Android is a powerful OS with many features in the latest versions to make it secure, too. The industry pundits have always criticized this aspect as they prefer iOS in this regard. Android has come a long way, right from launching the first Android 1 with HTC Dream in September 2008 to Android 11 in September 2020. 

Let me guide you through mobile app development for all the Android versions over the years, how they have evolved, and the major changes in them. 

1. Android 1 (2008) 

Apple started the smartphone race by launching iPhone in 2007, and Google launched its own mobile OS named Android. The company Android Inc was acquired by Google in 2005 and oversaw the work being done by the developers at the company. With the launch of Android 1 in 2008, Google started a new revolution that changed the fate of smartphones and then the handheld devices forever! 

Look at the screens of Android 1, which started to give iPhones a run for their money with new and affordable models in the subsequent years. The pull-down notification function was a game-changer as far as iOS was concerned. Google PlayStore, named Market, was also launched in direct competition to the App Store. 

2. Android 1.5 Cupcake (2009) 

Android’s tradition of naming the OS on desserts started with Cupcake that was version no. 1.5. It was not a major overhaul, as you will notice in some of the versions that will be discussed later, it offered some refinements. The on-screen keyboard was one aspect that provided ease of use for anyone looking to type long messages or even emails.

Framework for third-party app widgets and an option for video-recording was also introduced with Cupcake. Take a look at the home screen below. 

3. Android 1.6 Donut (2009) 

Donut filled in the void left by the previous version, most importantly the ability to operate on various screen sizes and resolutions. CDMA networks like Verizon got a boost as the support was provided for it in this version. 

4. Android 2.0 – 2.1 Eclair (2010)

This version came out just six months after the previous version, and thanks to Motorola, it received widespread fame and recognition. Motorola Droid used this version to market its phone, and the name Eclair went mainstream within a few weeks of the campaign. The addition of turn-by-turn navigation and real-time traffic info features made this a hit with commuters and people mostly on the go. And the pinch-to-zoom capability, once exclusive to iOS, also became a fan-favorite feature.

See the image below for turn-by-turn navigation and Speech-to-text features. 

5. Android 2.2 Froyo (2010)

Launched exclusively with Nexus One, it was the first phone to get the Froyo update. Froyo 2.2 offered Android users five home screen panels instead of three and a redesigned Gallery App. Hot-spot support was another jewel in its crown. PIN lock was introduced alongside pattern lock to give options for the end-users. 

6. Android 2.3 Gingerbread (2010)

Google chose Samsung for the latest Nexus device, and Gingerbread was released exclusively on this. The redesign of Android’s stock widgets and the home screen was a welcome change. An improved keyboard with the coloration of keys and newer multi-touch support made it a great addition. With the support forefront-facing camera, the selfie-taking hip crowd never felt happier. 

7.  Android 3.0 Honeycomb (2011)

This is perhaps the only Android version that was targeted for tablets, or more specifically, for large screen devices. A Motorola device, which later on became Zoom, was the first one to display Honeycomb. Some design cues were shown in Honeycomb that was later and became integral features of Android. Google started to switch to blue instead of its classic green. Previews were offered for individual widgets that were not available to the end-users. 

Another important aspect was removing the need for a physical button as buttons like Home, Back, and Menu was now included virtually within the software. This made way for larger screens in the future as the screen-to-body ratio now easily increased.

 

8. Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich (2011)

After Nexus S, Google paired up with Samsung once again for the release of Google Nexus, where Ice Cream Sandwich was unveiled with it. The OS brought the aforementioned virtual buttons with blue highlights also quite visible now. Face unlock, data usage analysis, and new apps for mail and calendar also got a boost in this version. 

9. Android 4.1 Jelly Bean (2012) 

Some significant changes were offered by Google with this update so that many things changed for the better. Google Now was a major change through which users could launch it, with a single swipe, calendar events, email, weather reports in a single display. It was a major step forward towards a digital assistant. Touch performance was also enhanced with expandable notifications, and refreshed fonts also significantly improved. 

10. Android 4.4 Kit Kat (2012) 

Nexus 5 was the first phone on which Kit Kat was officially launched, and several new features were unleashed by Google. The look of Android was drastically changed, with the Blue color taking precedence now. And several Android stock apps were redesigned with lighter color schemes. The immensely popular “Ok, Google” search command was introduced to use Google Now any time. 

A new phone-dialer, full-screen apps, and new hangout apps offered SMS support to the Hangouts messaging platform. 

11. Android 5.0 Lollipop (2014) 

Keeping up with the tradition, it was launched with a new Google phone, the Nexus 6. It features Google’s “Material Design” philosophy. Several technical aspects were taken care of, like the introduction of Android runtime, the addition of RAW image support, etc. Android 5.0 also saw the addition of Android TV, which brought Android to the big screen. 

12. Android 6.0 Marshmallow (2015) 

The app menu virtually changed as it looked like a complete overhaul in the design. A white background was used instead of black, and a search bar for finding apps was introduced. Memory manager was another great addition that let you know the app used within a specific time period. Volume controls were also enhanced and changed volume controls for different devices, media, and alarms. 

Fingerprint sensors were given a significant boost with Marshmallow. Also, permission for the app requesting downloading and updating also changed on an as-needed basis. 

13. Android 7.0 Nougat (2016)

Perhaps the most significant upgrade happened with Nougat as it marked a sharp shift in the way the operating system was offering facilities and features to the end-users. Google Now was replaced with Google Assistant, and an improved notification system was also introduced. Multitasking also got a boost so that users could split screens, even if they were using a smartphone or a tablet, without signing out of the apps. 

14.  Android 8.0 Oreo (2017)

Numerous multitasking features were introduced with Android Oreo, like picture-in-picture and native split-screen. Turning notifications channels off was finally a reality so that users could sort notifications based on their importance. The ability to snooze notifications was also introduced. 

New emojis were offered to the users, making them more user-friendly. Auto-enable Wi-Fi and smart text selector were some other notable additions to this version. 

15.  Android 9.0 Pie (2018)

This marked the end of a decade of smartphone launch, and the OS also got a marked improvement for the tenth anniversary. 3-button setup was discarded in favor of a single, pill-shaped button and gestures to control things like multitasking. Marked improvement with notifications was also introduced. Digital Well-being was introduced to make sure users can think about what apps take their most time and how to avoid addiction to them. 

Other features include an adaptive battery, limiting how much battery background apps can use, which was another important update in Android Pie. 

Know about Android Oreo Vs Android Pie

16. Android 10 Pie (2019)

With a total rebranding of the operating system, Google ditched the pretty naming of the Android versions with a simple 10. A new logo was also announced, coupled with a refreshing color scheme. The back button got eliminated with another navigation button and gestures. Dark-mode made the viewing easy and also acted as a potential reason for extending battery life. 

17. Android 11 (2020)

The public beta for Android 11 was released in June 2020. It is available on several flagship devices now, with Google Pixel Phones, Xiaomi, and One Plus, the first ones to receive the update. Smart-home control toggles and within the device control hub, thus making it easier to control any linked smart-home devices. A separate conversation section for notification is available now to let users screen app alerts and other device messages conveniently. 

The permission from each app can also be restricted each time they are opened. The full version was released on September 8, 2020, and now all the users who have got the update are using all the features without any hassle. 

Over to you 

This blog will help businesses look for an app development company as to what features they can rely on and what more they can ask in getting an app for themselves. 

If you think that you can add something valuable to this blog or ask a question, you are welcome. For any feedback or suggestions to make this blog better, please use the comments section below.  

The post A Quick Guide for the History of Android Versions with Emphasis on New Features and Technologies appeared first on Branex Official Blog.

This info-graphic will reveal some mind-blowing mobile marketing statistics that will force social media marketers to take mobile marketing seriously.

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</p> <pre><a href="https://www.branex.ae/blog/infographics/15-mobile-marketing-statistics-will-blow-away/"><img decoding="async" src="https://www.branex.ae/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/15-Mobile-Marketing-Stats-That-Will-Blow-You-Away.jpg" alt="15 Mobile Marketing Statistics That Will Blow You Away – Infographics" title="15 Mobile Marketing Statistics That Will Blow You Away – Infographics"></a><br />Courtesy of: <a href="https://www.branex.ae/">Branex</a></pre> <p>

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Being associated with Branex, a mobile app development company in Dubai, I got a chance to have a look at the new innovations and trends that are being fervently followed and adopted by enterprise apps developers. So, without further ado, I’ll get down to business and share how the enterprise app development scenario is transforming and what are the latest enterprise app development trends that will make an impact in 2017.

1. Security Will Be Top Priority

If you ask any app developer about their app development priorities and they will tell you security comes at the bottom. Due to this, more than 85% mobile apps are facing serious authentication, access control and confidentiality issues. This makes them more vulnerable to identity theft and cyber-attacks.
Thankfully, businesses will start to take app security more seriously in 2017 and make it their top priority to establish foolproof security for enterprise apps. Not only businesses, app developers will develop the apps with security in mind. The focus would be on identifying and fixing the loopholes that undermines security of the user.

2. Data Storage on the Cloud

We have all been hearing the term “Cloud computing” for a long time now. We will see its true applications in enterprise apps in 2017. In order to enhance accessibility, reduce cost and improve efficiency, businesses will harness the power of cloud app development. Businesses will not have to purchase additional hardware to run operations.
Businesses will use cloud platforms such as Microsoft Azure, Google App Engine and VMWare Cloud Foundry to develop, manage and deliver enterprise apps. It provides the flexibility businesses are looking for. With ready to use tools and fast development process, the future of cloud computing looks brighter than ever.

3. Rise of Hybrid Apps

The demand for enterprise apps will skyrocket in 2017. With billions of mobile devices, different screen sizes and multiple mobile platforms, the demand for cross platform and cross-functional apps will grow. Hybrid enterprise apps that can work on variety of mobile operating systems and deliver a native experience will come into its own in 2017. What’s more, businesses can develop hybrid apps quickly with fewer resources. This means that your hybrid enterprise apps will hit the market much quickly as compared to traditional enterprise applications.

4. Wait for Citizen Development Avalanche

Back in the day when the concept of enterprise applications was a novel idea, lack of coordination and synchronization among business units and IT departments was quite apparent, which resulted in app development delays. Today, the situation has completely transformed. Business units are following shadow IT processes with readymade apps, instead of depending on IT department to give them one.

The biggest drawback of this shadow IT application is that IT will not have any control over data and system. To overcome the issue, citizen development will pick up, where end users can build applications using shared services, fourth-generation language (4GL)-style development platforms and cloud computing services. With citizen development tools readily available, businesses can create an app without worrying about security vulnerabilities.

5. Reliance on Front-End Technologies Will Grow

We might see many enterprises ditch the client server architecture and model to make way for front-end technologies such as JQuery, Javascript and Angular JS takes center stage. You do not need to rely on high performance servers anymore. As front-end technologies evolved and web browsers become more capable, hybrid apps started using web browsers for storing data.
This resulted in a paradigm shift in the app development landscape. Tools like GitHub and programming languages and frameworks like Angularjs and JQuery are making it all possible. Extensive use of front-end technology in developing enterprise level apps will become the new norm.

Conclusion

There is no denying that the aforementioned enterprise app development trends will dominate in 2017. Enterprises riding on the waves of latest trends can take the first mover advantage and reap the benefits. If you know about any other app development trend that will dominate enterprise app development in 2017, feel free to share it with us in comments section below.

The post Enterprise App Development Trends to Watch Out For In 2017 appeared first on Branex Official Blog.

When it comes to devising mobile strategies, there are many brands who still think thousand times to develop their own business app. At this scenario, most companies understand the real importance of a strong mobile presence, and investing in mobile app development is not always the easy decision.

The growth of mobile apps is massive and it’s been predicted that the number of mobile users will reach 4.77 billion. And it is obvious that you need an impressive mobile presence but how does your brand know whether or not mobile app development is the right step for your business.

Responsive Design is a Must-Have

If you are investing your time and efforts to design a mobile app, you need to make sure that it’s going to be a worthwhile endeavor for your brand. But prior to taking the step of mobile app development, it’s critical that you first need a website that is mobile-optimized.

A responsive website design is the most important step to take before you design a mobile app. A mobile design adapts the screen size, ensuring that the onsite user-experience is never sacrificed. Without this mobile optimized design, users are often experienced a website layout that required zooming in or out, scrolling, sections that are difficult to click or display fields that are too small.

Does Investing in Mobile App is the Right Move for Your Brand?

When it comes to figuring it out whether a mobile app is the right fit for your company, it is important to consider that there is no one size fits all. But if truth be told, there are some areas of consideration that should help brands to get started on the right direction.

Functionality: Figure out are there some unique design elements that users will not be able to find on your business website.

Convenience: Figure out will your customers be likely to use your business app on a consistent basis? Will your app offer convenience and ease for engaging with your band?

Marketing: Do you have enough budget and resources for mobile app marketing?

Here I’ve discussed some brands that demonstrate these best practices when it comes to mobile app development and are indeed amazing examples of not only beautiful mobile app design, but are actually successful mobile apps that engage users. Since, these brands are entirely different from each other, we can learn a lot from the guidelines and strategies they followed.

Functionality

If your mobile app has the same features, benefits and functionalities as your desktop website, users will show no interest to download it. Content present in your app must be different from your website, no matter if it’s a special feature for users or any unique design element, there should always be something unique that makes your app stand out. If we take it from users’ perspective, an app needs efforts and real estate to offer something unique that catches users’ attention.

When you are in the design and development phase, it is advised to start with a minimized version of your website, so that you can iterate according to the needs of the users.

Let’s take an example of Ray-Ban here: it beautifully integrates unique and exclusive functionality into their app design. The brand offers a myriad variety of sunglasses and eyeglasses and these products are usually difficult to find online. But the virtual try-on feature is awesome.

Users can take a picture of themselves by wearing any single frame that the brand sells, allowing customers to determine which they find most fitting for their face and style prior to making the decision to buy the product. This unique feature takes the idea of offline and physical store shopping to the real world of mobile app shopping.

Convenience

Believe it or not, mobile apps have a very short shelf-life and if they are not used on a regular basis, they are likely to be uninstalled from users’ phones. While making a decision whether or not investing in a mobile app for your business is a good decision or not, it is important to keep in mind your target audience and how likely they will be to regularly engage with your app. Customers open an app only when they are looking to consume content, buy a new discount offer, book a favorite restaurant table, or engage with brand in some way, if your app fulfills their desired needs, you are on the right path.

Let’s talk about Zeel here: customers can enjoy this app in the comfort of their own home. For regular customers, the app makes it much easier to book a message whenever they want to schedule one. With this app, all options required when booking are remarkably easy to fill out and complete the corresponding forms.

Most of all, scheduling the appointment is not a big deal at all. When users download the app and log in with all their important information, all the information automatically saved making it time-efficient to use. Moreover, the app offers a convenient way to book their appointments and is likely to be the easiest way to do so.

App Marketing

Mobile apps are the most effective way to connect with your audience, setting aside a particular budget for your business app can be difficult. Mobile apps are expensive, and it needs time, determination and extra efforts for marketing your app. You might have an engaging, beautifully designed app in the world, but if your audience is not able to find it on play stores and doesn’t know about it, then what’s the point of developing it.

Mobile app marketing is as important as marketing of your brand. Each organization has certain platforms that work best or specific channels where audience engagement is best. To drive more downloads, it is important to emphasize the value proposition at hand and the right audience at the right time with the right marketing tactics.

The strategy Urban Outfitters used for their app marketing is outstanding. They got a massive increase in downloads with their strategic approach. The brand offers reward program UO Rewards that allows users to access all products related to loyalty group right from the app. Users receive special privileges and amazing offers such as contests, sale, events – only when they use the app.

In addition to the reward program, the brand also promotes their app in their email marketing campaigns and place an extra discount when customer make a purchase through the app. The UO Rewards program landing page clearly states the steps required to join and has an entire section about the advantages of using the app.

To Sum Things Up

Mobile apps can be one of the most valuable ways to engage with your audience on a regular basis. But in order to generate success for your brand, it is important that you have a well-defined mobile app strategy prior to getting started with your mobile app design.

It is important to ensure that your app will be used regularly, for this you need to offer something unique and valuable, you must have enough resources, and budget to effectively promote your app. Or simply hire a mobile app development agency that can help you come up with and awesome mobile app with a unique functionality that can make your audience to download and use your app on a regular basis.  

The post What Does It Take for a Brand to Create a Successful Mobile App? appeared first on Branex Official Blog.

Capturing and maintaining customer attention is a huge challenge, but an indispensable one to develop a successful mobile app. Apparently, every problem can easily be solved by using your fingertips and the power of technology, therefore, heightened expectations of the millennial generation make them the ficklest fan and social media critics as well.

These digital natives are the most targeted and important niche for the majority of businesses out there. The millennial generation has grown up with instant connectivity and has witnessed the fastest technological developments in mobile app industry.

Be it’s a matter of education, entertainment, shopping or communication, these individuals are dependent on mobile apps to meet their everyday life needs. These young consumers carry mobiles everywhere, every time. Around 75% of millennials prefer to use mobile apps for online shopping. On average, these young consumers have 20 apps installed in their mobile devices.

This is why, millennials are the target audience for most of the businesses these days and to reach them more and more businesses are planning a mobile app development. The millennial generation’s behavior and preference have increased the need of creating mobile apps for businesses.

While creating a mobile app, it is important to keep in mind that traditional design concepts will no longer work to impress millennial demographics as they are more tech savvy and smart. Moreover, if a mobile app provides a bad user experience, it will prompt them not buy your services or products ever.

Today’s young generation demand seamless user experience with more personalization and creativity. Irrespective to the platform you choose for your mobile app development, be it Android, iOS or Windows, make sure your business app is millennial-friendly. In this blog, I’ve shared some useful mobile app development tips that will help you create an app that will meet millennials standards.

Grab their Attention

As the millennial consumers are tech savvy and have a massive exposure to the app stores’ latest offerings, it is quite challenging for marketers to win their attention. Mobile app developers are advised to design the app in a way that it stands out from hundreds of other mobile apps available in the app stores.

Try to make your business app more interactive, engaging, easy-to-use, with simple navigation. Good functioning and aesthetically appealing user interface are the must-have features of your mobile app development.

Offer Great Convenience

Have you used Uber mobile app? Just a few taps in the app and your vehicle is available at your doorstep. Most of all, the app allows its users to pay directly from their smartphone. Using the e-wallet feature will allow to not adding your credit card details or logging to your online banking service. This is why, offering great convenience to your users is everything, especially when it comes to creating a business app.

There are some other apps that have gain attention of wider audience just because of their convenience. For instance, if you find any news, articles, stories or anything interesting that you want to read, add it to the Pocket app and read it in your spare time. Make sure your app performs well and loads faster as these the crucial factors that can either make or break your app.

Get the Most Out of Social Medial Channels

Unlike baby boomers, today’s digital natives are more influenced by social media networks. The millennial generation prefer checking social media pages of the companies they are planning to make a purchase. When developing a mobile app, embrace social connectivity as it can do wonders. You can allow consumers sign up using one of their social media channels to make it quick for them. In addition, you can allow them to share your mobile app to their social media friends, as this will help you gain more potential users for your app.

Meet their Requirements

For instance, if you are an ecommerce business planning to develop a mobile app, you can allow your regular customers to order products via app and schedule delivery at their convenient time slot. Allowing users to place their order at their convenience while meeting their desires can certainly give you an edge over your competitors.

Carefully find out all the granular level needs of your consumers and learn how to meet their expectations while maintaining quality and offering a great UX. This way, not only you can sell your app to millennials but take your business towards new heights of success.

To Sum Up

Following these mobile app development tips will surely help you capture the millennial market while increasing your brand reach and loyalty. Hire a mobile app development company in Dubai that will transform your idea into app based on your requirements, and make your business reachable to millennials.

The post Mobile App Development Tips to Creating a Millennial-Friendly App appeared first on Branex Official Blog.

Marketers should harness the power of this precious information provided by consumers through mobile and try to improve their mobile marketing efforts to provide more personalized experience.

Most of all, your brand messages are only as effective as the information you have to use. With loads of information generated on the web and across mobile devices, it is very important to link all these channels to one user profile to get the most out of your information.

There are several tools such as KISSmetrics that can help many businesses and mobile app development companies to convert data into insights about real users. Isolated data is only a collection of random numbers, while effectively personalized marketing comes from a meaningful understanding of your users across different channels.

But what type of data marketers need to gather to fuel their marketing efforts? How about creating an engaging brand story for your users with the data you gather to treat your users like real people rather than numbers. Think about what questions they need to be answered.

Brands can use data and segmentation to send their users personalized mobile messages, so that every message seems unique. Here are some questions that every business owner should ask about users to provide personalized mobile experience to their users.

Find Out About Your Users’ Attributes

First of all, your app development company needs to understand who your users are. This information is comparatively straightforward and can be gathered when users initially sign up for your offer. Ask their name, age, location, gender and devices they are using right away.

Now consider the main buyer personas your company wants to target with the mobile marketing endeavors. Find out their demographics, what are their preferences, needs and desires. This way you better understand their intentions prior to start sending mobile messages via push notifications and in-app messages.

Let’s take an example of a famous fashion brand which target demographics for summer dresses. The fashion brand might want to target a group of females age 18- 28. This specific group has similar intentions and can be meaningfully targeted as a segment. To effectively engage this particular demographic, send a customized push notification that motivates them to avail your summer dress sale offer.

User Engagement is important

Gather data about what your users do, track the series of their actions to determine which specific products or services they are most excited about, and which products they simple don’t engage with. This data is critically important for initial user onboarding, so you can target new users if they don’t user a key feature.

Make sure to track time when your users are more active on your mobile app so that you can easily communicate with them at the time they are most likely to engage. Determining how users interact with your brand is crucial to interact with them appropriately, create different messages for different users (new users, dormant, engaged and passers-by users). These segments allow you to create real-time user engagement with your brand.

Figuring out the key behaviors that make users more engaged and understand the warning signs when users are about to leave. If you can directly target your most sensitive users, you can certainly decrease your user churn rate.

Recency is indeed a great way to engage users with some personalized and relevant information. You might send them a push notification and remind them about their favorite products or items they have recently interacted with, to drive them to convert.

Keep Your Users’ Preferences in Mind

By understanding your users’ behavior, you will be able to discover their preferences, needs and desires. Figure out the last product they viewed, have they used a specific service again and again? Do they enjoy reading your content? What category have they added to their shopping cart? Determining this information can help you find about your users’ preferences to come up with some more personalized marketing strategies.

You can get the most out of your customer preferences with personalized mobile marketing. For instance, if you are having a discount on Zappos handbags, it helps you to know which users showed interest in Zappos so you can speak directly to their affinities.

Affinity segments are remarkably powerful if combined with users’ demographics and engagement segments. Because, it will increase the likelihood of encouraging users to convert by spending them a personalized push notification on mobile.

Final Thoughts

In order to succeed in this challenging mobile world, it is critical to get your mobile marketing efforts right with highly personalized push notifications and in-app messages. All you need to understand users across various channels to meaningfully engage with them on mobile. Don’t just rely on data, tell stories about real users. Collect information, segment users, and then personalize your mobile marketing efforts.

You can personalize your mobile marketing messages on the basis of your users’ attributes, engagement and affinity. Make sure your mobile message is unique for users, as these personalized push notifications can help drive user engagement and build brand awareness.

Nowadays, mobile users expect personalized, thoughtful, informative and relevant mobile communications. It’s high time to revise your mobile marketing strategy and delight your mobile users to get more conversions.

The post Modify Your Mobile Marketing Strategy to Get More Engagement appeared first on Branex Official Blog.

Modern technological advancements shape the development of nearly all fields. These changes tend to establish new rules and trends for a specific industry. The mobile market is no different.

When it comes to mobile app design trends, they are usually introduced as the new look of OS, improved functionality, rise of newly developed portable devices and much more. Mobile design standards change from time to time, UI/UX designers now adopting minimalism and simple, intuitive interface that allow users immerse in the new operating system easily.

Over the last few years, mobile has become the most important device for everyone. As a result, more and more mobile design trends are booming. There are many businesses who have already revised their responsive web design strategy and now they are moving towards user interfaces especially designed to polish their brand’s image and increase conversions.

Here I have listed top 5 mobile design trends for 2017 that will drive the future of web design.

1. Material design

2. Card layouts and swipe navigation

3. Use of different colors

4. Motion/Functional animation

5. Wearable devices

1. Material Design

It remained in demand for the last few years and it is called as the catchiest mobile design trend. The main purpose of this trend is to make it easier for users to engage with different platforms. The trend is basically originated from flat design and it will remain trendy for the year 2017 and beyond. Nowadays more and more UI designers are implemented Material Design in different platforms.

The standard version of flat design is modified and included some attributes such as glow visual effects, gradients, shadows along with translucent components. But the functionality and user-friendliness remain the same. Material Design delivers the best users’ experience and easier interaction due to simple colors, clear iconography and improved functionality. Above all, providing better user experience, they make the hierarchy clear for the end user.

Moreover, it doesn’t limit designers to show their creative flair and to add new improvements and modifications. Google various applications such as Google Drive, Google Maps and Gmail meet the standards of Material Design. Other famous platforms Tumblr, Evernote, Telegram have also updated according to the flat design guidelines.

2. Card Layouts and Swipe Navigation

Card layouts is another great trend that can improve the UX by making it interactive, dynamic and engaging. Though this trend is made its debut in 2014 and it is still ruling the mobile app industry and shaping the UX standards and tendencies. The main objective of this trend is to keep UI designers focus more functionality instead of visual effects.

The idea of card layouts is to combine all the important information displaying in special boxes that are outlined differently and provide an easy access to more information with a single tap. Now this mobile app design approach is in great demand among users because it delivers a convenient and efficient user interaction along with important information contained within the separate outlined boxes. This feasibility allows users to sort out and easily organize all the available apps on their devise according to their needs and preferences.

Some popular companies have already started using a wide range of card layouts in boards and feeds. Some famous card layout examples are Facebook, Tweeter, Tinder, Trello and more. Now swipe navigation has become more convenient due to this emerging mobile design trend.

Another great advantage of card layouts is that they not only meet the need of users and designers, but it allows users to simply tap the screen and get a full access to any additional information. These cards are easy to navigate while providing a useful information.

3. Use of Different Colors

Regardless of the fact, white backgrounds and subtle color scheme have been a most demanding trend for a long time introduced by material design, new advancements show new rules and addition of some vibrant colors along with some bold backgrounds.

Though every color defines a meaning of a particular element, material design comes as the most flexible trend that allows both subtle and vibrant colors. Some applications are still sticking to white background and the latest statistics show that more than 80% of all mobile apps use default white backgrounds. However, a few of them go for different colors.

On the other hand, users should have a chance to opt for colors of their choice. In addition, designers must be more flexible considering all these key factors to provide a great user experience.

4. Motion/Functional Animation

This mobile app design trend has debuted in 2015 and according to many experienced UI/UX designers, the motion or functional animation is the main trend for the mobile industry. As it allows users immerse in the process of interaction with the app as well as provides an improve user experience.

The basic idea is not simply to create animation, it serves both logical and entertaining objectives as well. If we compare this to material design that is supposed to be practical, responsive and vivid at the same time, the functional animation trend does not limit UI designers in their creative flair. It can be implemented in different devices regardless of their OS, this functional animation type has a few incompatible features that still follow a specific goal.

So, whenever you want to provide more engaging, dynamic, interactive UX, implement these great features of animated response, zooming and visual effects. There are a wide range of effects and responses you can choose to fit a specific style. The basic objective of this functional animation trend is to allow users understand the mobile app and feel it real. This latest mobile trend enables an entertaining and fun interaction which is certainly every user wants.

5. Wearable Devices

Not only smartphones, tablets, phablets, but wearable devices should be taken into account when we talk about design trends. Wearable devices such as watches and glasses have already taken the audience by storm and are predicted to take strong position in the digital industry in near future. A research suggests that more than 200 million wearable gadgets will be sold by 2019. It clearly indicates that it is the peak time for UI/UX designers to learn the latest concepts and standards to deliver the best, catchy, award-winning design that can implement in wearable devices.

In addition, users must have the opportunity to integrate all functions and tools with their portable gadget. Incorporating an efficient UI/UX design for wearable devices such as Apple Watch, Android Wear has made it challenging for experts in this industry. It results in various intricate features along with some limitations when it comes to the size of the particular device. The main obstacle is related to the need to limit the quantity and functionality of data provided on the display. Designers must stay focused on all the fundamental functions, which is quite challenging. Another problem is about UI/UX design implementation that offer limited user interaction with a wearable device. Designers must need to consider all these complex details from text size to legibility.

Whenever you want to meet all the functional needs, all you need to consider less animation, darker backgrounds and hidden menus. Otherwise, you will fail to deliver functionality along with a product that looks good.

Wrapping it Up

Sticking to the latest trends and standards is actually a great idea. Designers need to adopt new tendencies to meet users’ expectations. The main goal is to allow users access all the necessary apps and functions via thumbs without facing any obstacles.

Though the main UI/UX direction is still the same and there is no dramatic advancement yet. Designers and mobile app developers use all these latest mobile app design trends and approaches while focusing on functionality and interaction. The size of a device always matters most when it comes to design. It shows that material concept will still be the main trend for at least the next few years.

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