10 Tech Careers that do not Involve Coding

Are you seeking involvement in the booming tech scene but don’t know how to code? Scores of career opportunities in tech involve no code skills at all.

Ten lucrative careers in technology, along with mini-profiles and the national average salary for each are explored.

1. User Interface Designer

Similar to UX, but user interface design (UI) gives greater emphasis to the design of the interface. UI designers establish the look and feel of a software’s interface. UI designers are often responsible for:

• Visual design through each stage from brainstorming to engineering.
• Clear communication of ideas and instructions to users through well-designed wireframes, storyboards, user flows, and sitemaps.
• Making the interface a cohesive whole by intentionally designing each element of the site or web app to ensure they all work together.

National Average Salary for UI Designers: $61,308

2. User Experience Designer

User experience designers (UX) create products with the end user in mind. Basically, their primary goal is increasing user satisfaction.

The field of UX varies greatly. Some UXers focus on user research exclusively, while others may be more involved with prototyping products. Nonetheless, a few key responsibilities include:

• User research: understanding users through interviews or other methods like card sorting.
• Information architecture: knowing the most effective ways to structure content on a site or app.
• Data-driven design: making design choices based on data analysis.
• Wireframing and prototyping: building test versions of websites/web apps.

National Average Salary for UX Designers: $72,780

3. Software Quality Tester

Software quality testers (SQTs) test the quality of software products prior to public launch to ensure they are working properly.

SQTs run various functional, stress and scalability tests across numerous customer scenarios in efforts to “break” the software with a goal of eliminating bugs and improve the quality improvement of the final product.

National Average Salary for Software Quality Testers: $53,646

4. Search Engine Optimization Specialist

Search engine optimization (SEO), while often classified under the marketing umbrella,​ is characterized by technical aspects of its own--specifically, dealing with increasing rankings in search engines whose algorithms are forever being optimized for up-to-the-minute relevance.

SEO specialists collaborate with developers and web designers to ensure SEO best practices are being implemented across a website/web app. Other common responsibilities for SEO specialists include:

• Researching keywords
• Working with content teams to drive SEO in content creation
• Optimizing copy on pages to improve search engine ranking
• Tracking, reporting, and analyzing website analytics and PPC campaigns

National Average Salary for SEO Specialists: $40,750

5. Data Analyst

Data analytics jobs are perfect for those possessing an affinity for data set analysis, trend spotting, and strength in conveying the findings in layman's terms.

Strong mathematical and analytical skills are key to the role data analysts play, notably knowledge of statistics--collection and organization of large sets of data are central to the job description. Additionally, some companies may require measurable programming acumen.

National Average Salary for Data Analysts: $52,981

6. Web Analytics Specialist

Web analytics relates to SEO and digital marketing. A specialist's focus lay in site traffic measurement, goal-setting for site elements, user experience visualization through Google Analytics, and site change monitoring with A/B testing.

Web analysis specialists generally work through agencies representing multiple clients, so expect to handle more than one website, depending on the agency's size and workflow.

National Average Salary for Web Analytics Specialist: $62,464

7. Enterprise Software Sales

Enterprise software sales can be a highly lucrative field for the right person. As with any sales job, exceptional performance is generally quite healthily rewarded with commissions and bonuses, putting top performers at some of the largest global companies in the $400,000 per year range.

Software-as-a-service sales, more typically known as 'SaaS sales' functions primarily as business-to-business (B2B) service.

However, as is the case in so many sales roles, high reward comes with high risk. Quotas, high-pressure-high-stakes negotiations, and extensive travel can often do take a toll on family life, so knowing what you're getting into at the outset is important.

National Average Salary for Enterprise Software Sales: $72,325

8. Growth Hacker

Also known as a “user acquisition specialist,” growth hackers fall under the larger umbrella of marketing, as well.

Commonly employed by startups, growth hackers combine marketing, technology, and business development with a laser focus on user acquisition. They develop and implement onboarding strategies, experiment extensively, measure results, and tweak -- or even discard -- plans as necessary, based on consumer response and engagement. Such a role requires flexibility and agility of process to successfully execute.

National Average Salary for Growth Hackers: $74,369

9. Tech Support Specialist

Some types of tech support jobs require a degree if the type of support you are giving is highly technical; for others, a degree is no issue.

Perhaps the greatest benefit to many in this field is the flexibility. Many tech support companies allow for flex scheduling, working from home or some hybrid therein. As long as you’re able to engage with the customer and help them with their technology problems, it doesn’t always matter whether you’re in a cubicle or on your sofa.

A solid familiarity with a wide variety of tech products and issues coupled with strong communication skills are essential to this position.

National Average Salary for Tech Support Specialists: $40,335

10. Technical Recruiter

Technical recruiters often stand as gatekeepers between major organizations and technical employees such as programmers and developers. While they don't perform hands-on tasks with technology or coding, a fundamental understanding of the larger technical landscape is nonetheless extremely important to successful procurement of adequate professional experience for the often highly-specialized roles they're contracted to fill.

Excellent communication skills are key for a technical recruiter. Experience working in technology fields is a bonus, as is a mature and confident personality.

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The difference between Web Design and Web Development

For those unfamiliar with the fields, the job titles "web designer" and "web developer" may sound like they'd be rather redundant. Though both positions involve bringing a website to life, the responsibilities, training, and skillsets associated with each position are wildly different.

What Is a Web Designer?

A web designer focuses on the appearance of a website or web application. Web designers are familiar with color theory, graphic design, and information flow. Certain aspects of web design, like information flow, touch upon user experience (UX). Moreover, tools like Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and other wire-framing software are in the web designer's toolkit.

As a web designer, it is good to know HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. However, there are certain web designer positions where these coding skills are not mandatory.

What Is a Web Developer?

Compared to web designers, web developers must know how to code and are focused on the function of a website or application. In general, web developers are concerned with functionality instead of the appearance of a website or application.

Within the field, there are two different kind of developers: front end and backend. Front end developers must know HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Also, realize that web designers and front-end developers have a good deal in common.

Backend developers typically work with a particular programming language and framework — like Ruby on Rails or Python and Django. They also have an understanding of databases, such as MySQL.

There is also a third type of web developer called a "full stack developer." A full stack developer is an individual who is familiar with both the front end and backend. Or as it is commonly called, "client side" and "server side".

How Are the Two Roles Alike?

Web design and web development can both require some level of programming knowledge. Of course, developers rely on programming much more. And some designers will not be required to write a line of code.

Furthermore, web designers and web developers are similar because both focus on customer interaction or the end user.

The designer looks at how the end user will view the process of navigating the site or web application. On the other hand, a developer will focus more so on how the customer will be able to get things done.

How Do Web Designers and Web Developers Differ?

Compensation. On the whole, web designers tend to earn less than web developers.

According to PayScale, the median web designer salary in the US is $40,001 (as of late 2018). Also found on PayScale, the median web developer salary in the US is $58,262 (as of late 2018).

When it comes to finding work as a web designer, it's their portfolio of work which matters most. Hiring managers may want to look at your Dribbble or Behance profile.

Personality-wise, web designers tend to be more creative and artistic, while web developers are more analytical.

With the ever-changing landscape of the internet, these roles oftentimes can often become blurred in the workplace. As time goes on, many designers understand core web development concepts and vice-versa. However, most companies and organizations will have dedicated team members on both sides.

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5 Design Student stereotypes to avoid

So you’re at design school with your essential kit. And you’re doing pretty well. So well, in fact, it might be going to your head. If you don’t want your design career to be dead in the water before you even graduate, take heed of the failings of those who have gone before you.

While there are plenty of proactive positive actions you can take to set yourself on the path to success, there are also some pitfalls to avoid. Here are five archetypal design student attitudes that are sure to make you crash and burn, and give your fledgling career the rainbow doughnut of death…

And when you have made certain these student types don't describe you, you'll need to make sure that portfolio is in order. Luckily, we've got some brilliant portfolio examples to help you get straight into the job market.

1. The rip-off merchant

They say there’s a fine line between inspiration and imitation. Don’t cross it. As a student, you’re a crisp, blank sheet of paper, ready to be doodled with fresh ideas. But if you rip off someone else’s style, you might as well be a battered old photocopier.

News can travel quickly if you plagiarise, too, and if the creative in question calls you out and burns you publicly on social media, it’s a long way back if you want to be taken seriously again. The industry is smaller than you think.

2. The walking cliché

We all know the well-worn stereotype for how a creative should look and dress. But skinny jeans, a checked shirt, beard, and glasses do not a designer make. Don’t spend your student loan on dressing the part and expect success to fall into your lap because you can blend in: it’s about standing out, after all.

Any design studio worth its salt will value your portfolio, your attitude, and your ideas above your appearance. If that’s your style anyway, knock yourself out – but if not, be yourself and you just might blaze a trail of your own.

3. The arrogant one

Nobody likes an over-inflated ego - particularly from a student. And yet, it’s an all-too-common sight. Sure, you’ve landed your dream placement and are on track for a first-class degree: great, good for you.

Don’t start strutting the halls and crowing your accomplishments from the rooftops. And don’t ever think you’re above the tasks you’re given. Your potential studio mates will soon go cold if you think you’re God’s gift.

4. The hasty bridge-burner

It’s all about who you know, and when you’re first starting out building up a contacts book, every one of them is gold dust. You never know who they could introduce you to, or where the rabbit hole could lead.

Treasure those relationships. Nurture them. It can take time – and remember, they’re not just boxes to be ticked or rungs of a ladder to climb. They’re people. If you get a knock-back from your first attempt at getting a foot in the door, be gracious and try again later. Don’t lose your cool and douse that already rickety bridge in petrol.

5. The turd-polisher

If you’ve overcome the previous four hurdles, you should be a humble, honest, level-headed creative with an individual spirit and a passion for learning. In short, you’ll be mega employable.

The final step is to value substance as well as style. It’s all very well having the skills to make something pop in Photoshop CC, but that’s not what great design is. Get into the habit of paring your ideas back to the absolute basics before you develop them. If they work as a thumbnail sketch or a one-line pitch, you’re well on your way.

In short, if a great idea isn’t there at the core of a project, don’t just roll that turd in glitter and stick a sparkler in it. You’ll thank us later.

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Top 6 Free online graphic design courses

There are some great graphic design tutorials available as well as plenty of free ebooks packed with useful information, but if you're after more depth then there are also some really good online courses that can give you a proper grounding in various areas of graphic design.

Even better, some of them are available for free. Here are six of the best available now; some will take a you a good few months to work through, and others will give you a quick schooling in under an hour.

1. Graphic Design Specialisation

Coursera's specialisations are series of courses built to help you master a particular skill, and its Graphic Design Specialisation takes you through four courses that'll give you a thorough grounding in graphic design. It starts with the fundamentals before moving on to an introduction to typography, then gets serious with an introduction to image making, and finishes off by putting everything in context with a look at ideas from the history of graphic design.

2. Introduction to Graphic Design History

Anyone serious about graphic design needs to have a sense of its history, and how the various design fundamentals that we all take for granted came into being, and the Introduction to Graphic Design History course from the faculty at Maryland Institute College of Art will give you just that.

Over seven sessions – with about six hours of work per session – this beginner-focused course kicks off with the origins of text and graphic design, and takes you through subjects such as the avant-garde, photomontage, typography and modernism.

3. Introduction to Graphic Design

If you want to pick up the basics of design but you're in a hurry, Udemy's free Introduction to Graphic Design course could be what you're looking for. It consists of just one 23-minute video and one article, but it promises to teach you the fundamentals of what is and isn't design, the basic elements and five main principles of design, how to identify design elements in the wild and more besides.

Naturally it's aimed at complete newcomers to the world of design, but if that's you and you fancy a swish certificate of completion at the end, then this one's well worth signing up for.

4. Applying Design Principles

Suitable both for graphic designers just starting their career and working designers wanting to refresh their knowledge, Alison's course in Applying Design Principles will guide you through some fundamental design concepts such as composition, balance, contrast and hierarchy, and demonstrate how to apply them to your work.

After that it moves on to the application of colour, shapes, tones and points in design projects. Using some of the most successful designs in recent years as reference, this two to three-hour course should increase your understanding of key graphic design concepts and give your work a real boost.

5. From Doodle to Logo

Want to create your own logodesign from scratch? From Doodle to Logo is a quick course that'll help you take a simple doodle into a finished logo using Adobe Illustrator.

Aimed at beginners and intermediates in need of a refresher, this straightforward course will lead you through the process of taking a hand-drawn image, scanning and importing it into Illustrator, then using image trace and layers to turn your doodle into a polished logo with a unique flare.

6. The Practical History of Typography

Even if you're not specifically a typographer, an understanding of typography is essential to a career in graphic design, and The Practical History of Typographyfrom New York's School of Visual Arts will give you an historical appreciation of both the art and science of typography.

Serving as an introduction to Kadenze's Complete Typographer paid course, it consists of four sessions, each with a number of lessons covering different aspects of the history of typography, from its very beginnings through to the latest developments. 

You'll also pick up an understanding of the principles and basics of typography along the way. As with other Kadenze courses, there are premium lessons only available to paying students, and you'll also need a premium membership to earn a certificate at the end.

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7 Easy ways to take your Adobe CC skills

Adobe Creative Cloud is the go-to suite of creative tools for many artists and designers in studios all over the globe, and so being familiar with its tools is a valuable skill to have. If you're looking to get started with Adobe apps or brush up on your skills within a certain software, these online courses could be just the solution. Plus, right now they're up to 97% off.

The Complete Adobe CC Training Bundle

With over 60 hours of lectures and 200 tutorials, The Complete Adobe CC Training Bundle is the perfect way to get more out of the Adobe CC programs you already use day-to-day. The seven-course training is geared toward various levels of experience, so no matter your level, you're likely to get something out of it. Great for work and play, this is a gem for both the budding and seasoned creative.

• MSRP: $673 / Buy Now: $29 (95% OFF)

The Complete Master Photoshop & Adobe CC Bundle

If you're specifically interested in developing your Photoshop skills further, this 75+ hour training comes straight from the minds of creative professionals. Find tutorials on coding, app design, graphic manipulation, plus so much more. It even includes exclusive training on how to build a more productive workflow for yourself.

• MSRP: $1,399 / Buy Now: $31 (97% OFF)

Adobe After Effects: The Complete Motion Graphics Course

This complete course takes the majestic world of video and motion picture graphics and bundles it into comprehensive tutorials to apply in Adobe After Effects. Dive deep into the world of VFX with 100 lectures, exclusive tips and tricks and content you can access 24/7.

• MSRP: $297 / Buy Now: $18 (93% OFF)

Adobe Premiere Pro CC Masterclass: Video Editing Made Easy

If video editing is your summer project, this course certainly can't hurt when it comes to moving your skills along. Learn how to refine your editing techniques in Adobe Premiere Pro, and at the very least, get some great practice in with these easy-to-follow tutorials.

• MSRP: $200 / Buy Now: $21 (89% OFF)

Getting Started with InDesign CC

You've got a great portfolio, but maybe you've yet to dive into the world of InDesign. There's no time like the present. Learn the ins and outs of InDesign with a hands-on course that explores layout best practices. Whether it be brochures, lookbooks, or your portfolio itself, this course will help you navigate through the sometimes overwhelming world of organizing your artwork.

• MSRP: $49 / Buy Now: $19 (61% OFF)

Adobe Lightroom CC: Photo Editing Master Class

Learn to edit photos or adopt some new editing skills in this Lightroom Photo Editing Master Class. Taught by photographer Phil Ebiner, the comprehensive course will help you organize your photos and navigate through the powerful space that is Lightroom.

• MSRP: $200 / Buy Now: $41 (79% OFF)

Getting Started with Illustrator CC

Illustrator is one of the most-used tools in design, which means there is always more to learn. This course explores best practices and shows you new techniques to navigate the flagship platform better. Logo design, typography, and advanced platform tutorials will help with fine-tuning your career skills.

• MSRP: $99 / Buy Now: $25 (74% OFF)

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The 9 best Wireframe Tools

Wireframe tools also help your clients to understand how your proposed app or website will work much more comprehensively than simply explaining to them verbally or in writing, lessening the room for error because no-one is having to reply on their imaginations to understand the suggested functions.

We've taken the hard work out of sifting through the masses of wireframe tools out there and found the best ones around right now. Some software can be used purely for simple wireframes, while others will allow you to create a working prototype.

Taking advantage of trial downloads or free software and finding the one that fits in with the way you work is the best way of finding out which one is right for you. So here are our top wireframe tools choices. Enjoy...

Promoted: Justinmind

• Platform: Mac OS, Windows
• Price: $19/month

Web-based Justinmind includes a library of UI elements, from buttons and forms to generics shapes and a range of widgets for iOS, SAP, and Android. Custom styling is included, so you can add rounded corners, cropped images or color gradients, or import graphics by dragging them into the browser. Prototypes can be exported as HTML.

01. Miro

• Platform: macOS, iOS, Windows
• Price: From free / $8 (team)

Miro is a collaboration system that creates a hub for remote teams to work within. With impressive tools such as an infinite whiteboard, widgets and prebuilt templates, it claims to standardize the digital workspace to make it feel like everyone is in the same room.

It presents an entire toolkit for a wireframing, user story or customer journey maps, as well as brainstorming processes. Miro also integrates with over 20 applications including Slack, Jira, Google Drive, and Sketch, creating a seamless experience. With over two million users worldwide, it's definitely hitting the right mark.

02. Wireframe.cc

• Platform: Web browser
• Price: From free / $16 (solo)

Wireframe.cc offers a simple interface for sketching your wireframes that eschews the toolbars and icons of a typical drawing app and has therefore made it to our best wireframe tools list.

There's a limited color palette to help you avoid that particular avenue of procrastination, and UI elements are context-sensitive and only appear when you need them. Whether or not you enjoy this is a matter of personal taste.

03. Adobe Xd

• Platform: macOS, Windows
• Price: From free to $19.99 per month as part of Adobe Creative Cloud

Adobe Xd allows you to wireframe as just part of its suite of prototyping tools, which takes you through the whole process of sketching wireframes; collaboration with your team; creating site maps, flowcharts, and storyboards; building functional prototypes; and much more. You can try Adobe Xd out for free but as usual, you need a Creative Cloud subscription to take full advantage of Xd's incredible smorgasbord of features.

04. UXPin

• Platform: Web browser
• Price: From free (basic) / from $23 per user per month (premium)

You can put together wireframes in UXPin at top speed by dragging and dropping custom elements. There are regularly updated libraries for Bootstrap, Foundation, iOS, and Android, and your wireframes can be quickly converted to high-fidelity mockups. From there you can create fully interactive and animated prototypes of your final product.

Alternatively, you can also start your designs in Photoshop CC or Sketch and import into UXPin for prototyping. To support the full UX process, you can then create and pin documentation to your prototypes and auto-generate specs and style guides for developers.

05. Fluid UI

• Platform: Web browser and desktop client on Mac/Windows/Linux, plus Android/IOS app to preview designs
• Price: From $8.25 (solo)

Fluid UI has built-in libraries with over 2000 built components for iOS, Android, Windows and more, and pages are created by dragging in elements from these libraries.

This system provides a great way for you to map out your projects visually by creating links to join screens, forming a diagram of how everything fits together. Hovering over a link gives you the option to change the kind of transition you're using.

06. Balsamiq Mockups

• Platform: macOS, Windows, web browser
• Price: From $9 (2 projects) per month

Balsamiq Mockups includes several drag-and-drop elements, from buttons to lists, each styled as a hand-drawing. The basic premise behind this wireframing tool is to keep the mock-ups 'intentionally rough and low fidelity', to encourage as much feedback as possible.

07. Axure RP

• Platform: macOS, Windows
• Price: From $29 (pro) per user per month

As well as creating mockups, Axure RP allows you to add functionality to your layout and create an interactive prototype. Features of this wireframing tool include sitemaps and various widgets in the form of various UI elements.

Interactive HTML mockups (see more about website mockups here) can be created for both websites and apps, and you can even view your app design on your phone with a built-in share function.

08. Pidoco

• Platform: Web browser and Android/IOS app to test prototypes
• Price: From free

Pidoco is similar to Axure in that it includes the library of various drag-and-drop interface elements, as well as the ability to add multiple pages and layers.

Your prototypes can be shared online with clients and include functions for collaborative feedback and discussion. Viewing your prototypes on your phone is as easy as downloading the Pidoco app.

09. Visio

• Platform: Windows
• Price: $5 (simple) / $15 (pro) per user per month

Video's real strength lies in technical diagrams rather than wireframing; however, for those already accustomed to other Microsoft apps such as Word or Excel, the interface will be very familiar. Although quite clunky, Video does offer add-on tools such as Swipe, which allows you to create and export a usable HTML prototype.

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Adobe Max 2019: News, rumours and predictions

Adobe MAX 2019 is the world's biggest design conference, gathering the world's most creative minds for a week of inspirational talks, workshops and networking events. This year's event will run from 2-6 November in LA, and from what we know so far it's going to be another awesome event.

In this article, we'll run through everything we know so far about Adobe MAX 2019 and take a look back at the highlights from last year's mammoth event.

Adobe MAX 2019: When and where?

The main Adobe MAX 2019 conference will run from 4-6 November, with pre-event training taking place on 2-3. Like last year, the conference will be held across various locations in the Los Angeles Convention Centre.

Adobe MAX 2019: rumours

Adobe traditionally uses MAX to announce major changes and new features in its suite of creative apps, Creative Cloud. We have our ear to the ground and will be making some predictions for 2019's big reveals very soon...

What happened at Adobe Max 2018?

Adobe MAX 2018 attracted the largest audience Adobe had ever seen, with almost 15,000 attendees gathering to join in the fun. Here's a little reminder of the biggest announcements from last year...

Photoshop CC comes to the iPad

The first big announcement was that Photoshop CC for iPad was on its way. The new app would include all the core tools of Photoshop CC, but optimized for touch devices, making the most of gestures and Apple Pencil capabilities, and sporting a new UI designed especially for the iPad. Adobe promised the tool would sync across devices, meaning designers would be able to switch between working on desktop/iPad with ease.

The release was scheduled for early 2019, but so far we're still waiting. Will Adobe MAX 2019 bring more news on this long-awaited tool?

Adobe pushes AR boundaries with Project Aero

Project Aero is a powerful augmented reality authoring tool from Adobe, and at MAX 2018 senior product manager Zorana Gee wowed the audience with a truly jaw-dropping demo. "AR is the next breakthrough medium for creative storytelling," said Gee. We can't wait to see how this tool will help us create more immersive experiences.

Digital art app Project Fresco unveiled

It's now called Project Fresco, but back then Adobe's painting and drawing app were known as Project Gemini. Kyle T. Webster took to the stage to demonstrate some of the features of this all-new creative tool – and boy, was it impressive. We're still waiting for Gemini to be released, with Adobe promising at MAX 2018 that 2019 would be the year it arrives in the masses.

Voice prototyping added to Adobe XD

Another crowd-pleaser last year was the revelation that voice prototyping was now possible on Adobe XD, and designers would be able to create prototypes for voice-activated devices. Voice trigger and speech playback capabilities enable designers to move seamlessly between voice and screen prototyping, and users can now add voice triggers that launch particular interactions (in the same way a tap or click would), while speech playback unlocks a powerful text-to-speech engine.

Adobe launches Premiere Rush CC

Adobe's long-awaited video editing app, dubbed Project Rush, was finally released at MAX 2018. And to quite the reception. It will be really interesting to see how Rush develops over the course of this year, and whether plans to extend it beyond just iOS are in motion.

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Top 7 Best Android Launchers

Android is the most popular mobile operating system on the planet, it comes as no surprise that the 1+ billion users who have Android on their smartphones are eager to personalize their phone to their own needs, and while Android has a personality on its own by default, with the use of Launchers — we can customize our smartphone’s home screen to better reflect our personality, and actually improve the overall user experience.

Apple is known for having a dictatorship in terms of who can change and adjust the look and feel of the iOS operating system, whereas Android (open-source) is known for allowing its users to do pretty much anything they want with their phone, whether it’s design or development related. If you haven’t yet experienced with Android Launchers, we know for a fact that you will love the ones we have listed in this roundup!

We have been working hard on improving our Android section with interesting content and stories, if you’re interested — here’s a roundup of the best emulators for Android, a list of useful tools for mobile developers, and if you’re just learning more about Android — here’s an amazing resource of tutorials and guides on how to get started with Android development.

Keep in mind that all of the Android launchers listed in this post will work flawlessly with your tablet devices as well.

1. APUS Launcher

The APUS Launcher for Android has been installed more than 210,000,000 times and is one of the most popular and featured packed launchers on the market. Features such as easily accessible Boost button enables you to clear up the memory of your phone on the fly, without having to exit/enter programs consistently. Optimized mobile search allows you to search the web and phone memory in a new and exciting way.

2. dodol Launcher

Dodol stands out with the fact that you have the option to choose from several thousand different custom and tailored theme styles that will change the appearance of your Android device forever. Customers are always one-upping the team behind Dodol for allowing users to customize their launcher however they see fit.

3. EverythingMe Launcher

EverythingMe has worked hard to bring about a truly contextual launcher that is both intuitive and easy to use, this also means that you no longer will have to spend countless minutes trying to find the best apps, as the in-built contextual search is going to help you with finding the best results automatically. It’s also acclaimed for having one of the fastest search implementations.

4. Hola Launcher

Hola is a lightweight, modern and sleek launcher that will give you all the necessary Android features at your disposal, without causing any extra user experience problems. A featured called Intercept will create a friendly prompt every time you try to move shortcuts around your desktop area, keeping it clean and clutter-free.

5. Nova Launcher

Nova Launcher stands out with the fact that it’s both flexible and smooth in one nice combination. There are a ton of Icon Themes available for download, which will give you even more room for improvement. Needless to say that Nova has fully embraced the appeal of Material Design, something that we hope others will follow along.

6. Smart Launcher

Speed up your device with Smart Launcher 3. The innovative launcher that makes your Android more intuitive and well organized. Find out why it has been downloaded by over 20 million people. Smart Launcher 3 is completely different from any other launcher on Play Store. It’s not based on the AOSP launcher. Lots of positive feedback from the Android gaming community for this launcher.

7. Solo Launcher

Solo Launcher has also embraced the endless possibilities of good design choices that Material Design provides, and their launcher design clearly displays the vast array of creativity. According to the Solo developers, their launcher is known to be one of the fastest and most reliable when it comes to clearing cache, boosting performance, and clearing storage space. 

There’s a library of thousands of themes, wallpapers, and widgets to choose from to make your Android smartphone look beautiful, and be quick at the same time.

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Top 5 WhatsApp backup solutions for iPhone and Android

How to backup WhatsApp photo? My phone is malfunctioning and I don’t want to lose my WhatsApp data. Can someone help me take a backup of my WhatsApp chats and attachments?

If you are a regular user of WhatsApp then you must be having a similar thought. Since WhatsApp can have our important personal chats or work conversations, it is always recommended to maintain its backup. Now, you can easily do WhatsApp backup iPhone or Android and that too in different ways. In this guide, I have handpicked the 5 best solutions to backup WhatsApp data.

I. One-click Solution to backup WhatsApp Data on iPhone

One of the best ways to backup and restore WhatsApp data is by using dr.fone – Restore Social App (iOS). It is a part of the dr.fone toolkit and provides a quick one-click solution to backup WhatsApp chats and attachments. This means, you can backup WhatsApp photo and videos directly to your device. Later, you can even preview the backup content and restore it to your phone.

Apart from that, it can also transfer WhatsApp data directly or restore iPhone WhatsApp data to an iOS/Android device. It can also be used to backup and restore other social apps like Kik, Line, WeChat, and Viber. To perform WhatsApp backup iPhone using dr.fone, simply follow these steps:

1. Launch the dr.fone toolkit and pick the Restore Social App feature from its home. Also, connect your iPhone to the system using an authentic cable.

2. Go to the WhatsApp tab from the left and choose to backup your WhatsApp data.

3. The application will automatically start taking a backup of your data. Simply wait for a while for the backup process to be completed.

4. As soon as it is successfully completed, you will be notified. To check it, click on the “View it” button.

5. The interface will display the saved backup files with their details. You can simply view the backup of your choice.

6. As you can see, all the chats and saved media files will be displayed on the interface for you to preview. If you want, you can directly restore WhatsApp data from here as well.

In this way, you can easily backup and restore your WhatsApp chats with a single click and always keep your data safe.

II. Backup iPhone WhatsApp Data to iCloud

This is a native solution that is provided by WhatsApp on iOS devices. If you have enough free space on your iCloud account, then you can easily take a backup of your WhatsApp chats on it. Though, the process to restore WhatsApp chats might not be as seamless as dr.fone – Restore Social App.

Unlock your device and launch WhatsApp. Go to its Settings by tapping on the menu icon.
Visit Chat Settings and tap on the “Chat Backup” button.

Manually take the backup of WhatsApp data or turn on the automatic backup option. You can also choose if you wish to backup videos or not.

In this way, a backup of your WhatsApp data would be maintained on iCloud. Later, you can restore the backup by installing WhatsApp on the same device and signing up with the same phone number.

III. Maintain an Offline Backup with iTunes

If you want to maintain an offline backup of your WhatsApp chats, then you can take the assistance of iTunes as well. This will take an extensive backup of your iPhone. That is, besides WhatsApp backup iPhone, your device’s photos, videos, contacts, messages, etc. would also be saved.
Connect your iPhone to the system and launch iTunes on it.
Select the connected device and go to its Summary tab.
Under the Backups section, you can find an option to take a backup of the device on iCloud or the local system (This Computer). Select the “This Computer” option.
Now, click on the “Backup Now” button and confirm your choice to take an extensive backup of your device.

While it is easy to backup WhatsApp photo and other types of data this way, you would face unwanted problems restoring the data. A third-party iOS backup extractor would be needed to fetch the WhatsApp chats and restore them to the target device.

IV. Take a Backup of WhatsApp on Google Drive (Android Devices)

After learning some solutions to take a backup of WhatsApp data on iPhone, let’s consider the same for Android devices as well. Since all the Android phones are connected to a Google account, you can easily maintain WhatsApp backup on Google Drive. Here’s how you can do it.
Launch WhatsApp on your Android phone and go to its Settings > Chats. In some versions, it is listed as “Chats and Calls”.

Tap on the “Chat Backup” button to explore the option. To take an immediate backup, tap on the “Backup Now” button.
You can tap on the “Backup to Google Drive” option to link your WhatsApp to your Google account and take its backup on the Drive.

After maintaining a backup on Google Drive, you can restore it to an Android device. While setting up your WhatsApp account, enter the same number and WhatsApp will automatically detect the existing backup file.

V. Maintaining a Backup on the Android Device Storage

A lot of people don’t know, but you can also maintain a backup of your WhatsApp chats on the local device storage as well. The feature is only available for Android devices. When you visit the Chat Backup option on WhatsApp and take a backup on Google Drive, a duplicate copy is also maintained on the local device storage. 

You can use a file manager and go to the Internal Storage > WhatsApp > Database folder. Here, you can view backup files with a .db extension. Simply copy the backup file and keep it safe at a secure location.

Now when you know five different ways to backup WhatsApp photos, videos, and chats, you can easily keep your data safe. Once the backup is maintained, you can use dr.fone – Restore Social App (iOS) to recover it as well. It is a complete solution to backup, transfer, and restore WhatsApp data that will certainly come handy to you on different occasions.

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Why we need technology improvement in trading

Today, you might be amazed by how the industry players say about technology and the way it is impacting trading. Starting from the time you wake up, up to the time you will sleep, technology is proving to play a vital role in all things we are doing.

For financial markets, due to coming advanced technology, it is the key factor in transforming the way things are happening. However, technology, on the other hand, is the core of how companies will operate to remain competitive. That is why through CFD reviews, you can learn a company reputable for trading.

Overview of Technology on Trading

In some time back, the global trade system had refused to take advantage of slashing the edge technologies that could have made trading much easier and efficient those days. Besides, improvement of technology is bringing more inclusive and low costs of doing business.

However, most people know about enjoying the benefits of technology improvement in their lives. According to international trade, they only focus their discussions on health of global trading order, tit-for-tat tariffs and trade war.

The problem is that they forget about the brighter side of how innovative technologies, especially in the fourth industrial revolution, have transformed trading by making all the processes more efficient and inclusive.

The best thing is that within a brink of an eye, there has been a tremendous change. Even different parts of the world have started adopting the life cycle after a combination with fundamental changes needed for operating international trades. Technology improvement will always be the best option for improving trade. Here are some of the essential technologies disrupting global trade:

Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Machine Learning

These types of technologies have been essential in optimizing trade, managing vessels, trucking traffic while at ports, translate e-commerce search queries and many more.

Besides better consumer services and efficiencies, AI has also led to the sustainability of global trade. For example, you can use to identify suspicious behaviors and also develop sustainable policies.

Blockchain

In global trading, there is a tremendous impact resulting from blockchain and also blockchain-based distributed ledger technologies.

There are some of the trade organizations that have launched an initiative to leverage blockchain technology. It has helped in addressing many issues like security, lack of transparency and high costs.

Digital platforms

Today, it has become increasingly easier for people to trade with online services. It has become possible because of digital platforms that have been allowing users in finding service providers all over the world.

With digital platforms, you can find all the services like web development, accounting or even virtual assistances. Besides, some Chinese are easily learning English from American educators and therefore easiness of getting together.

These digital platforms have been able to connect customers with service providers. In early time, it wasn’t possible to get professional services easily.

Mobile Payments

Today, mobile Payments have transformed the way we are living and also connecting people to market opportunities.

In recent research by World Bank Global Inclusion’s database, it showed that people are still gaining access to bank accounts.

However, it also shows that due to mobile money accounts, more people are using that opportunity. So, it has become a major drive to the financial Inclusion’s and especially to economies.

3D-printing

There has been a great impact especially due to 3D-printing taking place on global trade. However, they have been studies predicting cheap global trade.

Among many benefits, 3D-printing will need less labor and also reduce imports needs. For some people, they still argue that arguing that, it could be optimistic without considering about mass manufacturing reality and complexity. Here are the benefits of technology in trading:

Lack of Human Interaction

With technology, there is a lack of human interactions as it is important in trading. In the past, human interaction was in the past but it’s no longer there. Due to the improvement of technology, and availability of internet access, smartphones and therefore FX trade becoming more available.

Ease Of Access

Due to technology, it shows that know trading is more accessible to most people. In the previous time, trading was only available for institutional players but today, technology has enhanced by opening the floodgates for both private and retailing as they participate in the industry.

On the other hand, the easiness has led to increased transparency that is offered in the electronic platforms.

In the past, Forex and CFDs, trading were for the domain of institution or corporate players, but today, even the private and retail will consider trading as part of their life.

Emergence Of Smaller Providers

Due to the arrival of white label providers, such that others will use another person’s platform, it is, therefore, possible even for small operators to set up their shop and also offer trading platform services. It all happens because of improved technology in trading.

In the past, entry to trading for small providers was hard. After the arrival of technology, it is easily deployed and through replication, it will become difficult for small players.

Flexibility

With technology, it gives the traders freedom into their lives and thus flexibility. The traders are now able to monitor their businesses because there is the availability of an internet connection. It is something giving the traders enough freedom, flexibility and mobility.

However, you will not be able to discount a vast amount of information that is available to the traders. It all happens because of technology.

Fast and Automated Execution

Trading is like the other industries that benefit because of efficiency and automation and importantly, financial markets are therefore seeing the massive impact because of automation. Currently, there is lack of back-office operations where sweeping is changing to the way things used to be intensive especially in manual operation.

Final Words

Currently, there is more advanced technologies and the arrival of apps that is allowing tech-savvy traders to join the markets. It is something that we could expect in the evolving landscape. Technology has changed numerous aspects of people’s lives and therefore bound to change trading industry facet.

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Top 5 Programming languages for Beginners

Software developers who freelance have always been in great demand. The online marketplace for freelancers has witnessed steady growth and there is no indication to suggest a slowdown. In fact, most of the experts think that the trend of online job postings is going to witness fast and steady growth over the next decade. This is high time for anyone who is looking forward to starting a career in software development.

Fortunately, GadgetGang created a comprehensive list that can help you decide on what coding languages are best for beginners, read on below:

1. Python

For someone with little or no background in programming, Python is the best choice. Python is on the top of our list because of its simple and easy to understand syntax. Though created about 30 years ago, python is still holding strong and it is growing popular in the tech community. Just like other major programming languages, Python too provides well-integrated library and external library support is also available.

You can use python for almost any type of workflow. From web development to desktop-based apps, from data science projects to machine learning projects, knowing how to code in python will help in almost every type of project. Even if you decide to learn some other major programming language in the future, still learning python at the early stage will be helpful as it will introduce you to the major programming concepts in a simple, easy and efficient way.

Another reason why we recommended python for beginners is its learning curve. When compared to other major popular programming languages such as Java and C++, python has a smoother learning curve.

2. JavaScript

Please don’t confuse JavaScript with Java. We kept JavaScript in the second spot because it’s a higher-level language and thus as a beginner, you don’t need to deal with complex machine details. Another huge factor in its popularity amongst beginners is that you can start coding in JavaScript right from your browser. Note that it is not mandatory to set up any kind of development environment to code in JavaScript. For all intents and purposes, for a beginner, a browser is all that is required to start coding in JavaScript. It is primarily used for the front-end development of client-side applications. It is recommended that you find someone who is experienced in JavaScript and take their help in understanding the complex nature of JavaScript.

All major web browsers support JavaScript. But there is no guarantee that a code that works perfectly on chrome browser will behave in the same manner on Firefox. Such issues can leave you wondering without any clues. But with someone who is experienced in JavaScript, dealing with such complexity will be far easier.

3. Java

Java is undoubtedly the most popular programming language. It is in huge demand and the community of Java developers is constantly growing. The popularity of Java can be attributed to the fact that its code is not platform dependent. It essentially means that you can run the same code on a Windows machine, Linux and even on an Apple machine.

This is popularly known as Write Once, Run Anywhere (WORA). Owing to its hugely portable nature, you can find java codes running in all kinds of setups, from large-scale data centers to the smartphone in your pocket. Java is used by almost all major web-based services such as Amazon, YouTube, and Google. Since it’s so popular all over the world, you can expect expert-level support on discussion forums.

This support system is important for you as a beginner and you will find it easy to tackle new challenges in an efficient way. As compared to the other languages we have mentioned, Java is a bit on the harder side. But the time you invest in learning java will help you earn more as its almost always in huge demand.

4. Swift

If you are interested in mobile application development, then Swift is the language to learn. Swift is used for developing iOS-based apps I.e. apps for I phones. You must be thinking about why we skipped android development here. It is true that there are more Android devices as compared to iPhone but the paradox here is that iOS developers make four times more money than android developers. Once you master developing apps in the swift framework, you will be able to develop apps for the entire Apple ecosystem including Mac book, apple watch, and Apple TV.

5. Ruby

Ruby is very popular among startups. Some popular start-up companies that use ruby on rails are Airbnb, Basecamp, and Shopify. It can be understood that start-up companies want their products to be available to their users as fast as possible. This is exactly where ruby on rails excels. When compared to other programming languages, it is about 40 percent faster to develop the same app or software in Ruby.

Another important feature of Ruby is the availability of externalities. Most of the time, you can easily find ready to use modules that will save a lot of time and effort. Ruby is a popular choice not just amongst beginners but also amongst experienced developers because of its speedy nature. 

You will find it helpful when you are developing an app on a tight budget and you are expected to make a speedy delivery. Ruby is a dynamic programming language and receives updates at least twice a year to keep it relevant in the ever-evolving tech market. With such constant attention and support from Ruby developers, you can stay assured that ruby is here to stay for a long time to come.

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Top 15 Free Website Builders

As a web designer, even developer, you’re constantly on top of something, and at the end of the day, those small tasks like setting up a new web server for a tiny website – do add up.

You can for the most part just use a free mockup tool, get a demo going on for your client and call it a day, but unfortunately – sometimes a prototype is not enough, and we need to go that extra mile.

I rely on free website builders, and while not all of them at once, some of them have better features than others, while some offer a little bit more flexibility, but the general idea is that we are able to build a website – in less than a couple of minutes.

Each minute we spend trying to build a new website from scratch, making the new code for it, etc, etc. – it’s just wasted time and money, and I’ve learned that these website builders are perfect for both getting my mockups done, and also avoiding the need to write code.

1. Strikingly

“Don’t lose your visitors under the weight of a heavy, confusing website”- This is a major belief among the team of Strinkingly employees. This belief has been well implemented in their policies. This is why perhaps the website is designed in such a way that you have to put all your content on a single page.

What I mean is that if you want to like to create multiple pages, you need to upgrade to a paid plan. They have many adequate templates to choose from and the website editor is easy to navigate and comprehend. So, if you are a beginner with zero experience in website building, fear not. This website has got your back.

2. Site123

They claim to be the easiest website builders globally. But factually speaking, there are other websites that are easier to use. They have some pretty good looking themes and colors and they are all responsive. Paid plans initiate at $9.80 per month. It also includes a basic online store. The free websites come with the banner of Site123 at the bottom.

3. Edicy

It’s a free 30-day trial, but that’s better than nothing, and there is definitely plenty to explore about these guys. They’re heavily focused on bringing the best of both Worlds, and think about their customers from all around the World, so don’t be surprised to see your own language of choice in the list of options.

Edicy is developer-friendly, and actually offers you the functionality of editing the template files yourself, which is what this post is all about.

4. IM Creator

IM-Creator is all about making a website building a simple and enjoyable experience, accessible for everyone. IM Creator has definitely grown since its initial launch in 2011, I’m highly impressed by their determination to stay on the market, and looks like there is a decent-sized community behind it now, good work!

Other than that, it’s also the perfect tool to use for hosting quick websites and seeing how a layout would look in a real-example format. It’s free to build your websites, but there are pro features available.

5. Jimdo

Jimdo is the easiest way to create a website. With a simple, intuitive interface, Jimdo enables anyone to create a unique website with a blog and online store.

There is a real sense of passion and love that shines from these guys, and they offer such a great and vast amount of features that you might not need to consider another website builder for a long time, especially when you think about the fact that it’s all for free.

6. Ucraft

Ucraft is comparatively more advanced when it comes to website builders. It allows you to fine-tune your style in terms of fonts and colors. Also, compared to other free websites, navigation through the website is a bit more complicated. The editor isn’t very self-explanatory either.

Ucraft only allows you to connect an existing domain name for free. They also have SSL with zero additional costs. The lowest-paid offer they currently have starting from $10 which involves impressive features such as multilingual websites.

7. Webstarts

The employees of Webstarts pride themselves for working with the #1 rated website builder. Interesting enough, they never revealed who gave them the rank though. But in all fairness, Webstarts does include a solid plan for budgeted websites. It also includes giving access to many major features such as blogs and even an online store.

The product can be compared very well with Wix with which it shares so many similarities. But also, you will not find as many varieties of elements as in Wix. Also, it does not give a mobile-optimized website with their free plan. Also, the website being decrypted can pose threats to your website security as well.

8. uCoz

If you don’t know of uCoz, you probably joined the web only recently, as these guys have been around for almost decades. I remember their initial growth stage, so many people from all around the world were using their premium website builder, to build sites that would blow away even professional designers. Great times!

Millions of customers can’t be wrong about the quality of the service, and while this might be more of a content-oriented site builder, it’s still nice to add to your collection, in case a friend ever asks.

9. Webnode

Webnode is all about enabling you to build a website that doesn’t require any prior knowledge of building websites, and this is a great starting point for both beginners and intermediate users, who may be tired of having to read hundreds of manuals to get something done.

It’s their promise that you can get a site up and running in less than five minutes, and there is no catch at all, you can always upgrade to a pro plan as a way of expressing your gratitude for their awesome service.

10. Webs

Webs is another one of the oldies, I still remember their old-school design, pre Web 2.0 era, it was wonderful and it gave everything a much more sophisticated experience, not saying that I don’t like their new design though; it’s just nostalgia!

If you’re looking for a free website builder that will enable you to have a perfect website, with additional features like SEO being taken care of, Webs might be your best choice as they’ve got some really nice integrated SEO features in their ecosystem, making it appealing for anyone who wants to try out their luck with the search giant.

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