iOS 11 Rumors: What We Know So Far

The tech world is so caught up with iPhone 8 reports that it almost forgot its most important feature: its OS. iOS is the compelling reason Apple has a solid user base. It’s integrated deeply into the hardware, it’s regularly updated, and the apps are superb. So here are some key features that might be added to the next update.

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1. Group FaceTime calls

FaceTime is secure and flawless; its missing feature is group calls, though. We have Skype, Google Hangouts, and Facebook Messenger for that. But iPhone users will be delighted to have this feature in the next update.

2. Dark Mode

This feature has been one of the most demanded features of iOS. It’s perfect for the black-faced iPhones – it makes it look sleeker, and for reading at night (night mode just isn’t cutting it out for me). Apple has been hinting at this feature for some time now by integrating it into its native apps like the Clock app.

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3. Siri to sound more natural

We all love Siri’s pleasant voice. In fact, Siri even made her first movie debut in the “Lego Batman Movie.” Rumors have it that Siri may have a more “natural sounding voice.” It may also start integrating into social apps. It would just be a matter of time when you ask Siri to “Post status update: ‘Hello world!’”

Hi there! Taihwa Terry Ho here, and I’m heavily invested into app development. Tech is my interest and I write about them here.

Two Considerations To Note Before Developing An App

More companies are transferring a portion of their business online. This has created a yet-untapped market for app developers. These companies often require an app that will help them process their accounts in a seamless and easy-to-do manner. It is tempting to immediately jump unto the bandwagon and begin developing an app. Nonetheless, it is still important that these two considerations be noted.

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Promotion or business?: Money is an important factor in any decision-making process. App development is the same. Developers should consider their end-goal and take it from there. The first question to ask is whether the app is to promote an existing business or to be a revenue-generating source. Promoting a business does not require too much technicalities. These apps are usually applied for companies that have a physical store so the goal is to encourage viewers or users to visit the location itself. When the app is meant to earn money, it should have more features and be targeted for a specific market. A good rule of thumb is to create an app the developer himself would use.

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The platform: Should the app be in iOS or Android? This is a personal consideration as both operating systems each have their own pros and cons. In general, iPhone apps are known for their money-making characteristics. Android apps, on the other hand, are downloaded more often although expect to be giving the app for free. The process in development for both operating systems are also different so novice developers should stick with what they know.

Remember that the end product should be worthy of attention and praise. Whatever the reason for building an app can be, consumers always appreciate a well-thought-of app.

Taihwa Terry Ho helps app developers start their careers. He is a capital investor who focuses on technological advances. For more information, like this Facebook page.

Four gifts techies will surely appreciate

Giving the perfect gift to a techie is always a challenge. Always with the latest gadget, finding a gift that techies can use for their daily activities can be difficult. As a technophile, here are some ideas that people like me will always appreciate:

1. Power bank: You know what technophiles usually forget? Chargers. To keep them online 24/7, give them a power bank. A good power bank can power up at least two gadgets at once. This gift is also perfect for the techie who is always on-the-go. Now they have no more excuse for going offline.

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2. Earphones: The tricky thing about earphones is that they always get lost or damaged. Techies will surely appreciate having an extra pair or two that they can use. When picking earphones, be sure to check if both buds are working and if the sound is crisp.

3. Subscription plan: Technophiles are usually subscribed to multiple streaming services and apps that can’t live without. The good news is that most of these services offer discounts when a friend or a relative decides to give a subscription plan as a gift. If you’re also subscribed to the same services, perhaps you can list them as your family for lower costs but for almost the same range of features.

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4. Gift card: Give the techie in your life a gift card that they can use at a tech store. If you really have no idea what to give them for a special occasion, this will give them the liberty to pick what they prefer. Instead of stressing out on choosing a specific gift, this option is safe and fool-proof.

Even if it’s not the holidays, these items make great gifts. I’m pretty sure the person who will receive one of these will be happy.

Hello there! Taihwa Terry Ho at your service. I am a technophile, entrepreneur, and investor. Visit my Facebook page for more updates.

Up-To-Date With The World: The Best News Apps

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It is easier to stay connected with the internet and mobile apps giving updates on current events by the second. Even if people were cooped up in an office for an entire day, they could know what's happening with the rest of the outside world with a swipe on their handheld device.

News agencies and app developers were quick to adapt to the way people consume stories and the news now, and these are some of the most popular apps that are available on most platforms:

Flipboard gathers all kinds of information from news feeds, social networks, and websites and presents them in a magazine format. It covers numerous topics that are organized by category.

Buzzfeed still provides fun content and countless lists of anything, but it now also has a news app "for the most important and interesting stories around the world, handpicked by their editors."

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Feedlyallows users to search and select articles from various publications, to bookmark and save for reading later, and to organize them by topic.

CNN and Al Jazeera are giant broadcast companies and have expanded the news to apps. CNN features video news on top of articles, with a focus on the U.S.; Al Jazeera has a broader scope and reports news from around the world.

I'm Taihwa Terry Ho, a technophile and entrepreneur, and I have keen interest in promising app developments. For more news on apps and gadgets, subscribe here.

The Billion-Dollar App Economy Is Looking Up

The app economy has created new venues for venture capital and hedge fund investments, as well as thousands of jobs. In 2015, an estimated 627,000 jobs were created by the iOS App Store.

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The industry is currently generating around 72 billion dollars that app development has become a major draw for entrepreneurs and investors. According to the CEO of AppNation, research shows that despite a saturated market, growth rates are still accelerating exponentially. Analysts forecast that the app economy will be a 100 billion-dollar industry by 2020, if not earlier. Reports also show that 85 percent of revenues come from games, but other app categories such as those for banking, airline, retail, and ridesharing services are growing faster.

The largest app markets are in the US, Japan, and China, but research firm App Annie cites India, Indonesia, Mexico, and Argentina as fast-growing markets.

Driving the increase is app-based commerce; that is, in-app advertising, and virtual goods and paid app downloads. Newer platforms such as smart TV, virtual and augmented reality (VR / AR), and automotive would help boost sales. In the same manner, email, social networks, and mobile browsers are also expected to drive revenues.

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I am Taihwa Terry Ho and I am tech entrepreneur investing primarily in app development startups. For updates, like this Facebook page.

A Technophile Investor Has a Huge Edge In The Apps Development Market

The overwhelming success of many developed apps, generating unimaginable returns on investments continues to divert the flow of capital to designing applications particularly for mobile phones. Unfortunately, not every investor gets his/her money’s worth of investments. Stories abound concerning frustrated risk takers who shelled out excessive amounts in exchange for overrated applications, such as one that simply requires sending a two-letter one-syllable message.

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A considerable number of angel investors likewise have placed their limited resources to apps that have generated zero revenues, falling behind download frequencies. There are cases as well where full-blast monetary support is not justified by a finished product, not to mention incidences wherein the app faced obsolescence, did not qualify for upgrade, and ended up in the dustbin. Unrecovered investment charged to experience.

In the apps financial landscape, the investor certainly shoulders the greatest risk and bears the biggest loss. Most vulnerable are those not adept in the language of apps technology. Overtaken by excitement over prospective high returns, most venture capitalists who are bereft of apps knowhow set aside diligence in product evaluation granting the developer absolute confidence. Inevitably the latter takes the upper hand, a less than ideal situation for a risk taker.

Investors must treat apps development as a serious project requiring a plan, methods and provisions for sustainability, as well as an earnest assessment as to whether it serves a need in the market and target users are inclined to spend for it. There must be an established timeline, likewise, a regular monitoring of progress. Updating one’s proficiency in the prospective apps, or in the technology in general would greatly boost a financier’s chances in selecting a profitable apps venture.

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Taihwa Terry Ho is a a consummate technophile and lover of gadgets and computing, and spends resources on developers and startups whose products show promise of widespread regular use. For more information about his work, go to this Twitter page.

A World Full Of Smileys: How Emojis Changed The Way We Communicate

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The way people communicate is continuously evolving, especially in our current generation as feelings and intentions can be portrayed by a single image, or in this case, an emoji. Last year, the Oxford dictionary has acknowledged the “laughing while crying” or LOL with tears emoji as its word of the year. There is no official name for it, but when you see it, you’ll know what I’m talking about.

Spoken, written, and even (physical) sign language are not enough sufficient to express feelings. The shift in digital communication is striking, and it looks like it’s here to stay. The use of emoji is not just appropriate for casual communication. In some office group settings, people no longer need to reply with words, going instead for the (y) or “thumbs up” emoji. Others use the “bow” emoji to acknowledge a senior’s presence in the group. This just shows that emojis can be used in some professional settings.

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Miscommunication is also common with emojis. Some people think that the “dancing lady” emoji refers to flirting, while for others, it is what it is—a dancing lady. These pictures may look complicated, but they display thoughts and intentions differently. It is also hard to judge if someone is just being sarcastic with just emojis. For many, it takes a strong relationship between parties to distinguish what the emojis are trying to portray—more of like an inside joke.

I can’t wait for the day that even those who think traditionally can see emojis as a vital communication tool. Welcome to the age of technology, folks.

Hi, I’m Taihwa Terry Ho. Let’s talk about apps and other tech stuff on Twitter.