8 New things to experience with Amazon Alexa

With the launching of new Amazon-powered devices for smarter home and office, it announces new software development as well. The new development is about to make Alexa more conversational and less transactional and some other feature which will improve the overall voice assistant experience.

Setting new routines

Routines are a good way to make Alexa work by grouping various actions to a single command or having them pause at the same time every day. Amazon revealed that it would be expanding routines to make it smoother for you. From controlling the home automation to using it on office works, new routines will be helpful. Also, routines for kids are introduced to help them with daily tasks.

  

Location-based reminders

The Amazon Alexa skills got the wonderful feature of location-based reminders. You can set the reminder of for example, “Alexa, remind me to call my Dad when I get home.” As soon as you reach home, your phone will receive the notification reminding you to perform the task.

More helpful in the kitchen

Alexa is already doing great with features like making grocery lists, multiple timers and other third-party cooking skills, now it will be able to offer step-by-step instructions too.

Multistep commands

Yes, the new software upgradation let you make multiple commands at one sentences. For example, “Alexa switch off the light, close the door and play a soothing music”. Alexa is now capable of doing multi-tasks on one request.

Calling with Skype

Alexa can directly call a person from your Skype contact list. With just one command, she will be able to make both voice and video calls to any person, anywhere in the world.

Local Voice Control

Generally, when the internet goes out, Alexa speakers stop working altogether. However, with these development Echo devices (built-in smart home hubs), will be able to control your smart home devices that works on the same local wireless network. But this feature will not work with existing devices without the built-in hub features.

Email integration

Alexa will soon get email integration, too. After linking a Gmail, Outlook or Hotmail account, you can say, "Alexa, do I have any new emails?" It will read through your emails and you will be able to reply using your voice.

Whisper mode

The upcoming Whisper Mode for Alexa speakers is a unique take on controlling the voice and not disturbing others. If you whisper your command to Alexa, she will also response whispering back.

These upcoming updates are making us excited to work more on its skills. Being one of the Amazon Alexa Skills Development company, we are looking for more great updates from Amazon. The future of AI is here and you need to take the full advantage of it.

You can read more here: https://www.sphinx-solution.com/blog/category/amazon-alexa-skill-development/ 

Amazon Launches New Echo Products to Strength Its Foothold

With the launch of brand new devices from Amazon house, we are ready to work on some new Amazon Alexa skill Development too. For your convenience, we are sharing a list of some amazing products which can lighten up your office and home.

Here in this write-up, we have only talked about a few products for which we can develop the Alexa skills.

• Amazon Echo Dot

The favorite Amazon Echo Dot comes with an improved design and sound quality. It has a speaker size of 1.6 inches which can be connected via a 3.5 mm cable or Bluetooth. The enhanced voice quality makes Alexa catch your far-field voice and carry out your orders. From setting the alarm to daily news, Alexa is well developed to carry out your daily tasks. Even in places like Mexico, US and Canada, the Echo Dot is supported to place free audio calls.

• The new Echo Show

The revamped Echo Show comes with improved sound quality and a 10 inch HD screen. It let you set-up the smart home with different interesting options in it. So, the new Echo Show is more entertaining than before.

• The Echo Plus

For this product, Amazon is using the Zigbee protocol, a widely used smart home protocol to connect sensors, bulbs, and camera which enable easy communication between these devices. Besides, the Ask Alexa features the Echo Plus also has a temperature sensor. Its speakers are powered by Dolby play 360 degrees. It also comes with features like seven microphones, beamforming technology, and noise cancellation.

• The Echo Sub

The Echo Sub is a subwoofer. It can be wirelessly paired with other Echo devices through Alexa to deliver better sound or stereo effect.

Echo Input

The Echo Input will let you add Alexa to your existing speaker and connects to your speaker through a 3.5mm audio cable or via Bluetooth. It is 12.5 mm in height, can be connected to other normal speakers too.

• Echo Auto

Now you can enjoy the power of the Amazon Alexa skill Echo with the Echo Auto even one the go. This device allows connecting with your car by connecting through your phone. The eight microphones are made in such a way that the Echo Auto can hear your voice over music, A/C, and road noise.

Other products like Amazon smart plug, echo wall clock, Echo link and Amp, AmazonBasics Microwave are also launched with the above products.

There is still a surge in demand for developing Amazon Alexa skills and with this product launch, the marketplace will be introduced to more skills. 

8 Security Issues That The Developers Need To Be Careful While Developing A Mobile App

Right now there are hundreds of companies offering mobile application development services. It is found that the majority of the applications are not successful and also fail to attract users in the launching stage itself. Also, few of the applications face security issue on its running stage.

Developers can avoid the security issue if they become a little careful during the creation of the application.

Here are 8 collated points which will help you to avoid any future problem.

·         Try for secure code writing

The code is the most vulnerable thing which can be exploited by hackers. According to research, about 11.6 million devices are affected by malicious code. Hence, it is important that developers write highly secure code.

·         Encryption

Data encryption convert the data transmitting in such a way that it cannot be read without decryption. While developing an app, developers must follow this to save the data and codes.

·         Use good encryption tools and techniques

Key management is a vital step when it comes to cryptographically secure the data. So, make sure that there is no hardcore of your encryption keys.

·         Be careful with third-party libraries

Do check thoroughly before trusting any library for app building. Try to test the code or else any flaws in the library will crash the system.

·         Authorized API

Specialists say having a central authorization for the whole API to gain better and increased security in the mobile applications.

·         High-level authentication needed

Weak authentication will make your mobile application more vulnerable to hackers. User and developer authentication are important from a security point.

·         Temper detection method for your app

Get alerts when your code is being changed or tempered. It is good to have a log of code changes of the app so that the malicious programmer don’t put the bad code in your application.

·         Testing

Penetration testing and emulators will give you an idea about the vulnerabilities in the application. With each new version, it is essential to go for testing.

Security is about to act as a competing in the app world as customers prefer more secure mobile applications to maintain the privacy of the data.

What Metrics Should You Analyze For Checking Mobile Application’s Growth?

As an entrepreneur, you know that product development is not everything to hold a lead in the marketplace. The developed mobile application needs constant monetizing and needs a proper advertising campaign too. Mobile analytics is one of the important tools in promoting your application.



Well, to help you get the better results, relevant data, identify errors and find solutions, we gathered a few vital metrics which you must analyze.

Also read: https://www.sphinx-solution.com/blog/are-you-losing-app-users/

• Downloads: By now, we as all know the more users install your application, the more productive and fruitful it gets. Consequently, it is a vital business metric which demonstrates the application user commitment. You can likewise check for the wellsprings of application downloads. This will reveal to you how proficient and viable was your showcasing effort, appropriation channels and adaptation are.

• Loading Time: The length of stacking time influences the number of users to your application which open and utilize it once a day. In the event that your application influences individuals to pause, at that point, you can lose your users. This metric tracks all the speed transferring.

• Session Length: Session length demonstrates how much time target users spend utilizing your application—from its opening to shutting. More grounded user commitment prompts longer session length.

• Session Interval: Session interim demonstrates the time pass between the principal session and the following one. This metric tracks how frequently your users open and utilize the application for a particular period. The more regularly individuals come back to your application with a shorter session interim, the better.

• Time in App: Longer time in an application implies better user commitment. This metric distinguishes to what extent a user remained in your application over a particular period—every day, out of every week, or every month.

• User Acquisition: This KPI metric demonstrates the quantity of both new and old users who downloaded your mobile application. Users obtaining exploration can likewise be separated into such classes as gadget composes, age, sexual orientation, area, natural pursuit, advertisement battles, and so forth.

• Active App Users: This metric decides dynamic users—regardless of whether your users utilize the introduced application routinely or download it. For the legitimate following, it's smarter to isolate dynamic users into such classifications as day by day, week after week, and month to month.

• Screen Flow: In basic words, screen stream is the way a user finishes your application. This metric shows visits per a specific screen, the nitty gritty users' connections in a versatile application, and where they followed visits.

• Retention Rate and Churn Rate: Retention Rate implies the number of users who come back to your application or keep utilizing it in a particular term. This metric enables you to decide on an application execution, comprehend users conduct, and enhance the adequacy of current showcasing methodology.

Churn rate, in its turn, features the level of users who left your application in a given period. The essential objective of each application is to accomplish the most reduced beat rate.

• Conversion Rate: Conversion rate implies the proportion of users snaps to focused in-application activities. These activities are expected to connect with users to join, fill in a frame, leave input, or download some valuable substance for nothing by means of enrollment, and so on.

There are some different measurements like lifetime value, user growth rate, crash report and a couple of something beyond. Changes on these measurements rely upon the above measurements as well.

Along these lines, you have to give some push to check the general execution to keep your application on the top.

How Real Estate can take advantages of Amazon Alexa Skill?

As Amazon Alexa’s popularity is growing, so do it is helping different industry and business with better customer engagement.

If you are someone from the real estate sector, you will be glad to know that Amazon Alexa has great opportunities for you people too. Today, we are talking why real estate brokers need their own Alexa skill and how it can benefit them.

1. The efficient Alexa saves you time

Undoubtedly, AmazonAlexa skill development can save you time by enlisting the important appointments and more. Well, if you use it efficiently and develop a skill, it will save both you and your team’s time. As we are aware, real estate agents hunt for information and never short on questions. To empower your team when you are not available for confusion clearing or offering new information, Alexa can help.

All you have to do is to load it with FAQs, tips and other information which will help them to work without seeking help from others.

2. Always connected with Alexa skills

With a one-time investment of a few hours, you can manage to stay connected with prospective agents and show the value of your brokerage. Develop an Alexa skill that agents can put onto their existing briefing schedule so that they effortlessly receive pre-recorded message every morning.

3. Increase your profile

You might be a loyal and a well-known real estate agent but must increase your profile by implementing cutting-edge technology onto your work environment. The technology innovations like voice-based assistant can help you and makes your profile looks really attractive.

You can also incorporate as many skills as you want. Amazon has made the platform open for the developers to bring out the best with the help of Amazon Skill development kit.

Do you need help to develop your own skill?

It is claimed that developing an Amazon Alexa skill and implementing it is not rocket science. But if you don’t develop it properly, it might not work as expected. Taking help from the Alexa skill development company is a good idea. Even, the agency can help you in long run IT solutions.

  

Top benefits of a Custom Mobile App Development for Your Business

Different businesses need different features and they have different target audiences as well. In that case, developing a custom mobile app is a good idea. Why spend on the irrelevant features which you don’t need for your applications.

Here are some benefits which we have gathered to help you out.

·         Custom development thinks about your money:

The off-the-shelf software has a package of features to utilize. Some of them could be of great use to your business, and some may be completely unwanted. Whatever the scenario, you need to pay the whole amount.

On the other hand, if you opt for custom app development, it would be a tailored one made only for your need. This also makes ready for future expansion.

·         Ease of customization:

Customized app development helps you to mix different features in one place. This, in turn, support your to provide more personalized information to the users. Custom Android app development is easy to implement. The development process remains flexible.

·         Catch a wider audience:

Android has to dominate market share, so if you are planning to go for a custom Android app from the top mobile app development company, it is a good idea.
It will definitely grab the attention of the wider audience from different economic groups.

·         Better security:

Your mobile app will be created only for your business solution. So, it means it will be unique and no one will able to know the architecture of your app. This makes it secure and difficult to hack.

·         Low cost, High ROI:

Talking about Android, it is an open source platform. The Software Development Kit can be edited and shared by developers from all over the planet. It is easy to get the new version of the OS from the Android developer’s community. It is truly a high return on ROI.  

It is always a better idea to get a completely unique solution for your business application. Android development doesn’t seek big budget investments. It is only about the right developing team who can get you a feature-rich app.

How can Amazon Alexa help the hospitality sector?

No doubt, Amazon’s voice assistant Alexa is growing. The businesses so far got the Amazon Alexa skills to experiment and incorporate different skills to help the employee. Now, all these amazing skills make Amazon echo devices ready to transform the hospitality sector too.

Previously we have seen, how Alexa can book cab when asked, now it is capable of offering all-round customer support. Echo is all set to bring the voice-controlled virtual assistant to hotel rooms. Isn’t that exciting? Surely, the hotels will see new form of interaction with the customers.

Let’s check how it will deliver a great customer experience simple.

Using the Amazon Echo in the hotel's room, guests can control and adjust the compatible in-room devices like lights, blinds, TV, thermostats and other objects to their choice or can ask Alexa to play music. The smart home operation is truly an out of the box idea. The hospitality providers can also develop custom skills to customize the guest experience more.

For example, Alexa, order room service”

"Alexa, send up two more towels"

“Alexa, call the front desk”

“Alexa, help me check out

are some of the commands, mentioned by Amazon.

Amazon Skill developers and Solution providers can help to deliver great guest experiences. Until May 2017, Amazon sold more than 10 million Alexa-enabled devices. Alexa skills marketplace has achieved incredible growth thereby creasing the total Alexa Skills from 1000 to 15000 in just one year.

In fact, business analysts taking notice of this trend have predicted that the Alexa is set to become a $10 billion industry by the end of 2020. Even Gartner estimates the importance of voice assistants, it predicts-30% of human interaction with machines will take place by voice commands.

Indeed, voice interaction will be the next paradigm shift in the technology that will define the interaction between humans and machines.

At the moment it is available in two hotels of the Marriott International group which is working in partnership with Amazon, the Marriott City Centre in Charlotte, North Carolina and the Irvine Spectrum in Irvine City, California.

Other hotels across the world can also opt for the program and receive Alexa devices to equip the rooms.

This is indeed a great news for offering seamless customer experience. If you are looking to develop Amazon Alexa skill for your business. We are here to help you out.