Keeping up with technology is a lot of work. Luckily, we enjoy wading through the noise just to find the gems of awesomeness sprinkled throughout. Fusion Radar is our gift to you, Current or Potential Client, so that you can enjoy all of the awesome without any of the drudgery. Unwrap it each week, and know that you’re loved by the geeks and pixel-pushers at Agency Fusion.
Amazon Dash
Amazon Dash is the new AmazonFresh product that aims to simplify shopping (even more than Amazon already does). The Dash is a small, handheld device that allows you to either say an item name or scan an item, and Amazon will automatically add it to your shopping list. Dash is also WiFi-enabled, so you can add items to your shopping cart throughout the day without pulling out your phone or going to your computer.
Reasons to Use Open Source Are Changing
For several years, the relatively low cost of open source software was one of the only reasons companies would consider using it. As the article title suggests, however, that’s changing, and fast. A recent survey suggests that now most companies that use open source software do so because it produces high quality products and attracts top talent. There’s also the benefit of being able to modify and customize software without having to build a whole new base.
Habit List
Habit List is a new iOS app designed to help users set and achieve maintenance goals. It’s sort of like a combination of Cal (a daily schedule app) and Everest (a goal-oriented app). Habit List focuses on how long you can maintain an activity–how many days in a row you complete items on your personal to-do and goal list. The app also sends you reminders of activities that still need to be done that day, and creates graphs of your weekly progress.
MinnowBoard Max
Intel recently unveiled a smaller, faster version of its original MinnowBoard SBC: the MinnowBoard Max. This open hardware embedded board features more memory, a faster core, a microSD slot, and various other improvements over the original MinnowBoard. While it hasn’t hit the market yet, Intel plans to release it in June or July of this year.
Driving Curve
Driving Curve is an iOS app that records and analyzes your driving behavior. It uses your phone’s GPS to capture your speed and then evaluates your performance based on how quickly you stop or accelerate, and how steady your speed is overall. The app then ranks you along with other Driving Curve users and builds your driving profile.
The Right Way To Ask Users For iOS Permissions
Brenden Mulligan, co-founder of Cluster, recently published an article aimed at app developers who lose users when they ask for iOS permissions. Mulligan’s main takeaway from the article is: don’t ask for access to something until your app really needs it, and plainly tell the user what they’ll get in return.
The Right Way To Ask Users For iOS Permissions
Velositey
Velositey is a free Photoshop extension that allows designers and developers to create prototypes of website designs within Photoshop. The extension comes with a pre-generated grid system and starts you off with standard elements like headers, sliders, content areas, and footers.
Typeform
Typeform is an online survey builder that sets itself apart from the competition with its clean design, straightforward copy, and simple pricing tiers (including a free option). The idea behind Typeform’s slick look is that site visitors and customers are much more likely to fill out questionnaires when presented with something that looks simple, professional, and engaging. Their surveys are also mobile friendly and allow companies to incorporate their own branding.
Style Manual
Australian designer Andy Taylor recently published a “Style Manual,” which he claims combines the best rules from British- and American-English. He admits that each system has both commonsense and nonsense rules, and highlights those rules that make the most sense. In his online guide, Taylor touches on issues like most commonly misused words, punctuation, and styling.