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We sometimes hear developers or product managers say – “tips” are a sign your UI has failed. But Google, with the biggest B2C interactive audience (if you include search) globally, use tips and modals very creatively.

by David Jones, Founder and CEO of Pointzi.com – codeless on-boarding

You would think that Google have:

  • Some of the best Product Managers and Product Designers
  • Unlimited budget
  • Analytics to know what inApp education creates uplift
  • An experiment-driven culture
  • Decision makers who are nothing but data-driven

So the logical conclusion is that “Progressive On-boarding” is an initiative across many Google products, and it is successfully driving deeper engagement. Otherwise, they wouldn’t do it, right?

So let’s examine a few of the tips, tours, modals that Google has used in their mobile products in the last 6 months.

Google Maps

The Opportunity:  Google recently introduced en-route destinations but I bet you didn’t know. They used a tip to promote the new feature.

They did it the right way. The wrong way is more of a 2015 style “dumb” approach used by most Apps – throwing up a “What’s New” carousel for existing users when they open the App. This blocks the user from the utility that Maps exist to provide. Dumb.

 

Context:  Google keeps out of the way and lets you set your primary destination – this is Map’s main navigation use-case. So they don’t interfere with that. But after the trip is underway, this tip was shown.

On this day we had a passenger to be dropped off at a train station, so we added this to our route and the default route was changed to support this. Smart!

Wow Factor: by being contextual and delivering enhanced utility it is now burned into my brain that is a normal method of using Maps in navigation mode.

Get out of the way: Look at the tip design:

  1. It assumes I’m in motion and keeps the message simple
  2. Uses common language. By using pit-stop it speaks to a driving brain
  3. Pictorial to support the message
  4. Does not force a response. By using “Got It” the user can respond to the action or get on with the job. They don’t even need to use a swipe gesture that might be more dangerous driving 🙂

More Google Maps – tips as promotions

 

 

So we know tips are great for education, but also tips can be contextual delivery methods for offers. We’ve seen a few media Apps introduce offers in the context of the UX – it’s a light-weight context-based approach, that does not consume developer resources or steal from screen real-estate to drive an upsell.

Selecting your navigation method is an interesting interstitial for Google to promote their partnership with Uber:

 

 

  • Perfect position
  • Perfect timing
  • Uber branding
  • Call-to-Action with reward.

I’ve got more Maps examples for another time….

Youtube

We’ve already shown how Netflix encourages off-line viewing of videos. This is obviously a method for increasing consumption and usage of their service. Here we see 2 Youtube variants: top and bottom – one with a bold title. We also see some of the buttons are changing, so it’s possible they can A/B alter the App render on-the-fly.

 

So this is a good lesson that Youtube is trying different variants to see what creates conversion – after seeing these I started to download audio books over the home wifi to listen to while commuting.

Youtube Subscriptions Re-discovery

This tip is on the subscriptions Youtube page. “Channels” are your fave subscriptions. But Youtube recommendation engine overwhelms you and you never get back to your favorite content. It just gets lost. This simple tip reminds me I can see all my channels and skip the recommendation engine that is taking 90% of the screen.

This tip is an example of a great reminder how App features get buried and you need to help user re-discover them.

Google Docs/Drive

This suite of products has a lot of utility and designed for everyone from the casual user to displacing MS-Word and Excel in the workplace.

Originally I was intended to include examples in this post but its way too meaty that I’ll devote a later post to it.

 

Google Home

This is an important initiative by Google to tough it out in the battle for IoT in your home. Google Chromecast became Google Cast and attacks Apple TV and AirPlay which had significant start and usability advantage.

But the big game will be more devices under your control like Nest, Amazon’s range of Alexa devices and a raft of smaller sensors and controllers like LIFX lights.

In the example, Home is showing a more directed initial onboarding experience. The goal is to get you to Wow! AND THAT IS YouTube or Netflix on your telly.

 

David is a serial founder and CEO. His companies include surfcontrol email filter, ThreatMetrix, StreetHawk and Pointzi.

 

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AppAnnie recently released their market forecast report. Revenue from mobile apps are expected to exceed $139 bn in 2021. That is a staggering amount, and is more than 3 times as large as the total annual revenue generated from global music sales last year. So what does that mean for app developers?

There is no denying the top line prospects look good:

Games no longer everything

While the revenue action has largely been concentrated around mobile games, this is expected to change in the next 4 years, where other apps expect to capture 24% of all the revenue, as opposed to 19% today. Games publishers clearly dominate the mobile user acquisition stage today, so it will be interesting to see how other players position themselves in order to drive revenue. I somehow doubt we will see Superbowl ads about productivity apps for instance, but you never know.

Not in China? You probably should be

While downloads will increase more dramatically in emergent markets, the revenue is expected to still be concentrated where they are today, although China is expected to have a far more dominant position:

While we have previously written about the huge potential in India, AppAnnie forecasts that revenues will not materialize in the same way, given the lack of purchasing power in that market. In fact, AppAnnie expects less than 2% of revenues will come from India in 2021.

This does not mean you should ignore the market in India by any means, but it perhaps means you need to have different monetization strategies for different markets. All in all, the future looks bright for mobile apps usage and spending, but questions remain on whether the market is big enough for small as well as large players to survive.

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Over the last couple of years, the mobile app industry has created a buzz in the market, giving a lot of opportunities to businesses worldwide. With the inception of mobile apps in the online market, various online shoppers depend on mobile to alter their different interests as well as tasks. Apart from their laptops, they are also turning on smartphones, tablets, and even smart watches to get more information.

by Mohd Sohel Ather

Hence, mobile is not just the future, but it is revolutionizing the way businesses are performing tasks. Today, mobile devices are the major key communication tool for most consumers in the US and growing numbers across the world.

As mobile apps hiding desktops at a faster pace than ever, mobile app marketing becomes the important thing and it is no longer just an option. Now, marketers are looking forward to developing stronger relationships with their consumers to get on board with this competitive digital age. So, if you want to make your mobile app marketing success in this year, go through these tips that will assure your success.

Mobile Marketing Tips of 2017 That You Should Checkout

 

Ensure That Your Mobile App is User-Friendly

Professional marketers come to know that there are some of the consumers, who want to pinch and zoom their way to buy. Some of the new and latest changes are also started, prompting a livid rush by various companies to implement those changes so that their mobile app to make it user-friendly.

We are in the year 2017 and marketers, who did not get on board, are already feeling the effects. For all those, who are yet to get user-friendly mobile apps, the upcoming months will not be forgiving for them. However, marketers, who have already taken the required steps, can move on to optimize their users’ mobile experiences.

So, if you are developing a mobile-friendly experience, which modernizes a customer’s’ checkout process, will make all the difference. You can begin by reducing the length of your bandwidth. All the mobile app users are far less patient than all those, who are using a desktop.

You can make use of social media logins so that you can decrease the complexity of having to develop an account. So, customers, who have the time to rethink purchases, can possibly re-shelve products. Your main aim must be to get consumers out of the door for a user-friendly application.

 

App Store Optimization (ASO)

Do you know that both Google Play store and Apple’s App store algorithmically rank some of the apps in search results, considering different ranking factors? However, not like SEO, app store optimization is not a one-size fits all type of game.

When it comes to talking about the most important ranking factor of app store optimization, app’s title that plays an essential role. It is recommended to use train time checker in the title if you have developed a train time checker.

User Google’s Adwords Keyword Tool to know which terms/phrases pertinent to your application people search for the most on mobile. Talking about the ASO, it is imperative that you fill out the fields with required details when you submit your application to the app stores and pick your categories carefully.

Likewise, social links are also incredibly important as is the authority of the app developer. You can focus on endorsing your application through Google+, Facebook, and Twitter and search interesting ways to incentivize real social sharing.

 

Increase Reviews & Ratings

Reviews and ratings are considered as the most important aspect of the app store optimization and essential for convincing people to download your app. Make sure that you find an actual way of increasing reviews in a way that’s natural and won’t trigger Google or Apple’s spam filters.

It is recommended that you offer them something wonderful for a review approach, so be it some free credits or a lengthy subscription, delivering the user something important in return for a review is the best solution that sounds to work well.

 

Strive to Maintain Loyal Users

The highly effective way of marketing is rewarding your loyal users with some of the extra benefits. You can send push notifications to your users, delivering them different benefits through your app.

Dependent on your app’s business, the advantages can range from extra lives in a game to a discount on a product or service. The obtainable options are enormous and will cost you nothing. Every company requires making sure that their audience members are kept feeling special.

 

Mobile Precise Ad Networks

Are you considering making use of an affiliate ad company for your application to help you boost revenue? These are some of the companies that are working for you and promote your app through other apps and banners.

For advertising applications, the click-through rate through ad network is approximately 1%. Though the rate may not sound high. But the number can increase your ratings in the Apple store and boost up your organic rankings.

It is essential to source an ad company, which will issue your application ad with your target audience. However, it can take some time playing with different ad networks before you decide which ones best suit your requirements.

So, these are the top mobile marketing tips of 2017 that will assure success. In case, if you are facing any difficulty while implementing these tips, you can get in touch with a mobile app development company as there are lots of companies that deliver mobile app marketing services.


This article is contributed by Mohd Sohel Ather, He is a content marketing professional and work as guest blogger and enjoys exploring the latest technologies and taking on new challenges. He contributes on high quality blogs like https://blog.codengo.com/ and shares his experiences with the blog’s readers.

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Mobile gaming is growing massively, and with this huge growth in demand, many casinos and slots are turning to mobile devices to broaden their audience. Mobile games are fast-paced and instant, and developers are beginning to take advantage of this by releasing new mobile-compatible games on a regular basis. Here, we’re taking a look at some of the very best mobile slots apps of 2016 and analysing the ones that are almost certain to continue their success into 2017.

Wink Slots

If you’re looking for hundreds of games all in one place, then Wink Slots is the perfect choice. There’s everything you need from video slots to standard 3-reel and 5-reel slots, providing players with instant wins. It is the UK’s number 1 home of slots, and is available on all iOS devices. There’s plenty of classic casino games too, and with regular bug fixes to continually improve playing experience, all you need to do is learn how to manage your money with these online slots games. One of the best parts about the Wink Slots app is that it rivals the experience of offline slots with how immersive the gaming experience is!  There’s plenty of offers and instant wins for players to enjoy, and with such a huge catalogue of games, there is no better mobile slots app – and we are highly likely to see it topping the charts in 2017, particularly if they expand onto Android devices.

Monopoly Slots

If you’re looking for a slots app that you can combine with your love of board games, then Monopoly Slots it is. Powered by Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), this app features a variety of themes from across the world, including London, Vegas, Ancient Egypt and more. The quality of the app is sublime, but one of the only things holding it back is the limited amount of games it provides. While the app is set to implement more games, the app does have a lot of catching up to do when compared to the likes of Wink Slots. This app is available on both Android and iOS.

DoubleU Casino

One of the biggest benefits of this app is the fact that the entire app is free. It has an immersive Vegas-themed experience, and there are plenty of free video slots to enjoy. On top of this, there is the chance to enter tournaments, play other games like video poker, and even interact with other players who are active on the game at the same time. You are given a number of chips when you sign up which you can win and lose as you play – all without putting your own money down. If you run out, you have the chance to win more on a regular basis by playing mini games like spinning a wheel. You can invite your friends to play the game too and send each other gifts and chips if you are in need of more. The only downside to DoubleU casino is the fact that there are no real-life winnings – but that doesn’t mean that the app isn’t worth a download for some casual gaming. This app is available on iTunes and Android.

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Since Minecraft was released in 2009, it has grown to become massively popular amongst both children and adults. The game allows its players to build and explore a world at their leisure, while constantly building and bringing their imagination to life in the form of cube structures. Minecraft has been dubbed as one of the most successful sandbox games on the market, alongside Lego Worlds, The Blockheads and Terraria. Sandbox games are type of games in which minimal character limitations are placed on the gamer which allows them to roam and change the virtual world at will. If you are looking for an alternative to Minecraft, be it an app or another computer game, then we have collected a few options that prove to be very strong Minecraft competitors.

Terraria

Terraria takes on a similar style to Minecraft but with a slightly different look. As it is slightly more adventure focused, Terraria will appeal to fans of 2D, side scrolling RPG games. Like Minecraft, you will be able to explore, harvest and craft. Terraria also enables you to team up with other characters to fight fearsome bosses!

Survivalcraft

The mobile app of Survivalcraft is available for Android, iOS and Windows and looks a lot like Minecraft with there being more of a focus on surviving rather than building and exploring. This game keeps you on your toes as you have to make sure you sleep, eat and stay awake for signs of danger (such as wild animals and various weather conditions).

The Sandbox

The Sandbox is a little bit different to Minecraft in that it focuses almost entirely on the creation process. It is great for fans of the creative mode available in Minecraft as it allows people to see what they can build. You will also be able to create your own worlds and view the worlds that other people have created.

Rust

Rust is similar to Survivalcraft in the way that it focuses on survival techniques. With rust there are always zombies to be conquered, animals to hunt and items to be crafted that will help your survival. The game begins with you only having access to sticks and rocks and continues to progress towards you being able to loot abandoned bunkers and find blueprints and equipment that will help you live longer.

Guncraft

This PC game has gained popularity with Minecraft players who also enjoy shooting games. With Guncraft you are able to create and build maps and weapons that you use to fight others in different games within the game itself.

The Blockheads

The Blockheads is available for both iOS and Android phones and devices for free. It offers an alternative to Minecraft and features a large world with environments such as jungles that you can craft and create. The difference with this game is that, unlike Minecraft, you are able to control multiple Blockheads.

If you are feeling inspired by this post and wish to know a little bit more about real-life mining equipment, then why not explore the Sandvik website and see how miners work and what equipment they use today? Minecraft has been known to play an important role in getting kids excited to build and enter a career in this industry, so why not see where their game play could take them in the future?

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As the year starts and you are wondering where you should be focusing your app marketing efforts, perhaps it’s time to give India a long and hard look. India is certainly becoming a country where the art of app development is exploding, and searches for app development courses has grown 200% per year since 2014 and surpassed the US.

India is the world’s second largest smartphone market

There are over 220 million smartphone users in India, compared to an estimated 191 million in the US.  But there are 980 million mobile phone users (or around 700m if you are to believe Gartner), so the growth potential is huge.

App downloads exploding

It is estimated that 8 billion apps were downloaded in India in 2016. The growth rate is expected to be 26% per year, reaching 20 billion downloads in 2020.  According to Unity, India is on par with Japan on mobile games installs – which is quite significant when you consider the history of Japan in mobile apps and gaming:

More important is perhaps the country’s huge dominance of the Android platform:

Massive growth in the developer community

Next year, according to Business Insider, it is expected that 4 million Indian developers will focus on app development.  Interestingly, that is 90% of the total developer community in 2014 as estimated by Vision Mobile, so clearly there has been a huge growth in the developer community as a whole – but also in India.

More importantly, the way to reach developers may not all be through Google Play. For instance, Opera is the most downloaded browser in India, so you should certainly ensure Opera and local stores like Mobango are included in your distribution strategy (both stores supported by CodeNgo).  And the handsets to target may not be the typical ones you are used to, but heavily dominated by the Chinese manufacturers.  India rocked the world in mobile payments last year, and will no doubt continue the path of disruption in mobile apps in 2017.

 

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Car keys can be the bane of our existence, especially if you’re the type of person that constantly loses things. It seems almost impossible to keep track of them sometimes. Car keys are expensive because of the modern technology that’s used to make them. At a dealer ship you could be paying more than $100 for an Audi car key replacement. However, with these apps and gadgets you might find yourself losing your car keys a lot less often and spending a lot less money to get them replaced.

Tile

The Tile is an ingenious little gadget and app set that will help you keep track of everything, including your car keys. You can either stick it to something or attach it with a keyring and it with the app on your phone you will be able to find it. It has a range of different features that can be accessed through the app. You can command the tile to emit a noise so that you can locate it and whatever it’s attached to. If it’s too far away for you to hear the app will show you the Tile’s GPS location on a map and lead you to it. But, what if you’re too far away for the app to track? Well, thanks to crowdsourcing, your Tile app can use the information on other people’s apps to find your Tile. If someone with the Tile app installed on their phone walks near your lost Tile the information in your app will be updated right away and it will tell you where your Tile was traced.

What you’ve lost wasn’t attached to the Tile? Thankfully, you can use the app’s map to retrace your steps. The Tile tracks wherever it goes so you can double back and pick up whatever it is you’ve dropped. But, you’re probably wondering ‘what if I’ve lost my phone?’. Well, the Tile can work the other way as well. If you can’t find your phone all you have to do is press the button on the Tile and it will ring your phone. You phone’s ring tone will go off even if your phone is on silent, so finding it isn’t a problem anymore. Attaching the Tile to your car keys is a great way to keep track of them

GearEye

If you’re the sort of professional that carries round bags of equipment or an overstuffed handbag then this is the app you desperately need. The GearEye, like the Tile, works by tracking your items but, instead of helping you find lost items, this app is used to prevent you from losing your items in the first place. With the app you receive up to 200 battery free RFID adhesive GearTags that the GearEye app can track. Stick these tags onto all of your important belongings, including your car keys, and attach the GearEye dongle to the outside of your bag. After you’ve finished packing your bag, bring up the app and start scanning. Your GearEye will track the items and will tell you, based on the proximity of the items to the dongle, whether or not you have forgotten to pack something. If it notices that something is missing from your bag it will give you the option to locate it and the app will tell you where it is with incredible accuracy. For messy packers and professionals in a hurry this app is a saving grace and saves you from spending money on buying a tracker for each of your items.

TrackR

TrackR is perhaps one of the leading finders of lost things.  With more than 4.5m TrackR units shipped, the device cannot only find your lost things, but when you sign up, you sign up for the TrackR network, which uses other people’s devices to find yours. The “crowd GPS network” will notify you when another user walks by your item, and sends you a confidential update. It is also integrated with Amazon’s Alexa, allowing you to ask Alexa where your things are.

 

 

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You should never use your phone while you’re driving, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t use your phone to help with your driving. There are lots of great apps out there that can help you overcome all of the struggles that come from being a car owner, including keeping track of your car, improving your driving, and getting your car repaired. Just to show you how many great apps there are, here’s a list of only a few:

Find My Car

Have you lost your car again? In a busy parking lot it’s surprisingly easy for that to happen, but it won’t be with the Find My Car app. All you have to do is log your position into the app once you’ve parked your car and you’ll never lose it again. The app will give you a GPS location of exactly where you parked and even direct you right up to the driving seat. If you find that anything should happen to it or you get stuck in your car for any reason, the app also has an emergency button that will send a text to your family or friends of your exact location. It also comes with an offline navigation option, so even when you’re away from the internet you’ll still know exactly how to find your car.

Fiat eco: Drive App

If you have a Fiat or are looking to buy one in the future then you should definitely check out the Fiat app for your car. It teaches you all about making the most of your Fiat car and how to keep it efficient. The great thing about this app is that you won’t be distracted by a phone screen. Instead it’s an app for your computer. By plugging a USB into your Fiat car your driving information will be automatically then, when you’ve finished your journey, plug the USB into the computer with the app and it’ll give you feedback on your driving. It’ll grade your performance, tell you how far you’ve travelled, how much fuel you’ve used and the total CO2 emitted. It’ll give you great driving tips to save fuel and reduce your CO2 emission as well as give you an optional ‘challenge’ to help you drive more efficiently. If you want to start being more eco-friendly then now’s the time to start looking at new Fiat cars for sale and download the app today.

RepairPal

Sadly, this app is only available in the US at the moment, but everyone’s looking forward to the day it goes international. It is a fantastic tool to use with your car and makes being a car owner a lot easier. With this app you can record all of the repairs you’ve had on your car, get estimates for repairs and even get recommendations for nearby mechanics if you break down as well as call for roadside assistance. It’ll log everything for you in a personal profile and here you can keep track of how much you’ve spent on your car and what condition it’s in.

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Traveling has become somewhat contagious with certain individuals, no matter the destination; certain spots have become very popular. However, traveling may provide a euphoric and exciting sense of adventure; oppose to all the good, it still comes with its own struggles, which is why mobile apps have become very popular with our travellers. Here are the best apps to make your travels more beneficial.

Citymapper

You’ll never get lost with Citymapper- a comprehensive, easy to use app which offers a detailed journey planner that is superior to most planners out there. It includes real-time departures, in addition to disruptions or delays. It is available around 30 cities worldwide, so wherever you are, you’ll never feel out of the loop with this app.

Duolingo

You go to bar to order some food and a few drinks however; you come across a barman who can’t speak your native language. This could certainly cause problems, but if you have the Duolingo app, these problems will cease to exist. Duolingo is a free and incredibly well-designed language app. It won’t get you speaking fluent Spanish in quick succession, but it is a fun way to learn the basics and keep you reminded with the grammar and vocabulary. So, if you were to order that drink and meal, you can do it in your best accent.

Tripit

This free app acts like your own personal travel guide. Pulling together all sorts of travel information such as confirmed flights, hotels, rental cars, event booking and converts. It’s the itinerary you’ll need if you want a well organised trip. It’s especially useful if you are planning to visit America. Due to the country being so large, having an organised itinerary can be very useful to allow a stress-free journey. If you are planning to visit the United States, make sure you get your US visa with Esta-visa which is an easy 3 step online application.

Airbnb

This is probably one of the most useful apps on the list. Finding accommodation is a very important aspect when traveling and it also can be a difficult and expensive one too. Yet, with Airbnb you should face no problem what so ever as there will always be somewhere for you to stay. Another positive about this app is the reviews on each available room. This allows you to see if customers have been having a pleasant stay or not. With all this, most places that are advertised on this app are affordable and safe- which are two of the most important factors when it comes to traveling.

Dark Sky

This is quite a unique app which gives you the heads-up for whether your day trip is going to turn into a rainy mess or a summer’s burn. The app works in the USA, the UK and Ireland; it presents to you an animated map of the clouds and temperatures giving you the heads up if the destination you are heading in will bucket it down, so with this app you may have a chance of beating the rain and keeping dry.

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Boarding a plane can be exciting, memorable and downright exhilarating (we can all remember our first time on an airplane, right?), but there comes a point 8 hours in on a long haul flight to California when killing time becomes a priority. Smartphones and tablets have become a life-saver when it comes to helping us enjoy our journeys that little bit more and, as WiFi in the sky is often limited to a few airlines, playing some great games while flying shouldn’t be compromised due to a lack of internet access.

No matter what far-flung destination you have to travel to, these apps are sure to make your flight as tolerable as possible:

Spirits (Android and IPad)

This game is great for anxious travellers because it’s as challenging as it is calming. The goal is to transport incredibly cute white spirits home through a series of obstacles. With beautiful imagery, soothing music and some really tough levels; this game is a great option for a more chilled-out journey.

National Geographic World Atlas (iOS and Windows 8)

If travel is your passion then why not download the National Geographic World Atlas app? Browsing through the app is equally as entertaining as it is encompassing, meaning time will fly away with you. It also means you’ll land knowing a little bit more about your destination than when you left off!

2016-12-06-natgeo-atlas

Zen Space (iPad)

Dealing with irritating fellow passengers on any flight (let alone a long haul flight) is possibly the worst case imaginable for the majority of us. Zen Space is a handy app to have at the ready to combat any noisy seat-mates. The app helps you create your own tranquil state of mind by drawing paths through sand with different rakes in a Japanese garden. The combination of gently drawing shapes in sand alongside with the sound of nature floating through your headphones, you are sure to feel at ease in moments.

Paper (iPad)

If you have limited hand luggage space, bringing a pen and paper to doodle or play noughts and crosses on may not be top of your priorities when packing for a flight. Sketching on the Paper app means you can draw to your hearts content for absolutely free.

Audible (Apple and Android)

A great alternative to listening to music and having tired eyes has to be an audio book. Not only is Audible free, it has something to suit everyone, with over 150,000 audio books on offer in their library.

Card Games (iOS)

Losing the odd playing card is an all too common occurrence on flights which is why Card Games is revolutionary in allowing you to play card games without creating a mess on your teeny tray table. Bonus.

If you’re flying on a long-haul flight to America, applying for the Visa Waiver, more commonly referred to as the US Visa, will be as vital as downloading some awesome apps. The Electronic System for Travel Authorisation makes visitors eligible to travel to the US under the USA Visa Waiver Program. Introduced in 2009, it is used to enhance security measures and pre-screen travellers before they can board a plane or ship headed for the US.