Discover the earth’s core with an app. #Earth #Apps

Cosmic Watch is an app you might remember from before which is high quality simulation app that renders the earth and the sky in real time. It shows the positions of the sun, moon, planets and stars from the earth’s point of view, telling the time according to the motion of the cosmos,not only that it has fantastic graphics and brings AR to the table.

This time around its the earths core and the app allows you to see the planets internal structure and explore the layers of the earth,the layer names,temperature and depth of each layer. Once again beautiful graphics are present and makes using this an enjoyable experience.

Guest post. – 12 best apps for tracking health and fitness. #Apps #Fitness #Tracking

If you made some New Year’s resolution promises that you aren’t quite keeping up with, don’t worry — you’re not alone. In fact, 73% of adults fail at their fitness goals. Whether you decided to lose weight, exercise more, or eat healthier foods, it’s never too late to get back on track.

You don’t need a personal trainer or an expensive gym membership to live your healthiest life. Technology has made it easier than ever to get in shape, mainly through smartphone apps and wearable fitness trackers.

It’s now easier than ever to incorporate fitness into your everyday life. Since the latest and greatest technology is always changing, we wanted to know what the best, most up-to-date health apps were. This infographic sent to us from Bestow, which compares 2019’s 12 best apps for tracking health and fitness.

Author bio: Bestow is a smarter approach to life insurance using big data and technology to bring simple and affordable coverage to everyone.

Top Investment Apps for You to Know & Use for Better Trading in 2019. #Apps #Investments

Investment apps are increasingly becoming popular. There are a plethora of versatile investment apps that entice new investors to get involved in the business of the stock market. Moreover, experienced and expert investors are also able to identify opportunities for saving money and improving their portfolios by using a robust investment app.

Until recently people had to pick up the phone and contact a stockbroker for making a trade that was accompanied by an exorbitant commission. However, now you could simply pick up your smartphone and you simply need to tap your screen a number of times for trading instantly usually, for free but at times, you need to pay relatively cheaper rates. Let us explore some of the top investment apps that every investor must know about and use for better trading prospects.

Stockpile: Best App for Stock Gifting

Stockpile is known to offer an innovative approach to purchasing and selling stocks. You could purchase fractional shares of almost all companies via Stockpile. Alternatively, there is an option of funding an account using one of the stock gift cards that would be giving the lucky recipients some shares of stock that start at $5. In this context, you do not have to pay any monthly fees and all trades actually, are 99 cents. Stockpile is supposed to be a thrilling proposition for grandparents and parents who are excited to involve young adults and kids in the stock market and the business of investing. Stockpile offers more than 1000 investments including ETFs and single stocks. You could give physical gift cards or e-gift cards or opt for funding an account via a bank transfer. This surely is a gift which would be paying dividends literally.

Openfolio

As per https://www.forbes.com, “Openfolio is something akin to Wall Street meets social media. It’s a platform where investors can come to discuss investment strategies, as well as, display their portfolios to others in their networks. The dollar amounts in each portfolio do not appear, but instead are displayed with percentages held in each asset class.” Openfolio would be displaying everything that you are purchasing and selling but without dollar amounts. This is a versatile app and provides you with the golden opportunity to monitor exactly how others are investing within your network. If you are neck-deep in debts and cannot even think of investing, you must take out a debt consolidation loan to combine your multiple debts into one single larger debt with one monthly repayment and a single deadline.

Personal Capital

Personal Capital is supposed to be a fantastic finance tracking tool for assisting you in managing your investments particularly if you are having multiple accounts with various companies. Your performance would be tracked across all the accounts and would be evaluated against benchmarks such as the S&P 500 and Dow. It is a robust investment management platform that would be including all your financial accounts right from credit cards, bank accounts to your investments and your mortgage. It is supposed to be the most effective way of keeping a track of all your investments and that too, for absolutely free.

However, you may seek the expertise of one of the qualified financial advisors out there if you wish to but then you need to pay an annual fee as per the managed assets. Personal Capital also boasts of a budgeting tool that helps to keep constant track of all your investments.

Morningstar

The Morningstar App just like its site provides independent and valuable investment research, as well as, insights. You could get comprehensive investment information and data for mutual funds, stocks, and ETFs. Morningstar provides brilliant portfolio tracking tools, real-time quotes, videos, and the latest news. Moreover, you could have access to global and US index performances. Morningstar is known for its portfolio monitoring tools, research, and curated news associated with your investment interests.

Yahoo! Finance

Yahoo! Finance is regarded as a sterling investing information and data resource. Its app provides fantastic real-time data during the trading day. This app stands tall among the rest because of its capacity to easily and quickly browse read basic charts, videos, and view financials in a jiffy. As per the recent feature, now Yahoo! Finance would be letting you sync your broker account to make sure that you could trade easily and successfully through the app.

Robinhood

Robinhood provides excellent commission-free trading directly from your smartphone with no need for minimum balance. Moreover, Robinhood features a referral program which is known to offer a free share of stock meant for you, as well as, the friend referred by you. This app offers a Robinhood Gold Program that lets you trade on margin. The app is supposed to be quite basic and you must not expect any great research and analysis. Robinhood, for now, is not available to you on the web. However, the company is planning to come up with a robust web platform sometime next year. In the case, you seem to be thinking in terms of a simple, no-frills, and commission-free platform, no other app, platform  or stock picking service could beat Robinhood. It is way ahead of the others in this respect.

StockTwits

StockTwits is supposed to be the ‘Twitter for Investors’ and a community comprising traders who exchange news, ideas, and complaints. This community boasts of an impressive number of day traders who are very much fascinated by technical analysis. However, they still attach a lot of value and importance to fundamental investors.

Learn

Learn is just the right investment app for someone who is getting started with investing. Learn is highly-recommended by experts for novice investors. It provides concise, easy, and clear content and easy audio lessons relating to investment topics. Some of the typical topics would include ‘What is a Balance Sheet?’, ‘What is Stock?’, and ‘What Are the Mistakes to Avoid?’ These are generally fundamental concepts and Learn must be explored by amateur investors while experienced and expert investors must stick to Investopedia.

Conclusion

There are numerous investment apps. You simply need to choose the right one as per your unique requirements. For new investors, these investment apps are great for sharpening their investment skills and boosting their overall investment knowledge.

Author – Marina Thomas

https://en.gravatar.com/marinathom

https://twitter.com/marinathomas974

 

YOU CAN HELP – Staying Alive.. Know where your nearest AED (Defibrillator) is. #Apps #Health #Emergency #AED

We all know someone or perhaps seeing someone who has had a heart attack and at a time like this every second counts to intervene. The AED is now becoming a more prominent sight around the country and I have noticed this myself of late with them being more accessible and visible and companies having them on their premises.

But just say you bump into someone going into cardiac arrest and you do not know where the nearest AED is until a First responder arrives to perform CPR? OK we do have situations when someone would know CPR but its not always the case.. This app can help and you can also help to by placing your AED on the map be it in your local hometown or community or business.

Staying Alive provides defibrillator mapping and citizen responders management. The App is available in 18 languages and maps over 120.000 defibrillators worldwide. There was talk of such an app a year or two ago here in Ireland but I have not yet seen it,this subject was recently on the radio too on knowing how to perform CPR and having some knowledge of your nearest AED. This app is crowdfunded so you can play your part and add one to the map.

Features

– AED location : locate the 10 closest AEDs near you or in a specific address, through the use of a live database that is updated each time you launch the application.

– Reporting of new AED.
You can post new defibrillators and now even edit existing ones.

– Citizen Responders network: If you are trained to CPR you can register through the App as a Citizen Responder. You can then be notified by the EMS in case of cardiac arrest near you to provide CPR. Staying Alive First Responder technology works in France, Belgium and Switzerland so far.

– The reminding of CPR gesture with video illustration of the survival chain “Call, Start CPR, Shock and wait for help”

– A practical guide on the use of Automatic External Defibrillator (AED).

– An “Emergency” mode that will help you to make the right things in the right order. The new emergency mode detects automatically the local number depending on you location.

Download the app below on Android and iOS

 

 

TCS Launches Official App for 2019 Virgin Money @LondonMarathon⁩ #ThisRun #TCS #ThanksaBillion

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), a leading global IT services, consulting and business solutions organisation, has launched the official app for the 2019 Virgin Money London Marathon, with several key new features.

TCS, the Official Technology Partner for the Virgin Money London Marathon, has developed the official mobile app for the fourth year in a row. The app – downloaded by a record breaking 360,000 users last year – is the definitive one-stop shop of information on the event, including the course map, start times, results, expo info, and transportation.

This year, it’s better than ever with all the features that runners and spectators need to get the most out of the marathon experience. The most popular feature of the app is the in-built tracking system that now allows spectators to track an unlimited number of runners, so they can follow all their friends, family and favourite celebrities at the same time. TCS has also made it easier than ever for runners to hit their donation goals, with a new in-app donation button. Simply search for your runner in the tracking page, click on their icon, and hit the donate button to be taken directly to their Virgin Money Giving page.

The interactive course map shows runner progress, with live updates every five kilometres so fans can get to the best viewing points throughout the race and cheer their runners. Additionally, the spectator guide includes multiple points of interest, from knowing the locations of toilets, First Aid points and water stations, to finding the best pubs along the route, key landmarks and meeting points or transport information.

The Virgin Money London Marathon App can be downloaded from the iOS App store and Google Play Store, by searching ‘Virgin Money London Marathon’ or ‘London Marathon’. The app is part of the #ThisRun campaign by TCS, which celebrates all runners and the multitude of reasons why they’re running the marathon, whether for a loved one, a good cause or as a personal challenge.

TCS is committed to bringing digital innovation in everything it does. As the Official Technology Partner for the Virgin Money London Marathon, we’re delighted to strive for ever better performance and new features that will enhance the experience for this iconic race. It is a momentous day both for the participants and the great number of supporters that follow the event in London and across the globe,” said Shankar Narayanan, Country Head, TCS UK and Ireland.

Hugh Brasher, Event Director, London Marathon Events, said, “We’re proud to be leading the way and embracing technology to improve the Virgin Money London Marathon each and every year. Our new and improved Official Race App will give our participants, their supporters and spectators the best possible service and help us to say #ThanksaBillion to everyone who has supported us since the first race back in 1981.”

Find and follow your marathon heroes and donate to their cause with the official 2019 Virgin Money London Marathon App. To download the app, visit the Apple app store or Google Play.

Guest Post. 3 Super Tips to Rank Your Mobile Apps in the SERPs. #Apps #SEO #SERPs

When Google rolls out the algorithms, you feel apprehensive. Whether your site will be rewarded or penalized, you keep asking yourself. You all know about Google’s Mobilegeddon update and its implications. However, the update was beneficial for people and an essential step. It meant that only websites but also mobile apps featured in the search engine result pages (SERPs). Today, you will find 3.8 million Android apps and another 2 million in the Apple app store. Then, ranking your app in the SERPs is not as simple as it sounds.

According to an article published on https://www.huffingtonpost.com, you need at least 5,000-10,000 downloads in a short span of time before your app ranks in the SERPs. Now, that means you need to generate enough traffic for the app. When you have just launched your app, you need to market and optimize the same for the SERPs. It will take some time, and will not happen overnight. You need to attract users through SEO, PPC, cross channel collaboration, and email marketing. Whatever strategy you implement, it should work to bear results. You need to attract as many visitors to your mobile app. That is the mantra. Here are three cool tips for ranking your mobile app in Google’s search pages:

  1. Use the right keywords

You use targeted keywords to optimize your website. The same rule holds when it comes to your mobile app. Why should it be any different? The primary search terms will tell users what your app is about and add value to it. Make sure you use the ideal keywords to convey signals to Google or other search engines and prompt app store triggers. Did you know that Google Play included a feature, of late, that broke down organic search data and displaying the number of app installations for each keyword? These details are not available for every developer.

You will also need to perform conventional keyword research to figure out the best search terms for your mobile app. Take some time out of your busy schedule and study more about SEO and mobile apps. You will find loads of information on the internet. You will need to use the keyword planner tool from Google to determine low competition search terms and high traffic. Besides keyword planner, you can also use other search tools. Make a list of the keywords; use them in the title, description, subtitle, and related fields.

Your job does not end here. You will need to monitor your app’s search term position and search traffic through Monitor Backlinks. If you are using the right SEO tactics, your app will rank at the top of the SERPs. Never clutter your title and description with search terms because that will not give you positive results. Make sure you employ all the best practices to help your mobile app rank higher in the search pages.

  1. Gather positive ratings from users

When it comes to star ratings or reviews, they help in sending trust signals to Google. You can learn more about how to achieve better mobile app ranking by visiting sites like scholarship link building service or similar ones. Did you know that Google also checks user reviews for search terms? Yes, it does. Therefore, genuine, natural and positive reviews will result in increased downloads. Always pay heed to ratings and reviews for better app ranking in the SERPs. However, you need to work a little hard to inspire positive reviews.

Improve your mobile app based on user ratings. Say, for instance, you have a restaurant booking app. People use it to order food online from the comfort of their homes. Then, if your app has navigation issues, payment failures, and code errors, users will leave bad remarks and uninstall your mobile app. Therefore, always design a seamless and user-friendly app for triggering positive ratings and reviews. If any user posts negative feedback, take it with a pinch of salt without feeling bad about it. Based on the reviews, you should try improving the future versions of the app. This way, the users who posted negative comments will change their ratings for the better.

  1. Improve the app’s CTR

If you are not improving your app’s click-through-rate, you are missing important downloads. People will not download your app in such a case. As far as CTR is concerned, it sends a powerful signal to Apple app store and Google Play showing that your app is useful, relevant, and worth listing. You might be wondering how to boost the CTR. Well, it is simple. Hire an experienced copywriter to compose smart, crisp copy for your mobile app. You will also need a designer to improve the images for your app. The CTR must be clear and enhanced for better ranking in the SERPs.

When it comes to copy, it should focus on the best five features of the app that will make users’ lives simpler. The point is how to benefit the end-users. Make sure you break up the content with lists and visuals. Keep the language short, simple, and easy to understand. The paragraphs need to be short and not walls of text. People scan content and will turn off if they have to read chunks of information for understanding what your app is all about. When you have optimized the product page, perform A/B testing to determine which components boost the CTR. If you are new to it, read and learn more about mobile apps, copy, visuals, and related elements that help your app rank higher in the SERPs. It will not happen overnight. If you follow the right steps, your app will experience multiple downloads and attract positive reviews.

Conclusion

Now that you know about these smart tips, start building killer apps that users will love to download. With more downloads and enhanced app features, your mobile app will rank top in the search pages. Google will reward your app with better rankings. Though this is not a comprehensive list, these hacks will prove beneficial if you follow them religiously.

Social Profiles of Barrack –

Rent electric cars in Dublin with @UFODriveTweets #Motoring #Evs #Tech #Apps #UFODrive

I was once on the fence with electric cars but currently looking for a new motor and I am leaning towards a Tesla (Electric cars range anxiety is less now) or another guzzler be it a Petrol or Diesel and the same issue is the same for many others and here is one thing to help you asides being able to rent an electric vehicle. You can hire cars from this app for a nominal fee which can allow you to try out an electric car for an entire day or a few days which is a great idea to give you some idea of what you are dealing with.

Let’s face it in most cases test drives are not a real way to actually test your car before you buy it and I am one of those that “try before you buy” and if I can’t I move elsewhere. Might seem pedantic but if I am about to drop big money on a new motor i don’t want a spin around the block for a quick sale and a thank you very much then a pat on the back..

OK this is not what this app is really intended for but it is something to think about aside renting an electric car in the first place. There is multiple car rental apps already here in Ireland (Go CAR being one of the popular choices that have drivers do what they like and park where they like and I have seen more clamped than driving sometimes,another matter for another day but something I had to point out giving them a decent mention too)and the Electric car is one that is being pushed much more of late due to efficiency but they do cost more on the offset but in the long term save you buckets of cash with less maintenance work and service time..

You can download the app now on Android and iOS or check the website and the cars on offer right now are quite tasty too with the Tesla Model S, Tesla Model 3, Jaguar I-Pace, Hyundai Kona and Nissan Leaf. I know what I will be renting soon for a day or two..Lets hope this expands nationwide but we do have a huge issue with charging points in Ireland in general which hopefully changes pretty quick. Have they come in at the right time with this idea?? Read their story HERE 

The 9 Best Apps to Make Wedding Planning Easy. #Infographic #Weddings #Apps #IrishBiz

Wedding planning can seem overwhelming, but the right tools and technology can make a world of difference. The past few years have seen the release of hundreds of apps designed to help brides and grooms to-be stay on top of their wedding preparations. But with so many to choose from, how can you find the best app for you? Fortunately, the team at Valentina Fine Diamonds have put together a helpful infographic guide which lists out the nine best apps to make wedding planning easy in 2019.

 

Stay on Top of Your To-Do List

One of the major benefits of using an app is that it can help you to stay organised by keeping all of your to-dos in one centralised location. What’s more, push notifications ensure that you won’t forget any important jobs or deadlines. For those who don’t know where to start, LadyMarry is a good choice as it auto-generates a customised checklist based on the date and location of your wedding. We also like the WeddingHappy app which creates a personalised schedule with suggested due dates for each item on your to-do list.

 

Manage Your Wedding Expenses With Ease

Weddings are made up of a lot of moving parts and as such it’s important to keep a close eye on your expenses to stop costs from spiralling out of control. We recommend setting up a collaborative budget spreadsheet on Google Sheets or Mint so you can monitor all your incomings and outgoings. If you need help working out a budget breakdown, we recommend using he Wedding Planner app by The Knot which can automate a breakdown of costs based on your overall budget.

 

See the full list in the infographic below.

 

Meet new friends and never be lonely again with Joinful App #Apps #Joinful #Meetups #Travel #Social

Available today, the app Joinful is a platform to allow users to meet new people through doing activities together.  As adults, it becomes increasingly difficult to meet new friends, especially if you’re new to a city, travelling alone, if your friends have moved away or have children, or if you don’t get along with your colleagues / work at home.  This is especially true today as we become attached to our smartphones, making the world feeling more isolated and alone than ever.  With Joinful, they want to make the world feeling more connected by connecting people who want to do the same activities, whether it’s grabbing a coffee together, finding others who want to play the same sport, yoga, practising a language skill and more!
Users on the platform can begin finding activities hosted by other users by either typing a city name to find activities within that city, or by pressing the “target” icon on the top right to instantly find all activities in user’s current city. You can also filter the search results as well.  With each activity, you can see the start and end dates and times, max. number of persons who can join and number of people who have already joined, the meeting location, the activity details and more.

Users may also host their own activities.   Simply input the activity details and upload a picture and your activity will be displayed.  As of today, only users who’s phone numbers have a United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Hong Kong, or Singapore country code can host activities.
How Joinful can help you meet new friends:
  • We cap each activity to 20 persons max. to replicate the feeling of a friendship group.  It can become intimidating to meet people at a large event, and one to ones may create awkward situations and no-shows.  By meeting people in a group, not only would it be safer, but you get to meet more people at once.
  • To ensure quality and trustworthiness of activities, hosts can be rated by users after each activity.
  • Our platform is activity-focused rather than profile-focused, meaning no more dying conversations online, no more “judging profiles”, and more serendipity moments with people who share common interests and experiences and actually getting people together in real life.
  • Know when your friends have hosted or joined activities with our friends’ calendar, know when participants have joined your hosted activity with our notifications, and more.
Joinful is now available for free worldwide and is currently available only in English on the Apple App Store.  Visit www.joinful.com