Category Archives: Android Development

Data Dynamo: Unveiling the Supreme Database Titans of 2024

Database ERD

Navigating the labyrinth of technological advancement, particularly in the domain of databases, is not only pertinent but also profoundly engaging. As we step into the throes of 2024, the digital infrastructure of businesses is revolutionized by an array of databases, each a juggernaut in its own right. In this cosmos of data storage and retrieval, uncovering the top database technologies is crucial for tech executives and enthusiasts alike. Within this ensemble of digital titans, several database technologies rise to prominence as the pillars of data management. In this blog we meticulously compare and contrast the premier databases of the year to discern their unique strengths and areas of application. 

MySQL:

MySQL remains a top choice for reliability and cost-effectiveness, known for its ease of deployment and management. Its steadfast commitment to ACID (atomicity, consistency, isolation, and durability) principles ensures the highest level of reliability, essential for modern enterprises.  MySQL’s extensive community support and compatibility with various operating systems make it an ideal solution for businesses of all sizes.

MySQL Database

Beyond these fundamentals, MySQL offers an array of fast-loading utilities accompanied by various memory caches, streamlining the maintenance and administration of servers. Its compatibility with an extensive list of programming languages, with a notable synergy with PHP, means that it can slide seamlessly into almost any technology stack. Moreover, performance is a front-runner, as MySQL delivers high-speed results without having to sacrifice any of its core functionalities.

MySQL, offered by Oracle, provides a balance between cost efficiency and performance. Pricing ranges from $2,140 to $6,420 for 1-4 socket servers and $4,280 to $12,840 for setups over five sockets. Its open-source nature under the GNU GPL enables free usage and customization. Explore MySQL at https://www.mysql.com/.

PostgreSQL:

PostgreSQL ensures Data Integrity with Primary Keys, Foreign Keys, Explicit Locks, Advisory Locks, and Exclusion Constraints. These features orchestrate data access, ensuring transaction consistency and fortifying the database’s resilience against anomalies. PostgreSQL excels in SQL features with Multi-Version Concurrency Control (MVCC) for high throughput. It handles complex SQL queries, including full support for SQL Sub-selects, appealing to SQL aficionados. Streaming Replication ensures high availability and disaster recovery.

Postgre SQL

In stark contrast to many other database technologies, PostgreSQL stands as an emblem of community-driven innovation, provided free of charge. This enterprise-grade database system, while lacking a traditional price tag, does not skimp on capabilities, owing to its development and continued refinement to a dedicated cohort of volunteers and backing enterprises. It prides itself on complete freedom of use under the liberal open-source PostgreSQL License. To peek into the extensive world of PostgreSQL or to become part of its vibrant community, head over to https://www.postgresql.org/.

Microsoft SQL Server:

Microsoft SQL Server stands not just as a pillar in the realm of traditional RDBMS (Relational Database Management System Software) but also as an architect of the ever-expanding Big Data landscape. Harnessing its prowess, organizations can construct their elite Data Lakes, serving as grand repositories that amalgamate disparate data, structured or not, into a cohesive pool. This confluence of data empowers users to embark on insightful expeditions across their entire datasets, directly querying the vast lakes without the onerous need to move or replicate precious data.

In the name of security—a paramount concern in today’s data-driven universe—Microsoft SQL Server brings its A-game with cutting-edge tools for data classification, protection, and monitoring. It stands vigilant, constantly scanning for anomalies, and is a fortifying digital fortress with timely alerts on any suspicious activities, security gaps, or configuration errors.

SQL Database

Microsoft SQL Server’s graphical tool empowers users to design, create tables, and explore data without intricate syntax. It seamlessly integrates data from various sources via an extensive connector library. With new transformations in the SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS) Tabular Model, users gain advanced capabilities to manipulate and combine data.

Microsoft SQL Server offers diverse editions to suit various enterprise needs. The Enterprise edition is priced at $15,123, while the Standard edition offers options like per-core pricing ($3,945), server pricing ($989), and CAL option ($230). Volume licensing and hosting channels further influence pricing. Learn more at https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/sql-server/sql-server-2022-pricing.

MongoDB:

MongoDB’s architecture ensures that scaling to meet the demands of growing data is never an impediment. Thanks to its intrinsic scalability, it can flaunt clusters that burgeon past the hundred-node mark effortlessly, managing millions of documents without breaking a sweat. Its widespread adoption across a myriad of industries is a testament to MongoDB’s capability to handle expansive and intricate datasets. MongoDB ensures high availability through replica sets, guaranteeing uninterrupted service and data durability. In cases of hardware failure, it redistributes load across servers or duplicates data to maintain operational integrity, ensuring a seamless user experience.

Mongo DB

MongoDB, a prominent figure in the NoSQL landscape, provides a free entry point through MongoDB Atlas’s perpetual free tier. Celebrated for scalability and developer-friendliness, MongoDB remains a strong player in data management. Discover more at https://www.mongodb.com/pricing.

Oracle: 

Oracle’s resilience and data recovery features are vital for uninterrupted business operations. Real Application Clusters (RAC) ensure high availability by enabling multiple instances on different servers to access a single database. This fault-tolerant and scalable setup underscores Oracle’s commitment to continuous operation, even during server failures. 

Oracle’s service offerings cater to a wide array of demands, providing precise solutions for diverse business requirements. Starting with the Oracle Database Standard Edition, which offers essential features for typical workloads, users can scale up to the Enterprise Edition for more comprehensive capabilities. Additionally, Oracle provides specialized tiers such as the High Performance and Extreme Performance editions, designed to meet the demands of high-throughput and mission-critical environments. 

Oracle DB

Each tier is carefully crafted to deliver optimal performance and reliability, ensuring that businesses can effectively manage their data infrastructure. Furthermore, Oracle’s pricing structure accommodates varying usage scenarios, with options for flexible scaling based on virtual CPU (vCPU) usage. To review Oracles pricing structure click here

Remote Dictionary Server (Redis):

Redis shines in caching and in-memory data handling, offering unparalleled speed and versatility. Supporting various data structures like strings, lists, hashes, bitmaps, HyperLogLogs, and sets, Redis caters to the diverse needs of modern applications. Moreover, Redis seamlessly integrates with popular programming languages like Java, Python, PHP, C, C++, and C#, ensuring compatibility across different development environments and accelerating data-intensive operations.

Redis

Redis offers a dynamic ecosystem where free open-source frameworks coexist with commercial variants. While the community version is free, enterprise solutions like Redis Enterprise, with enhanced features and support, operate on a subscription model. Explore Redis offerings on their website.

Elasticsearch:

Elasticsearch represents the epitome of scalability seamlessly embraced in its design. Out-of-the-box distributed systems are the backbone of its architecture, enabling data to be reliably shared across multiple servers and nodes, hence bolstering higher availability and resilience in the face of demanding workloads.  This design decision is not just a matter of capability; it represents a promise of reliability, ensuring that as data volumes escalate, Elasticsearch stands prepared to accommodate the surge seamlessly. 

Elasticsearch, a prominent member of the NoSQL ecosystem, adopts a dual licensing model, offering users the choice between the Server Side Public License (SSPL) or the Elastic License. This flexibility allows organizations to select the licensing option that best fits their needs and compliance requirements. In addition to its licensing options, Elasticsearch introduces a unique billing system based on Elastic Consumption Units (ECUs), which aligns usage with expenditure. This innovative approach enables organizations to scale their Elasticsearch deployments elastically according to their requirements, without being bound by traditional fixed licensing models. To review Elasticseach’s pricing structure click here .

Oracle DB

Cassandra:

Cassandra excels in fine-tuning consistency levels for data operations, allowing developers to balance performance and accuracy. Its column-family data model adeptly handles semi-structured data, providing structure without compromising schema flexibility. With the Cassandra Query Language (CQL), which resembles SQL, transitioning from traditional databases is simplified. This, coupled with standard APIs, positions Cassandra as a scalable, reliable, and user-friendly database choice, lowering adoption barriers for tech teams.

Apache Cassandra, rapidly rising in the NoSQL landscape, is renowned for its free and open-source nature. For enterprise-grade support and features, commercial vendors offer options. Amazon Keyspaces (for Apache Cassandra) provides decentralized storage, billing $1.45 per million write request units and $0.29 per million read request units. Explore more at https://cassandra.apache.org/_/index.html.

MariaDB:

MariaDB stands out with advanced features like microsecond precision, crucial for time-sensitive applications, table elimination for optimized query processing, scalar subqueries for enhanced functionality, and parallel replication for faster database synchronization and analytics. Its compatibility with major cloud providers simplifies deployment and management in cloud infrastructures. MariaDB supports various storage engines, including Aria for crash safety, MyRocks for efficiency, and Spider for sharing across servers, offering flexibility and functionality for diverse data types and use cases.

MariaDB is a forerunner in the open-source database community maintaining  its allegiance to cost-effectiveness and robust efficiency. Ideal for newcomers to the AWS ecosystem, the Amazon RDS for MariaDB invites users with its introductory Free Tier – inclusive of substantive resources to pilot their database endeavors. For details on how to harness this SQL-driven database for your transformative projects, consult MariaDB’s central hub.

Database Total

IBM DB2:

DB2 is a trusted enterprise data server, facilitating seamless deployment across on-premises data centers and public/private clouds. Its flexibility enables organizations to adopt hybrid data management approaches aligned with operational needs and strategic goals. DB2 excels in data compression, featuring adaptive compression, value compression, and archive compression, significantly reducing storage footprints and costs. Administrative tasks are simplified with DB2’s self-tuning and self-optimizing features, driven by machine learning. This ensures optimal database performance with minimal intervention, reducing time and effort for routine maintenance and tuning.

IBM

IBM’s offering in the data management framework, DB2, acquaints users with its prowess through a complimentary trial on the IBM Cloud. This gesture extends to a no-strings-attached experience, with an available upgrade to a paid tier at USD 99 per month, comprehensive of full functionality and sweetened by USD 500 in credits. Questers of this high-caliber database solution can embark on their journey by navigating to  https://www.ibm.com/products/db2/pricing.

SQLite:

SQLite’s appeal lies in its simplicity and ease of use. It operates without a separate server process, complex installation, or administration. A complete SQL database is stored in a single cross-platform disk file, requiring no configuration, making it highly portable and ideal for simplicity-focused scenarios. Additionally, SQLite adheres broadly to SQL standards, supporting commands like SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE, making it familiar to developers accustomed to other SQL databases. Being in the public domain, SQLite can be freely used and distributed without any restrictions, fees, or royalties.

SQLite, remaining loyal to the public domain, provides all-inclusive accessibility to its database solutions, with no fees levied for any usage. As the quintessence of an easily embeddable, lightweight relational database engine, SQLite is the go-to for myriad applications across the globe, with Microsoft not just embracing, but actively integrating it. Encounter SQLite in its purest form at its principal domain: SQLite.

Data Lake

Amazon DynamoDB:

DynamoDB provides consistent single-digit millisecond response times for large-scale applications. Its architecture allows seamless, on-demand scaling without manual intervention, ensuring performance under varying demands. Multi-AZ deployments ensure high availability and fault tolerance, with fast failovers and data replication across three Availability Zones for accessibility and security. Native support for document and key-value data models optimizes performance for distinct access patterns, enhancing efficiency.

Amazon DynamoDB offers an attractive free tier with 25 GB of storage and 25 units each of Write and Read Capacity, sufficient for managing 200 million monthly requests. Its On-Demand billing charges $1.25 per million write request units and $0.25 per million read request units, allowing flexibility to scale with demand. Learn more from Amazon’s DynamoDB guide. To review Amazon DynamoDB’s pricing structure click https://aws.amazon.com/dynamodb/pricing/.

In Conclusion

While relational databases continue to shoulder the bulk of transactional workloads, NoSQL databases have adeptly found their place in handling the complexities of semi-structured and unstructured data. The choice of database, as always, is contingent on the specific needs and nuances of individual businesses. As we continue to delve into the big data era, it is not just the deployment of databases that is vital but also the synthesis of these technologies with wider business strategies.

Mapping the Future: Essential Mobile Application Development Languages for Tech Innovators

sample mobile phone graphics

Mobile applications have become an important part of our lives, and as a result, building mobile apps has become a booming industry. With over 3.2 billion smartphone users, it is only reasonable to see businesses gravitating towards building mobile apps as part of their digital strategy. As a business owner navigating this dynamic landscape, understanding the key programming languages driving mobile app development is paramount. Developing mobile applications that meet user’s needs requires competence in one or more programming languages. In this blog, we will provide an overview of the top mobile application development languages including their advantages and potential drawbacks.

Java Programming Language

Java: 

As a highly versatile language, Java is known for its ‘write once, run anywhere’ capability. This feature grants developers the flexibility to create apps that can function across multiple platforms while promoting cost-effectiveness. Its wide use in Android app development is a testament to its adaptability, making it a popular choice for different types of mobile applications. Further, Java exhibits robustness and scalability, attributed to its suitability for developing large-scale applications – a key reason why it’s favored in enterprise-level solutions. Here is how Java’s application development language is impacting industries.

Java (Android): Google – Google, the creator of the Android operating system, extensively utilizes Java for Android application development. Notable apps built using Java include Gmail, Google Maps, and Google Drive.

Swift (iOS): 

Swift, the cornerstone of native iOS application development, is known for its superior performance. Designed to be fast and efficient, it significantly enhances the overall performance of iOS applications. Additionally, Swift’s modern features enhance code safety and readability, reducing the potential for errors and improving the overall development experience. Its constant evolution, courtesy of Apple’s support and a growing community, makes it a continually improving language.

Swift (iOS): Apple – As the originator of Swift, Apple naturally employs this language for its iOS app development. Examples of Swift-built apps include Apple Music, iWork, and the Apple Store app.

Kotlin (Android):

Kotlin is a relatively new programming language that is gaining popularity for building Android apps. Since its release in 2011, it has become the official programming language for native Android apps. Kotlin’s concise syntax supports developers in writing more maintainable and readable code.

Kotlin has become the official language for Android app development due to its seamless interoperability with existing Java code, allowing for a smooth transition for developers. Known for its conciseness and expressive syntax, Kotlin reduces boilerplate code, thereby making development more efficient. With its modern language features, Kotlin simplifies complex tasks and offers enhanced functionality.

Kotlin (Android): Pinterest – Pinterest has adopted Kotlin for its Android app development due to its conciseness and compatibility with Java. The transition to Kotlin has effectively streamlined Pinterest’s app development processes.

JavaScript

JavaScript, coupled with frameworks like React and React Native paves the way for cross-platform development. This allows developers to build applications for both iOS and Android from a single codebase, fostering greater efficiency. Add to this, the immense JavaScript community and rich libraries, and developers will have access to faster development cycles and a wide range of resources.

JavaScript (React Native): Facebook & Alibaba React Native, which enables cross-platform development from a single codebase, is Facebook’s chosen framework for mobile app development. The Facebook and Instagram apps are a testament to this. The Alibaba app, a prominent e-commerce platform, also utilizes React Native for app development.

Python: 

Python’s simplicity and readability make it an excellent choice for rapid prototyping and development. With a supportive community that provides a wealth of libraries and frameworks for mobile app development, Python enhances productivity. While not as common as Java or Swift for mobile development, Python showcases versatility, making it suitable for particular types of applications like data-driven and educational apps.

Python (Kivy, BeeWare): Instagram – Instagram uses Python, albeit not as its primary language, for backend development. Python’s simplicity and versatility are advantageous for rapid prototyping and backend infrastructure management.

C# Programming languages

C#:

C# (C Sharp), developed by Microsoft, stands out as a versatile and powerful language for mobile app development. Known for its strong adherence to object-oriented programming principles, C# fosters the creation of modular and scalable code, enhancing application maintainability. With a vibrant developer community, many businesses find C# essential for efficient and scalable mobile applications, especially within the Microsoft ecosystem or for cross-platform endeavors. 

C# leverages this powerful language extensively for the development of various mobile applications, including those integral to its own product and service offerings. Notably, Microsoft combines C# with Xamarin, another one of its creations, to bolster its app development capabilities. This powerful blend of technologies underpins the development of flagship applications such as Microsoft Office and Azure. Harnessing the synergy of C# and Xamarin, Microsoft continues to innovate, delivering robust applications that cater to a wide array of user needs and preferences.

Objective – C:

Objective-C is an object-oriented language that was the primary language for building iOS apps before Swift. Even with the introduction of Swift, Objective-C remains an important language for businesses and developers looking to build new apps. This object-oriented programming language, developed by the tech giant Apple, was instrumental in the creation of numerous apps that transformed the mobile landscape. Its dynamic runtime and the ability to use C and C++ libraries gives Objective-C an edge for particular types of applications. It offers a structured approach to programming and a large body of pre-existing open source code, enabling developers to build robust and efficient applications.

Objective-C (iOS): Uber – Uber initially built its iOS app using Objective-C. While Uber is transitioning to Swift, it continues to maintain and update its Objective-C code as part of the migration process.

React Native

React Native:

React Native, developed by Facebook, revolutionizes mobile app development by enabling cross-platform compatibility with a single codebase, streamlining both iOS and Android applications. Its efficiency stems from a component-based architecture, facilitating the creation of reusable user interface elements and eliminating the need for separate development cycles for each platform.

React Native (Facebook): As the developer of React Native, Facebook utilizes the framework for its own mobile applications, including the flagship Facebook app.

Flutter:

Flutter, an open-source UI toolkit by Google, is reshaping application development by allowing the creation of natively compiled apps for mobile, web, and desktop from a single codebase. Its emphasis on expressive user interfaces is powered by the Dart programming language. A notable feature is the ‘hot reload,’ enabling instant visualization of changes during development for swift iterations.

Flutter (BMW):  A recognized titan in the automotive industry, has not been shy about embracing cutting-edge technologies like Google’s Flutter to enrich its mobile applications and projects. The German automaker has seen the value in Flutter’s fast development cycles, expressive UI, and native performance, utilizing it to deliver high-quality, immersive user experiences. 

Flutter (Capital One): A renowned name in the financial services sector, has been at the forefront of technological innovation and has recognized the potential of Flutter in mobile application development. Capital One was quick to adopt Flutter, finding it to be a versatile and efficient tool in its technological arsenal. The company opted for Flutter due to its unique features that allow for the creation of high-quality native experiences on both iOS and Android from a single codebase.

The choice of a mobile app language significantly influences factors such as performance, speed, community support, and platform compatibility. Therefore, developers need to carefully consider project requirements, target platforms, and personal preferences when deciding on the most suitable language for their mobile app development projects

top mobile application languages

Challenges and Opportunities

In the fast-paced world of mobile application development, optimal language selection can be a game-changer. Each language presents its own unique set of challenges and opportunities. 

Java, hailed for its versatility, grapples with performance optimization and interface responsiveness. However, its platform-independent nature and rich libraries lend themselves well to cross-platform development and the creation of scalable enterprise solutions. 

Swift, Apple’s first language of choice for iOS development, despite being exclusive to Apple devices, presents an opportunity to create high-quality applications. Its strong focus on safety and modern syntax enhances app quality and stability, spelling success for developers in the Apple ecosystem.

Kotlin, now recognized as the official language for Android, may seem challenging for developers transitioning from Java. Nevertheless, it’s recognized for increasing productivity and improving app performance on the Android platform, making it an attractive option for Android development. 

JavaScript, especially when utilized with frameworks like React Native confronts issues owing to its single-threaded nature. However, despite these challenges, JavaScript continues to be a powerhouse for cross-platform development largely because of the scale of its adoption and the strength of its developer community. Additionally, with React Native, developers have the advantage of writing once and deploying on multiple platforms, thereby increasing efficiency and reducing the time-to-market.

Python, despite the challenges presented by the Global Interpreter Lock affecting concurrency, stands out for its simplicity and adaptability. It is a popular choice for rapid prototyping, data-driven applications, and educational software development. 

C#, used alongside Xamarin, faces challenges related to file sizes and some native limitations. Despite this, its capacity to target both iOS and Android users with a single codebase makes it a worthwhile consideration for businesses. 

Objective-C, while losing its relevance to Swift, remains a viable option, especially for transitioning to modern iOS development while leveraging existing codebases. 

React Native, a JavaScript and JSX framework, is lauded for its hot-reload feature and its capability for cross-platform development, despite challenges with the integration of native modules and performance optimization. The framework’s cost-efficiency and the ability for the same code to be used for Android and iOS platforms make it attractive for businesses. Its large and supportive developer community continuously works on improving the framework, making it a compelling choice in the evolving digital landscape.

Flutter Programming

Flutter, a primary concern is the relatively large file size of Flutter applications, which might hinder app performance, especially on devices with limited storage. There’s also the learning curve associated with Dart, as it’s not as widely used as JavaScript or Python. An advantage is its ability to create beautiful, highly customized user interfaces with ease thanks to its widget-based architecture. 

Future Possibilities

Looking forward, the future of mobile application development languages is ripe with exciting possibilities for innovation and advancements. Java, revered for its adaptability, stands ready to take on an integral role in developing sophisticated enterprise solutions. Its potential is not just limited to this; it also holds significant promise in contributing to the burgeoning technologies of the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Java’s future looks optimistic, with anticipated advancements set to elevate its capabilities further. Enhanced support for modern features, potential synergy with emerging technologies such as Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR), along with advancements in security and performance optimization, are all on the horizon. 

Swift, as the main language for iOS development, will continue to evolve, opening up a plethora of engaging prospects. It is expected to see enhancements in its features and even extend its usage beyond the realm of Apple devices. Swift’s potential integration with Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) technologies is sure to create a vibrant new dimension in the iOS app development ecosystem. 

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Kotlin, as the official language for Android development, may gain in prevalence even further, possibly surpassing Java in the near future. With continuous improvements in syntax simplification, enhanced interoperability, and broader adoption across various software development domains, Kotlin’s future looks bright and promising.

JavaScript, its destiny resides in the ongoing evolution of frameworks such as React Native. The language is projected to maintain its dominance in cross-platform development, supported by consistent advancements in User Interface (UI) frameworks and capabilities. 

Python, renowned for its versatility, is set to gain even more relevance, particularly in the fields of data science, machine learning, and AI applications. Its simplicity is a key factor in its suitability for rapid prototyping. As these domains continue to expand, Python’s role in mobile development is expected to become even more prominent. 

C#, especially when used with Xamarin and .NET, holds future potential in the realm of cross-platform development. It’s well-positioned to contribute to the creation of applications that target both iOS and Android users with a single codebase.

Objective-C is likely to remain relevant due to the extensive existing codebases and the transition period as developers adapt to newer languages. Potential scenarios include continued support for Objective-C in maintaining legacy apps, gradual migration to Swift, and the language potentially finding applications in specific use cases where its features prove advantageous.

React Native’s future is promising, driven by its cross-platform capabilities, rapid development features, and robust developer community. Anticipated advancements include improved performance and broader adoption across industries, ensuring its continued relevance in mobile app development.

Flutter’s future appears robust, with its capacity to streamline high-performance cross-platform applications from a single codebase. Ongoing improvements and strong community support position Flutter as a leading choice, potentially extending its reach into emerging technologies like AR and VR. As businesses increasingly adopt Flutter for efficient and versatile mobile app development, its trajectory points towards sustained prominence in the evolving landscape.

The future of mobile application development languages is characterized by continuous innovation, adaptability, and a significant role in shaping the next generation of mobile experiences. This rapidly evolving landscape is a testament to the power of these languages and their potential to transform the mobile app development ecosystem. As the demand for high-quality, user-friendly mobile applications continues to rise, it is clear that these languages will play a vital role in meeting those needs and driving innovation in the industry. With ongoing updates and advancements, developers can look forward to an exciting future filled with endless possibilities.

What Are the Real Differences?: Spotify and Apple Music Compared

Portable music has evolved over the last four decades, from the invention of the Walkman in 1979 to the discontinuation of Apple’s iPod in 2022, as smartphones are now the preferred choice of listening to music. If you’ve ever put on a pair of headphones to listen to music on-the-go, or connected your phone to your car, it’s likely that you’re opening your favorite music streaming app on your phone and pressing “play”. The two main players in this space are Spotify and Apple Music. But what are the differences?

DIFFERENCES IN STREAMING

Spotify currently offers over 82 million songs while Apple Music offers over 100 million songs. Both services provide songs in any genre, from almost any country imaginable. Depending on one’s plan, songs can be saved to their music libraries and accessed both online and offline. Users can also create their own custom playlists. Spotify has an edge and allows the option to create collaborative playlists between its users, who are primarily younger adults.

Spotify tracks the types of music their users listen to and create personalized playlists based on their listenings. Earlier this year they released the DJ, a personalized AI guide that knows their users music tastes and chooses what to play. Similar to Spotify, Apple Music’s algorithm curates songs based on users’ listening habits. Apple Music also allows users to ask Siri to put on a song, genre, or artist of their choice which adds a layer of convenience.

For that time when you have a song stuck in your head, but can’t remember its name, both services allow users to search for a song based on lyrics alone. They also both display a song’s lyrics while playing.

DIFFERENCES FOR PODCASTS

Maybe you’re about to put on the highly-anticipated new episode of your favorite podcast– here are the differences?

Conveniently, Spotify hosts all of its podcasts within the same app as its music. Users can preview an episode of the podcast by accessing the “Podcasts and Shows” section of its app. Here, a user’s favorite podcasts (and new episodes of the podcast) will appear first, followed by algorithm-based recommendations. It’s easy to search for a podcast or show in the search bar, as well.

While Apple shares similar features to Spotify, it separates podcasts from Apple Music within a separate app – Apple Podcasts. This is something to take into consideration if you prefer having one central app for your listening needs.

DIFFERENCES IN SOUND QUALITY

Both Spotify and Apple Music stream in high quality, but Apple Music offers the option (at no extra cost) to listen to its entire inventory in lossless audio compression. The majority of audio compression techniques lose some data from the original source file. Lossless compression preserves all of the data. Spotify does not offer its entire catalog in lossless audio.

Apple Music offers listening in Dolby Atmos which creates a three-dimensional audio experience through compatible stereo headphones and speakers. Select tracks and albums are identified by the Dolby Atmos badge (two semi-circles facing one another).

Spotify has a graphic equalizer (EQ) setting that allows users to customize their sound by changing bass effects. Apple Music has an equalizer as well and can be accessed through your device’s (Settings > Music > Audio > EQ). Currently, there is no equalizer in Apple Music for Android.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

Cost is a factor that can’t be ignored. On July 24, 2023, Spotify announced that it would be increasing its subscription pricing for the first time since 2011. Its Premium prices, which started at $9.99, are now the same as Apple Music’s (aside from a couple of differing plan options).

Spotify Pricing (as of July 24, 2023):

  • Premium Individual – $10.99/month (previously $9.99/month)
  • Premium Duo (allows for two users under one plan, designed with couples in mind)- $14.99/month
  • Premium Family (allows for up to six users, residing at the same address, under one account) – $16.99/month
  • Premium Student – $5.99/month

Apple Music Pricing

  • Voice – $4.99/month
  • Individual – $10.99/month
  • Family (allows for up to six users, in the same region, under one account) – $16.99/month
  • Student – $5.99/month

What about free options? Spotify offers a free service with ads and a limited number of skips for songs. Apple Music does not offer a free service, but does offer free trials to its plans. Its lowest plan is Voice, which has limitations such as the ability to download songs to your library for offline listening.

HOW MANY WAYS CAN YOU LISTEN?

Apple Music and Spotify are found in the iOS and Android app stores. However, currently Spotify is available on more platforms than Apple Music. Spotify users can currently be accessed through Mac OS, Windows, iOS, Android, tablets, and TVs. A number of car companies have a builtin Spotify feature, like Jaguar Land Rover, Volvo, BMW, MINI, TESLA, and GMC. Spotify is also accessible through Apple CarPlay.

Spotify has seamless cross-device playing, allowing users to play music in “Multi Mode” from the app when connected to a speaker or other audio system through WiFi. “Multi Mode” connects multiple speakers to play synchronized music simultaneously.

Apple Music is currently available on iTunes, iOS, Android, and Apple CarPlay. The ability to cross-play from any device exists for Apple Music as well, as long as the devices are all under the same Apple ID.

Both Spotify and Apple Music offer desktop listening. Spotify’s streaming service was available on desktop before its mobile app was created. It’s available for Windows and Mac. Recently, in June 2023, Spotify made some key changes to its desktop version to improve user experience. Notably, “Your Library” is on the left-hand side of the app and makes it easier to find and switch between playlists. “Now Playing” is on the right-hand side. Also in this panel are artist info (depending on the song), possible tour dates and merch links, as well as the current queue. Both of these panels are adjustable by size.

Apple Music’s desktop app features its “Listen Now”, “Browse”, “Radio”, “Library”, and “Playlists” options in its side bar, which can be adjusted to become more compact in size. Apple Music also has a mini player option. Another convenient feature of Apple Music is that it houses songs previously saved in an iCloud Music Library in the app library. Apple Music is available and fully supported for Mac, but its Windows desktop app is a “preview” or native app. Apple Music for Windows does not have all of the features as Apple Music for Mac. Some Windows users have also reported that the search feature is slower in the native app than the supported app or online version.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Anyone that opens their Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter near the end of each year, will likely see different Wrapped playlists all over their friends’ stories or posts. Spotify holds a larger social media presence than Apple Music. Spotify has 10.2M Instagram followers, 12M Twitter followers, and 23M Facebook Likes. Spotify is consistently posting across its platforms for new song releases, artist updates, top track lists, artist interviews, and memes. Its social media pages primarily target Gen Z and Millenials.

Apple Music has 4.6M Instagram followers, 10.2M Twitter followers, and 3.9M Facebook Likes. Its Instagram and Facebook numbers are significantly lower than Spotify’s. Apple Music also posts frequently and shares artist interviews, new song releases, and exclusive content. Its pages target a wider audience. The posts aren’t geared towards just young adults but older adults, as well.

TAKEAWAYS

Both services share similarities when it comes to the music selection offered, though Apple Music hosts about 20 million more songs than Spotify. Both allow for saving songs to libraries, creating playlists, searching for songs by lyrics, and lyric display per song. Spotify, available through more platforms, has an equalizer, has podcasts within the app and an ad-based free option. Apple Music hosts podcasts separately but has lossless compression and Dolby Atmos options for its sound. Apple Music has an equalizer for iOS and Mac devices only.

Spotify has a desktop app that is designed for both Windows and Mac and improves the app for user functionality. Apple Music’s desktop app is not fully compatible with Windows and is in its native phase, which has caused some users to complain. Spotify also has a greater social media presence than Apple Music, as its target audience is young adults.

When it comes down to picking your streaming platform, it may be because you prefer one type of device over the other, you favor a certain type of sound quality, or a specific functionality feature sticks out to you. All in all both platforms are great and will certainly be increasing their libraries and functionalities as time moves on.

How 5G Is Unlocking the Hidden Potential of Mobile Gaming

5G is the fastest growing mobile generation of all time. There are 236 active 5G subscriptions with 3 billion 5G subscriptions anticipated by 2025. The vastly improved speed will have a transformative impact on a number of technologies—especially mobile gaming.

The game industry generates over $175 billion in revenue. Mobile gamers constitute over 2.6 billion mobile gamers worldwide. Mobile gaming is big business and 5G stands to unlock even more hidden potential in a variety of ways.

SAY GOODBYE TO LATENCY

Imagine thousands of players simultaneously playing Call of Duty on mobile devices with no lag and professional-level speed. Mobile operators like Ericsson are pushing the 5G revolution everyday to make these scenarios a reality.

In competitive gaming, latency can make or break a game. Online gamers can easily become frustrated and churn if latency ruins their experience. With speeds up to 10Gbps, 5G delivers 10 times the speed of 4G LTE. Response times as low as 5 milliseconds will virtually eliminate lag between input and response. As 5G becomes more reliable, it will hold true even for massive online games with a large number of competitors.

In a recent survey conducted by OpenSignal on the best networks for gaming experiences, mmWave 5G led the way—ahead of private wi-fi networks.

OFFLOADING PROCESSING

For IoT developers, 5G’s ability to bolster cloud computing poses major opportunities. 5G enables simple devices and sensors to complete complex tasks by offloading major processing duties to the cloud.

Mobile gaming can similarly benefit from the raw speed of 5G. Higher bandwidth and lower response times open up the possibility of offloading key processes. Games will be able to handle more arduous rendering duties remotely, producing a higher quality stream. With the cloud carrying the workload, the quality and age of the user’s device would matter significantly less provided the user has a 5G data plan. Gamers will still be able to expect the same high-quality experiences regardless of whether they have the latest smartphone.

AR AND VR BOON

Massive increases in streaming speed and cloud processing power will enable AR and VR developers to take their projects to the next level. Expect to see bigger, more detailed and immersive virtual worlds. For AR and VR apps to realize their potential, data needs to be rendered at the moment of decision-making. Lag and latency take users out of what’s intended to be the pinnacle of immersive gaming. The speeds of 5G will trigger a momentous evolution for AR and VR gaming.

CAN MOBILE GAMING OVERTAKE CONSOLES?

Smartphones provide game developers with the broadest platform and userbase. The bolstered processing power provided by smartphones with 5G will enable mobile devices to provide graphics on par with consoles. However, before mobile gaming can dethrone console gaming in terms of popularity, there are a few roadblocks.

While some major console games are available on mobile devices, the vast majority are not. Gamers are not at the point where they expect the same games on their mobile devices. Until game developers can effectively transfer major franchises to mobile devices, console gaming will remain king.

One of the major obstacles facing mobile gaming is the controller. iOS and Android touch screens simply cannot match the precision of playing on an Xbox Series X or PS5. Gamepads like the Backbone One latch onto smart devices to enable more fluid controls, but they also take away the mobile aspect of games since they are arduous to carry. Furthermore, they require every game to map inputs to each controller’s layout. The controller poses a simple but major problem and until it’s addressed, console gaming will provide more reliable experiences.

Mystic Media Announced as a 2022 Local Excellence Award Winner by UpCity!

For more than a decade, UpCity’s mission has been—and continues to be—to help businesses find B2B service providers they can trust. The UpCity Recommendability Rating was developed to determine a service provider’s credibility and recommendability, giving UpCity the confidence to recommend them to the more than 2 million businesses that visit their site.

Each year, UpCity analyzes and scores more than 70,000 service providers based on their UpCity Recommendability Rating and acknowledges the top national and local providers with an UpCity Excellence Award. The results are in, and we won!

We are proud to announce that the Mystic Media team has been recognized as one of the top B2B service providers of 2022 in the Salt Lake City area by UpCity!

Joe Banks, SVP of Engineering at UpCity, had this to say about Mystic Media:

“The team at Mystic Media brings decades of combined experience and quality that helps them stay ahead of the curve in all things digital. We are proud to recognize them with a 2022 Local Excellence Award. Congratulations!” —Joe Banks, SVP of Engineering, UpCity

This recognition has been driven in large part by our 4.9-star review rating on UpCity. Here are a few of our favorite pieces of feedback we’ve received from our incredible customers:

      • “This was a joint effort where we developed the hardware interface between our controller and Mystic Media developed the iOS app. Consequently, there was a lot of information exchange and testing during the process. The basic user interface was completed by Mystic Media in very short order. The rest of the development was the implementation of the various inputs and outputs. The interface retrieves and passes to the door controller via an RS485 communication port. The commands the app sends to the controller via the interface are in hexadecimal. I was very pleased with the speed and efficiency of the development and the ‘can do’ attitude of Mystic Media. They are very professional, respectful, and easy to work with. I would use them again.” – Carl Goodman, June 2021
      • “We hired Mystic for a large and complex project and are very happy with our experience. We were well out of our element with only an idea and a rough one at that. Their creative and knowledgeable team took our idea and pulled us into a process that was efficient and truly felt like a partnership. They care and want to help us see our vision through. We are currently very close to completion and I look forward to them being a valuable part of our journey forward!” – Russell Taylor, June 2021

Throughout the changes our industry has seen, the one thing that never gets old is seeing our clients succeed. We are so grateful for the collaboration opportunities we’ve had over the years and are honored to receive this recognition. 

Learn more about the UpCity Excellence Awards.

How Apple & Google Are Enhancing Battery Life and What We as App Developers Can Do to Help

In 1799, Italian physicist Alessandro Volta created the first electrical battery, disproving the theory that electricity could only be created by human beings. Fast forward 250 years, brands like Duracell and Energizer popularized alkaline batteries—which are effective, inexpensive and soon become the key to powering household devices. In 1991, Sony released the first commercial rechargeable lithium-ion battery. Although lithium-ion batteries have come a long way since the 90s, to this day they power most smartphones and many other modern devices.

While batteries have come a long way, so have the capabilities of the devices which need them. For consumers, battery life is one of the most important features when purchasing hardware. Applications which drain a device’s battery are less likely to retain their users. Software developers are wise to understand the latest trends in battery optimization in order to build more efficient and user-friendly applications.

HARDWARE

Lithium-ion batteries remain the most prevalent battery technology, but a new technology lies on the horizon. Graphene batteries are similar to traditional batteries, however, the composition of one or both electrodes differ. Graphene batteries increase electrode density and lead to faster cycle times as well as the ability to improve a battery’s lifespan. Samsung is allegedly developing a smartphone powered by a graphene battery that could fully charge its device within 30 minutes. Although the technology is thinner, lighter, and more efficient, production of pure graphene batteries can be incredibly expensive, which may inhibit its proliferation in the short-term.

Hardware companies are also coming up with less technologically innovative solutions to improve battery life. Many companies are simply attempting to cram larger batteries into devices. A more elegant solution is the inclusion of multiple batteries. The OnePlus 9 has a dual cell battery. Employing multiple smaller batteries means both batteries charge faster than a single cell battery.

SOFTWARE

Apple and Google are eager to please their end-users by employing techniques to help optimize battery life. In addition, they take care to keep app developers updated with the latest techniques via their respective developer sites.

Android 11 includes a feature that allows users to freeze apps when they are cached to prevent their execution. Android 10 introduced a “SystemHealthManager” that resets battery usage statistics whenever the device is unplugged, after a device is fully charged or goes from being mostly empty to mostly charged—what the OS considers a “Major charging event”.

Apple has a better track record of consuming less battery than Android. iOS 13 and later introduced Optimized Battery Charging, enabling iPhones to learn from your daily charging routine to improve battery lifespan. The new feature prevents iPhones from charging up to 100% to reduce the amount of time the battery remains fully charged. On-site machine learning then ensures that your battery is fully charged by the time the user wakes up based on their daily routines.

Apple also offers a comprehensive graph for users to understand how much battery is being used by which apps, off screen and on screen, under the Battery tab of each devices Settings.

WHAT APPLICATION DEVELOPERS CAN DO

App developers see a 73% churn rate within the first 90 days of downloading an app, leaving very little room for errors or negative factors like battery drainage. There are a number of techniques application developers can employ in their design to reduce and optimize battery-intensive processes.

It’s vital to review each respective app store’s battery saving standards. Both Android and Apple offer a variety of simple yet vital tips for reducing battery drain—such as limiting the frequency that an app asks for a device’s location and inter-app broadcasting.

One of the most important tips is to reduce the frequency of network refreshes. Identify redundant operations and cut them out. For instance, can downloaded data be cached rather than using the radio repeatedly to re-download it? Are there tasks that can be deferred by the app until the device is charging? Backing up data to the cloud can consume a lot of battery on a task that is not always time sensitive.

Wake locks keep the phone’s screen on when using an app. There was a time where wake locks were frequently employed—but now it is frowned upon. Use wake locks only when absolutely necessary—if at all.

CONCLUSION

Software developers need to be attentive to battery drain throughout the process of building their application. This begins at conception, through programming, all the way into a robust testing process to identify potential battery drainage pitfalls. Attention to the details of battery optimization will lead to better, more user-friendly applications.

Part 3: Techniques to Keep Users Coming Back & Increase Retention

How Gamification Can Boost Retention on Any App Part 3: Techniques to Keep Users Coming Back & Increase Retention

The Mystic Media Blog is currently endeavoring on a 3 part series on how gamification mechanics can boost retention on any app—not just gaming apps but utility apps, business apps and more. In this third entry, we explore additional techniques to keep users coming back and increase retention.

Your users have downloaded your app and are acclimated with its features. You’ve perfected your core loop to ensure users can complete meaningful actions in the app on a daily basis. Now the question becomes—how can you retain ongoing usage? The average cost to acquire a mobile app user is $4, yet retention rates can quickly drop from there. Statistics show that a 5% increase in retention can boost profitability by up to 75%.

There are a variety of techniques employed by mobile games that app developers can use in their non-gaming apps to keep users engaged long after the application ends.

INVEST IN THE FUTURE

An optimized application development process requires thinking about how your product can evolve beyond the initial release. Often this is due to schedule and budgetary constraints. It is natural in any creative endeavor to have more ideas than time and money to complete them. However, thinking long-term can be an advantage. New features entice users to continue using the application after download and to allow push notifications for fear of missing out on updates.

Mobile games often have to confront this since the amount of content they offer is finite—a certain amount of levels, achievements, and unlockables which can be completed. Games can offer additional modes and levels to entice users to come back. Similarly, non-gaming apps can offer new content—such as informative blogs, new features, and new product lines.

During the development process, plan out multiple phases and deliver new features and content updates on a regular basis. If you have a blog, host it on your application and keep users coming back for content updates.

IMPLEMENT SOCIAL FEATURES

Game developers know that “Socializers”, or users who thrive on social interaction, constitute one of the most important Bartle Types. Social features are crucial not only to retaining interest and daily usage of an application, but as a marketing technique to encourage users to engage with one another and spread the word. Once your userbase is established, implementing social features will increase engagement.

Consider implementing the following social features in phase 2 of your application:

  • Customizable user profiles: Enabling usernames, profile pictures, bios and other user customization features help users feel more connected to the app vis a vis their profile.
  • Rewarded social sharing: Encourage users to spread the love by rewarding them with discounts and reward points when they share to social media.
  • Likes and comments on products: Implementing comments and likes not only gives users another avenue for engagement, it creates a platform for automated push notifications that will likely result in more daily opens.
  • Follow and friend other users: Allowing users to connect can result in meaningful social relationships which will increase their connection with your application.
  • Rewarded actions: Encourage users to complete an action for the first time by offering them some kind of reward.

PUSH NOTIFICATIONS STRATEGY

Push notifications are integral to every app developers’ retention strategy. They are the most effective vessel for delivering timely reminders and relevant notifications about new features on applications. Users can disallow push notifications at any time, so developers need to pick their spots or risk losing one of their most prized tools.

When developing your push notification strategy, consider the following:

  • Timing: Rather than sending push notifications all at once, target users based on their time zone. Make sure the timing of your notifications makes sense based on the message.
  • Personalization: Optimize UI by tracking app usage data and leveraging it for personalized push notifications. Personalize push notifications based on a user’s behavior such as their purchase history to help build app loyalty and keep notifications relevant.
  • Prudence: If you bombard users with irrelevant notifications, the decision to unsubscribe to push notifications becomes easy. Exercise restraint when sending push notifications and only send valuable information and reminders.

Users are always looking for value and discount—which is why delivery and transportation applications often use push notifications to send discount codes. Shopping apps can also send push notifications which notify users when they have items left in their cart—a timely prompt to finish the purchase can directly lead to revenue.

KEEP INNOVATING

The app development process does not have to end with an apps initial release into app stores. Rolling out new features to maintain engagement with your audience and bolster your application will result in improved retention.

Part 2: Optimize Onboarding with Gamification

How Gamification Can Boost Retention on Any App Part 2: Optimize Onboarding with Gamification

The Mystic Media Blog is currently endeavoring on a 3 part series on how gamification mechanics can boost retention on any app—not just gaming apps but utility apps, business apps and more. In this second entry, we explore how to refine and gamify your onboarding process to keep customers coming back.

ONBOARDING

Your app has been downloaded—a hard-fought battle in and of itself—but the war isn’t over; the onboarding process has just begun.

App onboarding is the first point of contact a user has within an application. It’s one of the most crucial parts of the user experience. Situating users in your application is the first step to ensuring they come back. Twenty-five percent of apps are only opened once after being downloaded. Many apps simply do not make it simple enough for users to understand the value and get the hang of the application—step one in your retention process.

Here are the top tips for smooth onboarding:

MINIMIZE REGISTRATION

A prolonged registration process can turn off new users. Users do not always have time to fill out extensive forms and can quickly become resentful of the pacing of your app. Keep registration to a minimum, minimize required fields, and get users going faster.

We recommend enabling user registration altogether with “Continue as Guest” functionality. Games typically employ this and it enables users to get hands on with the application before they undergo the tenuous account creation process. Hook them with your app, then let them handle the administrative aspects later. Account creation with Google, Facebook, or Twitter can also save quite a bit of time.

Gamification is all about rewarding the user. Offer users an incentive to create their account to positively reinforce the process and you will see more accounts created. If they haven’t created an account, make sure to send prompts to remind them of what the reward they are missing out on. As we detailed in our last entry, FOMO is a powerful force in gamification.

TUTORIAL BEST PRACTICES

When a user enters your application for the first time, they generally need a helping hand to understand how to use it. Many games incorporate interactive tutorials to guide the user through functionality—and business apps are wise to use it as well. However, an ineffective tutorial will only be a detriment to your application.

Pacing is key. A long tutorial will not only bog the onboarding process down, too much information will likely go in and out of the user’s brain. Space your tutorial out and break it into different sections introducing key mechanics as they become relevant. On-the-go tutorials like the four-screen carousel below by Wavely help acclimate users quickly and easily.

And don’t forget to offer a reward! Offer users some kind of reward or positive reinforcement upon completing tutorials to encourage them to continue using the application.

AVOID DEAD ENDS AND EMPTY STATES

An empty state is a place in an application that isn’t populated with any information. For example, favorites, order history, accomplishments, etc.—these pages require usage in order to be populated for information. New users will see these pages and become confused or discouraged. Many applications will offer self-evident statement such as “No Favorites Selected”. Or, in the case of UberEats below, no message is displayed.

It’s confusing and discouraging for users to see these statements. Avoid discouraging your users by offering more information, for example: “Save your favorite restaurants and find them here.” Check out Twitter’s exemplary message for users who’ve yet to favorite a tweet below.

CONCLUSION

Onboarding is the first and most crucial step to building a relationship with your userbase. One of the major things business apps can learn from gaming apps is that time is of the essence when it comes to capturing a user’s attention. Keep it short, punchy, and to the point.

The Top In-App Purchase Tactics for 2022

According to Sensor Tower, consumers spent $111 billion on in-app purchases, subscriptions, and premium apps in 2020 on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. How can your app take advantage to maximize revenue? Every app is different and begets a unique answer to the all important question: What’s the best way to monetize?

App Figures recently published a study which showed only 5.9% of Apple App Store apps are paid, compared to a paltry 3.7% on Google Play. Thus, the freemium model reigns supreme—according to app sales statistics, 48.2% of all mobile app revenue derives from in-app purchases.

When creating an in-app purchase ecosystem, many psychological and practical considerations must be evaluated. Below, please find the best practices for setting in-app purchase prices in 2022.

BEHAVIORAL ECONOMICS

Behavioral economics is a method of economic analysis that applies psychological insights into human behavior to explain economic decision-making. Creating an in-app purchase ecosystem begins with understanding and introducing the psychological factors which incentivize users to make purchases. For example, the $0.99 pricing model banks on users perceiving items that cost $1.99 to be closer to a $1 price point than $2. Reducing whole dollar prices by one cent is a psychological tactic proven to be effective for both in-app purchases and beyond.

Another psychological pricing tactic is to remove the dollar sign or local currency symbol from the IAP storefront and employ a purchasable in-app currency required to purchase IAPs. By removing the association with real money, users see the value of each option on a lower stakes scale. Furthermore, in-app currencies can play a major role in your retention strategy.

ANCHORING

Anchoring is a cognitive bias where users privilege an initial piece of information when making purchasing decisions. Generally, this applies to prices—app developers create a first price point as an anchoring reference, then slash it to provide users with value. For example, an in-app purchase might be advertised at $4.99, then slashed to $1.99 (60% off) for a daily deal. When users see the value in relation to the initial price point, they become more incentivized to buy.

Anchoring also relates to the presentation of pricing. We have all seen bundles and subscriptions present their value in relation to higher pricing tiers. For example, an annual subscription that’s $20/year, but advertised as a $36 value in relation to a monthly subscription price of $2.99/month. In order for your users to understand the value of a purchase, you have to hammer the point home through UI design.

OPTIMIZE YOUR UI

UI is very important when it comes to presenting your in-app purchases. A well-designed monetization strategy can be made moot by insufficient UI design. Users should always be 1-2 taps away from the IAP storefront where they can make purchases. The prices and discounts of each pricing option should be clearly delineated on the storefront.

Furthermore, make sure you are putting your best foot forward with how you present your prices. Anchoring increases the appeal of in-app purchases, but in order for the user to understand the deal, you have to highlight the value in your UI design by advertising it front and center in your IAP UI.

OFFER A VARIETY OF CHOICES

There are a number of IAPs trending across apps. In order to target the widest variety of potential buyers, we recommend offering a variety of options. Here are a few commonly employed options:

  • BUNDLES: Offer your IAPs either à la carte or as a bundle for a discount. Users are always more inclined to make a bigger purchase when they understand they are receiving an increased value.
  • AD FREE: Offer an ad-free experience to your users. This is one of the more common tactics and die-hard users will often be willing to pay to get rid of the ad experience.
  • SPECIAL OFFERS: Limited-time offers with major discounts are far more likely to attract user attention. Special offers create a feeling of scarcity as well as instill the feeling of urgency. Consider employing holiday specials and sending personalized push notifications to promote them.
  • MYSTERY BOX: Many apps offer mystery boxes—bundles often offered for cheap that contain a random assortment of IAPs. Users may elect to take a chance and purchase in hopes of receiving a major reward.

While offering users a variety of choices for IAPs is key, having too many choices can cause analysis paralysis and be stultifying to users. Analysis paralysis is when users are hesitant to make an in-app purchase because they’ve been given too many options. Restrict your IAPs to the most appealing options to make decisions easy for your users.

TESTING IS KEY

As with any component of app development, testing is the key to understanding your audience and refining your techniques. We recommend testing your app with a random user group and taking their feedback as well as having them fill out a questionnaire. A/B Testing, or split-run testing, consists of testing two different user groups with two different app experiences. A/B testing enables app developers to see how users react to different experiences and to evaluate what tactics are most user-effective.

There are many tactics to help incentivize users to make that big step and invest capital in an app. Savvy developers innovate every day—stay tuned on the latest trends to keep your in-app purchase strategy on the cutting edge.