Drupal is a highly popular open source content management system that allows you to build websites. Drupal has a large community of contributors and users. Drupal has over 7000 contributed modules or extensions that people can download and install. A number of Fortune 500 companies are using Drupal to build social websites to interact with their users. Mobile platform has a great influence on Drupal web CMS.

The fastest growing technology trend has been previewing of website on mobile devices for accessing online content on the go. We might be stepping into a world where instead of designing for desktop websites first, you might end up designing for a mobile version first and then desktop websites comes second. When people started using iPhone, Android and Blackberry devices, smartphone users are increasingly seen viewing web content. With the phenomenal increase in the consumption of website content on smartphones and tablets, there has been a raging demand for mobile friendly websites. Accessing the mobile version of website has also seen an exponential growth which is keen to match the demand for the mobile devices. More and more companies are adding mobile version to their existing website, which is seen as a natural extension to online space. However, the rise in smartphone visitors has not been as great as increase in mobile-enabled sites. Most of the webpages are not optimized for smaller screens. Developers have shown tremendous enthusiasm in developing a plethora of applications for iPhone and Android platforms. Here jQuery Mobile steps in!

jQuery Mobile is a powerful JavaScript framework optimized for touchscreen devices, which enables developers to create a mobile version of a website quickly to users with full functionality. jQM has a library which leverages CSS3 and HTML5 web standards to develop mobile web apps with native experience. jQM applies HTML5 data-role attributes within the existing template optimized for mobile-enabled website without the need to create separately a mobile version. One of the advantages of using jQM library is the ease of use and simplicity in converting existing content formatted for a mobile browser. jQM addresses the problem of user experience and provides touch-optimized interface elements for multiple mobile platforms.

Drupal is aiming to be the number one platform to build Drupal to mobile web applications. jQuery Mobile and Drupal plays well together. In order to work well on cross platform mobile platform, Drupal and jQM compatibility issues and Module and Theme integration needs to be fulfilled.

Developers, these days, have a good number of options while choosing a mobile development framework. However, not every framework enables you to build your app the way you want. Each one will have its unique features and issues. Here are some factors to consider while choosing a mobile development framework.

Paid or free

Licensed versions will have more features compared to freeware; however, the choice depends on the requirements of the application to be built. Many free platforms enable you to build popular app types including content apps, social media apps, games, mapping and navigation apps, etc.

Technologies it supports

Java, HTML, CSS, Java Script and jQuery are some basic technologies you can expect from a good framework. More and more developers are turning to HTML5, as it makes cross-platform app creation easy and cost-effective.

Multi-platform compliant

There are many models of mobile devices available in the market today, each with its own platform. iOS, Android, Blackberry, Palm WebOS, Symbian and Windows to name a few. In the initial stages of app development, a developer could create an app for a single platform only. However, the evolution of cross-platform frameworks (and HTML5) enabled cross-platform mobile app development and expanded the options for developers. If you plan to use your app on more than one platform, be sure to find a framework that enables you to do so.

Conversion to native apps

Most systems will help developers build web apps, but converting them to native apps is a lengthy and difficult process. There are very few platforms in the market that enable developers to convert web apps to native apps in one click.

Recompiling

While developing apps for multiple platforms, compiling an app for each and every platform is a pain-staking process for developers. If there is a small change to the source code, entire app needs to be recompiled for the changes to apply. Check if your framework eases this recompiling issue for you.

Enterprise data synchronization

This is important for business apps with frequently-updating content. You need a framework that will help your mobile device communicate with a SQL server database. Not many frameworks provide this feature. If your app requires such technology, you need to recheck if it is supported by your mobile development framework.

Though there are many mobile development frameworks, very few provide the space and support the developers look for. The above factors will help you in choosing a right mobile app development framework.

With more and more users accessing websites on their smartphones, tablets and phablets, it has become essential for businesses to optimize their web applications for mobile devices. At the same time, each business needs to test the web application thoroughly to ensure that it delivers richer user experience across many browsers and under various conditions. While testing modern web applications, QA professionals have to address challenges related to integration, interoperability, performance, usability and security. So the QA professionals must follow simple best practices to test the web applications more effectively.

7 Best Practices for Web Application Testing

1) Focus on Cross-Browser Compatibility Testing

Nowadays most businesses opt for responsive web design to make their web applications deliver richer user experience on each device. The new approach requires programmers to make websites responsive by using open web technologies like HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript. At present, older versions of certain web browsers do not support HTML5 fully. So the testers need to check how the app performs on both older and current versions of major web browsers. They can even use specialized automation tools to test the application across many browsers quickly and efficiently.

2) Test Each Important Element of a Web Application

While testing a web application, QA professionals often focus on its features, functionality and performance. But a business must ask the testers to assess each important element of the website in addition to its functionality and performance. For instance, the QA professionals must assess key elements of the web application including cookies, CSS, JavaScript, HTML validity, dead-links, browser refresh, windows resizing, and security. The comprehensive testing will make the website deliver richer user experience over a longer period of time.

3) Assess the Application’s Performance under Various Conditions

In addition to assessing the stability of the website’s functionality, the testers also need to ensure that it does not crash under heavy load. Sometimes minor flaws in its design or code also affect the website’s performance negatively. So the testers must assess the performance of the application under a variety of loads to check how it caters to a large number of visitors. They can even use open source load testing tools to assess the performance of the application under varying load on the server effectively. Likewise, they must perform load testing repeatedly to ensure that the performance of the website is not impacted by the changes made to the code.

4) Scale the Load Tests Incrementally

In addition to assessing the performance of the website under varying loads, it is also important for the QA professionals to scale the load tests incrementally. In the initial stages, they should replicate a comparatively smaller number of distribute user, and increase the number of users gradually. When the number of users increases gradually, it becomes easier for software testers to identify the exact point where the application crashes. However, the QA professional must perform load tests in cycles and analyze the load testing result of each cycle to assess the performance of the website accurately.

5) Don’t Forget to Check HTTP Traffic

While testing a web application, businesses often forget the significance of analyzing the web traffic. When the testers check the HTTP traffic thoroughly from the browsers to the server, it becomes easier for them to assess each request and response precisely. At the same time, the HTTP traffic analysis helps them to test Google Analytics tags and similar third-party tracking tags used by the web page. The testers can further use specialized tools to ensure that each tracking tag includes correct values, and the third-party systems respond to the user requests quickly and properly.

6) Test the Web Services Independently

Nowadays most web applications use a variety of web services. But the business needs to ensure that the web services used by the application are tested independently, and as isolated components. The testers must test the web services before they are integrated with the application. The option will enable them to test the web services more quickly, while exercising better control over their functionality. Also, the testers can send a variety of request to the web browser directly and assess its performance without using a web browser.

7) Pick the Right Parameters for Usability Testing

The business must focus on both usability and user-experience of the web applications to keep the visitors engaged and convert them into customers. However, it is also important for the testers to assess the usability of the applications based on the most appropriate parameters. The business must clearly define the key criterions for performing usability testing. At the same time, the business also needs to pick a number of key criterions like user interface design, speed, performance, readability of content, accessibility and navigability. Likewise, it must ask the testers to determine the amount of time required by a user to perform specific tasks.

A business can always automate its testing efforts to quickly check the look, feel, usability and performance of the web application across many web browsers. However, it also needs to focus on development, maintenance and reusability of automated tests to test the frequently changing front-end of the web application more effectively.

Internet is a dynamic place and its increased use as a business media, clearly demonstrates its significance in our daily lives. People conduct business, share information, converse and do host of other activities on internet. The development and integration of innovative web applications is changing the way people use internet.

The web development company enhances the visibility of online business. It uses the latest technology like HTML5 and CSS3 to create attractive websites. HTML5 helps in better structuring of the web pages and CSS3 enables the web designers to style and present the web content. Web developers use CSS3 to streamline and strategically place crucial content in the website, so that it gets maximum visibility.

The web development company uses the latest Flex tools and frameworks to create Rich Internet Applications. These applications allow end users to enjoy an array of interactive features like video and audio clips, animation and graphical representations. The viewers get an opportunity to interact with website through customized and user friendly features. This creates better bonding between the website and end users, and they keep coming back to it.

Internet offers tremendous business scope on a global scale and online businesses compete with each other to get more visibility. This enhances their business prospects. The web development company has to its disposal latest e-commerce tools, which web developers use to design and create interactive online shopping cart. It has integrated features like secured payment and shipping management gateways, which allow online shoppers to purchase the product or service of their choice, at a click of button. The web developers integrate SSL technology into e-commerce site so that online transaction is completely safe and secure.

The web development firm provides Content Management Services (CMS). It allows an authorized person to manage, refresh and publish the web content, through set of tools. It empowers remote author or group of authors to write and update web pages. The multi-authoring provision increases the richness of the content and earns a better page rank from the search engine.

The customer-centric design, user friendly features and rich content play their role in enhancing the image of the website in the eyes the audience. The website registers more hits and becomes popular on net. It is awarded higher page rank by search engine, which in turn drives even more traffic to it. Over a time period, the site registering exponential rise in visitor hits and majority of them are successfully converted into business revenues.

1. HUGE IMAGES AND HTML5 VIDEOS

In 2014 the use of big images and videos got increasingly more popular as the year went by. In 2015 we can expect this trend to continue. Mixing big images with scrolling effects, HTML5 videos or parallax effects to give eye candy and at the same time showcasing products, services or simply giving the wow factor.

2. 2D INTO 3D FOR DESIGNERS

3D software is getting easier to use as the years go by. Converting a simple shape to a 3D model takes mere seconds now. More and more 2D designers are finding software such as Adobe After Effects to be helpful when it comes to creating that extra “oomph” to make a website pop. Adobe After Effects offers a similar interface to Photoshop, which means learning how the actual program works can be done in a few days. Whether it comes to creating 3D presentation work or actual 3D design elements, this will definitely be a trend to stay in 2015.

3. THE IMPORTANCE OF UX DESIGN

User-Experience is on a roll in the last few years. More and more designers are finding out how crucial it is to plan a site thoroughly, before they even start to design. In 2015 we can expect innovative website structures, combined with the interactions we have never seen before. Thinking of every possible detail to separate yourself from the crowd will be crucial. The web as we know it is going to start changing. Drastically.

4. TYPOGRAPHY AS A KEY ELEMENT

Font size in 2014 got even bigger compared to the previous years and there is no sign this will stop anytime soon, in fact fonts will probably get even bigger. Typography will evolve into actual design elements and will be replacing images, giving websites powerful messages and further improving site loading times.

5. TRADITIONAL ART ON THE WEB?

More and more designers are trying to find more ways to push their creative limits. Trying to be perceived as individuals and make a name for themselves, people are trying to take other talents and combine it with their passion for web design to create an unique package. Pencil drawn design elements such as icons with incredible detail will be seen far more often in the year of 2015.

6. RESPONSIVE WEB DESIGN ON A NEW LEVEL

Responsive web design has proved itself in 2014 as the new web standard. Pushing products on a range of all devices has never been as popular as today. We can only guess how far it can go, but it’s definitely here to stay.

7. SVG ANIMATION

In 2015 we can expect an increase in custom made SVG animations. The benefit of such animations is, that they are scalable and have way more functionality over CSS animations. SVG animations will be used to create custom hover effects, website loading screens and also background animations. Using animation together with logos or other vector type graphics will be more popular in the year 2015.

8. STORY TELLING WEBSITES

In 2015 we can expect an increase in websites which tell us a story. The main objective is to lure the visitor into the content and keep him interested till he reads every single word we have on our website. This is done through scrolling, parallax effects, big images and smart content writing. Adults can be like children sometimes. Being different, being interesting will definitely keep the visitors and with time attract lots more.

9. INCREASE OF TRIANGULAR DESIGN

2014 has been very big on keeping the designs simple and rectangular. In 2015 we predict to see an increase of various shapes including triangles, pentagons, hexagons and so on. These elements will work in harmony with rectangular shapes to provide design diversity.

10. BRANDING ONLINE FIRST

More and more companies see that most of their advertising is done on the web. This will force designers to create web identities and notice potential problems before they can happen. Logos will be designed to fit any sort of scale. A logo that can fit both on a tiny pen or work equally well on a huge poster. Branding online first will be beneficial to both customers and designers.

2012 is going to see the evolution of enterprise and server based computing really take off. More and more businesses are jumping on the bandwagon and incorporating web and cloud based technology into their core business processes. The reason this year will see a boost is because of the fact that a top bank and the UK government are now embracing the cloud.

Security was one of the main issues which was putting off many businesses joining the cloud. But recently the Spanish banking giant BBVA has rolled out Google Apps for Business to 110,000 of users which proves that enterprise and server based computing such as Google Apps can be the right choice for even the largest of companies in the most security-minded and regulated of industries. This year the UK Governments move to cloud computing will also reduce security fears for many businesses. So if cloud computing is secure enough for the UK government and the Spanish banking giant BBVA, it is surely secure enough for any business.

So what is Ericom AccessNow?

Ericom AccessNow is a remote desktop client that allows you too quickly and easily access remote desktops and applications. It is run completely within a browser and does not require any browsers plugins or add-ons regardless of what browser you prefer to use. Your browser must be HTML5 enabled though. It is great for releasing the IT burden of managing desktop programs and browser plug-ins. It runs and looks like any native remote desktop client.

The benefits of using Ericom AccessNow include:

• No client software to install or manage

• Your IT overheads will be lower

• Empowers users with cloud or browser-based access to resources hosted on Microsoft RDS / Terminal Services, VDI & Web platforms

• It supports any HTML5 browser on any platform, including: Windows, Mac, Linux, iPad / iPhone, Android tablets and of course the Google Chromebook.

• Offers clientless access – you will not require Java, Flash, Silverlight or any other technology.

• Ericom Secure Gateway which is a free option provides a protected environment for remote computing – no VPN required.

Deployment is easy as the Ericom AccessNow Server is installed on the RDP host to allow connection from the remote client. To allow access from outside your firewall, the Ericon Secure Web Gateway can be installed to manage authentication and routing to control access to the Ericom AccessNow servers to present your applications for remote users. The firewall is configured to forward remote AccessNow user access to the secure web gateway. Again no client software is required, just an HTML5 compatible browser.

If you want help with the deployment of Ericom or any other cloud computing and enterprise security solutions, there are plenty of specialist service providers out there. A good bit of advice is to enrol the help of a service provider which is also a Google Enterprise Partner. This will give you peace of mind that you are working with an experienced partner.

It is a good idea to learn web development because you can turn this into pretty good career. You can choose to work for an IT company or even strike out on your own as a freelance web developer. However, this is a very large field and you need to be very specific about what you learn or else you might easily get sidetracked with skills that are not particularly useful.

The most important language to learn is HTML5 because this is where the future of web development lies and you'll need it just to be able to start doing this work. CSS and PHP are also important and you will benefit from learning these once you are comfortable with HTML5. Once you have learned the basics then you can also pick up Rails, Ruby, SQL, JavaScript and even Apache. There are many tools that you can pick up as you go along and they will enable you to be very effective as a web developer.

You'll need to put in a fair amount of time and effort in order to learn HTML5 so that you can get started at web development. You need to learn the different specifications of this language to start with and then proceed to more features such as input controls, semantic tags and selector APIs. You'll also need to learn various guiding principles for good design. Of course, the time you take to pick up all your skills depends on how hard you work and what resources you have.

There are many different ways in which you can learn web development. They include

• Tutorials and manuals (including books, video, and audio guides)
• Training classes
• Video and audio guides
• Podcasts and screencast
• Online user groups

Make sure that you use the best possible resources in order to learn web development quickly and with the least amount of trouble. It is not sufficient to pick up just book knowledge even though you'll need to get a lot of this. You also need to put your learning into practice so that you can get really good at web development. You will be able to learn very quickly if you have a partner because you can then do a lot of practice in order to hone your skills. Once you have the necessary skills and experience then you will be able to earn a very good income this way.

The very nature of service management means that companies are always looking to stay ahead of the game, meet the rising expectations of their customers and find efficiencies in an ever-competitive world.

The latest technology can provide the competitive advantage many service management companies crave. Integrating mobile technology in particular into operations and to support a mobile workforce can deliver tangible benefits and an impressive return on investment.

With the advent of mobile app technology, the opportunities available to service management business as a whole have taken another step forward. Today’s tech-savvy and more social media friendly customers are expecting businesses to interact and communicate with them more openly, particularly online and through technology.

Using a mobile app to support your mobile workforce in their day-to-day work will send a clear message to your customers that you are embracing new technology and using it to improve your customer service and how you manage information and communication across your business.

Mobile app features to consider

There are some great service management mobile apps available. When deciding which one to use, consider the following:

What mobile technology does it use and how will this fit with our business? The best apps utilise HTML5 technology, which means the app can be used on any device and is accessible from anywhere with an internet connection. But HTML5 also comes with local storage which means that if an internet connection is unavailable or lost during a job, an operative can continue working offline and the app will update the central system once the connection is regained.

Does it fit with older mobiles so we can avoid costly capital outlay for new phones? This is a question many businesses will ask, and rightly so. Decent apps should work on any device and support all operating systems. What this means is that you are then able to use on older devices. Again, HTML5 apps will work on all devices.

What will the app mean for our operatives day on day? As a rule, it’ll means direct, simple and easy access to the software, workflows, information and tools integral to the app, all of which should be designed to support them in their work. So inbuilt app workflows can guide operatives through gas services, for example, or property information can be viewed within a few clicks.

How is the app installed? Installation is achieved by simply downloading the app from the software provider. Operatives can be up and running in minutes. But do speak to any potential software and app suppliers about the security and resilience of their products. You should look for best-of-breed measure to prevent your data from being compromised in any way.

Consequent to the e-learning concepts and programs gaining popularity with each passing day, the demand for the services to convert Flash Animation to HTML5 has also risen to new heights. To a poser on this conversion over the Google, plethora of suggestions and answers appear. It is always wise to seek the solutions provided by a professional IT company that is engaged in developing numerous animation programs including e-learning processes.

Indeed, it has become all the important since since the topic and the illustration or graphics have reached the target audience across varieties of devices, platforms, and browsers. And considering the fact that HTML 5 is the key digital technology, utmost attention is needed vis-à-vis the conversion becoming accessible from diverse media of smartphones and tables, irrespective of flash compatibility of the device.

On this score, reputed companies have the relevant expertise to offer these services with an element of value added to the content. As for development of new content, these companies have mastered the art as evident from the scores of end-users at home as well as abroad. The hallmark of their services lies in the art of conceptualizing an enriched interactive content that could range from the K-12 (kindergarten to XII standard) segment to university level courses and corporate training modules. It is the animator's art that infuses an element of life in all these programs that are basically converted through CSS and JS languages.

As for the corporate training programs, the client's objectives are analyzed in detail to specifically identify the various themes. With focus on enhanced productivity, the compilers of the training material draft the content to be highly interactive and visually appealing. With the aid of SCORM compliant software, this content is further developed and delivered in both Flash and HTML5 formats. Both these versions are tested and perfected to be compatible with all popular platforms.

Incidentally, SCORM, acronym for Sharable Content Object Reference Model, has been accepted worldwide as ideal software of interoperable technical standards for e-learning products. Although, a defense-related program of Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL) under Pentagon, this software has found extensive applications in the civil arena as never before, particularly in e-learning. It also governs how online learning content and Learning Management Systems (LMSs) interlink and interact with each other, purely in technical parlance.

Due to a forerunner in e-learning technology, recently a reputed company has published a report on the global e-learning market scenario and planned encouraging figures for the period 2016-2017. It was based on in-depth study that revealed the worldwide market for Self-Paced E-Learning which stand at $ 35.6 billion in 2014 has witnessed fast paced compound growth rate of 7.6% to reach over $ 51.5 billion by 2016.

Every day I get questions from customers asking about formatting their ebook. This is not unusual as that is what I do, but what is difficult to understand is why they do not understand the medium they are trying to "advertise on."

"I am viewing my book and there are not any spaces between the paragraphs."

"Why will not my font display. I have it embedded properly."

It all comes down to this … readers (people) will read your eBook on a variety of devices and Apps: and every App and Device will display your book DIFFERENTLY – every one.

These 'concerns' are valid – but in the first instance, there were spaces between paragraphs – just NOT on the App she was using. This was a flaw with the App itself. Additionally, the font was embedded properly; Adobe Digital Editions refused to display it, while Kindle Fire and the iPad were fine.

Know what you are up against

Digital eBooks. Understand the technology you are considering. eReaders vary, and while you may want your book to appear like a printed book on every device, that just is not possible (yet).

Digital books stem from HTML (Hypertext Markup Language). The latest is HTML5. Not all ereaders or apps utilize HTML5, so you are having to adjust your layout for various e-readers.

Example:

Fixed Layouts. Many Childrens books are fixed layouts. Full page color images with text overlaid. Beautiful on the iPad and Kindle Fire. but this type of format does NOT display on the Kindle. You can only upload ONE file format to Amazon for publishing, so be aware how it will look for BOTH the Fire and basic Kindle.

In Addition IBooks and KIndle have their own twist on the code for fixed layouts – so you have to create two separate files.

This is just one of the frustrations authors and formatters are up against the eBook formatting world.

Buy a Device

Amazon is the most prominent source of e-books. So, spend a little $ and get the cheapest reader they have. If you are going to sell your wares you want to be able to see how it looks.

Example: If you were to place a classified ad in a newspaper, you would probably buy a newspaper to make sure it is correct, right? Not a preview of the ad, but the actual ad itself.

TV or Radio? You would not create a radio spot and then not listen to it live on the radio. A lot can happen between the final master tape and the actual airing.

So when you consider publishing in digital form, consider buying an 'actual' e-reader device. It not only will help you become more familiar on how digital devices work but will give you a better understanding of what to expect.

Side Note

I realize that it is not possible to purchase every e-reader device. And you may think that the reader Apps for your computer or phone would be fine. Well they are … and they are not.

For Example:

• Not ALL e-readers will display embedded fonts
• Not ALL e-readers will understand the HTML5 or EPUB 3 standards
• Some Apps fail to display the non breaking space between paragraphs (Kindle for PC).
• As of today (3/22/2012) only the Kindle Fire is utlizing HTML5 full capabilities: the older Kindles and the Kindle Apps (ie for iPad and iPhone) are lagging behind.)

There is a slew of other issues when comparing e-readers and Reader Apps. Your best bet is to have an actual device and then use Kindle for PC / Mac; Sony or NOOK Reader for PC / Mac, as well as the most recent Kindle Previewer.

CONCLUSION

Purchase a device of your own and find "friends" or collections who would be willing to view your book on their devices.

And above all – purchase your own book to make sure the product delivered is flawless.

Another Note: what you see in the Kindle Previewer is not "exactly" how it displays on the Kindle Fire, Kinde, or the Kindle APPS – it's close but not exact.