i-Exhibit

NMBS developed an exciting new App, ‘iExhibit’ for those suppliers who exhibited at the latest NMBS Exhibition. Prior to the Exhibition all visitors were provided with a badge with a unique QR code on it. Suppliers were then able to use the iExhibit App to scan any visitors to their stand and store information regarding conversations, orders and follow up dates.

The app is available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store and is compatible with the following platforms:

• iPhone 4.0.1
• iPad2 and above
• Android 2.2

The QR codes also allowed NMBS to introduce the Fast Track Registration service, which involved the scanning of badges to allow visitors speedier access to the Exhibition.

How does the app work?

1. Scan the QR Code on the visitors’ badges to store their details to your device. The QR code contains information such as name, email, phone numbers, company and address. Once you have scanned the badge you are able to add extra information such as any order details or follow up actions.
2. View the saved information and amend or delete information if required, all directly on your device. At this stage visitors can be saved as a contact on your phone or tablet.
3. Upload the information to the NMBS website. You will then be able to logon via your computer and download the submitted information as an Excel spreadsheet.

How can this kind of app & QR Barcode help your business?

Improve the experience at events or meetings by including QR codes on delegates’ badges. As with the NMBS Exhibition these can then be scanned to register visitors or take down their details in a fast and efficient manner.

QR codes can be generated from internet sites or alternatively contact NMBS if you require them to be generated in bulk. They can hold up to 3kb of information which is more than adequate for storing a person’s contact details.

For other uses of QR barcodes please click here.

Ubuntu for Android

Ubuntu for Android is a project developed by Canonical that converts an Android Smartphone into a fully functioning PC. All you need is a docking device, keyboard, mouse and screen. The aim is to give an Android Smartphone the capability of a desktop PC. 

Combining Ubuntu (a free Linux based OS with over 20 million users) with Android (Linux based mobile operating system dominating the market) is possible as they share the same Linux Kernal Operating System (OS). This allows the two OSs to run at the same time merging the phone experience with a desktop PC. The benefits are one address book, a single place for text messages, one mail inbox, web browsing, office applications as well as the full range of desktop applications, all of this in a single device fitting in a pocket.  Personal information like contacts, calendars, photo galleries and music can be accessed from both the phone and the desktop interface.

When the phone is docked Ubuntu starts automatically, if the phone is undocked Android takes control back. When the phone is docked once again Ubuntu will load and you could resume working where you have left off. 

While working on Android you benefit from the touch and gesture interface in contrast to the mouse pointing device and the keyboard while on Ubuntu.

How would you handle calls or SMS? The two OS are running at the same time while the phone is docked. If a text message is received it will appear on the user’s desktop and calls are handled like Voice Over IP (VoIP).  Ubuntu for Android merges the desktop with the phone world, seamlessly. 

In order the two OSs to work together the mobile device needs to have a dual-core with at least 1GHz CPU and 512MB of RAM, docking capability and hardware support for HDMI and USB. Requirements possessed by most modern smart phones. 

As official release date for this new technology has not yet been confirmed, to find out more information and stay updated with its progress visit: http://www.ubuntu.com/devices/android

You can watch a video demoing the first prototype here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=wzc0uMXGFBY

Image URL: http://www.ubuntu.com/sites/www.ubuntu.com/files/active/02_ubuntu/android-features-hero.png

SMS – Prices Cut by 40%

Important Update – NMBS have now reduced the cost per text message from 5p to 3p giving you a 40% saving. A text message sent to 1000 people previously would have cost £50 + VAT  (1000 x 5p = £50), whereas now it will only cost £30 + VAT (1000 x 3p). Members can start using the system today and make use of it, like others have… the system has been used to send over 64000 messages since it was launched just over a year ago! Please see below for more details.

The NMBS Text messaging service was launched to members in April 2012 and has gone from strength to strength. Since its implementation the system has been used to send out over 64,000 texts, with a number of the users helping to contribute to its further development. The updated system now provides the user with an audit trail so they know who has been sent certain messages, and we have also added an opt option at the bottom to ensure we comply with email & sms marketing laws. 

With a number of regular users, the service has been used by members to inform customers about:

• Special offers
• New products
• Breakfast mornings
• Branch opening times
• New branches

Brian Atkinson from JT Dove is a regular user of the SMS service – “The SMS Service is good and provides the basis for sending multiple texts that are either informational or marketing orientated to our customers. Its quickly available for use and the option to send free/test messages is a bonus as layout and examples can be set up. Support for the service is good and efficient which are strong points, I would also say that being able to reach 500 customers (that can be selected) for £30.00 ** is a more economic communication method than mailings/leaflets”.

** With the new cost per text, it would actually only cost £18 now to send to 500 customers!!!!

Click here to view more information about the SMS service

If you are a member of NMBS and would like to find out more about using the text message service, then please contact Jatin Dhawan on 0116 2614926 or jatin.dhawan@nmbs.co.uk

PhoneGap

PhoneGap is an open source mobile development framework that enables developers to create a single app to be available over multiple platforms.

Apps are developed using web technologies such as HTML5, CSS3 and Javascript and are supported by the following platforms:

• Apple iOS
• Google Android
• HP webOS
• Microsoft Windows Phone
• Nokia Symbian OS
• RIM Blackberry

HTML5 is the latest and most advanced mark up language available for web development and CSS3 is the latest version of cascading style sheets used to style various elements on a web page.

The mobile framework allows developers to target all smartphones with a single codebase by enabling a Foreign Function Interface (FFI) to an embedded Webview or Webkit. In simple terms applications are actually shown in an embedded virtual browser within an app, appearing to us a normal app.

How can PhoneGap help your business?

PhoneGap is a very useful tool as developing a single app will then create a readymade product that will be available over 7-8 app stores. This will dramatically reduce the time that would ordinarily be required to create an app available to all users.

The NMBS Exhibition App, iExhibit, took 3 weeks to develop for use with the iPhone. To make this available to all users the same timeframe would need to be applied to all platforms, a total of 21 weeks. Another alternative would be to employ extra developers to speed up the process, both costing time and money. With the use of PhoneGap this timeframe would be reduced to just 3 weeks for the app to be developed for use over all 7 platforms, reducing the labour and cost.

To create an app on all 7 platforms without the use of PhoneGap, developers will need to be competent in the relevant programming language, such as Java or objective-c. This could then cause the need to employ extra developers with the relevant knowledge, again increasing costs. Developing with PhoneGap only requires the use of HTML5, CSS3 and Javascript to develop for across all 7 platforms. Reducing the need to employ multiple developers to deal with each platform.

To get started with PhoneGap please take a look here on their website.

The Merchant Pages

Be a part of the latest online development by NMBS – “The Merchant Pages”. NMBS have just finished developing the Merchant Pages system and are now actively working with suppliers and members to build the database of products up. Interested?… read below to find our more information and how to get involved:

‘The Merchant Pages’ is a central database of building products sold in the UK. Developed by NMBS in partnership with H&B & NBG Buying Groups, this information can be downloaded directly into a spreadsheet or into a Merchants Computer System, which can then be used for ordering or simply catalogue/product file updating.

It provides a central source for

• Price Data
• Product Data
• Product resources –Iimage, Image URL, COSH data etc

The Objectives:

To create a single source of reference for all building product data throughout the UK, by creating an industry standard output and a ‘one stop’ shop for all independent merchants and suppliers.

 The system would make it easier for suppliers to distribute information to merchants and make it far easier for members to access and download up-to-date price lists.

The Benefits:

Merchant Benefits -:

• Instant access to all uploaded Supplier price and products
• Download the data in standard Excel/CSV format which should be easily imported in systems
• Unique EAN for Barcode production
• Portal for notification of new products and price increases
• Up to Date product data for website/trading portal
• Allows merchant to manage pricing better

Supplier Benefits

• Only a few price lists to manage
• Prices and Products instantly available to over 700 potential customers
• Easy to maintain
• Supplier Data will always be available for the merchant
• Easy notification of price increase
• Price History held

How to Get Involved:

Suppliers – Provide us with a product file in our required format and we can upload

Merchants – Contact NMBS for unique username and password to start using

To access the Merchant Pages go to www.merchantpages.co.uk

If you have any questions please contact Andy Hextall (NMBS IT Development Manager) on 0116 2614940 or via email on andy.hextall@nmbs.co.uk

The Digital Paper

  

For many years, many manufacturers of handheld technology have suggested we are witnessing the death of the book. E Ink (electrophoretic ink) manufactured by E Ink Corporation, founded in 1997, was a major step forward in providing a very slim display that is commercially available in both grayscale and colour and is commonly used in mobile devices such as e-readers and to a lesser extent, mobile phones and watches. However, users expectations were higher. There was a demand for touch screens, larger displays and wireless connectivity. The Skiff Reader was unveiled (New York 2010); claimed to be “largest e-paper display, thinnest e-reading device, most durable e-reader, highest display resolution, full touch screen, and extraordinary battery life”  

Features

• 228.6 mm by 279.4 mm by 6.8 mm
• 498 grams
• 11.5 inches display resolution, 1200 x 1600 pixels at 174 ppi, e-Paper display silicon thin-film-transistors (TFT) on flexible stainless-steel substrate (no glass and flexible)
• shatter-proof, crack-proof, touch-screen supports both finger and stylus operation
• 3G-enabled, wifi-enabled, USB 2.0 over standard mini-USB port, internal memory 4 GB with SDHC 2.0 standard compliant SD-card slot, built-in speaker and 3.5 mm standard audio jack
• Battery life - one week between charges.

HTML5

HTML5 is a mark up language used for developing websites/applications. It is the fith revision of the HTML standard and is being developed as a collaboration between the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C – the organisation that maintains web standards) and the Web Hypertext Application Technology Working Group (WHATWG).

Since 1999 and the introduction of the previous version, HTML4.01, the web has changed considerably and HTML5 will address these changes.  According to the W3Schools website¹ certain rules for HTML5 were established as outlined below:

• New features should be based on HTML, CSS, DOM, and JavaScript
• Reduce the need for external plugins (like Flash)
• Better error handling
• More markup to replace scripting
• HTML5 should be device independent
• The development process should be visible to the public

HTML5 will include a number new features to enhance or replace those found in HTML4.01. These new features include²:

• The <canvas> element for 2D drawing
• The <video> and <audio> elements for media playback
• Support for local storage
• New content-specific elements, like <article>, <footer>, <header>, <nav>, <section>
• New form controls, like calendar, date, time, email, url, search

HTML5 is currently being used by a number of companies around the world, although as yet it is not an official standard and no browsers will have full HTML5 support. W3C has said that it is developing a comprehensive test suite to achieve broad interoperability for HTML5’s full specification by 2014³. 

Following figure shows the different APIs and DOMs related to HTML5.

 

Click here to view samples of websites designed completely using HTML5. According to Binvision.com 34 percent of the 100 most popular websites use HTML5, with leading search engines and Social Media Sites topping the list. 

How can developing in HTML5 help your business?

A website, or webpage that is developed using HTML5 can be viewed easily through many different platforms, eradicating the need to create separate versions for Windows, Mac, Apple iOS, Android, RIM Blackberry etc. This, coupled with their ability to be easily maintained, will reduce both the time and cost involved with website development and maintenance.

The new features of HTML5 will allow users to create websites that are both more appealing and simpler to navigate for members. This combination should help to attract more visitors to your website or App.

The free W3 Schools tutorials offer an excellent opportunity to begin learning HTML5 and can be accessed here.

¹ http://www.w3schools.com/html5/html5_intro.asp

² http://www.w3schools.com/html5/html5_intro.asp

³ http://www.w3.org/2011/02/htmlwg-pr.html

Gadget Show Live 2012

On Tuesday 10th April 2012, NMBS attended the UK’s biggest five-day consumer electronics event showcasing the world’s latest tech held at the NEC Birmingham. The event was host to over  125,000 gadget lovers and over 280 technology exhibitors.

Similar to the previous year’s event the show was split into individual areas known as ‘tech zones’ including: Future Tech Zone, Home Gadget Zone, UK Inventor Village, Photographic Zone, and Hall of Fame. There was also the ‘Showcase Stage’ which featured acts and stunts from all five of the TV show presenters.  Checkout highlights from this year’s show floor by following this link.

The Expo itself took over seven of the NEC’s main halls, hosting exhibitor’s booths from such walks of life as the sporting world, entertainment industry and the building trade, all wanting to show off their latest gadgets in their respected fields.

There was a lot to see and experience at this year’s Gadget Show Live with one of the highlights being ‘The Centre for Computing History Museum’. On display were mock-up living rooms each incorporating tech from the 70s, 80s, 90s and now the 00s.  It certainly highlights the speed at which we are advancing in the development of technology and makes you wonder where we will be in another 40 years.

Another interesting piece on display was the SmartBird, designed and constructed by Festo.  The SmartBird mimics both the look and movement of a real herring gull, to such extent that it is difficult to distinguish between the two when in flight.

However the most impressive item on display for me was a great App called Aurasma Lite. Aurasma is an augmented reality platform created by the Autonomy Corporation, currently available as a free download from either iTunes for Apple or Play Store for Android, Aurasma Lite is available for iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPad 2, iPad3 and higher end Android devices. It uses the device's video camera to recognise and understand pre-trained images, symbols and objects in the real world.  It can then deliver digital content in real time as an overlay, including videos, animations, audio or web pages. 

If you see this icon on any image it means that it is compatible with Aurasma Lite and you will be able to access extra content.  

Download Aurasma Lite and try the app with the following two images.

However the majority of items on display did not use new technology, but rather updated versions from the previous year. Many of the displays were similar, giving the illusion of a giant electrical store.

Although more exhibitors were in attendance, some of the bigger companies had either down sized their booths from previous years or had chosen to not attend at all. One explanation for this may relate to the recently announced Gadget Show Christmas being held at the Excel Centre in London between 30^th November and 2^nd December.  Explaining why Nintendo chose to be absent this year, choosing rather to delay demoing their new games console, the Wii U, until later in the year, just in time for its release date around the festive season.

Jamie Freer

Information Systems Officer

NMBS Ltd