Mobile Applications Development with Android

The implementation of system development methodologies (SDMs) in mobile applications (mobile apps) development has a positive effect on companies and their respective software projects. SDMs provide a framework for planning, executing, and managing the process of developing software systems. In this paper, we investigate the worthiness of using of SDMs in the development of mobile applications. A survey was conducted among software developers in various organizations. The organizations included software development companies, financial institutions, telecommunication companies, engineering companies and educational institutions. A total of 152 out of 392 questionnaires distributed, were returned, giving a response rate of 38.8%. Furthermore, the responses were categorized into two groups (users/non-users of SDMs) and T-test analysis was performed to determine the differences between the means of the two groups. The findings indicate that SDMs are effectively used in developing mobile apps and there are significant practical differences between the users and non-users of SDMs in mobile apps development in areas of organizational size, the number of developers in the organization, years of experience, the number of applications developed and application success. The users (companies and individuals) are larger, more experienced and more productive. Furthermore, the use of SDMs in mobile apps development leads to more successful mobile apps. We conclude that SDMs are indeed worthy of use in mobile apps development.

BackgroundGiven the effective role of a mobile applications in disease management, disease monitoring, and self-care in patients with COVID-19 disease, we aimed to design, development and evaluation of a self-care Mobile app for COVID-19 patients not requiring hospitalization.MethodsThe design, development and evaluation the usability of the self-care and education mobile app for patients with COVID-19 disease were conducted in two main phases at 2021 in Northwest of IRAN; (1) Determine the features and capabilities and (2) Design, development and evaluation of self-care mobile App. JAVA programming languages and Android Operating System were used and selected to design and development of a mobile app. There were 25 participants who conducted evaluations of the mobile app’s usability and impact using the mobile health app usability a Questionnaire of User Interface Satisfaction was administered to assess the usability of the developed application. The results were analyzed via Excel 2013.ResultsThe model of developing a mobile app as an Information System was the Waterfall model. The smartphone application based on a set of capabilities and features was designed and consists of two main parts: the login screen for user registration, and the main home menu. The user interface includes three main pages or activities; (a) Main Menu for quick access to all of the pages, (b) Symptom management and monitoring to monitor the signs and symptoms during the illness, and (c) Set Reminders and Alarms to notify patients. The users’ mean score of the application usability was calculated as 7.91 out of 9 indicating a good level of satisfaction.ConclusionThis app can be a guideline and a useful tools for managing and monitoring symptoms, reminding medications, and implementing self-care instructions in outpatients. The authors suggest evaluating the efficacy and functionality test of mobile-based applications for COVID-19 in clinical trial studies.

The cloud computing and mobile environments since mid-2000s are regarded as important keywords in ICT fields. Meanwhile, mobile cloud computing is receiving attention in aspect that uses advantage of cloud computing and mobile at the same time. Recently, the service and application in various fields are developed using mobile cloud computing. But in the remote sensing field, the examples of research and development are but little. In this study, the mobile app for satellite image processing was developed using cloud computing, iOS SDK, and various libraries, and is running on tablet PC. The developed mobile app can be one of the examples for using mobile cloud computing in the remote sensing field. Mobile cloud computing is expected to steadily grow. Therefore, the mobile app based on mobile cloud computing in the remote sensing field will require the development.

The increasing demand for mobile apps is out the current capability of mobile app developers. In addition, the growing trend in smartphone ownership and the time people spend on mobile apps has raised several opportunities and risks for users and developers. The average time everyday a user spend on smartphones to use mobile apps is more than two hours. The worldwide mobile app revenue increase is estimated to grow 33%, $19 billion. Three quarter of the time used on mobile apps is solely for using game and social networking apps. To provide more customized services and function to users, mobile apps need to access to personal information. However, 80% of mobile apps put people's information privacy at risk. There is a major gap in the literature about the privacy concerns of mobile device users in the context of mobile apps. This dissertation addresses one fundamental research question: how does individuals' privacy change in the context of mobile apps? More precisely, the focus of this dissertation is on information privacy role in individuals' and mobile app developers' protective behaviors. We investigate the information sensitivity level influence on mobile app developers' emphasis on privacy across mobile app categories. The results show information sensitivity level has a significant impact on developers' emphasis on secondary usage of information. Moreover, we analyze the privacy trade-off dynamism in using a new social networking app and how it could result in emotional attachment. Results show initial use and initial disclosure influence the privacy trade-off from pre-use to initial-use period. Finally, the effect of privacy concern and engagement on emotional attachment is demonstrated. This dissertation addresses one fundamental research question: how does individuals' privacy change in the context of mobile apps? More precisely, the focus of this dissertation is on information privacy role in individuals' and mobile app developers' protective behaviors. We investigate the information sensitivity level influence on mobile app developers' emphasis on privacy across mobile app categories. The results show information sensitivity level has a significant impact on developers' emphasis on secondary usage of information. Moreover, we analyze the privacy trade-off dynamism in using a new social networking app and how it could result in emotional attachment. Results show initial use and initial disclosure influence the privacy trade-off from pre-use to initial-use period. Finally, the effect of privacy concern and engagement on emotional attachment is demonstrated.

This research is about the development, testing and application of mobile app for optimum location spot of a single facility. The approach is to use Center of Gravity Method to locate the central locations of the facility. This equality would reflect balance and minimum time and cost. The main variables to be considered in the systems are customer's distance, customer's demands and transportation rates. In general, firms which apply technologies will perform significantly better than those that do not. This leads to the development of a mobile app to identify best location for a single facility which will serve several demand centers. After the development of a mobile app, this undergoes testing which includes verification whether the mobile app will provide the same result in theoretical computations. The study confirms that the mobile app is consistent with the theoretical computations for location planning. This mobile app becomes a decision support system suggesting that they can access this mobile app to improve the firm's performance on decision making. A faster and effective decision making since instead of manual computation which will take time, the computation will be in a few seconds plus you could visualize the geographic areas being investigated. Moreover, the mobile app is practical to implement because it is flexible and easy to use. The data needed is easy to gather. The mobile app can generate up to 100 iterations to ensure that global maxima is obtained.

Cloud computing is used to offer programmes to mobile devices via mobile cloud computing. These mobile apps can be delivered remotely utilizing development tools that provide speed and flexibility. Cloud services allow for speedy development and revision of mobile cloud applications. It combines mobile app development and cloud-based technologies to make cloud and mobile app distribution easier. In distant data centers, data is stored and apps are run.. Despite its increasing popularity, fully achieving the potential of mobile computing is difficult due to inherent constraints such as resource scarcity, frequent disconnections, and mobility. By executing mobile apps on resource providers outside of the mobile device, mobile cloud computing can address these issues. In this paper, we provide an in-depth analysis of mobile cloud computing research, with an emphasis on mobile cloud computing's unique problems. We propose a taxonomy based on the major issues in this field and the many approaches taken to overcome them. We finish the paper with a critical assessment of difficulties that have yet to be fully addressed, as well as recommendations for future research.

One of the challenges facing resource-constrained environments is the proliferation of smartphones, the lack of skills to develop mobile apps, the high cost of professional mobile app development and the fact that there are no interventions to change the tide. Both communities and businesses, particularly the small- to medium-scale businesses have had two options: a) to use generic apps which are often not customisable, or b) not to use the technology. Globally, there are two emerging phenomena: the citizen developers and the mobile app development platform (MADP) with little or no programming code. Neither the citizen developer nor MADP are new but they have reached levels of maturity at which their potential in resource constrained contexts makes logical sense. The potential lies in empowering ordinary citizens to design and develop mobile applications that address their specific needs without being constrained by the lack of technical skills. This chapter presents a model to empower citizen developers to acquire mobile app design and development skills to develop mobile apps with few or no code development platforms. The chapter explores an empathy-driven mobile app development (empathy-driven MAD). MADs are safe and fun, they are called ‘digital sandpits’. The empathy-driven MAD without code has been shown to enhance creativity within multi-disciplinary teams and allow members of such teams to act as citizen developers who rapidly build apps, obtain feedback from ‘clients’ (peers) thereby shifting the dispositions of both the citizen developer and their community (world). This chapter uses Gidden’s structuration theory and an empathy map to exploit both tacit and discursive knowledge in the design of mobile apps and then using low-cost no-code MADPs learn quickly about user needs and build useable apps for communities.

Tax Administration 3.0 calls for tax administrations to be a high-tech adaptive organization with human touch. To that extent, tax administrations worldwide have developed mobile app as a taxpayer touchpoint. As the results of tax administrations’ digital maturity assessment shows major room for improvement, the mobile app development also faced with challenges. This study aims to investigate challenges in tax services mobile app development using M-Pajak as a case study. The descriptive qualitative approach used as our research method is composed of literature review, semi structured interview, open coding, and thematic analysis. Our study finds that M-Pajak development faces challenges related with project management and application requirements. To mitigate the challenges, it is important to ensure that projects are sufficiently staffed. Furthermore, change management must be implemented by focusing on user needs, who largely determine the application success. Meanwhile, fragmentation can be considered as the most critical challenge as it affects other challenges. Diversity of platforms and devices in which the mobile application will be operated potentially affects other factors, such as interoperability, user experience, privacy, and security. This study is important for tax administrations to anticipate challenges in developing their mobile app. Finally, this study also enriches the literature through the investigation of the mobile app development challenges in the context of tax services mobile app.

Net neutrality or “Open Internet” rulemaking has been ongoing for more than a decade. Some 50 nations have adopted formal rules including the US (then repealed), the European Union, India, and many countries in Latin America. Among other arguments, it is asserted that net neutrality rules are necessary for application innovation. While the focus for policymakers has largely been to make rules, there is less attention on how to measure the impact of such rules and how well they achieve their innovation goals. The article summaries a specific research investigation to what degree the introduction of rules in a given country stimulates innovation in that country’s mobile app ecosystem. The focus in on mobile networks because it allowed the most consistent data across countries. The study covered 53 countries, their net neutrality policies (or lack thereof), and the results to the respective mobile application ecosystems of the countries adopting rules between the period of 2010–2016. This investigation tests the proposition that countries which adopt net neutrality rules should experience an increase in mobile app development innovation within their national economy. To test this, a statistical methodology was developed based upon measuring the number of locally developed mobile apps in the country for relevant periods before and after rules are imposed and the corresponding app downloads, usage, and revenue. Measurement was conducted with two independent toolsets and adjusted for the sophistication and penetration of advanced mobile networks in the country. To make more meaningful comparisons and avoid inevitable heterogeneity across the countries, the investigation focuses on two similar countries with different rules, Denmark with soft rules (self-regulation) and Netherlands with hard rules (legislation). The study reviewed the leading theories of innovation as well as the foundational papers in net neutrality to explain the observed discrepancies. The research finds significant statistical support for “soft” net neutrality measures adopted on a voluntary basis. Hard rules adopted through legislation and regulation were not associated with greater mobile app development for the given country. Denmark increased in local mobile app development while Netherlands decreased. Additionally, the explosion of mobile apps from countries with no net neutrality rules and the general dearth of mobile apps from countries which have had hard rules for years runs counter to expected results. This suggests that policymakers revisit their assumptions and expectations for net neutrality policy.

The unabated flurry of research activities to augment various mobile devices by leveraging heterogeneous cloud resources has created a new research domain called Mobile Cloud Computing (MCC). In the core of such a non-uniform environment, facilitating interoperability, portability, and integration among heterogeneous platforms is nontrivial. Building such facilitators in MCC requires investigations to understand heterogeneity and its challenges over the roots. Although there are many research studies in mobile computing and cloud computing, convergence of these two areas grants further academic efforts towards flourishing MCC. In this paper, we define MCC, explain its major challenges, discuss heterogeneity in convergent computing (i.e. mobile computing and cloud computing) and networking (wired and wireless networks), and divide it into two dimensions, namely vertical and horizontal. Heterogeneity roots are analyzed and taxonomized as hardware, platform, feature, API, and network. Multidimensional heterogeneity in MCC results in application and code fragmentation problems that impede development of cross-platform mobile applications which is mathematically described. The impacts of heterogeneity in MCC are investigated, related opportunities and challenges are identified, and predominant heterogeneity handling approaches like virtualization, middleware, and service oriented architecture (SOA) are discussed. We outline open issues that help in identifying new research directions in MCC.

The incredible development in the utilization of smartphones has driven the development of billions of software applications famously known as 'apps' to accomplish roles outside phone call and SMS messages in the day-to-day lives of users.Current assessments show that there are a huge number of applications developed at a meteor pace to give clients a rich and quick client experience.Mobile apps users are more concerned about stability and quality now more than ever despite the increase in the scale and size of apps.As such, mobile apps have to be designed, built, and produced for less money (maintainability, portability, and reusability), with greater performance, reliable security and fewer resources (efficiency) than ever before.This paper aimed at providing support for mobile application developers in dealing with the evereluding non-functional requirements by proposing a data-driven model that simplifies the non-functional requirements (NFR) p in the development of an application for mobile devices.The study tries to find out if NFR can be treated the same way as functional requirements in mobile application development.Finally, this paper shows the experimental evaluation of the proposed data-driven model of dealing for nonfunctional requirements in the development of mobile apps and the results obtained from the application of the model are also discussed.

“Essential Security Practices for Fortifying Mobile Apps” is a definitive guide designed to empower developers, security professionals, and organizations with the knowledge and tools needed to secure mobile applications in an increasingly complex digital landscape. This comprehensive book covers every aspect of mobile app security, providing actionable insights and practical strategies to protect apps from the ever-evolving threat landscape. The book begins with an Introduction to Mobile App Security (Chapter 1), where readers are introduced to the critical importance of securing mobile apps. It discusses common security threats, the principles of security by design, and the unique challenges faced in mobile app development. The chapter also includes case studies of major security breaches, offering real-world context to the concepts discussed. In Secure Development Lifecycle (Chapter 2), the book emphasizes the importance of integrating security into the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC). Topics such as threat modeling, secure coding practices, and penetration testing are explored in depth. This chapter also covers the role of continuous integration in maintaining security and the necessity of incident response planning and security training. Authentication and Authorization (Chapter 3) dives into the mechanisms that ensure only authorized users have access to mobile apps. It covers secure authentication methods, including multi-factor authentication and token-based authentication, as well as best practices for session management and password storage. The chapter provides guidelines to avoid common authentication flaws that could compromise app security. Data Protection and Privacy (Chapter 4) addresses the crucial aspects of encrypting data both at rest and in transit. It discusses secure data storage, privacy by design principles, and the handling of personally identifiable information (PII). Readers will learn about secure data deletion and compliance with data protection regulations, as well as the use of secure cryptographic libraries. Network Security (Chapter 5) explores the protocols and techniques needed to secure communication between mobile apps and their backend systems. The chapter covers the correct use of TLS/SSL, protecting against man-in-the-middle attacks, and securing backend APIs. It also discusses the importance of monitoring and logging network activity to detect and respond to potential threats. The book then moves on to Secure Coding Practices (Chapter 6), providing guidance on avoiding common coding vulnerabilities through input validation, error handling, and defensive programming techniques. It also covers secure code reviews and the best practices for using mobile platform APIs securely. Mobile Device Security (Chapter 7) shifts focus to the security of the devices on which mobile apps run. The chapter discusses mobile device threats, secure device configuration, and the use of mobile device management (MDM) solutions. It also addresses the security features of mobile devices, such as secure boot and remote wiping, which are essential for protecting against device theft or loss. In Secure Deployment and Distribution (Chapter 8), readers will learn about secure strategies for deploying and distributing mobile apps. Topics include code signing, protecting against repackaging and tampering, and securely distributing sensitive data. The chapter also covers handling updates and patches, ensuring that apps remain secure after deployment. Security Testing and Validation (Chapter 9) provides an in-depth look at the various types of security testing, including automated and manual testing techniques. It discusses penetration testing best practices, vulnerability assessment, and the integration of security testing into CI/CD pipelines. Regular security audits and addressing found vulnerabilities are also emphasized. Incident Response and Management (Chapter 10) guides readers in building an effective incident response team and creating a robust incident response plan. The chapter covers the steps for detecting, analyzing, containing, eradicating, and recovering from security incidents. Post-incident analysis and communication with stakeholders are also discussed, alongside legal and regulatory considerations. Finally, Future Trends in Mobile App Security (Chapter 11) explores the emerging threats and advancements in mobile security technologies. The chapter discusses the role of artificial intelligence in security, the integration of IoT with mobile devices, and the potential of blockchain in enhancing mobile security. It also highlights the importance of user education and awareness in safeguarding mobile applications in the future. “Essential Security Practices for Fortifying Mobile Apps” is an invaluable resource for anyone involved in the development, deployment, and management of mobile applications, offering a thorough understanding of the security challenges and the strategies needed to overcome them.

Wireless mobile networks, smart phones and cloud computing are converging into the new, rapidly growing field of mobile cloud computing (MCC) enabling the availability of cloud computing services in a mobile ecosystem. Current cloud computing architecture, platforms and services need to evolve, by taking into consideration the specific features of mobile networks that are different from those of fixed IP networks, to better serve cloud applications operating over mobile wireless networks and on mobile devices. In the meanwhile, widely spread social networks are also getting into end user's mobile phones by offering more customized services with a particular aid of user's context information (e.g. location information), thus rendering the so called mobile social networks (MSNs). The massive information available on social networks provides good source for human-based computing or social computing. There is also a trend of utilizing cloud computing technologies to enable more efficient and cost-effective mobile social computing. The goal of this Workshop is to provide a venue to bring together researchers and practitioners in these two extremely active and rather related areas to highlight and systematically address the arising challenges.

Wireless mobile networks, smart phones and cloud computing are converging into the new, rapidly growing field of mobile cloud computing (MCC) enabling the availability of cloud computing services in a mobile ecosystem. Current cloud computing architecture, platforms and services need to evolve, by taking into consideration the specific features of mobile networks that are different from those of fixed IP networks, to better serve cloud applications operating over mobile wireless networks and on mobile devices. In the meanwhile, widely spread social networks are also getting into end user's mobile phones by offering more customized services with a particular aid of user's context information (e.g. location information), thus rendering the so called mobile social networks (MSNs). The massive information available on social networks provides good source for human-based computing or social computing. There is also a trend of utilizing cloud computing technologies to enable more efficient and cost-effective mobile social computing. The goal of this Workshop is to provide a venue to bring together researchers and practitioners in these two extremely active and rather related areas to highlight and systematically address the arising challenges.

The development of mobile learning apps might fail due to poor selection of the suitable technical requirements for mobile devices. This will affect the quality of mobile learning applications and, thus, will increase the development cost of mobile learning apps. Due to the above issues, we need to determine the most appropriate technical quality requirements for the development of mobile learning apps that meet user requirements. To achieve that, we propose a comprehensive framework to capture the most suitable technical quality requirements for mobile learning apps. A Delphi method was used to collect, evaluate, and analyze the data for this study. As a result of our Delphi study, we have identified nineteen technical quality requirements, divided into six quality dimensions, for the development of mobile learning applications. The proposed framework is expected to be a guideline for mobile apps designers and developers to successfully develop mobile learning apps.