Preface

This handbook is a complete encyclopedia about engineering requirements and quality characteristics that users, developers, and marketers of mobile applications should be aware of, and it provides detailed definitions, descriptions, and those features that overlap and are often confused. Today almost everyone uses a mobile phone with a good number of applications. However, not everyone knows its full advantage. In addition, this book helps in exploiting all the apps efficiently, thereby optimizing their use. Sometimes, when one buys a latest phone from a simpler version, it is so confusing that it is common to make mistakes. Some of these mistakes are undone easily, but some have locked the device to be made accessible by the distributor, and still, some are locked forever. Especially if you have bought it in one place and traveled to another country/continent. Mobile apps are distinguished, and studies are divided into eight different angles: capability, reliability, usability, charisma, security, performance, mobility, and compatibility. They are further divided into subsections for clarity. Every chapter has an introduction to all points discussed and a picture projects the different subsections in a user-friendly way. It not only describes each function but also sheds light on the perceptions of users. It is completely from the user’s perspective. It is extremely useful to developers as it does highlight some performance issues like delay issue if the user misuses the app, he blames the app for 2 to 3 seconds of waiting time which is considered as delay, while a computer start time is about a minute with much more performance capacity. Also, the challenges are different types of users, different mobile phones with different capacities, with much varied and continually updated mobile apps.

This guide shows you how to:

1. Think through the design instead of just throwing UI elements.
2. Allow an intuitive design flow to emerging from your app.
3. Sketch and wireframe apps more effectively.
4. Reflect key differences among smartphones, tablets, and desktops.
5. Design for visual appeal without compromising usability.
6. Work effectively with programmers.
7. Make sure your apps are accessible to everyone.
8. Get usable feedback, and understand what it is telling you.
9. Learn valuable lessons from today's most successful apps.
10. Refresh your designs in new apps and future versions.
11. Discover new tools for designing more successfully.