Picking your phone up can become a habit as data shows that half of all screen time sessions begin within 3 minutes of the last. This is a habit that can be hard to break, especially when social media algorithms are built and designed to keep us on the platform for as long as possible. This is mostly done through recommendation algorithms, which collect data on what people are watching, clicking, liking, commenting, sharing, buying, and even where they are living. All of these factors are ranked to give you the content that shows up in your feed, which in turn causes our minds to release dopamine in response to stimuli from being on our phones.

For example, when you go to post a photo on Instagram, your mind is rewarded with the likes and comments from your friends. Over time this causes our brains to associate that feeling of validation and gratification with our phones, causing us to slowly develop an addiction to social media and our phones.

“Social media addiction primarily stems from the human need for connection and validation, with platforms providing instant gratification through likes and comments. This can be especially enticing for those with low self-esteem. Ironically, this addiction often worsens feelings of isolation and inadequacy, as users find themselves in a cycle of seeking validation online, yet feeling more disconnected in reality. The constant exposure to idealized content leads to harmful comparisons, impacting real-life satisfaction, relationships, and mental well-being,” explains Alexandrea Day, CEO of the Neurotech company MetaBrain Labs.

These algorithms, plus phones being addictive in general, and low self-esteem issues create the perfect storm of people who are dependent on and addicted to their screens.

Our phones serve as a portal to connect to our social world. Nowadays, we spend most of our time on cell phones, either texting, scrolling through social media or messaging friends. Previous avenues for socializing were places, now they are online. With younger generations growing up in an increasingly digital world, it means for many the only practical options for building a community outside of school is online.

“Social media addiction particularly affects younger generations due to their ongoing identity development, making them more susceptible to the influential messaging on these platforms. To address this, it’s important to foster critical media literacy, enabling young people to discern and evaluate online content critically. Additionally, nurturing open communication and support systems can help them contextualize their online experiences. Encouraging healthy online habits, like setting boundaries for social media use and promoting offline activities, is also crucial. While delaying the onset of social media engagement can be beneficial, equipping young people with the necessary tools and skills for responsible digital navigation is essential as they mature and their identities solidify,” Day shares.

Much like vaping, alcohol consumption, food consumption or drug use, our phones can be as addicting and damaging. 

Day continues, “In terms of behavior and treatment, addiction to social media shares similarities with other forms of addiction, like substance abuse or gambling. The core of our treatment approach focuses on addressing and transforming the underlying self-defeating thoughts that fuel addictive behaviors. Although the process is complex due to the often interwoven nature of these beliefs, with dedication, individuals can shift their perceptions about themselves. By replacing negative beliefs with empowering ones, it’s possible to overcome various forms of addiction, whether it’s to social media, substances, or gambling. This transformation in mindset is crucial for effective and lasting recovery.”

To address social media addiction and phone addiction, MetaBrain Labs can offer people a solution. They take an approach known as mindset shifting, which differs from traditional methods in addressing phone and social media addiction. 

“Our company’s methodology diverges significantly from traditional approaches in tackling phone and social media addiction. At the core of our strategy is the belief that our minds, which often react impulsively, shape our behaviors, sometimes leading to addictive patterns. Traditional methods typically focus on controlling or restricting behavior directly. In contrast, we emphasize understanding and transforming the underlying thought processes. We guide users to tune into their inner voices, uncovering the deep-seated “programs” that influence their actions. This could range from simple triggers like boredom, to complex issues such as a lack of familial acceptance and a deep-rooted desire for validation, especially critical during personal development phases. By identifying and reframing these thought patterns, we address the root cause of the addictive behavior, offering a more introspective and sustainable solution,” Day states.

The pervasive issue of phone and social media addiction underscores a critical challenge in contemporary society. This addiction, driven by a complex interplay of technology, psychological needs, and societal influences, is not just a matter of habit but a reflection of deeper emotional and cognitive processes. MetaBrain Labs’ approach of mindset shifting offers a solution, focusing on the root causes of addiction. By understanding and reshaping thought patterns, their method addresses addiction at its core, providing a sustainable path to recovery. This approach is particularly vital in an era where digital connectivity is ubiquitous, impacting individuals’ mental health and well-being. 

The post Our phones are meant to be addicting to us – but how can we break away? appeared first on Social Media Explorer.

A seamless blend of fashion and technology, smartwatches have incorporated themselves into our lives, becoming not just an accessory but a necessity.

This blog post explores the reasons behind the incredible rise in the popularity of smartwatches and delves into their myriad benefits, making a case for why they are this generation’s biggest tech trend.

The Rise in Popularity of Smartwatches

The transition from traditional watches to smartwatches is emboldened by the explosion of the digital age. The evolution of wearable technology, such as fitness bands generating health-related data, provided a gateway for smartwatches. Today, these devices have become more than mere extensions of smartphones—they stand as independent, powerful tools that augment our everyday lives.

A technology research firm, Counterpoint, reported a 20% year-on-year growth in the global smartwatch market in 2020, linking the trend to the fervent drive in digital health and fitness initiatives. This growth can be attributed to an enticing melange of attractive features such as health-tracking, sleek aesthetic design, optimal user interface and the burgeoning smartphone culture.

Comprehensive Overview of Smartwatch Benefits

Health and Fitness Awareness

Perhaps one of the most compelling reasons to own a smartwatch is its ability to serve as a personal health and fitness coach. Aiding individuals in maintaining a healthier lifestyle, these devices offer built-in heart rate monitors, sleep tracking, calorie tracker, stress measurement, oxygen level detectors, and various fitness related features. Some brands have advanced health features like ECG and blood pressure monitor as well.

Smartwatches are not only a tool for fitness enthusiasts but also a crucial device for those who need to keep a regular check on particular health parameters. For people aiming to take steps towards a healthier lifestyle or fitness journey, having a constant reminder on their wrist powered with data-driven insights is a huge advantage.

Less Reliance on Smartphones

It’s no secret that smartphone addiction is a modern-day issue. Smartwatches contribute to minimizing this problem. By presenting notifications, calls, texts, and social media updates on your wrist, it reduces the constant urge to pull out your smartphones. Where pulling out a phone to check every notification might seem cumbersome, a quick glance at your wrist seems far less intrusive, contributing to an overall reduction in screen time.

In addition, smartwatches come with features like GPS, voice assistants, music streaming, mobile payments, and several other functions that can be executed without reaching for your phone.

Stay Connected More Efficiently

Smartwatches keep you connected more efficiently than ever. Besides call and text notifications, they offer a range of applications supporting multiple categories like weather, news, reminders, calendar events, travel, finance, to name a few.

With your smartwatch, you can control smart home devices directly from your wrist, attend calls, respond to texts using voice-to-text technologies and even use it as a remote control for your smartphone camera. In essence, it provides heightened convenience in managing digital tasks and keeps you connected seamlessly.

Safety Features

Several smartwatches roll out safety features that could potentially be lifesaving. Features such as SOS messages, fall detection, emergency calls and sharing live location with trusted contacts in case of emergencies are some notable ones. These features, especially the ability to make calls to emergency services, bring added peace of mind.

Style and Customization

A smartwatch allows you to express your style. They are a sleek combination of digital technology and watchmaker craftsmanship, ranging from casual and sporty to classic and elegant designs. Furthermore, customizable watch faces, interchangeable bands, add a fun, personal touch to your wearable.

In addition to this, there are plenty of budget smartwatch brands offering premium features for less.

High Level of Integration

Smartwatches integrate with your digital ecosystem—your smartphone, smart home devices, car, or other gadgets. Such extensive integration is beneficial; for example, setting a reminder on your phone will also remind you on your smartwatch. This synchronization of applications across devices offers a seamless user experience.

Navigation

With built-in GPS, smartwatches can help navigate without looking at the smartphone’s screen constantly. For people who travel or go on adventure trips, having access to maps on the wrist is super useful.

Overall, smartwatches hold a unique position in the current digital age. These devices are more than time-checking tools; they’re comprehensive health monitors, personal assistants, and a testament to technological progression that’s wearable.

While the features and benefits vary across different brands and models, smartwatches undoubtedly are a technological revolution, paving the way for an exciting future for wearable gadgets.

The post The Many Benefits of Smartwatches appeared first on Social Media Explorer.

Gamers have been waiting for the opportunity to play Diablo Immortal since 2018 when Blizzard diabolically teased that there was Diablo news at Blizzcon and then went silent on the game’s development. Finally, on June 2, Diablo Immortal “is coming to PC with a free-to-play open beta,” explained gaming industry writer Graham Smith. Virginia-based gamer Kyle Johnson says, “I have been playing some version of Diablo since it was first released during my first year of college in 1997. All these years later, and I am so excited that it’s coming to PC and mobile.”

Said Smith, “I like Diablo plenty, but I wasn’t cutting the logo into my hair, so to me, the more casual fan, Immortal coming to PC seems like a good thing. Diablo 4 is still also in development, and every developer diary about it sounds desperate to reassure players that it’s exactly the shade of dark gray they want it to be. Diablo Immortal is, therefore, free to be its own thing, surely.

“Diablo Immortals will support cross-play and cross-progression, meaning you can shift your play seamlessly between PC and mobile. Blizzard says they’ve made changes to support PC players, including adding more control options.”

Activision Blizzard: Here Is What To Expect in Diablo Immortal 

According to Blizzard, “To stay true to the Diablo experience, we meticulously translated the finger tapping and swiping controls from mobile into the age-old mouse and keyboard.” That means players left-click to move characters and attack monsters. 

Activision Blizzard says it “decided to include W/A/S/D directional controls as an additional movement tool.” The video game developer came to that conclusion after recognizing it as a much more intuitive way to move characters around the game while still allowing them to attack. “A simple mouse-control scheme would not have allowed these operations,” notes Blizzard. 

The developers have added controller support for PC, which will mimic the mobile version. According to the company, “Detection will be a seamless experience, and many controls will be remappable to your liking.”

It focused on the heads-up display (HUD) to make the gaming experience more enjoyable. “Diablo Immortal was built for mobile first, meaning UI [user interface] elements tend to be larger while accommodating phone screen sizes. Therefore, scaling down the HUD was one of our first priorities — we want you to be able to see the game while also not accidentally clicking on the UI!” The developers reduced the portrait, top-level menu buttons, mini-map, and ability icons to accomplish that. 

Deep Into the Depths of Diablo 

Diablo is an action role-playing video game that takes place in a part of the mortal realm called the Kingdom of Khanduras. The players’ sole mission is to destroy Diablo, affectionately known as the Lord of Terror. Players can interact with nonplayer characters throughout the game, battle evil enemies, cast spells, and acquire valuable items. 

In the multiplayer mode, gamers can play nicely together and cooperatively battle Diablo, or they can aggressively attack each other. “My favorite parts of the Activision Blizzard game include exploring a labyrinth under the cathedral, battling evil entities until arriving in hell,” notes Johnson. “I am eager to explore it on the PC and mobile platforms.”

The post Activision Blizzard Confirms Diablo Immortal Is a Go appeared first on Social Media Explorer.

Wearable Technology

Wearables are smart electronic devices that can be worn on different parts of the body.  Smartwatches, usually worn on the wrists, are the most popular smart devices.

When you say ‘smartwatch’, people automatically think of fitness trackers.  Nowadays a smartwatch is much more than that. With the latest developments in wearable technology, makers of smartwatches are turning them into mini mobiles – almost.

Health and Fitness

Smartwatches first hit the scene as fitness trackers, with consumers mainly using them as step counters and heart rate monitors. Later as more features were added, fitness enthusiasts and athletes embraced them.

The most trending smartwatches today have a plethora of functions and features. Simultaneously, they can monitor and support your health activity daily.  

Social Media and Connectivity

So how do smartwatches fit in with our need for constant connectivity?

Many smartwatches are now designed to let you stay connected to your social network while you are engaged in your activity.  Message systems such as texting and email are incorporated into their functions.

Nowadays you can stay connected while you are sweating it out in a CrossFit class, with alerts and notifications from social media platforms.

The Top Trending Smartwatches

There are now many variations of smartwatches on the market to suit different needs. Major brands are constantly coming up with new features.

All the top makers offer a range from a more expensive to a more affordable option. Finding the right one for you will depend on what you want it to do.

Here is a quick rundown of what’s currently trending:

The Huawei Watch 3 offers specific health diagnosis features, blood oxygen monitoring, skin temperature, recovery time, and over 100 sports modes.

Samsung is reportedly launching its new smartwatches later this year, featuring a new version of the Google Wear OS. You will be able to track workouts, use Spotify and even download songs for offline listening.

The Fossil Latitude is a hybrid smartwatch. It offers you limited fitness tracking but it looks stylish and allows you easy access to notifications and messages.

The Garmin Fenix 6 is the most expensive in the Garmin range of smartwatches with its huge range of smart features.  The much cheaper Garmin Vivo Active 4 features built-in sports apps and music.

Fitbit, one of the first fitness tracker smartwatches to hit the wearables market has now been acquired by Google and will incorporate all the Google Wear OS features.

Apple smartwatches which are the current most popular smartwatches boast all the latest technology. However, a new Apple Series 6 watch costs around $350 which is too expensive for many fans.

Fortunately, pre-owned Apple watches are available and much more affordable. If you are determined to get yourself an Apple watch, consider shopping the market for a used Apple watch that works just as well as a brand new one.

The post Smartwatch: More Than a Fitness Activity Tracker appeared first on Social Media Explorer.

The question is — are sleep patterns affected but this in bed tapping and scrolling? People with social media addictions say that they cannot stay away from the devices. “It takes all my willpower to get through a night without looking at Twitter or Instagram,” explains Abigail, one user. Dr. Cory Harow, a sleep expert who specializes in the treatment of sleep disorders, says it is about habits. What he’s discovered in his research is that modern society is not happy unless they are exposed to something on a constant basis. Oversaturated with social media, most people feel exhausted in the morning after a night of scrolling. This may be true, however not all users are affected the same way. If someone on Facebook or Instagram all the time, chances are, they may have a problem with addiction. Staying off social media altogether might not be an option for everyone, and at least one study suggests that there are several ways in which perusing social media before bed can affect sleep.

Last year, researchers at Stanford University asked individuals to complete a survey online before they went to bed. Participants answered questions about how much time they spent on their social media accounts and their general mood before bed. Based on the participants’ answers, the researchers collected information about their sleeping habits and tried to compare them to information about their Facebook usage. They found that those who reported spending less time on social media than their peers also reported fewer disturbed sleep and higher quality sleep overall. In terms of sleep quality, these subjects fell asleep faster and had a greater amount of deep sleep, a type of restorative sleep that is critical to health and well-being. The research team also surveyed users after they had put their phones down for an hour to see if they could return to their normal social media usage and also reported fewer hours of quality sleep.

It is recommended that the average adult get between five and seven hours of quality sleep per night. Signs that social media is affecting the amount and quality of sleep include walking too early, too often, and failing to wake up feeling fully rested in the morning.

Unplugging from devices at least an hour before bed and keeping the blue light of the device from the bedroom are good ways to avoid sleep issues related to social media usage. Making a habit of this can get the sleep deprived social media user back into a more balanced and well-rested state.

The post Social Media and Sleep appeared first on Social Media Explorer.

For example, excessive screen time can make you more prone to digital eye strain, bad posture, and insomnia. There are, however, ways you can reduce your screen time and improve your health by following these simple steps.

1. Start Monitoring Your Screen Time

There’s a very good chance that you don’t even realize how long you spend using your devices each day. That’s because it’s really easy to let time get away from you while you are checking Facebook, texting with friends, playing online games, browsing your favorite websites, and binging on Netflix. 

Before you know it, you’ve spent a considerable amount of your day on your devices. In order to combat this, you need to start tracking your time spent in the digital world. The best way to do that is to install a screen time app on your smartphone that will track how long you spend using your device. The app will even track how long you spend watching TV. You can find and download a free screen time app from iTunes or the Google Play Store.

2. Plan Offline Time

Once you find out how much time you are spending online every day, the next step is planning to spend some time offline. Start by picking a one hour block of time each day to turn off all of your devices. That means no smartphone, computer, laptop, tablet, or TV. You are going to spend one hour doing “real world” activities. 

For example, you could exercise, read a book, try out a new recipe, or work on a home improvement project. Once you get used to spending an hour away from your devices, pick a second hour during the day to go device free. 

3. Practice Emotional Awareness While Online

Many people experience mental health issues that are caused by spending too much time online. Therefore, when you do spend time online, you need to become more self-aware about how you feel. For instance, if you feel angry, depressed, or jealous of others on social media sites, then you need a break from the digital world. Otherwise, you can end up with potential anxiety that will hurt your overall quality of life, even when you are offline.

4. Don’t Charge Your Devices in Your Bedroom

Millions of users have a habit of charging their devices in their bedrooms. Unfortunately, when you keep your smartphone or tablet so close to your bed it’s tempting to start using your device when you can’t sleep. 

Using a device when you can’t sleep will actually make your insomnia worse. Remove the temptation of browsing the internet when you can’t sleep by charging your devices outside of your bedroom. That way, if you do wake up in the middle of the night, you will have a better chance of falling back asleep.

5. Change Your Bedtime Routine

In addition to charging your phone outside of your bedroom, you need to change your

bedtime routine if it involves spending time on your devices. For example, stop using your devices 30 minutes to an hour before you go to bed. Here are a few things you can do instead of browsing the internet:

•   Read a Book or Magazine

•   Exercise

•   Take a Bath or Shower

•   Meditation

6. Go Outside More

Lastly, staying inside a lot will make you more likely to use your devices. Furthermore, one reason that so many people are prone to obesity is because they spend too much time sitting in front of a screen each day instead of being active. Unfortunately, you can’t really burn any calories while texting or surfing the web! 

Therefore, the best way to remove the temptation of living a sedentary lifestyle where you spend all your free time online is to leave your house and enjoy some outdoor activities. For example, you might enjoy jogging or even just walking for exercise. Whatever you decide to do outdoors, find activities that keep you active and off your smartphone for a while.

In short, once you become aware of how much time you are spending on your devices, as well as what that’s doing to your emotional psyche, it’s time to start planning to spend some time offline. Find activities around your house that you can do instead of browsing the internet all day. When it’s time for bed, remove your devices from your bedroom to remove the temptation of using them when you are supposed to be sleeping. Make sure that you go outside more and stop living such a sedentary lifestyle. If you start exercising more, it will make you want to spend less time sitting in front of a screen, which will improve your overall health and well-being.

The post Instagram Overload_ 6 Steps to Reduce Your Screen Time! appeared first on Social Media Explorer.

So, here are some essential questions to consider, including-

Do I understand my market?: When it comes to developing your app, it’s important to research and validate your understanding of where you sit in the modern marketplace and who you’re rubbing shoulders with. Are you accommodating trends and able to pivot to potential or even unforeseen opportunities? And – perhaps most importantly – are you undertaking regular, ongoing research that ensures your comprehension not only remains up to date but is fed into your daily practice?

Do I understand what ‘mobile’ design truly means?: One of the most popular phrases in modern development, designing for mobile involves factoring in a number of hard and soft considerations. Alongside practical development, understanding how and why your audience uses their devices is essential. This can be as simple as reviewing your UX to make it accessible to all market segments all the way to researching key issues that arise around your design such as multi-platform use, cloud storages, ‘handshakes’ and much more.

Am I prepared to test?: If you’re managing a tight budget and development timeframe, it’s only natural to look to cut corners to get your app out of the door…and one of the first heads to go on the chopping block is testing. This is a fundamental and critical mistake. Budgeting enough time for in-depth, ongoing testing can make the difference between a fit-for-purpose and broken product. If you find yourself scaling back your testing actions or lack the skills and expertise for automation or sufficient unit testing, it’s time to hit the drawing board and look at your planning actions.

Have I planned to code for mobile?: Coding can be difficult at the best of times and mobile throws up its own unique challenges. Choosing the right development platform and framework can prevent you from being ‘locked in’ to certain design decisions and allow you to solve potential roadblocks you’ve identified with ease. For many companies, frameworks like React Native provide a one-size-fits all set of tools that let you get off on the right foot and tackle issues when they occur. Checking out a React Native guide for startups can help you quickly find out if the platform is right for you, or broaden your search to find a framework or toolkit that helps you deal with-

Rapid prototyping – am I ready?: Mobile development requires you to work at speed at the best of times. And when it comes to standing out in a crowded marketplace, it’s essential to review and collect feedback on your product as soon as possible. Embracing repaid development can help you iron out your kinks as quickly as possible and iterate on your design. Failing to do so can not only leave you flagging behind but quickly end up creating a logjam for you, your teams, and keyholders. Waiting until you’re ready for prototyping may be excruciating but it is, almost always, the right decision.

The post Creating Your Mobile App: What should I think about? appeared first on Social Media Explorer.

However, one of the main concerns of many users is security as this article says: https://www.cpomagazine.com/blogs/privacy-intelligence/12-reasons-why-data-privacy-protection-brings-business-value/. There was a time when this was not taken as seriously as many people think so. Everyone can just log on and give everything about them to the public. No one thought of being taken advantage of in this scenario, which is where everything started to unravel. Viruses became more rampant, and the developers of these programs took advantage of the ignorance of the general public. 

This is why most internet users these days are more vigilant than those people twenty years ago. Most of us now know what the World Wide Web is capable of even if we already know how to use it. There are so many loopholes that anybody can exploit, and it can be alarming for anyone. Some people even take it to the next level, and they are doing a lot of things that can be attributed to paranoia. However, with the state of the world these days, everything must be a guarantee.

Looking For Other Options

With these issues related to security, many users are trying to see if they can improve their own. This is where some of the inventions come in as a way to improve with all of that. Anti-virus programs were all the rage at the beginning of this century. Tons of versions became available, both free, freemium, and paid ones as well. It became apparent that they are already needed and should be added for all of the devices that we have.

Unfortunately, these anti-virus programs may not be enough anymore. Some of them do work perfectly, establishing a security system that can help you protect your identity and field. However, some companies took advantage and made a necessity out of nothing. It is said by some experts that these anti-virus programmers created the viruses themselves so that they can sell their applications. This is still speculation in some circles, but there must be some truth behind all of them.

With these issues surrounding such products, people have decided that they need something more than that. Most of us also need something that can still protect our identities and personal files on the web. The development of a VPN may not be due to the perceived downfall of anti-virus programs. However, it seems that there are so many people who are now more interested in VPN than ever before.

What is VPN?

VPN stands for the virtual private network, and it already seems self-explanatory. It is a service that deals with the security of your devices that are connected to the internet. A VPN service can hide your location and identity by creating a separate pathway for you to use the World Wide Web (read more). Think of it as a separate cable wire that still does the same thing except it is more protected than the public option. 

When you use a VPN, you can now access a lot of information online that might not be available to you. There might be some restrictions in the place that you are living in, so having this service is great so that you can still access them. There are a lot of ways that you can use a VPN, from education, business, and event entertainment. Most users these days use it to view shows that are not available in their home area.

Now, one of the main services that virtual private networks provide is changing your location. You see, your internet service provider can track your general location. This means that the information that comes your way when you search for it is only relevant to where you are right now. VPN can change that, creating more opportunities for you to explore other domains that may be blocked wherever you are. This way, you can still view and use what you want without that much restriction.

For most virtual private network providers, giving the locations wherein they can serve you is important. Typically, they will give you a lists of locations that are possible. However, some of them might not be the best due to network connectivity, stricter laws, and other issues. Below are some of the best ones available, you just need to make sure that your VPN can provide them.

• Switzerland

Some people might be confused as you might think that Switzerland is a part of the EU, as the union is known to be strict. They are not a part of the European Union, and they do have a lot of privacy laws that do not comply with such. Thus, they are a prime location for people to connect VPN with because of these more lax approaches. You can easily view their websites and see the content, but you should know how to speak the local languages.

• Spain

On the other hand, Spain is a part of the European Union. However, they do have their laws when it comes to privacy and data protection. It is already well-known that they are one of the few countries that have a dedicated law just for this aspect of the internet. Another great thing about the country is they also protect the local businesses with this act which is great for those who are just starting with their businesses online. Read more here: https://www.loc.gov/law/help/online-privacy-law/2012/spain.php. 

• Iceland

This is another safe place for people to connect to, sometimes even better than Switzerland in some aspects. They do not join in many international alliances when it comes to privacy and protection, so they have their laws surrounding it. This way, you can also access other websites because they are not necessarily banned in the country. You can explore some of their laws on the country’s website, but it would be better if you know Icelandic first.

• Romania

Romania is an EU country, but they also make their own rules when it comes to this aspect of the internet. It is said that copyright infringement is rather rampant in the country, but their police force and other authorities do not care much about it. This is why you can easily access some of the content that they have even if the EU laws are shadowing them from time to time. 

• Malaysia

One of the few countries in Asia that has these protection laws, Malaysia is protecting even those who access their data. This is because of their Personal Data Protection Act published in 2010, and it has been made even better throughout the years. You can enter their domains without the fear and worry of being tracked because of the rules that they have given for the internet. 

When It Comes To The Choice

When you use a virtual private network, there is one thing that you need to keep in mind first: distance. It will affect the connectivity of your website if you are too far from where you are connecting. For example, you want to access a Swiss website but you are in Australia. The physical distance is already a factor, and you need to add the time needed to render everything on that website.

The locations we’ve listed might be the best for your security, but you still have other options to explore. You just need to be careful as many government units are already aware of what VPN can do. Look for the best ones that can provide you with the utmost security, not just with location options. 

The post The Necessity Of Choosing The Best VPN Server Locations appeared first on Social Media Explorer.

Did you know that 70% of American users are already annoyed and tiredof pop-ups that advertise apps with 20 to 30-second duration? Which means, that kind of app marketing simply doesn’t work!  

With that being said, a change in marketing approach is needed. But how can marketers advertise their apps without the use of pop-up prompts to sites and applications that offer in-app ads? (that only ends app annoying users!)

The problem that resides with customers and marketers can be solved with the use of app store QR codes, and here are 5 simple steps on how to generate an app QR code.

How to generate an App Store QR code

What is an App Store QR code?

An app QR code is a dynamic “Quick Response” code that allows the storage of an application’s URL on different app stores, and when scanned, will redirect users for them to download a particular app. Users will be redirected depending on their device’s OS. 

The QR code will directly know what type of device you are using in scanning. In this way, the information embedded in the app QR code will automatically prompt download on either Google Play Store for Android or App Store for IOS. 

As the App Stores QR code is dynamic in nature, this kind of QR code allows developers and marketers to track important information such as the number of scans made, the location of the scans made, the type of device used in scanning, and the period when the number of scans is high.

 In this way, developers will have a reference on what OS will they focus on updating and the period when they will add additional features such as in-app giveaways and mystery hunts. 

Why is App Store QR code important in App Marketing? 

The main reason why there are different app stores is that technology giants such as Google and Apple have a different OS on their products, where the Google Play store works only on devices with Android OS and the App store works only on devices with IOS such as iphones and IPads. 

Therefore, it doubles the headaches app developers are experiencing since they need to develop and optimize their apps in these two large operating systems.

And this is where App Stores QR code comes into the picture! 

How to generate an App Store QR code

Here is the expounded version on how to generate an App QR code in 5 simple steps.

1. Open an online App store QR code generator like QRTiger.

The first step in generating an app QR code is finding and opening a trusted and best App store QR code generator like QRTiger. By carefully considering the guidelines in selecting the best app store QR code generator in generating your app QR code, you are sure that your QR code journey starts in a safe path.  

2. Select the App Stores icon on the menu and fill the required fields.

After you have opened an app QR code generator, click the App store field in the menu and enter the necessary data. 

3.Generate and customize your app QR code

Generate your app stores QR code and customize it by choosing a set of patterns, eyes, and colors; add the app’s logo and a tag that can catch the user’s attention.

4.Download and test your QR code

Download your app QR code in print format, either PNG or SVG; and test if it works even in print surfaces. Testing a QR code is an important step in generating since it reduces the risk of directing users to an error page. 

5. Distribute your app QR code.

Lastly, distribute your app QR code by printing and attaching it in your marketing materials like magazines, brochures, manuals, products, flyers, website, social media pages, etc.  

In printing your app QR codes, you should carefully follow printing guidelines as scanning is an important step in downloading and accessing the app. 

Benefits of an App store QR code

1. Automatically directs to the device’s default app store.

As app developers are cramming to market their software in different app stores, problems such as marketing and software mismatch occur. Instead of marketing an app for android, the app used in marketing is for IOS. App store QR codes can be a remedy to marketers and app developers’ problems. For App Store, QR codes have a feature that automatically directs the app’s download prompt to the smartphone type used n scanning. In this way, the frustration of marketing apps minimizes.

2.Provide data tracking for future research references

Data gathering is important to technology and software companies as it provides future research references on releasing new technology to the public. The feature that App store QR codes provide is substantial and reliable. Thus, statistical support on pertinent components can be provided as app store QR codes are dynamic QR codes.

3. Create multi-platform marketing.

App store QR codes allow marketers to market their apps in print and digital platforms. The creation of multi-platform marketing is realized as app store QR codes are can be printed or inserted in digital platforms.

4.Provide app optimization for smartphone users

To give users an easier experience, app store QR codes can optimize the app to mobile users, the time of loading and downloading works smoothly. 

5.Create a game-changing environment in your app marketing

As normal app marketing resides in 20-30 second duration in-app pop-up ads, app store QR codes can lessen the time of advertising an app as it only needs 10 seconds for users to see your app and also they can screenshot it for later downloads. In this way, app store QR codes can create a game-changing environment in app marketing. 

Uses of App Stores QR codes

Business and Marketing

Since companies are slowly migrating from traditional to online schemes, the use of apps such as google docs, spreadsheets, and slides are useful in tracking and navigating their business transactions. 

In marketing, the use of QR codes is adopted and somehow created a greater impact on customers. But as the business industry correlates with modernization, the need for applying better solutions in marketing and operations increases. 

With the use of app stores QR codes, tech and software companies can integrate their software and application marketing campaigns. In this way, usage of app QR codes reduces the time used in advertising a demo of their software, and application. 

Thus, the irritation a user feels while using an application lessens and creates a new gateway in marketing the product.

Promote Entertainment Apps

Entertaining apps such as social media apps, video streaming, and gaming apps are crucial in keeping people entertained during their leisure time. 

Because of the community quarantine, people find ways to keep themselves happy and active while locked up in their homes. As they are busy playing their favorite games, pop-up ads’ annoyance becomes more substantial than the experience they get in their game. 

Due to this problem, app ratings and the chance of recommending this to other users lower. You can use app QR codes for promoting or launching gaming and video streaming apps.

Promote Shopping Apps

As online shopping becomes a mainstream scheme in the new normal society, shopping apps such as Amazon Shopping, Wish, Walmart, etc.; are finding new ways to increase the number of downloads and customer checkouts. 

With the app store QR code introduction, shopping companies can attract more customers without the need to instruct them to search their app names on Google play/App store. 

In this way, they can pioneer the automatic prompt of download without the need to navigate through the Google Play/App Store interface. Also, they can use QR codes in attaching their products link and unburdening their customer in searching for it the shop’s navigation.

Education

Learning and educational apps before were not given importance in society. But as the pandemic occurred in early 2020, these apps become a phenomenal hit as blended learning tools were needed in continuing classes. 

With the use of app QR codes, educators and students can easily relay the apps needed in their lessons without the need to search the app in the app store. Also, with its automated AI identification to the OS the device has, the scan, open, and downloads prompt works consequently. In this way, the burden of choosing and selecting the right app for the learning process lessens.

Conclusion:

Since in-app pop-up ads bother users while they are working with it, alternative solutions such as App store QR codes can be an alternative in app marketing. By displaying mysterious and unconventional marketing strategies, you can ignite the user’s curiosity about the ad moreover, if you are an aspiring app developer and want to start your app store QR code marketing journey using the best QR code generator online!

The post How to generate an app store QR code? Boost your app downloads and more! appeared first on Social Media Explorer.

What is an engagement model and why is it important for business?

Engagement model is the contracting basis that defines how a client cooperates with a vendor of software development services. In a nutshell, it is a set of rules that all the parties involved in the collaboration have to follow. Basically, an engagement model in IT outsourcing is just as important as a business model for the enterprise. Imagine starting a business with no plan, defined objectives, sources of revenue, intended client base, and financial details. Sounds like a secure way to burn out, doesn’t it? Successful entrepreneurs realized the value of a comprehensive business plan years ago, and folks from the IT industry have followed their example. Take a look at our overview of the three engagement models that have already became an outsourcing classic and conquered the market with their ease of use, efficiency, and coherence.

Overview of classic engagement models

1. Time & Material Model

Pros

• Flexible
• Easy to control
• Low-risky

Cons

• Client has to manage the workflow himself
• The developers team is not dedicated to a single project at once
• Suitable only for people skilled in software development

Time & Material is probably the most transparent outsourcing model for client-developers relations, as the clients can track the working progress and access the results almost immediately. Not only does this add to quicker fixing of bugs and any kinds of inaccuracies, but also eliminates the risk of dissatisfaction with the end result (product or service delivered). This engagement model is constructed around an hourly rate that is predefined before the work even starts. Then, the client provides weekly or monthly payments depending on how much of the developers’ time was spent. Traditionally, T&M is viewed as a model for projects with a dynamic scope, regardless of the duration.

Before even thinking about choosing the Time & Material model, you have to objectively evaluate the level of your technical skills. Why? Simply because you are the only person to assure the quality of the work done by the outsourcing team. If you are new to the software development or your expertise in this area is too weak to perform regular code reviews, than we wouldn’t recommend adopting this model. 

We also have to draw your attention to such aspects of the Time & Material model as project management and planning. With T&M model, the client actually takes the project manager’s role and oversees the development process himself. The only other way is to hire a person who would take the responsibility for planning activities and progress tracking. 

This person has to be hired by client himself, as the team of developers is in charge for nothing but technical issues. You have to be able to identify project goals, objectives, time frames, resources, and budget. Without strong project management skills work organized by T&M risks to turn into a troublesome mess.

Another peculiarity of T&M is the fact that a team of developers hired is not limited to your project only, meaning developers can work on multiple projects simultaneously. This brings the issue of prioritization, as you can’t expect your project always to be of the highest importance. The need to jump from one projects to another oftentimes results in unprecise deadlines and some tech inaccuracies in the finished product. 

Do not jump to the conclusion that Time & Material is good for nothing; it’s not the case. This is actually a very useful cooperation framework for people who have IT expertise, but lacking time for a certain tasks and need a “helping hand” that would complete them. Meaning, this particular model was developed for a type of collaboration, where both parties have a decent level of technological expertise. If your reasons for outsourcing software development are far from technical illiteracy, then the chances are you’ll get exactly what you’ve paid for promptly. 

Adopt Time & Material model if:

• You have a decent level of expertise in software development.
• You can act a project manager and technical leader for the outsourcing team.
• You are not committed to strict deadline.
• You want the development process to be transparent.
• The budget for the project has no strict limits.

2. Dedicated Team Model

Pros

• Perfect for non-IT people
• Full-service team at your disposal
• Ability to have third-party company gather a team that would perfectly fit your requirements
• Flexible
• Ability to fully delegate project management and planning to the outsourcing vendor
• Low-risky

Cons

• Not suitable for short-term projects
• The client has to follow up the recruiting process

Dedicated Team (DT) is a model of collaboration when a client reaches for the IT outsourcing company that would act as a middleman between the client and the workforce. The one crucial difference between the Time & Material and the Dedicated Team is the fact that with a DT model a client does not carry out duties of a project manager nor a technical leader. Meaning, the IT services vendor takes full responsibility for the organization of the working process, from the technology-related issues to the salary release and paid vacations. To put it briefly, the DT model is a solution for non-technical people who have a valuable idea but lack skills for making it come true. For adopting this model, you do not need any kind of IT expertise except for the vision of how your project should function. The outsourcing company takes full responsibility for managing the software development workflow, while the client can focus on other aspects: client relations, marketing, sales, etc. Oftentimes, the Dedicated Team provides way more than just developers, but also QA engineers, designers, content managers, and other professionals that are needed to cover the project scope. 

When it comes to client involvement in the working process, the DT allows to arrange the collaboration in a way that would suit both parties. Although the outsourcing company basically can deliver the turnkey project according to your requirements, this does not mean that the client should not or cannot be involved in the development. Clients carrying out personal interviews is the common practice at the vast majority of outsourcing companies, so that they could be sure about the skills of every person working on their projects in future. 

The client can also easily track how the work is progressing, however this duty also could be delegated to the project manager hired by vendor, or limited to monthly (or even less frequent) reports.

To get the work started, the client has to negotiate budgetary issues with the outsourcing company of his choice. Usually, the project owner comes up with an approximate monthly rate he is ready to pay to each member of the team. Later this rate and its correlation with the requirements will define the allocation process. After the team is gathered, they start to work on the project scope and organize their work depending on the software development methodology chosen. When it comes to working overtime, the coverage of extra hours spent at workplace (if any) might be included in the budget as well, although it also depends on company’s corporate policy and should be discussed in advance. 

Adopting the Dedicated Team model assures comprehensive working process that involves a lot of people whose competence was proven during the multi-level recruiting process. This contracting basis has such unbeatable advantages as autonomous team of professionals dedicated solely to your project and no need to take care of the hardware, working conditions, career development of the staff, tech leading, etc. As for disadvantages, this model is not suitable for short-term projects (less than one year) due to the fact that the outsourcing company hires new staff basing on the customer requirements, and these people expect the long-term employment with the company. 

Adopt Dedicated Team model if:

• You have a great project idea but lack the skills for its development.
• The approximate duration of your project is a year or more.
• You do not want to follow up every step during the development process.
• You have the vision of your completed project, but can’t define the requirements once for all.
• You want to know exactly who you work with and decide whether the person is worth hiring.
• You want to save on some costs without compromising quality.

3. Fixed Price Model

Pros

• Single-payment contract
• Perfect for short deadlines
• Simple and straightforward

Cons

• Suits only the simplest projects
• High-risk
• Inflexible

The Fixed Price is the model of collaboration that seems to be very attractive for newcomers to IT outsourcing. It looks as simple as one-two-three: you think through project requirements, pass them to developer(s), and wait for the work done. Add to this a strictly estimated budget and you’ll get why most clients initially seek this model to be the basis of their collaboration with developers — it looks like a perfect price-quality ratio. Well, it does so only until you start digging deeper. 

Although this model has such a great advantages as ease of use, clear budget estimation, and fast delivery, its cons might outweigh all the pros. The thing is, Fixed Price suits only the most simple projects with no room for making a mistake or forgetting about a tiny detail you’d like to include in the feature set. The core of this model lies in predefined instructions — if you are dead certain that you have steady and not at all dynamic requirements for your project, that you might be happy with the outcome after adopting the Fixed Price model. 

Note, that the predefined instructions can be considered as actually predefined only after you’ve discussed them with contractors, as in practice, it turns out that even a simple discussion can reveal tons of potential pitfalls. The client also has to realize that initial requirements delimit the architecture of the future project; it might be technically impossible to add something after work is done, regardless of your desire. The IT sector has a tiny share of projects that do not depend on constantly evolving market needs, and if you are sure your project is one of them — the Fixed Price might be the right choice for you. Otherwise, if you want to leave the room for possible amendments and do not want to risk your budget, opt for Dedicated Team or Time & Material contracting basis.

Adopt Fixed Price model if:

• You have a very small project with the most straightforward instructions.
• You are 100% sure about the project scope.
• Your budget is firmly fixed and you don’t want to pay any extra charges.

Summary

There are no good or bad outsourcing engagement models, these are only suitable or unsuitable ones. To thoughtfully evaluate the project and then choose the right model for its completion are two actions a business owner should take on his way to positive IT outsourcing experience. A well tailored engagement model can turn a simple delegation of a technical task to a third-party into a fruitful strategic partnership.

The post IT Outsourcing Guide: How to Choose an Social Engagement Model appeared first on Social Media Explorer.

The internet has many online Thumbnail Maker apps, but most of them are usually very expensive or have ambiguous terms and conditions. But, you don’t need to worry anymore, as, in this article, we are going to discuss some of the most useful and popular online Thumbnail makers. This information may help you choose a YouTube Banner Maker for yourself without going through many online tools.

Ultimate Thumbnail Maker

This is one of the best online apps that allow you to design amazing thumbnails for your videos. This online Thumbnail Maker has many additional features that you couldn’t find in the other apps. The YouTube Banner Maker app lets you add stickers, emojis, and various designs that can make your banner more attractive. You can also get a massive amount of built-in designs in the app that can help you create a great thumbnail without any hassle.

 Another significant reason for its popularity is its super-friendly interface. Even a non-professional can also use this online Thumbnail Maker without any hesitation. You can also get a massive range of background images, effects, and fonts to play around within this online app. There will be no watermarks on any thumbnail that you create by using this fantastic online app. However, there is an issue with this online tool that most of its features are paid. So, you have to buy a premium plan to enjoy all the features without any hurdles.

Pic Monkey

This app is famous for its amazing features like the background eraser. This online feature was missing even in some of the most popular apps like Canva. After the recent update, the app has become one of the best user-friendly apps that offer you to design attractive thumbnails for your videos within a few seconds. The artificial-intelligence powered touch-up tool enhances the attractiveness of your banners. Also, this online app is also cloud-based, which enables you to use it even on your desktop.

The other amazing features of this online app include advanced background effects, amazing templates, creative layouts, fabulous fonts, and many more. Still, this app has most of the features locked. So, until you get a subscription plan, you won’t be able to use them. The free version of this app may allow you to use the very basic or limited features, but the paid version gives you the facility to get the best out of this video thumbnail maker without any hassle.

Crello

Crello is a fantastic app for making YouTube thumbnails if you want to get the job done quickly right on your Android. Since Crello is a rather multipurpose design tool for different types of content, it gives you an ultimate customization toolkit and a massive library of design elements. The best feature of this app is a collection of studio-level designs you can make your own in just a few clicks.

Working on your video thumbnail in Crello, you can play with fonts, transparency, change a color scheme, add animation effects, erase the background in a click, add stickers, photos and emoji, and easily reposition design elements with automatic alignment adjustments. What’s more, the app is really lightweight which is going to be a huge speed booster when you’re working from your phone.

Thumbnail Maker

You might have known that CA apps are considered the most prestigious and efficient applications that provide you all the features that you usually obtain after spending huge money. The Thumbnail tool offered by this online platform is also second to none. The features that are given by this famous yt maker is also exclusive. You can get a massive collection of well-designed styles that allow you to create an eye-catching logo for your videos. The thumbnails created by this YouTube Banner Maker enable you to get the attention of people.

If you think you may need to get some professional skills to use this fantastic online video Thumbnail Maker, you are entirely wrong. A few taps on your device will enable you to make appealing thumbnails by using this tremendous online thumbnail maker.

The unique design, exclusive fonts, and a massive library of templates make this online yt maker very useful for graphic designers. Also, the thumbnails you will create by using this amazing online video banner maker will not have any watermarks on it so that you can use them with complete authority and confidence.

Conclusion

Thumbnails are considered as the best way to get more views on your videos. The massive increment of social media users increases the effectiveness of appropriate thumbnails. Moreover, the race to get more views on your videos makes it essential for you to use some efficient online tools to assist you in this regard. A thumbnail making app will be the best option that you could have to create appealing thumbnails without making any hard efforts. The above-discussed information may assist you in understanding the need for adequate thumbnails on videos. You can use any of the discussed apps as per your desire to save your time and efforts. These apps can be easily installed on your android smartphones, so you can start using them now!

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Dеtаilѕ оf ѕоmе ѕеrviсеѕ оffеrеd bу Mint Mоbіlе are diѕсuѕѕеd below:

Free shipping ѕеrviсеѕ

Thе company offers free ѕhiррing ѕеrviсеѕ tо itѕ uѕеrѕ all оvеr thе United Stаtеѕ оf Amеriса. Since Mint Mоbilе iѕ a соmрlеtе e-commerce bаѕеd platform where thе users can purchase products online, it is еѕѕеntiаl to оffеr free ѕhiррing ѕеrviсеѕ to them. The free shipping ѕеrviсеѕ significantly rеduсе the cost of the product inѕtеаd of adding to it.

Saving саlсulаtоr оf Mint Mоbilе

Thе оnlinе wеbѕitе оf Mint Mоbilе hаѕ a саlсulаtоr tооl, which аllоwѕ the users to find out how much thеу wіll bе аblе tо save if thеу gоt the service of Mint Mobile. The uѕеrѕ can рlug in their bаѕiс information in the tool and get a ԛuiсk аѕѕеѕѕmеnt оf thе аmоunt оf mоnеу thеу wіll be able to ѕаvе if thеу got thе services оf mint mоbilе. There are two раrаmеtеrѕ whоѕе vаluеѕ thе uѕеrѕ have to provide to find оut thе ѕаving аррrоximаtе. Thе users of thе Mint Mobile nееd tо put thе аmоunt оf mоnеу thеу ѕреnd on their phone bill аgаinѕt thе dаtа сhаrgеѕ that thеу get in rеturn. The system runs a calculation on the parameters provided and gives you an estimate оf thе ѕаving. Thе saving еѕtimаtе рrоvidеd is for a year, which shows that Mint Mоbіlе bеliеvеѕ mоrе in lоng-tеrm packages аѕ соmраrеd to ѕhоrt-tеrm packages.

The return роliсу оf Mint Mоbilе

Mint Mоbilе hаѕ a very useful rеturn policy where the uѕеrѕ can rеturn the рrоduсtѕ if thеу аrе nоt соmрlеtеlу ѕаtiѕfiеd with the experience or for other ассерtаblе rеаѕоnѕ. The users can return the рrоduсtѕ within ѕеvеn days. Thеrе iѕ a ѕimрlе procedure of returning the рrоduсtѕ or diѕсоntinuing the расkаgеѕ if you аrе not соmрlеtеlу ѕаtiѕfiеd with it. Thе рrосеѕѕ of returning the рrоduсtѕ or diѕсоntinuing the рrоduсtѕ is ѕtаtеd аѕ below:

• There is a 7dауѕ mоnеу-back guarantee. Thе uѕеrѕ can return the рrоduсtѕ without having tо answer any ԛuеѕtiоn.
• To apply for thе rеturn, the uѕеrѕ can submit a rеԛuеѕt оn the online platform оf the company. Thеу nееd tо fill a simple fоrm bу providing common information ѕuсh аѕ “Nаmе, email, оrdеr numbеr, аnd the rеаѕоn for rеturn.”
• Aftеr submitting thе rеturn rеԛuеѕt, the uѕеrѕ will wаit fоr a minimum period bеforе thе amount iѕ returned to them.
• Thе amount returned will minuѕ thе сhаrgе, which may аррlу in саѕе of using the wireless data аnd соmmuniсаtiоn ѕеrviсеѕ оffеrеd bу thе company.

E-commerce ѕеrviсеѕ of Mint Mоbilе

Mint Mоbilе is аn exclusive provider оf е-соmmеrсе services since аll thе products аnd ѕеrviсеѕ of thе соmраnу аrе available tо thе people оvеr thе оnlіnе platform. The users do not nееd tо gо аnуwhеrе since аll thе information, services, аnd рrоduсtѕ are аvаilаblе оn thе оnlinе ѕtоrе. The company hаѕ a well-managed online wеbѕitе where аll thе dеtаilѕ rеgаrding thе ѕеrviсеѕ of the соmраnу аrе clearly ѕtаtеd for the customers to rеviеw.

If you need any more information on MintMobile, check out the mint mobile review to get more information.

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