Android Operating Systems

Every month Google, who has an operating software on Android, releases the statistics on the world of Android. In summary, Android consists of a variety of operating systems. The most popular OS’s are Marshmallow, KitKat, and Lollipop. 

The fastest-growing OS is nougat at a rate of approximately 3% monthly, primarily due to the fact that more devices are being released with the operating system and other devices are being updated to use it. 

A new version of the Android OS named “Oreo” has had a steady start growing from 0.2% to 0.3% in the last month. It is true that when a new system such as Oreo is released, it takes at least a year for the lower penetration stage of the release to be surpassed. This means that they usually start slow due to the fact that different code needs to be written for the OS to be brought onto different devices. 

Predictions state that during the coming years, the three large OS’s will remain on top; however, with the updates that Google has recently made, it should make it easier for companies to switch OS because, in theory, they will have less code to write. 

Overall, it appears that there has been a yearly trend that the adoption rate is consistently slowing and the number of people using Android's latest software is slowing down, which could be because the amount of revolutionary updates is slowing as Android, along with Apple and other big names, are running out of breakthrough ideas. 

If you want more information on the topic, reach out to one of our experts at ISU Corp today!

Outsourcing Development to Vietnam

Outsourcing is the process of obtaining goods or a service from an outside supplier. Outsourcing software development has become a critical factor in growing the economies of emerging countries. China and India currently hold the lead in the market of outsourcing. China’s economy specializes in affordable manufacturing and India is the leading country for outsourcing services, such as customer support. 

Vietnam is a rising star in the world of outsourcing quality software development at a cost-effective price. It has been suggested that outsourcing software development to Vietnam can save over 85% of the cost compared to development in North-America or Europe. When it comes to software development, Vietnam has consistently beaten India in pricing.

Is Outsourcing the Right Move for Your Business?

Outsourcing is a double-edged sword. Outsourcing allows your business to offload production responsibilities onto someone else, usually for a cheaper price than if you were to do it yourself. However, outsourcing may make it more difficult to ensure that the standards of production are being met, especially if the business you are outsourcing to is in a different country. 

If your business is looking in the right place, it is surprisingly common to find someone who will deliver a low-cost solution while still maintaining a high level of quality. Given its consistent track record, Vietnam has presented itself as a smart choice for companies with modern outsourcing needs. There is no surprise that tech giants such as Intel, IBM, and Microsoft have all outsourced to Vietnam. 

Pricing

The average labor costs in Vietnam are around 90% less than if you were to complete the same job in North-America, which means that your company will spend less on production expenses and this capital can be put into other investments or R&D. According to Customer Think, Vietnam ranks number 1 for outsourcing software development. 

Economy

Vietnam has one of the lowest turnover rates for an emerging economy. The Vietnamese government has recognized that a huge portion of its GDP comes from outsourcing and has prioritized the education of its workforce in these areas. IT jobs in Vietnam have a turnover rate of around 5% compared to other emerging economies such as India where the rate can reach up to 10%. 

Vietnam’s economy is growing exponentially and maintains a level of stability which is a reassuring factor for large corporations who have committed a lot of capital into outsourcing to this country. 

Politics

Political instability isn’t an uncommon trend among emerging nations. Vietnam however has had 30 consecutive years of political stability without any conflict from neighboring countries. Vietnamese leaders have also put emphasis on maintaining working relationships with western countries. 

Communication

Communication is the first step in developing a business relationship and fortunately for English-speaking countries, Vietnam uses the Latin alphabet which makes it that much easier for someone in Vietnam to learn the English language. English is also the second most commonly spoken language in the country and a large portion of Vietnam’s university graduates are proficient in English.

Outsourcing, if done correctly, will be a more cost-effective and efficient method of production for your business. Vietnam has proven time and time again to be the best country for outsourcing software development and will continue to excel in this sector.

If you’re interested in learning more, reach out to us today for more information.

7 Steps to Build –and Keep- a Positive Mindset

The power of a positive mindset –or positive thinking- is a trendy concept, almost a cliché, but not for that any less real. Its mental and physical benefits have been proved and demonstrated by many scientific studies; it can give you more confidence, improve your mood, and reduce the risk of developing hypertension, depression, and other stress-related issues.

So far, so good, but how can we build and maintain such a positive mindset?

Here’s a list of seven steps to take to accomplish that goal:

1. Start your day with positive affirmations. The actions you take in the morning set the tone for the rest of the day; go to the mirror and say to yourself: “today is going to be a great day,” or “I’m going to be awesome today,” and watch in amazement how your day will improve.

2. Keep your focus on the good things. There’s no such thing as a perfect day; whenever you bump into an obstacle, look for the good in that situation, no matter how small.

3. Look for the funny side in bad situations. We’re used to saying, “someday we’re going to look back on this situation, and laugh,” so, why wait? Just by looking at it with a smile, the way out or through the situation will show faster and clearly.

4. Turn failures into lessons. Mistakes are always going to happen, so instead of focusing on the failure, think about what you’re going to do –or not do- next time, and create a roadmap highlighting highways, shortcuts, roadblocks, and bumps.

5. Transform your negative self-talk into a coach. Your negative self-talk usually creeps up unnoticed, and soon it turns into internalized feelings that reinforce your conceptions of yourself. We have to turn our inner critic into an inner coach, so thoughts like “I’m so bad at this” become “once I get more practice, I’ll be great at this.”

6. Focus on the present. We need to live the moment. Most negativity sources come from a memory of a recent event or the exaggerated visualization of a potential future event.

7. Surround yourself with positive people and environment. When we do that, we hear positive outlooks, stories, and affirmations; their positive words and actions will sink in and affect our own line of thinking, words, and actions.

Everyone, no matter the situation, can take these steps and increase their positive attitude.

A positive mindset will always offer compounding returns, so the more often we practice it, the more significant benefits we’ll collect.

Stay strong!

One of the core values we have as a company is to inspire and empower people in all aspects of their lives. Additionally, if you want to read about our Custom Software Solutions and Consulting Services, please visit www.isucorp.ca, or book a meeting to review your software project.