Not all enterprises have chosen the cloud. Many still make do with on-premises systems. Nevertheless, it’s a fact that Microsoft is a major player when it comes to cloud-based services and on-premises enterprise platforms. In this blog, we will be taking a look at one of the most widely used microsoft technology solutions in the World – SharePoint.

In 2019, we will likely witness a whole new generation of Office servers such as SharePoint, Exchange, and Skype for Business etc. hit the market with innovative features that reflect the cloud-dominated future that’s in the making – enough to upgrade modern data centers hopefully.

But let’s focus on SharePoint 2019 and its best features for now.

The most recent evolutions of SharePoint made it an on-premises platform offering a number of benefits for enterprises in the form of Modern SharePoint Experiences.
 

Modern SharePoint Team Sites

 
Modern SharePoint Team Sites are responsive and comes with an out-of-the-box engine to publish news. Users will be able to share news with the team further enhancing the already improved collaboration that SharePoint facilitates. Unlike most modern Team Sites that are connected to an Office 365 group, Modern on-premises Team Sites don’t require integration with Exchange to function properly.
 

Modern SharePoint Communication Sites

 
As the name suggests, Communication Sites primarily serve the purpose of facilitating information sharing across teams. It’s one of the major pillars of collaboration that SharePoint is known for. Communication Sites in SharePoint 2019 now feature three new templates – Blank, Topic, and Showcase. Included users will be able to share news, policies, and information with each other on an elegant interface.
 

Modern Search Experience

 
The Modern Search Experience feature completes SharePoint’s transition to on-premises. Modern Search Experience in SharePoint 2019 enables users to easily find documents, list items and people inside the SharePoint environment.
 

SharePoint Home

 
Possibly one of the best features in SharePoint on-premises, the SharePoint Home shows news from both Team Sites and Communication Sites in a single location. Additionally, the sites that you follow and the activities from each site are brought together thanks to the feature. Easier access to your favorite sites is the icing on the cake.
 

OneDrive Synchronization

 
SharePoint Server 2019 enables on-premises SharePoint to benefit from the most recent improvements in Windows 10 and OneDrive. As a matter of fact, SharePoint 2019 features the latest version of OneDrive which also goes by the name Next Generation Sync Client (NGSC).

Considering the fact that the introduction of OneDrive positively influenced the demand for SharePoint development services, it’s safe to assume that the latest OneDrive version will increase SharePoint adoption rate even further in the coming years.
 

Power BI Report Server Integration

 
SharePoint 2019 also removed or deprecated a few Business Intelligence features but integrated Power BI Report Server in return. With the Power BI Report Server, users will be able to create sensational reports that can be easily displayed in SharePoint Server 2019.
 

 Conclusion

 
SharePoint is already a favorite for companies offering agile software development services. Now that a number of great features that made the community embrace SharePoint Online also made their way to on-premises in SharePoint Server 2019, business users will most certainly find all the aforementioned features exciting enough to migrate to SharePoint 2019 to leverage the popular platform in their on-premises environments.

What was once simply considered wild imagination is now a possible reality thanks to Augmented Reality. AR is basically a complex computer-produced vision that augments real environments in captivating ways. It’s redefined software and app user experience today. AR software development is a booming industry as we speak. It isn’t easy to master the technology however.

Businesses that realized the potential of AR in enticing their customer base have started investing in AR-powered apps, and developers are looking for the best approaches to mastering the technology. This is where open source comes in.

The gaining momentum of AR led developers to seek out open source technologies that could help them effectively leverage the technology to build AR apps. That said, here are the 4 most popular open source AR software development kits that have impressed AR app enthusiasts across the globe.
 

Google’s ARCore

 
Right at the forefront is Google’s ARCore. Launched in 2018, the SDK is open source under Apache 2.0 license and is designed to bring sensational AR experiences to Android devices.

ARCore enables developers to build AR apps that utilize the features of the mobile device to sense and augment real world environments transforming them into interactive, creative AR scenes that serve multiple purposes. The popular platform also features a multitude of APIs. Some of these APIs are available on iOS as well supporting shared AR experiences. The three most important capabilities of the ARCore are motion tracking, light estimation, and environmental understanding.
 

DroidAR

 
DroidAR was initially developed in 2010, and is known as the only open source AR exclusive to Android. The SDK supports image tracking, location-based and marker-based AR app development. However, it lacks a Unity plugin. DroidAR is a simple SDK licensed under GPLv3 – an ideal option for those looking for a free kit to deliver top notch location-based and marker-based AR experiences.
 

AR.js

 
Licensed under MIT, AR.js is a JavaScript-powered SDK that enables developers to incorporate AR experiences to web browsers without installing an app for it. What makes AR.js unique is the fact that it runs very fast – fast enough to hit 60 fps on older smartphone models. AR.js can be used on all popular mobile platforms such as Windows, Android, and iOS.
 

ARToolKit

 
ARToolKit stands next to Google ARCore as one of the most widely used AR open source technologies. With this SDK, developers can overlay virtual imagery on real environments while delivering a fast and intuitive user experience. ARToolKit is also cross-platform i.e. you can use it on Linux, Android, iOS, and Windows.

Its primary capabilities include tracking the user’s viewpoint and physical position to draw the imagery, tracking of planar images, Unity plugins support, and camera orientation tracking support.
 

Conclusion

 
As Augmented Reality expands its boundaries and crosses over to various industries including healthcare and fashion, the open source SDKs mentioned in this blog could be the game changer for developers who wish to utilize AR in the most effective manner.

Share your thoughts below on AR and AR app development.

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In this age, startups contribute a lot in driving innovation across various industries. Not all startups succeed in their ventures however. Initially, it wasn’t easy for startups to compete and eventually surpass their already-established competitors and grow their own reputation at the same time. Software development startups, particularly, had many hurdles ahead of them at that time and they still do.

But Microsoft recently announced an initiative that could benefit startups in their run on dynamic, competitive environments – Microsoft for Startups. Also known as the Bizspark program, the initiative provides startups that lack funds for licenses and platforms an opportunity to develop and market enterprise-grade software solutions.

The ASP.NET program along with Bizspark is now considered an excellent way for startups to take their first step in the tech world. This consequently led to a rise in demand for ASP.NET development services. ASP.NET is now seen as a technology that startups can leverage for accelerated growth. We will be exploring this subject in this blog. But before we begin, here are a few facts that emphasize the importance of ASP.NET and the reason for its ever-growing popularity.

A SimilarTech research found that over 17 million websites are built using ASP.NET. According to BuiltWith, over 41 million live websites use ASP.NET in their records at present.

Let’s dig into how the popular Microsoft technology solution can help startups in 2019.
 

Easy interoperability

 
With Microsoft releasing Windows 10 IoT, startups have an opening they can utilize to grow faster in a world that’s expected to be dominated by the Internet of Things in the times to come. However, interoperability is a concern that many IoT enthusiasts have.

With ASP.NET, interoperability won’t be an issue. As a matter of fact, it’d be more secure with ASP.NET. Combined with Microsoft Azure IoT suite, the framework grants impressive open source flexibility that amplifies development speed without compromising security.

So in 2019, for startups planning to take a shot with IoT as ammunition, ASP.NET guarantees a precise aim and stability.
 

Security for the future

 
As technologies advance and IoT gains momentum, data security concerns and the increasing tenacity of cyber-criminals make startups hesitant to pool their available resources to drive innovation. ASP.NET however has evolved big enough to combat most cyber-threats with its high-end security features. The Microsoft framework’s MVC architecture makes it even easier to build scalable applications that can be easily integrated with existing business applications without opening up security holes.
 

The Azure harmony

 
We are pretty sure that the cloud holds the future for almost every kind of business that deals with new-gen technologies. For companies that rely on Microsoft platforms for growth, Microsoft Azure is an appealing and beneficial choice. But what makes Azure an ideal choice for startups is the fact that it goes hand in hand with ASP.NET. The combination has a very low fail-rate for startups that are prepared to wield them effectively. It will certainly make a difference for startups this year, and the cherry on top is that Microsoft will be there to help.
 

Improved versatility for mobile app development

 
Back in the day, it wasn’t easy for application developers to build mobile apps based on .NET. But now things have changed. .NET evolved over the years to become even more versatile than it used to be, enabling startups to build mobile apps that can provide rich user experiences without hassle.
 

Conclusion

 
ASP.NET has always been known for its versatility and diversity. Despite being pitted against strong rivals, the framework has been successfully retaining its demand and popularity for years. With its great flexibility and multitude of impressive features, ASP. NET is undoubtedly the most ideal web solution for startups to begin their journey to success in 2019.

A software development job is one of the most preferred jobs in the world now. There has always been a demand for good software developers. This demand significantly increased with the advent of powerful technologies with massive potential such as blockchain and artificial intelligence (AI).

The software development industry is also constantly evolving owing to various technological advancements. A widely used technology or methodology can fade away in no time when a different, better alternative introduces itself. The introduction of Agile almost made Waterfall development methodology. New software development startups adopt Agile methodology for faster product delivery without compromising quality. Agile development services are all the rage now.

2019 will bring about even more changes to software development which makes it important for businesses to stay up-to-date on the latest trends to remain competent.

Here are a few software development trends that will turn heads in 2019.
 

Blockchain domination

 
A powerful technology expected to revolutionize almost every major industry in the world, blockchain is already considered a good investment for future-proofing businesses and augmenting business security. The concept of a distributed ledger technology without any need for central repositories, intermediaries or middleware was seen as something out of a science-fiction movie…until blockchain started gaining great momentum.

Demand for Blockchain-based applications and services are already gaining demand now. Next year, we will witness more investments in blockchain and even more demand for blockchain application development expertise.
 

More low-code development

 
Low-code development has been around for a while but hasn’t gained a lot of traction owing to the presence of more preferred, more familiar development techniques. But lately many businesses have started exploring the potential of low-code development in developing and deploying enterprise-grade solutions. Siemens recently acquired a low-code development company called Mendix for $730 million.

Next year, we will see low-code development gaining more momentum as a potentially beneficial software development trend. Low-code development also doesn’t require much expertise in coding which makes it even more appealing in an age where great coding expertise is quite expensive.
 

Cybersecurity

 
A number of organizations including ones that relied on cloud computing reported security incidents this year. Avoiding data breaches and leakage has become top priority for many organizations particularly the cloud-dependent ones. As more threats to data privacy emerge, cybersecurity is forced to evolve beyond its present limits to combat them. Software is looked at to trigger this evolution or complement it. In 2019, there will likely be a software development boom focused on cybersecurity.
 

Artificial Intelligence

 
To compete in dynamically changing market conditions, it’s important for businesses to devise a strategy to trigger proper digital transformation. And no technology today is as effective as Artificial Intelligence (AI) when it comes to digital transformation of enterprises.

Gartner estimates that the AI industry will generate a revenue of over $1 trillion by the end of 2018. It’s been a hot trend this year, and in 2019 we will see AI dominating even more aggressively. Artificial Intelligence application development is already a highly valued skill.
 

Conclusion

 
Software development has started to demand something more than great coding skills. It evidently requires more effort from developers to figure out how to wield new-gen technologies better to build powerful software that will give businesses an edge in changing market conditions amidst rapid technological advancements. The impending evolution of software development industry due to new trends next year will also be impacting how software testing is done. We are heading for a lot of surprises next year, and it’s never too late to prepare for it in advance.

Android became a worldwide phenomenon not only because it is Google’s operating system but also because it is an open source OS. Among various things that make open source technologies intriguing, one major trait is that they often come with surprisingly innovative features that are normally seen on commercially sold software and apps with noticeably bigger price tags possess.

However, Android still has a few proprietary components that make up its functionality and user experience aspects. But the open source Linux is still its base kernel establishing the OS as an open source contribution.

The stock Android ROM served as a foundation for a number of third-party custom ROMs including MIUI, Paranoid Android etc. Apart from the ROM, many apps designed to run on Android are actually open source complementing the nature of the OS itself. As a leading open source development services provider in the Middle East, we too often deal with client demands for an open source mobile app for Android.

That said, as we are ushering in 2019, here is a list of a few open source mobile apps that ended up making a lot of Android users happy this year.
 

Orbot

 
Orbot, a product from The Tor Project released in 2008, is the Android version alternative to the Tor browser. Similar to Tor, Orbot serves as an effective anonymity cover for Android devices.

Once the Tor proxy has been enabled using Orbot, the app will suggest using an open source web browser called Orfox which in turn shares source code similarities with the Tor browser. To unlock Orbot’s full potential, the device it’s running on will have to be rooted.
 

VLC for Android

 
VLC is one of the most popular video players for the Windows operating system. It’s free and open source, and has a dedicated community working on improving it. VLC for Android didn’t dominate the Play Store however as MX Player already took the top spot. Nevertheless, VLC Android is still loved by millions of Android users, and features better audio support than MX player as well.
 

Amaze File Manager

 
What Android users expect from a great file manager include simplicity, material design, appealing looks, and a bunch of other useful file management features. Amaze File Manager has all these and more. Amaze File Manager is an open source file manager that gained good momentum this year in terms of downloads and feedback. It can also use other apps to open various media files.
 

AdBlock Browser

 
Intrusive advertisements are too frequent and too annoying now. With the AdBlock browser for Android, unwanted or intrusive advertisements while browsing can be blocked. The customizable open source browser is recommended by Stanford University and the Electronic Frontier Foundation as it also effectively minimizes the risks of ‘malicious advertising’ infections.
 

ProtonMail

 
ProtonMail was founded by CERN scientists in 2013, and was backed by a $550,000 donation campaign. The open source app is proudly presented as the world’s largest encrypted email service. The app comes with an impressive, modern UI with a number of great features including customizable swipe gestures, set self-destruct timers for messages etc. Users can also password-protected encrypted emails to non-ProtonMail addresses.
 

Conclusion

 
Evidently, 2018 gave a lot of momentum to a number of open source Android apps despite heavy competition. Open source tools and technologies have been around for a long time, and never have they actually disappointed people who simply aren’t willing to spend a lot on apps. Most open source apps including the ones in this list are products of passion.

As open source gains more traction across popular industries including but not limited to software development, mobile app development, IoT applications etc., we can expect the arrival of even more open source digital solutions packing awesome features with surprisingly smaller price tags or none at all.