What Is New In Flutter 1.17 And Dart 2.8?

Flutter is a cross-platform programming framework used for developing Android, iOS apps, and now it’s progressing towards the web. Flutter uses Dart programming language to build android, ios, web apps with a unified UI look across all. The first release for Flutter and dart for the year 2020 is out now.

This new version of Flutter has closed 6339 issues and came with many performance level improvements. During the release of Flutter, the whole world is facing the crisis because of pandemic and most of you are working from home, hence Flutter has named this release as Work-From-Home Edition. 

Let’s see top Flutter 1.17 features with came with this stable release:

• 20-37% rapid Navigation within the default case
• Up to 40% decrease in CPU/GPU usage for animations in iOS
• Application size is reduced up to 18.5%
• 70% of memory reduction scrolling through large images
• The default use of Apple’s Metal graphics API, improving rendering time by around 50 percent on iOS

You can also know- Why Flutter is golden technology for ios app development? Flutter 1.17 has introduced a new widget NavigationRail designed by Material Design Team and has also improved the fabric DatePicker widget. 

Let us see the details of the new features.

Features Of Flutter 1.17-

1. Mobile Performance And Size Improvements-

Flutter 1.17 release is mainly focused on performance and memory improvements. By upgrading the app to the new version, your users can experience faster animations, smaller app size, and low memory use. You can experience 20% to 37% speedup for the default navigation case. There is 40% reduction in CPU/GPU use for ios animations, counting on the hardware. 

This release comes with app size improvement with some fixes that gives an enormous result.  Also, this comes with a 70% reduction in memory usage while scrolling through large images and increases the performance. 

2. Material Widgets-

Flutter 1.17 supports new material widgets and also updates to the existing widgets. With this release, NavigationRail is added, which is a replacement widget that gives a responsive app navigation model. It is excellent for apps that will switch between mobile and desktop form factors. DatePicker and TextSelection overflow widgets have also been updated. DatePicker’s new visuals match the updated Material guidelines and add a new text input mode. Now TextSelection has improved fidelity for iOS and Android when buttons are longer than can be displayed without overflowing. Google also releases a new Animation package that provides prebuilt animations by implementing the new Material motion specifications. In short, new release brings- 

• The new NavigationRail widget
• Updated Material DatePicker widget
• Updated text selection overflow on Android
• Updated text selection overflow on iOS

3. Google Fonts-

Google fonts for the updated version have been released and developers can use any fonts from fonts.google.com to their app. When the app is ready for deployment, developer can decide whether the user will receive the font by downloading it from the API or is pre-bundled with the app package.

4. Metal support-

Metal is Apple’s low-level graphics API which allows access to the GPU of ios devices that allows flutter apps to run faster. The metal support improves rendering speeds of iOS apps by 50%. On the iOS devices that support Metal, Flutter now uses it by default, making your Flutter apps run faster most of the time, increasing rendering speeds by about 50 percent on the average.

5. Material Text Scale-

With the new release, Flutter team has completed the implementation of Scale portion of the 2018 Material Design specification. This release updates the TextTheme API to match the Material spec by maintaining the old names so that the code will not break.

6. Accessibility And Internationalization-

It is important to broadcast Flutter apps towards possible audiences, hence we have to focus on accessibility. This new release adds accessibility fixes for scrolling, text fields, and other input widgets.  On the internationalization front, they have been performing on certain issues influencing Samsung console IMEs that influenced content contribution to different East Asian dialects.

On the internationalization front, they have been performing on certain issues influencing Samsung console IMEs that influenced text input to different East Asian languages.

7. Tooling-

If you are using the pre-release version of Dart DevTools implemented with Flutter, you can easily analyze all types of improvements but the most important is the Network tab.

Also, to updated Dart DevTools, this release includes support for the “fast start” option that allows you to start your Flutter app debugging. This feature installs a generic Android app that only depends on the plugin code.

Features of Dart 2.8-

• Dart 2.8 will run a few edge cases and library changes, keeping intact the rest of the code.
• The improved Pubget in Dart 2.8 will be less time-consuming to fetch all the packages and the versions.
• This new version has brought in another feature- the introduction of “ out-of-date” dependencies. It helps to identify any outdated version by writing only the pub outdated command.
• A new tab has been added in Dart 2.8 networking tool. It helps to check all the network requests and it can either be done manually or by using a tab.
• Dev plugins channel has also been introduced for the developers.

Wrap up-

These are some amazing features in Flutter 1.17 and Dart 2.8. One can develop a great flutter app with these new features. Are you looking to develop a flutter app for your business with new features? Then we are here to help you. You can consult with solace experts or hire flutter developers of the solace team to build an amazing application. Connect with Solace and get a free quote for flutter app development that will help your business to lead in the market.

Opportunities For E-Learning App That Will Impact Post Lockdown

Many industries are affected due to this covid-19 lockdown. And also some industries change their work culture. Education industry is one of them. At this unprecedented time e-learning becomes the golden opportunity for learners. The future is outside the traditional campus, outside the traditional classroom. The E-learning sector will boom up with the new trends and challenges. The elearning apps provide e-classroom learning for more engaging and fun-filled purposes for students. If you’re still couldn’t believe, here are some stats that remove any doubt in the mind of how big e-learning is:

• 42% companies use some form of educational technology to train their employees during formal hours, and this number is only going to increase.
• Companies that use e-learning tools for their training generate 26% more revenue per employee as compared to those who don’t.
• Nearly 7 million students take at least one online course, and by 2021, approximately half of all college classes are estimated to be e-learning based.

Technological Development Opportunities In E-Learning Sector-

1. Cloud-Based Learning- 

Single time downloads and installation of course material will stop being the norm, and the complete shift to cloud based learning is inevitable. Cloud based learning offers convenient, cost effective and customized content. It also allows collaboration for companies to pool their resources, share learning strategies and grow central knowledge bases. As this already exists now, the greater development in cloud based technologies means it will make seamless and efficient collaboration. Students or employees can access individual/complete e-learning modules that can be purchased and downloaded on demand creating tailor-made solutions for students and businesses.

2. xAPI- 

xAPI means Experience API is one of the hot topics in the e-learning world today. It allows the collection of data about the learning experiences of an individual. xAPI will give us solid quantifiable answers to the same and track progress of each individual. It records each employees’ activity that includes e-learning, m-learning, games, online reading, social media etc. and send this information to record store which can be accessed to generate meaningful data.

3. Social Media For E-Learning- 

Know more at- https://solaceinfotech.com/blog/opportunities-for-e-learning-app-that-will-impact-post-lockdown/

How to reduce Android App size during development?

The rising desires of users motivates developers to incorporate more things in application. Similarly it results into an increased application size. The large size applications frequently transform into storage hoggers in our smartphones causing them to operate slow or hang in the middle of a significant work. As per Google, if the size of an application is more than 150MB, in chances of installation decrease by 30%. The install conversion rate can drop by 1% if size increases by 6 MB. 

Many technology specialists out there work on creating small applications or tools which can reduce the size of an application. Android App Bundle is a publishing tool through which users don’t have to re-download things that are already there in other applications over play Store. This platform is said to decrease the size of an application by 35%. Let us explore other ways to reduce android app size during app development lifecycle.

Also know- 9 Effective Tips To Reduce Mobile App Development Cost.

How to reduce android app size?

How to reduce android app size?

1. Image optimization- 

You can conveniently reduce image size without reducing the resolution. For example, .jpg and .png pictures can be changed over to .webp web picture format to downsize applications without compromising the quality. The .webp format offers lossy compression like .jpg and transparency like .png. There are many tools available for such conversion. Tools like guetzli and packjpg suit .jpg file compression best while pngcrush and zopflipng befit .png files. Designers can implement vector graphics to make simple resolution-independent images that don’t crib for space. These are available in Android as VectorDrawable objects and allow a 100-byte file to generate images sharp and screen-sized.

android {
     defaultConfig {
         vectorDrawables.useSupportLibrary true
     }
 }

It is already known that a few images can do without static resources. The framework is enough to draw such images dynamically at runtime. Utilizing Vector Drawables objects is a brilliant idea when small size applications are to be developed. They can survive on minimal space within the APK file and create pictures compliant with the rules of material design. However, there could be a tussle with regards to CPU and RAM usage as complex objects will in general slow them down.

Also, using the Draw 9-patch tool can saves space. This is a WYSIWYG image editor and probably the coolest approaches to cut image size. The tool lets you make bitmap images that can auto-resize to fit the different screen sizes of various mobile devices. Select parts within the image can be scaled vertically or horizontally depending on the indicators drawn in it.

Another way is to use the aapt tool to crunch .png images, the resources of these are available in res/drawable/. The compression is lossless. For example, a true-color .png image  which needn’t bother with more than 256 colors can be changed over to a color palette enabled 8-bit one. The latter retains the quality yet sheds the size.

Developers must remember that the aapt tool would not compress .png files in the asset/folder. Additionally, it won’t have the option to optimize any image that uses more than 256 colors. Additionally, it may puff up .png files which have just been shrunk. This disadvantage can be avoided by using the cruncherEnabled flag in Gradle as such:

aaptOptions {
    cruncherEnabled = false
}

Read more at-

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How You Can Convert iOS App To Android App?

The impact of mobile phones is huge in the connect of digital revolution all around the globe. The e-commerce industry is a result of this digital transformation. It has exceptionally progressed with the bloom in mobile application development. Nowadays, every e-commerce company is launching a custom mobile app for business. The primary issue in launching a custom mobile application is the split in the market share. According to the research, Android has an 81.3% market share and iOS has 17.5 of global mobile OS market. This kind of a split market makes it hard for business visionaries as they have to comprehend the tendency of the crowd towards various OS in the market and get a custom application according to the client tendency.

The issue starts when a business visionary understands the prerequisite for building up a clone of the iOS application for the Android platform or a different way. Since the two platforms have their individual interface, it is necessary to remember certain things to guarantee that the architecture of the application remains flawless while converting over iOS application into Android. Changing over Android application to iOS is not a simple task. You have to think about different components, as, application porting. i.e., porting your application starting with one platform then onto the next. Since java language is friendlier, it is easy to port in Android.

Nowadays, some android applications were allowed on Windows by Microsoft by rolling out some little improvements. Versatility is best feature of Android. You can incorporate more functions according to the market request and alter it later. Google Play store likewise expands consistent help by rapidly propelling the application in the commercial center once the transformation of Android application to iOS is finished.

The idea of using a single platform for creating iOS and Android applications are no more. Today, everybody is centered around Android/iOS application development or both. Android is the main player with a big portion of the market with iOS far behind. Be that as it may, you still have the programming language helping you, which allows you to change over Android application to iOS application through SDK structure and Android SDK. Both these SDK platforms are one of a kind, with different properties and rules. Let’s take a look at why you should convert iOS app to Android.

Why you should convert iOS app to Android?

iOS app to android app

1. Audience Targeting: 

Android users are in significant numbers in China, India, Brazil, South Korea, Mexico and European nations. Be that as it may, iOS leads in the US, Australia, and Canada. hence, organizations with a mobile application for both platforms could expand their audience in manifolds.

2. Revenue Increase: 

Despite the fact that your audience is adhering to a specific platform, you could expand your benefits by porting your application. Also, you get the chance to serve and access an a lot more targeted audience.

3. Competitive Edge: 

If most of your opponents are concentrating around building up a mobile application for a single platform, you should break the inconsistency by wandering into both platforms all the while to enjoy a more extensive group of spectators and progressively significant share in the market.

4. Extensive Data Analysis: 

Quality examination is basic, the more you think about client behavior, the better your chances are to get the product ready for the market. In the long run, everything comes down to the way where the ventures should abuse the chances to increase their target audience and improve income. These were the primary situations you could get access by converting over iPhone applications to Android or the other way around.

How to Convert  iOS app to Android app?

You have to fathom that there are no such services to change over iOS applications to Android on the web. To accomplish the best last item, you ought to counsel with a standard mobile application development organization with well-suited developers and analyzers to change over the iOS mobile application to Android because of their involvement in this circle. It is a general observation that, in platforms which utilize distinctive programming languages, coders need to simply make an interpretation of’ one into another. Be that as it may, that isn’t right. A progress to Android requests a  development procedure. Also, developers need to consider the performance of a Java language which lags behind the Objective-C when looked at. So an application must be customized with the objective of clients to interface consistently. 

The developers that are working on the task of conversion of iPhone application to Android will moreover set aside effort to get utilized with the collaboration of the server. Hence Android-based solutions use XML technology for information sharing while iOS favors JSON. Application porting is a simple procedure but not a rapid. The length of changing over an iOS application to Android depends upon the nature of a task/application that you have to change over and the gadgets to be perfect with.

Android Fragmentation-

Fragmentation is a benefit for mobile users who use older OS versions. Mobile application developers put more effort on the various versions of Android to guarantee the application works impeccably with each version. This ought to be considered while changing over Android application to iOS. In addition, the Android SDK update bolsters 20 unique resolutions considering the assortment of Android-based gadgets in the market. Subsequently, developers need to examine numerous application versions on Android to guarantee that the application works fine in each discharge.

Key Aspects to Consider during iOS to Android app Conversion-

Here you will get some important tips to keep in mind while converting iOS apps to Android.

1. App Architecture:

Each platform is different from other platforms according to its functionality and app architecture. Functions which can be actualized in one OS with in-built tools won’t be accessible in the later. This incorporates features, for example, navigation, menus, file management, notification, similarity of different applications in the cell phone, and so forth…

2. Design Features:

Design of an app is a vital part of application’s success. When UI is considered, these Platforms are from two universes. This applies to the size, shape and the concept of the application in general. Apple utilizes flat design and Android is increasingly founded on the Material Design thought. For example, just see the plan of the share icon in the two iOS and Android.

3. Components and Codes: 

We can’t recompile an application written in Swift/Objective-C language for iOS to Android Platform. You should code it without any preparation especially with regards to the server side. If you are porting an application from iOS to Android, you may require more time for porting than for structure up an application. This is because of modernity in the fragmentation of Android OS.

4. Supported Devices: 

It is not possible to optimize your app for all the available smartphone models. You have to make a list of the most popular devices available in the market. And according to this, optimize your app.

5. Testing-

The Requirements for testing ought to be exact. It’s helpful to review that quality affirmation is obligatory in each application since the accomplishment of the item relies upon it. The time you reserve for these tasks will definitely pay off.

6. Optimization and Troubleshooting:

While changing over Android application to iOS application, you should make it sure that the source application doesn’t have any bugs or connectivity issues. In this way, you can consider the application porting process as an opportunity to subjectively optimize for better execution, lesser battery use, and so forth…

Changing over an iOS application to Android isn’t a simple task, however you could get benefit by such transformations and other commendable results. You could access another market by porting from iOS to Android platform conveying the two risks and incredible chances.

Are you looking to develop mobile app for your business? Then Solace will give you the right solution. Experts at Solace are well trained to give you the effective development of ios app and android app. Contact us for any app development that will be the face of your business.