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Insomnia and Sleep Apnea are no laughing matter and either of these can seriously affect your ability to function properly during the daytime. The problem with having a drowsy and lazy day is that you’ll find it just as hard to sleep again the following night. A vicious circle that nobody enjoys putting up with! Your doctor may advise you to try some sleeping tablets, but you should think twice about that suggestion. Your body may allow these artificial aids to knock you out for a few times but eventually you will build up a resistance that requires even stronger ones to have any effect. You will also find it really hard to shake these off the next day. Instead of this route, why not have a word with your Smartphone and see what Android has to offer you? This article looks at some very swish applications that promise to help you get a good night’s sleep – every night!

Nature sounds to sleep by Desenvdroid – Free https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.desenvdroid.sonsnaturezatosleep&feature=more_from_developer

Our first app has a title that may be lacking in imagination, but it certainly lets you know what is in store! It is a fact that we love to fall asleep to the soothing sounds of Mother Nature and this app promises to deliver these to our pillows every night! Everyone is different when it comes to how we like to relax and this app has enough choices for all of us. You may prefer to doze off to the sound of rainfall, or perhaps the sound of waves lapping against the shore will hit the spot? Whatever your favourite natural noise happens to be, you should find it right here. You can tweak the app to allow a certain start on stop time and you’ll also be able to wake up to one of the myriad of available sounds. We recommend this to those of you city dwellers who crave a good night’s sleep once more!

Relax Timer by Master B – Free – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tobeamaster.relaxtime&feature=search_result

This is one cool Android app that brings a whole lot of sleep aid to the table and then some! You have all of the ambient sounds you can shake a stick at and it also features a sleep tracker! Choose from those oh so relaxing natural sounds such as rain storms, waterfalls and flowing streams, any of them will surely have you nodding off in a few minutes. And when you fall asleep, the device will track your sleep pattern by recording the breathing intervals you emit. Once you have a copy of your typical sleep pattern, you can use the ‘Sleep Cycle’ feature to tune in your sleep and wake up themes as you wish. So you have 2 very good functions that work together in order to compliment your entire sleeping pattern. We can’t believe that this app is totally free and suggest you download it straight away, even if you don’t have sleeping issues!

We’re Off To The Land of Nod!

Android have delivered to very good sleep-aids that we think you’ll soon be waking up to every morning!

Attached Images:
  •  License: Image author owned
  •  License: Image author owned

Abbey Brooks, the author of this article, is a fun loving person who enjoys writing about her experiences and opinions. By day, she works as a sales executive for CPAPOnly.

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The act of replacing any type of floor may seem like a burdensome chore to many. With so many home owners unfamiliar with the process of removing and installing new floor coverings, the majority seek the services of a contractor – which can be very expensive and take much more time than anyone expected. These days, though, technology is helping shrink the learning curve between contractors and home owners thanks to a variety of mobile applications available for download. For those who are interested in laying tile, continue reading to find out about four must-have applications to get the job done.

TilePlanner

Planning a new bathroom floor or simply want to liven up another room of the home? With the TilePlanner app for Android, you can now gauge the exact amount of tile that will be needed before heading to the home improvement warehouse. For use in rectangular rooms, TilePlanner will quickly assess the square footage of any room and provide an accurate number of needed tiles based on the projected width and length of each one. The app will also provide an estimated amount of loss, so you are sure not to come up short in the middle of a project. You can download the TilePlanner app for free on the Android Marketplace.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.qbit.floorplanner

Tile Calculator

Tile is often popular on floors, but many people enjoy tiled walls as well. Regardless of preference, the Tile Calculator is another way in which you can be sure that the materials you have purchased will be enough for the job. With options for both metric and imperial measurements, an option to fetch quotes for the cost of materials and customized tile gap options, you will be able to accurately determine the number of tiles needed for any bathroom, wall or patio. Currently available on the Android Marketplace, you can purchase the Tile Calculator for $2.00.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.project.tiling

ProTileHelper

Those who wish to learn the basics of installing tile can benefit greatly from the ProTileHelper app, available for free on all Android devices. Inside this app, you will be able to find dozens of tutorials on how to install tile in floors and on walls, as well as helpful advice on grout, cutting and any stonework that will be incorporated into the larger project. Rather than pay a contractor hundreds of even thousands of dollars to do the work for you, an app like ProTileHelper can put you in control of your handiwork and finances.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.parkaveinvestors.protilehelper

USG Tile and Flooring Solutions

If you are seeking additional information on select tiles, then the USG Tile and Flooring Solutions app is a great selection. Available for free via the Android Marketplace, the app provides an array of details on hundreds of different tiles that include installation guides, warranty information and photos on how to properly place and configure tile. With large color images available for inspection, you can also window-shop while you gain the best advice for each potential type of tile. A basic tile calculator is also included in the app, helping to make on-the-go calculations a breeze.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.usg.tileandflooring

Attached Images:
  •  License: Image author owned
  •  License: Image author owned
  •  License: Image author owned
  •  License: Image author owned

Today’s feature contributor, Gary Stark, is an avid blogger who is fascinated by interior designs and designing products. He has recently visited some houses with engineered hardwood floorings in Toronto and suggests that these floors can give the house a modern look.

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We live in an age where we need to take extra precaution over the safety of our homes and families. This is especially true nowadays because the western world is in the grips of a serious recession that is affecting billions of lives. Sadly, there are is a breed of individuals who like nothing better than taking what is rightfully not theirs. They don’t mind who they steal from, they do not discriminate. Any opportunity and they are there like a bolt of lightning. We do what we can but we could use a little help now and then. Thankfully there are some clever apps available from those wizards over at Android that are just the ticket. Let’s take a look at some of their best ones and see if they can’t help you win the war against house crime.

SimpliSafe Home Security App by SimpliSafe Security Systems  https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.simplisafe.mobile&hl=en

Those chaps from SimpliSafe Security have developed a real corker of an app that will give homeowners near complete peace of mind everywhere! You will need to have the main security system already installed, and it should be the kit developed by SimpliSafe. Once you have got that sorted you can apply this awesome app to your monitoring and control features. No matter where you are in the world, you can arm and disarm your bespoke system. It also includes a handy flood sensor and a temperature monitor. The event log tells you when your front door has been opened and also allows you access to various room doors inside your home. The main system is directly connected to the SimpliSafe control centre and they will contact the police if they believe your alarm has been compromised. You can give various members of your family an individual access code and this way you will know exactly who is coming and going! We love this app and can’t believe they are giving it to us lucky homeowners absolutely free!

XFINITY Home by Comcast Cable Communications – Free  https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.comcast&feature=related_apps#?t=W251bGwsMSwyLDEwOSwiY29tLmNvbWNhc3QiXQ..

Another home security app that is totally free, this must be Christmas day, right? Okay this lovely security app is brought to us by those communication giants over at Comcast and that means quality with a big Q! As with the previous Android app, you will need to have an XFINITY security system already installed before downloading this bad boy. Once you have both systems synchronised, you will have total remote control of your home’s security issues. You can arm and disarm your system from anywhere on the planet and you also get to monitor any activity via your video camera system! All of your lights can be turned on and off as you wish and you’ll have total visibility of your temperature control. Just imagine being able to keep a beady eye on the babysitter’s actions whilst you and your partner skip out for a bite to eat! You’ll never again have those niggling doubts about your home’s security, no matter where you are or what you are doing. Overall we love this app and believe it heralds a new generation of security technology – Thanks Comcast and Android!

Android 2 Thieves 0

There we have it, two fantastic apps from Android that will keep your family home safe for decades to come!

Attached Images:
  •  License: Image author owned
  •  License: Image author owned

Today’s feature contributor, Kenneth Laban, works with a security company that provides wireless security cameras. He is quite familiar with technologies involved in designing security products and likes to share some of his knowledge through his blogs.

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MoveTools is an app created by insurance company, State Farm. They provide a timeline of events leading up to and including moving day, as well as after the event. This will help you to plan out an extremely comprehensive to-do list of jobs that require completing to ensure that you are fully organised for your move.

MoveTools

Moving app 1This app will help you completely organize your move from beginning to end, without having to make multiple lists for the work that is required. You will find all the resources you will ever need in one place, and you even have the ability to customize many of the features that are included within the app. The app will ensure that everyone knows exactly what they need to be doing at specific times, so there is no need to panic as moving day arrives.

Features

  • There are a total of 34 moving tasks included within the app and you will be greeted by a week by week checklist. Simply enter the date of your move and make a to-do list personal to you of the actual tasks that you need to undertake.
  • You will find an interactive packing screen that allows you to go from room to room in your home or office and organize everything in the way it should be.
  • You can print packing labels and assign these to certain boxes, thus ensuring you can easily identify what each box holds.
  • The app provides an inventory so you will see which of your possessions are in which box, so you can easily find any item within a matter of seconds. You can use the “Pack Up” menu for this – you have the ability to interactively pack everything from a certain room into a box as well, so you will immediately know if you have missed any items.
  • There is a wealth of informative articles and pictures which will provide you with some great tips on packing, organizing and moving in general.

Availability

Moving app 2The app can be found in the Utilities category on iTunes. It is compatible with the iPad and will require an operating system of iOS 5.0 or later. The app is completely free and is brought to you by one of the most renowned insurance companies – State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company. The latest update to the app was based on the feedback they received from customers. This included fixing some minor bugs with performance issues and adding retina graphics.

The app has received a variety of different ratings, but mostly positive feedback has been received. Moving from one office or home to another can be an extremely stressful experience, so it helps if you can schedule all the tasks you need to complete, thus ensuring that everything is done in a timely manner. The app is possibly most useful once you have completed your move, as the inventory of your items will make it easy to locate which boxes contain certain items, therefore making unpacking and putting your possessions into the right room even easier.

Today’s guest author, Keith Dawson, is a project manager at Office Move Pro, office movers in Toronto, Canada. When he is not working, he is seen visiting friends and family.

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From Samsung

Dear seller,
This is the Seller Office team.
Thank you for your continued support of the Samsung Apps Seller Office.We are proud to announce that the development of In-App Purchase 2.0 is complete, and ready for our customers to use, and ask you to read the information below.
 In-App Purchase 2.0 launch date scheduled : June 20, 2013 (The schedule may change subject to any unforeseen circumstances.)
* You can download information about In-App Purchase 2.0 from Samsung Developers at http://developer.samsung.com/android/tools-sdks/In-App-Purchase-Library.
 Introduction of major features in In-App Purchase 2.0

1.

 Support for Various Types of Items
In-App Purchase 2.0 and higher versions provide three types of items for users to choose from during development: consumable, non-consumable, and subscription. You can select the item type in the Seller Office; please note that the item type cannot be changed once it has been selected.
※ Also, subscription items are included as non-consumable items.

2.

 New Recovery Function for Account-based Items
Your history of purchased items will now be based on your account, rather than IMEI. Non-consumable items, which can only be purchased if you have signed in with your user account at least once before, can be recovered if the purchase history for the account can be verified after the application is re-installed.

3.

 Single Sign-On for Samsung Accounts
When you sign in to In-App Purchase with your Samsung account, you are also signed in to all of Samsung’s other content services.

4.

 Support of Overseas (American) Credit Cards
Now Sellers can sell their items in the world’s largest market, the U.S.A. Users in the U.S.A. can use their American credit card to purchase items in applications that have In-App Purchase 2.0; more payment options will be available soon.

5.

 Overall Improvements to the UX
In-App Purchase 2.0 offers an improved UX (User eXperience) from the latest version of Samsung Apps.

6.

 Support of Stand-Alone APK
The conventional library type has been replaced by Stand-alone APK and users can expect the following advantages:
ⓛ Minimization of APK File Volume in Applications
– In the past, the volume of applications increased because of In-App Purchase resources when an application was developed with the library type, but the problem no longer exists with Stand-alone APK.
② Easy Application Maintenance
– The latest version of In-App Purchase can be maintained without additional application updates.
– Because APK can be updated automatically when In-App Purchase APK functions are added or modified, applications do not have to be distributed again every time the library is modified.
③ Development of In-App Purchase linkage within applications
– Users do not have to download the library from the developer site (SAMSUNG Developers); In-App Purchase APK files are automatically installed in the device when the user uses Samsung Apps.
– Stand-alone APK is provided to decrease the time taken to implement In-App Purchase.
[Note regarding item payment certification for Samsung In-App Purchase]
When accessing the certification server for item payment certification, use the verifyUrl value relayed from PurchaseTicket. If you hard-code the verifyUrl value or arbitrarily try a URL validation check, a problem may occur in the final certification phase.
※ If the final certification is unsuccessful because of a failure to use the correct verifyUrl value, the user may not receive the item even though the payment has been successfully processed. This is a very sensitive issue which may cause customer complaints, so any applications with this problem may be suspended by Samsung, with the Seller being informed of the details. Should your application be suspended, you must first make the appropriate modifications, and then register the application again.

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Being a mobile app developer may often be compared to going to Las Vegas. But at least in Vegas you typically get much better than 1 in a million odds, but with both Google Play and iTunes reaching 1m apps each, dropping your app in the app store means absolutely nothing (unless you hit the jackpot = getting featured).  So the alternative is to spend (pay per installs, CPMs, or any flavor you can think of) or to increase your distribution (be in every app store possible).

Now the latter option, increased app store distribution, is fine if you have a free app that is ad financed based, or an app that is pay for download, but with momentum and user preference clearly moving towards in-app purchases, the number one pain point facing the industry is payments.  App stores want their 30% cut for putting in all the effort of acquiring users and managing the stores (granted there are plenty of stores that have come up with different business models, but taking a cut of the revenue is still the dominating model among the big ones).  For the developer this means multiple payment SDKs, with lots of effort going into development, QA and code base/SKU management and general headaches. As one developer told us, even though it may only presumably take only half a day to drop the code in, it always ends up taking 2 weeks for a key developer when all is finished – precious time often needed for developing the next app.

Open IAB framework (Source: OpenPF.org)Up until now, there has been no way around this. But the Open Platform Foundation, backed by Russian giant Yandex , is taking charge on this with the Open In-app Billing project.

1. One SDK saves time

For the reasons mentioned above, if you as a developer only need a single SDK for billing it means you will save a tremendous amount of time for obvious reasons: One integration, one QA process, and possibly even a consolidated revenue view.

2. App stores should love it

Besides Google, we would venture to believe that the likes of Samsung, BlackBerry, heck even Amazon, do not really want to be in the payments business. Yet they have had to build up a payments SDK in order to collect the app store toll. While the 200m credit cards on file were key for Apple’s App Store, and continues to be a major strategic asset (now with 500m cards on file), the others have proven you can have success without that – and simply the key is ease of payment (and revenue collection), not how you do it. Consumers could not care less. They just want to click a button, pay and get on with it.

3. One SDK could make the app store world explode

If the Open IAB project succeeds, which largely depends on the acceptance of the major app stores (they will still be using their billing, so there should not be a compelling reason not to), it means that this can finally open things up for all app stores. All an app store would need to do is simply drop their SDK into Open IAB, or if they don’t have their own payment SDK – cooperate with one of the partners that are available in the project – so that they can be the Merchant of Record in their own store without asking developers to create a special binary for them. This will grow the pie for everyone, as apps can more easily be published to stores without any special requirements, and stores who do not have payment SDKs, suddenly have one and can start taking a cut of the in-app revenue stream.

Enabling app stores all over the world to make money on in-app billing will open up a host of new ways to sell apps, such as affiliate networks, direct selling networks, niche sites dedicated to certain types of apps (for instance the Sports App Store etc) – that will make a much better job for the individual developer than the mega app stores can.

We’re also excited about the App Description File project, as it will simplify distribution quite a bit for the stores that will support it. This is why CodeNgo is an early AppDF supporter, and we encourage developers to try it.

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Many perfectly sane individuals are known to suffer from road rage when they get behind the wheel of a car and experience a minor issue. There is something strange that changes some of us when we start driving around and it has been known for calm people to suddenly flip out when things are not going their way. A lot of this down to stress that is endured by bad traffic conditions and rising fuel costs. Removing these two factors will not eradicate road rage, but it will certainly minimise the effects and results a considerable amount. There are some very astute Smartphone applications that are helping motorists to deal with fuel and traffic conditions, let’s see how well they really deal with those two imposters!

Fuel Price Australia by Cartoon Mobile Inc – $3

This app is compatible with your iPhone, iPod touch and iPad, and it requires iOS 4.0 or later for smooth running. An ‘Australian only’ application that really socks it to those rising fuel prices! Fuel Price Australia will tell you where the cheapest gas is at any time of the day. It currently connects to gas stations in the following areas of Australia:

  • Brisbane
  • Sunshine Coast
  • Gold Coast
  • Sydney
  • Melbourne
  • Hobart
  • Adelaide
  • Canberra
  • Darwin
  • Perth

The app uses your device’s GPS system to locate exactly where your best bet for cheap fuel happens to be and the gas prices are updated every day. You will get automatic directions to each station and all gas types are searchable. This app will save you a load of cash over the year and it weighs in at a tiny 3 dollars, surely one of the best investments you will ever make!

Australia Live by ParkStreetEasy – $3

Here we have another ‘all Australian’ app that has your traffic worries at the forefront of its features. It will run on both your iPhone and iPad devices and cost an amazingly low $3 Australian. The sole purpose of Australia Live is to help you to beat those hideous traffic jams that can ruin your day. There is no subscription charge to worry about and you are constantly getting up to the minute reports about the state of our roads. Any major accident will be flagged up and you always have a selection of alternative routes to take to your destination. Your device uses its GPS signal to sync in with the LiveTraffic web based application. It is a very easy to use app that will help you to get back those hours of wasted time you have already spent in traffic! You also get the chance to contribute to the application by reporting your own real time issues and disputing any misinformation you may have come across. If you are happily motoring along to your chosen destination and the traffic situation is compromised by an incident, you will receive an audible and visible alert on your smartphone app. This will allow you the luxury of selecting a quitter route before it is too late!

Road Rage Hasn’t Got a Chance!

We believe that these 2 apps will definitely help the average motorist to get through the week without a major meltdown. If you feel any stress regarding traffic or parking, download them before your next journey!

Attached Images:

Today’s guest blogger, Paul Philip, provides services for auto detailing in Perth. During his time off from work, he likes to unwind and read about the latest updates in technology.

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If you work as a roofing contractor, an estate agent, a home inspector or as an estimator you may be very interested to know about the Roofing Calculator app. The app will help you to estimate both simple and complex steep slope roofs, as well as calculating costs such as labour, installation and materials. The app provides you with the ability to save any reports you have made, which can then be forwarded onto contractors or clients.

Handy Features of the Roofing Calculator

– You don’t have to worry about estimating the costs of separate roofs at one location. The app will add up a total of 10 separate roofs at any given location, therefore allowing you to calculate the entire roof areas and the materials that are required for the job.

– As soon as you make a calculation the details will be saved into a self-generated report. This allows you to review it at a later date, make certain modifications if required, and even send the details on to yourself or a client. This can be done in an extremely professional manner, as the report can be sent as a PDF or even with your company’s letterhead.

– The Roofing Calculator makes use of GPS, so no matter where you decide to use it, the details of your location will be saved and this information will also automatically be added to your report.

– You can ensure that your estimates are completely accurate, as the report will figure a wide variety of other costs, such as permits you may require, equipment to be used on the job, skip costs if required and even VAT or sales tax.

Where is the Roofing Calculator app available?

The Roofing Calculator app is available on both Apple and Android devices and will soon be making an appearance on the Blackberry Playbook tablet. The app is available for US$19.99. This may appear expensive compared with many other apps, but the amount of time and money you are likely to save using the app make this an absolute bargain.

Update Information

The app does require regular updating, but this is simply to add more and even better features. One such factor that the manufacturer is considering is to have a separate calculator for flat roofs and another calculator for metal roofs. Another feature that is currently being worked on is the ability to calculate cut-up roofs that feature numerous dormers and valleys. Basically, the manufacturer is taking note of all feedback received from contractors and other app users to ensure that they have one of the best products available in the marketplace.

Roofingcalculator.org is the company’s official website and they provide full demonstrations of how the app works, as well as access to both iPhone and Android platforms should you wish to purchase the app. They have also added a discussion forum to the website, therefore allowing users to discuss the workings of the app and its many brilliant and helpful features.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/roofing-calculator-pro/id441856599?mt=8&ls=1

Attached Images:
  •  License: Creative Commons image source
  •  License: Image author owned
  •  License: Image author owned
  •  License: Image author owned
  •  License: Creative Commons image source

Today’s guest author, Abbey Brooks, is a project supervisor at OpenAire, a retractable stadium roof manufacturer based in the United States. She is a fun loving person and enjoys spending time with friends and family.

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From Samsung

Dear seller,
This is the Seller Office team.
Thank you for your continued support of the Samsung Apps Seller Office.
The May update has introduced the following changes:
– the size of the background image in the Seller Page has been changed
– an Auto Detection Item has been added for Android applications.
The changes detailed below have been introduced as part of our ongoing commitment to service improvement.
 Effective from
– Thursday, May 30
 Major changes
1. Size change to the Seller Page background image
– (Before) 405X140 pixels → (After) 690X140 pixels
– The image size must be below 500 KB and in JPG or GIF format.
– You can find the background image by going to Seller Office > My Profile > Profile > Information for Seller Page.
※ Previously registered images may no longer be correctly displayed, and if this is the case, you will need to change the size of the image.
2. Addition of Faketouch to Device Recommendation Items
– Faketouch has been added to the Auto Detection Items for Android.
– Auto Detection Item for Android : API, App ID(Package Name), Version Code, Version Name, Telephony Only (Call/SMS), VoIP, NFC, Faketouch

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The selling of digital goods from inside your app with ‘in-app billing’ is a very good business model to aim for as all signs point to this ‘freemium’ type of model being the most successful strategy for selling content on the app stores, in particular for mobile games. The growth has been tremendous, and in fact Google just announced a 700% increase in the in-app billing volume since last year.

Virtual Goods (Source: MIT Enterprise Forum)Virtual Goods (Source: MIT Enterprise Forum)Google actually offer developers a direct way to manage a catalogue of digital goods in this way using their own billing systems, and have tightly integrated this within Google Play and Google Wallet. This is likely capability that Google acquired when they bought the digital goods catalogue company Social Gold. The company never continued, but the technology, at least in part, seems to have been absorbed by Google Play.

The functionality is easy enough to use, and you will no doubt on the surface save a lot of coding by choosing this method, but in doing so, you basically create a 1:1 relationship between your app and Google Play. In order to grow your user base (and not be 1 in a million) and give your app the best chance of success though you need to go well beyond just Google Play for distribution.

If you have used this feature from Google, although it probably saved you some development time, you will not be able to easily transport your in-app billing to other stores, so to manage this you would need to then replace this billing setup with an alternative method of managing a shopping cart system to allow for purchases on any other stores.

Then you still need to manage the necessary steps of adding the varying billing APIs for each new store you want to be on (i.e. add the Samsung SDK to be on their store), so there is a lot of work for you as a developer to have an app that can support in-app purchases across multiple stores.

Our advice is to start looking for solutions that help you manage your digital catalogue billing across a wide range of stores from the very beginning. There are plenty of vendors around such as Playerscale and Live Gamer, all with different capabilities and associated costs. While you still need to resolve the multiple in-app billing SDK connections to your billing system, you can at least be sure then you have not limited your apps potential and have the ability to scale as you grow your distribution to new stores.

Simon Slee is an experienced veteran in the mobile games industry. Simon is currently VP of Publishing for Fei Hu Interactive, a Chinese based, cross platform, mobile & social developer of free2play games, including the upcoming title ‘Prisonhood’.