This week we asked the Mobile Team:
What is one thing that is not being talked about enough in the mobile industry, but should be on everyone’s mind in 2014?
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Not many people are talking (or thinking) about the privacy implications of mobile apps and services. More and more data is being gathered by apps from users for things like location, and I don’t think many developers are aware of the implications of this. The recent Angry Birds leak has raised the question but reputations are at stake when servers are hacked and business models can be trashed by both platform owners and legislation.
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Many brands are not taking the time to truly understand the wealth of data coming from their apps or mobile-tuned sites. Brands need to truly connect with consumers in meaningful ways to improve the users experience. For example, many brands still want to create shiny apps without understanding what their audience wants, or worse yet, what users are doing within their apps. Brand app creators should not be focused on downloads and quickly rising to the top of an app store chart – focus on the user’s daily/monthly activity to drive meaningful tools and features. Your users will love you for it!
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Towards the end of 2013 everyone rushed to make their apps fit in with iOS 7 and adopt a “flatter” appearance, but by doing this they only went 10% of the way and neglected to add what really matters. The apps on iOS 7 that really shine are the ones where the interactions are driven and respond naturally to touch as opposed to being on rails, these apps have visual depth in the UI that gives users a better understanding of hierarchy and the flow of information. Take a look at Clear, Paper by 53 and Tweetbot for examples of apps that use physics and depth to offer a superior user experience.
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Internationalization and localization. I love talking with clients about creating great user experiences, pushing the envelope of what’s possible on mobile devices, and having a great foundation in solid design, but internationalization and localization are going to be a growing trend in the mobile space this year. A lot of startups and established companies have a very U.S. focused mindset when it comes to mobile. Catering to the world by translating their apps, thinking about local and regional differences, and ensuring great experiences everywhere is something that everyone should be thinking about.
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We live in an evil world without evil people. Everyone is just doing their job, taking care of their families, and trying to make cool things. Yet every day we make decisions that add up to all the bad in the world. Drones and spying and broken encryption don’t just happen. They are made by technologists just like us. How are we responsible for the brokenness of things? And what are we doing to fix it?
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Low-end devices. Although superphones generally get all the attention, the key to smartphone growth this year will be the low-end smartphone segment. Your money will go a lot farther, and you’ll begin to see some really great handsets for a lower price point that include LTE and other features previously only available on premium devices. The HTC Desire 300 and Moto G were great starting points in 2013.
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Mobile developers are in a continual race to get their software to market, the space is increasingly becoming more competitive and days do count. In this rush to the finish line security and privacy are often overlooked, our mobile devices go everywhere with us and have a wealth of our private information on them. Lax security practice has bitten a number of big name apps and has put their users at risk. A stronger focus on user privacy and security are essential for continued growth and trust in the mobile marketplace.
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Everything’s faster in mobile. Over the course of a decade, the core value propositions of the PC were flushed out, and innovation turned to speed and checkbox features. In smartphones, it took just a few years. In 2014 we’ll see more pixels, gigahertz, and incremental features. But the revolutionary new experiences are moving from phones to wearables.
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The codebases behind apps typically don’t have a very long lifetime. The OS providers have been moving very quickly, and we’re only starting to get a grasp on how to work with this as developers. Focusing on a more robust codebase that doesn’t need frequent rewriting is something that many companies, especially startups, should definitely be thinking about.
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Connected devices. There is certainly some buzz about a potential iWatch product from Apple, but even now products like the Jawbone UP, Pebble SmartWatch etc are starting to gain some traction. I find myself lost on days I leave the house without my Pebble. (Needing to charge the battery is a killer). Mobile developers need to be thinking now about how their products or services can integrate with their users connected devices. If Apple releases an iWatch, we need to be prepared for the category to explode in popularity.
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What do you think will play an important role in 2014? Share your questions and comments below or by using #MobileTeam on Twitter.
