance through iBeacons.

Once you enter in your office premises the app will automatically trace the picture and profile of the employee and will mark the attendance and not only attendance, who all joined the meetings, conferences etc. So, If not education, Why not corporate?

Smartwatch – Apple Watch

It has been rumored for a long time now, and we have been left wanting year after year when Apple did not announce it. When we were about ready to give up, Apple shocked us when they finally announced the Apple Watch – the company’s first entry into a slowly growing category of mobile devices.

Smartwatches are devices that worn on the wrist and emulates the feeling of a watch while also providing capabilities close to that of the smartphone. Most smartwatches were designed to be companion products to smartphones. In the same manner, the Apple Watch was designed to complement the iPhone’s capabilities.

The premise is simple: your phone is the source of data, and the Apple Watch becomes your easy-to-access interface. It allows you to use certain mobile features without having to actually take out your mobile. While this made very little sense in the days of the easily accessible 3.5 inch and 4 inch iPhone, the timing of the Apple Watch is perfect now that Apple has finally reached “phablet” category with 5.5 inches of screen real estate.

The Big Phone Companion

The Apple Watch is definitely the perfect big phone companion. With your massive phone more likely to sit in a bag or in a very tight, hard-to-pull-from pocket, you will most likely be looking for a way to easily access certain features without having to take your phone out. Simple things like checking notifications, alarms, and notes become easier with a device mounted to your wrist. You can easily filter out notifications that would need immediate intervention by taking out your phone from the notifications that you can dismiss immediately. Convenience at a glance.

The Health Companion

One of the key features of the Apple Watch is the compatibility with health related apps, specifically the Apple Heatlth Kit. The Apple Watch boats features like activity and inactivity notifications, a quick glance of your fitness and workout results, as well as a heartbeat monitor. Being able to link it to third party workout apps allows it much more flexibility and function, making it a handy replacement to existing health watches being sold everywhere.

A Success?

Nobody can tell for sure if the Apple Watch will be a success. Many have already tried before Apple, and they failed to make a case that would entice a less geeky market. Proving the purpose and indispensability of the smartwatch will take a lot of marketing strength—something that Apple excels in.

Still, the Apple Watch showcased during the keynote still reeks of being a beta – a test product. Pretty much like the Samsung Gear, this product will likely undergo a lot of transformations in a short amount of time to refine the technology and most importantly – the interface.

iOS 8 HealthKit

The health tracking industry was previously dominated by companies like Garmin and Fit bit but the health monitoring and fitness gadget sector is being taken by storm by new smartphones and accessories which offer various apps and features that help integrated these previously separate gadgets into the smartphone.

In light of this, Apple released iOS 8 with a very robust Healthkit App. It is an app designed and integrated with iOS 8 to help track your everybody metric from weight, caloric intake, cholesterol, sugar, and many more. This feature not only allows you to effortlessly list down your daily medical records, but it also helps you understand your overall state of health with informative graphs and fitness assessments. It also allows you to easily share collated health data and medical history so medical personnel can help you better in case of an emergency.

Healthkit was designed to be the central hub for all your health records and needs. This is a marked improvement over previous efforts where your data is spread out between different apps that help track your health. With various and separate apps, the user would have to manage and collate the data themselves, which defeats the purpose of this so-called convenience.

As a centralized hub, Apple designed the health kit to be the primary source of personal health data as well as the singular app where all health data is ultimately stored. To help illustrate this feature, let’s look at a day in Mike’s shoes:

1. Mike’s morning workouts app gathers personal health information from the Healthkit to create the right fitness workout profile for him. This will take into account important health data like current weight, caloric intake trends, etc. Mike would no longer have to input this data himself.

2. Mike would use the app’s workout and health programs to help improve his overall health status.

3. The app would then collate all the data from the workout and report it to Healthkit, updating the user’s personal health data with new stats and results of the workout.

4. Mike would then use several other supported fitness apps from the App Store during other times of the day.

5. The other apps will collect data from the Healthkit and then send the results back to Healthkit after use.

At the end of the day, Mike would have all the data and results from his other apps collated and illustrated in a singular app – the Healthkit, without having to input and collate the data himself, turning the whole thing into an automatic process.