Category: Custom Applications

In the corporate aviation industry, operators use safety management systems (SMS) to ensure their compliance with national and international standards. However, the frequent updates made to those standards make the job of cross-referencing an SMS a time-consuming and complicated one. Now, thanks to a former corporate pilot and current auditor who used FileMaker to simplify the process, there's an app for that.

iIS-BAO is designed to the requirements of the International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO), which is maintained by the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC). It also conforms to the U.S.-based National Business Aviation Association and runs on FileMaker for both Mac and Windows as well as on FileMaker Go for iPad. Operators, SMS services providers and auditors can all use it to check compliance.

"Now IBAC is requiring cross-referencing in all its audits," said Phil Fountain, the app's creator, to Aviation International News. "I've included a place for operators to cross-reference each of their requirements to the manual. They can export it to an Excel file and email it to the auditor. The auditor can [input] all his questions and comments… and when he gets into the audit he can have all his questions prepared."

Connecticut FileMaker developer Kyo Logic helps local companies create their own customized business solutions using this highly versatile software. FileMaker's relational database capabilities simplify the process of cross-referencing large volumes of complex information. With professional instruction, users can easily learn how to manage and update their own apps to ensure that they're always keeping track of their business data.

Mobile technology is increasingly adapting to the business world as smartphones and tablets become more powerful and are able to handle enterprise needs. Mobile device management provider Good Technology has published its latest quarterly Mobility Report, which clearly shows this trend.

According to the report, adoption of custom mobile apps by companies grew 107 percent in the third quarter alone, and is up 731 percent over the last year. Custom apps are now the most activated among businesses, ahead of document editing and access software and secure browsing and instant messaging services.

"The rapid rise in custom app development illustrates that organizations are seeing mobility as a real opportunity for competitive advantage and security as a critical requirement in enabling trusted mobility," said Good Technology CEO Christy Wyatt. "We continue to see the rapid growth of both internally developed and commercial applications in the Good Dynamics ecosystem."

The report also classified new mobile device activations by operating system. In the third quarter, 69 percent of all activations were iOS devices, well ahead of Android's 29 percent. Apple had been losing its lead in recent times, but recovered in Q3 thanks to the release of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. Eighty-five percent of all iOS activations in the period were one of the new smartphone models.

From Apple to Microsoft, IT giants have been focusing on making their products more business-friendly in recent times, and application development companies are following suit. This trend is expected to continue, and businesses across all industries should see their options grow even more in the coming months.

In addition to choosing their governor and several other elected officials, voters in New York had a question on their ballots last week regarding the approval of a major bond sale to invest in tech education and facilities. With 48.9 percent of voters casting Yes votes and 30.4 percent against, the Smart Schools Bond Act passed comfortably.

The state will sell $2 billion in bonds through 2019, which it will invest in upgrading technological equipment in schools. The first $1 billion will come in the next fiscal year, with $350 million each of the next two years and the final $300 million in fiscal year 2018-19. With the influx of capital, school districts will be able to pay for computer upgrades, wireless internet and high-tech physical security systems.

While opponents countered that New York has more pressing areas for investment, supporters say that the money will go a long way toward preparing the younger generations for the future employment landscape, where a knowledge of computer science will be an essential requirement. The state wants to ensure that it remains at the forefront of the global business landscape as the STEM fields develop.

The money will be allocated to each district by population. New York City will receive a total of $783 million, which the Department of Education will use to create new pre-kindergarten classrooms and reduce class sizes at other levels.

The Smart Schools Bond Act is part of a large push on the part of city and state authorities to ensure that New York holds the preeminent position in the tech world that it does in so many other business areas.

The Apple Watch doesn't have a release date yet, but the company is looking to encourage third-party developers to work on apps in the coming months. Last week, a new job posting appeared on Apple's official employment website seeking an "Apple Watch Evangelist." The position requires somebody well versed in custom web application development to help others solve any issues with their software.

The Apple Watch poses a unique challenge, as well as unprecedented opportunities, to developers. Not only is it Apple's first wearable device, it has the potential to become the first wearable device to be adopted by the public on a large scale. Its apps will integrate with the existing App Store, but will have to be designed to fit the device and take advantage of its singular functionality.

According to reports, Apple has already released a software development kit, WatchKit, to major social networks. The company's website states that some apps are already in development from large organizations including Major League Baseball and Pinterest.

On Sunday, a leaked transcript of a video call from vice president Angela Ahrendts to employees suggested that the Apple Watch will arrive in stores in the spring of 2015. This should give software developing companies a few months to work on their products before launch. Early news emphasized the device's potential to improve fitness and health care, but the possibilities go well beyond that.

Mobile devices have been a boon for the industry, as they have democratized software development and made it easier for small companies to enter the market. This is only going to become more true as devices become more diverse and the options more varied.

The New York County District Attorney's office has announced that New York Police Department officers and vehicles will begin to receive high-tech devices as part of the NYPD Mobility Initiative. Each of the approximately 35,000 officers in the nation's largest police force will receive a smartphone, and 6,000 rugged tablets, designed to sustain tough field conditions, will be installed in police vehicles. The $160 million investment will be covered entirely by a financial settlement from French bank BNP Paribas.

The devices will be loaded with several apps to make the officers' jobs easier, including a mobile version of the Domain Awareness System, a surveillance platform that was first instituted by the NYPD, which will soon begin licensing it to other law enforcement forces. Officers will be able to access 911 data such as location and even notes from the call-taker, and future planned functionality includes fingerprint scanning and GPS.

Besides modernizing the police force, some observers believe the high-tech solutions could also increase accountability and help prevent abuses. To that end, both Los Angeles and New York City have recently begun equipping officers with personal cameras.

"We must have 21st-century tools to deal with 21st-century threats, and this infusion of new resources will arm our officers with the technology and information they need to fight crime and protect the city against terrorism more efficiently and more effectively," said mayor Bill de Blasio at a press conference.

The modernization of law enforcement also opens up new possibilities for software developing companies. Police departments can't afford to lag behind in technology, and they could benefit greatly from the use of apps designed specifically for their purposes.

It is hardly news that the Internet of Things (IoT) is growing, but a perhaps underrated consequence of that growth is its effect on software companies, which are in many cases finding custom web application development easier than ever before. This is largely due to two trends: as mobile devices are becoming more powerful, technology that was only recently far outside the reach of most small developers is increasingly affordable.

In New York City, a number of small companies are getting on the map with popular apps or gadgets for health and fitness, home security and other areas. Many of these startups are hardware developers taking advantage of two of the most talked-about emerging technologies — 3D printing and the IoT — to design gadgets that are both relatively cheap to manufacture and easily made available to consumers through their mobile devices.

These companies are benefiting from local initiatives both public and private. Among the major companies that are funding accelerators and entrepreneurial networks is marketing agency R/GA, which launched an accelerator a year ago specifically for IoT startups. This accelerator has already attracted the interest of major investors such as crowdfunding site Indiegogo.

As this blog reported, the city itself opened an online resource earlier this month for aspiring businesspeople to find venture capital funding and exchange ideas, which mayor Bill de Blasio called "the first of its kind anywhere in the world." Arguably the financial capital of the world, New York City is nevertheless not considered a powerhouse in the tech industry, but the democratization of IT development is rapidly changing that situation.

Boston-based software company Apperian released the results of a survey of 100 executives at organizations that make extensive use of mobile technology. When questioned on which mobile investments have produced the most satisfying results, the most common response was custom application development, ahead of app management and bring your own device (BYOD) approaches.

Overall, companies reported positive results from mobile adoption, with 60 percent of respondents citing employee satisfaction as the biggest benefit, and 55 percent saying they had gained a competitive advantage. Sixty percent of those who reported a high degree of satisfaction have implemented a BYOD policy. Among the main issues with mobile adoption, security is the most common at 77 percent. Thirty-seven percent of respondents reported a lack of tools to determine return on investment (ROI).

"This study offers a more strategic perspective that can help identify best practices and critical success factors for senior executives to establish and improve their enterprise mobility goals," said Apperian CEO David Patrick. "As mobility in the enterprise continues to gain adoption, defining the optimal enterprise mobility strategy is absolutely critical and the information gained in this study will benefit all who lead mobility initiatives."

In order to address the issue of tracking ROI, software developing companies can adopt custom database software like FileMaker. With a customized database, businesses can keep track of all their relevant financial information and maximize their ROI by investing only in necessary features. The databases can adapt and grow along with the company, and they are fully cloud compatible, so that they remain in line with an enterprise's mobile adoption strategies and can be accessed by remote and field workers.

Following much speculation, Apple publicly introduced its first smartwatch at a headline-grabbing event on Tuesday. The Apple Watch will be in stores early next year, and with it will come plenty of new possibilities in custom application development.

There is really no precedent for a smartwatch from one of the major mobile device makers, which means that the months leading up to its release will likely be a flurry of activity and experimentation on the part of developers. At the unveiling, Apple CEO Tim Cook explained that the Apple Watch will work in conjunction with an iPhone, so many design and functionality elements will be similar. But the watch runs on its own operating system, Watch OS, and has many unique features.

During the presentation, Cook spoke at length about HealthKit, an application programming interface (API) that allows developers to work on health care-related software and tie it in with Apple's own Health app. Indeed, the introduction focused heavily on the Apple Watch's health and fitness applications. The watch will work as a monitor, tracking heart rate as well as the wearer's movements and physical activity, including whether they're walking, jogging or cycling.

Similarly, HomeKit is an API that will link mobile devices with smart home appliances. Other features that were mentioned included locating a car in a crowded parking lot and unlocking a hotel room door. One of the elements that has the greatest potential to be a true game-changer is the ability to use the device as a credit card through the use of near field communication.

For companies that deal in mobile software development, the Apple Watch is a whole new world to explore, with plenty of untapped potential and whose limits we won't fully know for months. 

While custom application development is on the rise, it is sometimes easy to forget about the apps that never reach the public. Now, with mobile operating system iOS 8 already in the hands of developers and, due to reach consumers with the iPhone 6 later this month, Apple has listed the top 10 reasons why app submissions are turned away. The information does not include details on what percentage of apps are rejected.

At 14 percent of all rejections, by far the number one reason for denial during the week of August 21-28 was simply a lack of sufficient information on iTunes Connect, the platform where apps are uploaded and described. A few of the most common causes for rejection are related to apps not being ready for release, because they still have bugs (8 percent), feature placeholder text (4 percent) or are labeled as beta, demo or trial versions (2 percent). Most of the top reasons are specific violations of Apple's guidelines, such as having excessively complex interfaces, irrelevant or false information or incorrect audience ratings.

The top ten reasons account for 58 percent of all rejections, and Apple has not detailed the remaining 42 percent. But for fledgling application development companies, this information can serve as a useful checklist of mistakes to avoid and actions to take before submitting an app. The company has made it clear that the screening process is quite stringent, and developers should not expect to be able to get away with a flawed or unfinished product. Indeed, the post states that the main motivation for its publication was "to help you better prepare your apps before submitting them for review."

Developers would do well to take heed, and ensure that they are putting out quality products that will succeed in the age of iOS 8.

Next month is expected to bring the long-awaited official announcement by Apple of a release date for the iPhone 6, which will come equipped with the company’s latest mobile operating system, iOS 8. While consumers are eager to know when they will be able to line up for the new iPhone, behind the scenes developers are working hard to create apps that will attract user interest, all with the added challenge of not yet knowing the new phone’s specifications.

An all-new smartphone and OS bring fresh opportunities for software development companies to stand out with new products across all categories, from games and other entertainment to apps geared toward more practical areas such as finance and health care. Business software solutions are now easily accessible on mobile devices and can become a key part of operations for corporations of any size.

The iOS version of custom database software FileMaker, known as FileMaker Go, has been available since last year, helping businesses manage their day-to-day operations with such features as signing contracts or recording research. Certified FileMaker developers can provide business software solutions as well as hands-on training to ensure that clients take full advantage of the software’s possibilities and keep up with updates. A new OS can be a hassle for some users, but with proper guidance any consumer can learn to maximize the potential of newly implemented features, turning a potentially difficult situation into an edge over the competition.

iOS 8 is also going to allow developers to work with app extensions on platforms other than the iPhone which, while challenging, is yet another opportunity to stand out. The goal is to bring Apple closer to the “Internet of Things”, a path which FileMaker, with its versions for iOS, OS X and Windows, is already on.