Solutions

RebelMouse is an aggregator for social media that was launched by Huffington Post CTO Paul Berry. On the first look this platform looks like a digital newspaper that represents user’s social media events.

Basic registration allows users to connect their accounts on Twitter and Facebook. The updates from the connected accounts are represented in the collage-styled information flow that shows user’s presence within social media. RebelMouse allows user to arrange the posts displayed on the dashboard. The user page is updated automatically, but the user can customize it deleting updates that are not necessary or sticking the important ones to the top of the page. Also, among the RebelMouse tools there is a bookmarklet to share any content that has been found by the user on the Web.

The RebelMouse platform also works on the mobile application for iOS. This allows people and businesses who have huge volumes of personal followings to choose a convenient way to make their fans reach all of their recent updates. RebelMouse app allows you all the features while on the go from anywhere. Some of the features users will be fond of are:

• Ease with sharing and reposting tweets, videos, images and text.
• A nice looking blog post may be created from practically any link, image or page.
• Other user’s content is easily discoverable hence nothing of importance to users will be missed.

Solutions

QArea provided both development and testing services for our client. The project realization took 6 months and covered all the development stages. We used RAID 5 approach to meet the main purpose of the project and ensure its protection from data leakage. In addition, we developed a convenient CLI (Command-Line Interface) and provided future users with smooth navigation through the application. For successful API development, we used C# programming language as well as Windows Communication Foundation (WCF), Universal Windows Platform (UWP), and Extensible Application Markup Language (XAML).

The application commands can run from the shell script all while key encryption can be applied by users for even better security. To help users to manage files, we also implemented an effective analytical tool which allows users to have the visual history of their activity.

The testing process has played a big role in the project development. We paid great attention to the security, stress, and UI testing types. Since the project requires data storage activities, we used cloud testing capabilities. We simultaneously run a large amount of data in order to investigate even the slightest inaccuracies in the application operation.

Solutions

Specialists from QArea had to deliver a stable, solid and secure platform that would resist huge loads. We had to ensure flawless globalization to allow the resource being available and flawlessly usable by citizens of different countries that speak different languages and do not share nationality. We had to ensure comfortable ways of communication, feedback and donation processes.

Huge loads

Avaaz was destined to become a stable platform for millions of people. It had to be used on a daily basis by people from all over the globe and at the same time. When a crisis hits, there is no time to fix errors. Important decisions, and upcoming changes may be in danger as they depend on the constantly stable performance of the service.

We have gained enormous performance growth by pre-generating multiple pages as well as some statistics. This helped in establishing a stable platform fit to withstand colossal amounts of users and visitors.

Globalization

Considering that Avaaz involves numerous people from different countries we had to ensure flawless support of many languages. We have designed, coded and tested this website in a way that has ensured easy and impeccable customization of the platform, hence all necessary localization was implemented. Special attention was given to functional testing to make sure all vital aspects are 100% verified.

Ease in use

We have used the entire stack of all available best-performing web technologies to ensure the platform is stable, secure and user-friendly. We chose to use pure PHP, powered with numerous open-source libraries over frameworks, as this is a project, which requires a special, custom touch.

In order to achieve great results all processes required appropriate management. An email list that is fully operational in multiple languages was developed to ensure flawless communication. A subscription to alerts functionality was designed and implemented to ensure people can easily act out as soon as any meaningful event takes place in the world. We have also implemented a system that enables donations. PayPal system was chosen as a perfect solution for this task.

Security

Considering all the given factors we have paid major attention to all possible data breaches as well. We have used AJAX as the main technology and have paid extra attention to solve many potential security flaws, such as:

• Internal application data may be exposed
• Client and server-side do not have a clear line in-between
• Third-party resource access to the client, and more.

We made sure all input fields are secure, knowing the potential threats of malicious scripts, thus ensuring better security of the website.

Solutions

MyLoki

MyLoki location enables social networking. As you travel around MyLoki can automatically let your friends know where you are using your favorite platform – Facebook, RSS Feeds and badges for your blog or even Jaiku. You can pick and choose how and where you want your location to be displayed. MyLoki gives you total control over the posted location and who can see it.

Your location can be delivered with the help of Loki toolbar, which is downloaded on your browser from any place nearby that has a WiFi hotspot. This information can be reported in a number of ways. You can get your own MyLoki page that shows people your exact location, or you may have a constantly updated map on your blog which displays your current position. You can add the map as a Facebook app or create an embeddable badge and append it to your e-mail signature. You can also create a location feed integrated with any GeoRSS service, such as Google MyMaps, Jaiku and Yahoo’s Fire Eagle.

QArea team has implemented the project from the scratch. It’s built using Symfony framework. QArea was also responsible for redesigning Loki.com site and its integration with MyLoki.

Major challenges:

• Google Maps;
• Facebook application (users’ profile FBML box, posting to the feed and a standalone FB application which allows users to set their location while surfing on Facebook);
• The website (authentication, users’ privacy setting, history and groups locations viewing, generation of badges examples, RSS feed);
• Loki.com channels (developed own XML DTD for generating HTTP requests);
• iPhone API (own XML protocol as well);
• Updating of users’ location using Ajax technology (we have created a centralized database which stores and shares the information about users’ location between Facebook application and MyLoki standalone application);
• FireEagle, Twitter integration.

QArea’s team has united separate projects into one by developing and implementing the following features for Loki.com:

Channels: specific links to various LBS (location-based services) sites with your current location in themselves. There’s no necessity to enter your location manually if you want to rent a flat or looking for a cheap gas station.

Loki JS API subscription: Skyhook’s Loki allows other location dependent sites to place special JavaScript code which fetches users’ current location from Loki toolbar (installed on your computer). Loki.com site provides JS API registration and some examples for developers.

FindMe page demonstrates the power and preciseness of Skyhook’s technology. Users can view/set their location and try all available channels there.

The website

The portal is based on the Symfony framework and using Propel ORM to maintain Javascript API registrations. Google maps API is used to display Loki JS API sample code results. Integration with Loki JS API has been performed in order to demonstrate the technology on How it works and Findme pages. This project has been completed and now is in production.

Skyhook location logger

Another project from the Skyhook cluster is the location logger. This service allows to obtain periodic updates of the device’s geographical location, or to fire an application-specified intent, when the device enters the proximity of a given geographical location. Android gives your applications access to the location services.

The application includes:

• LocationManager
• MapView

Skyhook’s core location platform updated with LocalFaves

Skyhook’s Core Location Platform, which uses a combination of data from GPS satellites, cell towers and Wi-Fi systems to quickly come up with precise location data, enhances mobile devices’ ability to run a growing number of location-aware applications. It facilitates not only navigation and local search programs, but also applications such as OpenTable and Twitter, which use location awareness to personalize content, the company said upon announcing the partnership. Support and writing some modules for Skyhook LocalFaves system is allowed in the application. It includes heat maps and several demo apps.

Solutions

We were able to integrate the new, requested features into the existing code by using Python as well as AngularJS and Stylus frameworks.

To tackle the goal of making a responsive, user-friendly interface, the QArea team rebuilt the applications front-end completely from scratch. Our team implemented the required redesign following the clients Figma mockups. The app’s performance was improved by simplifying the interface and leaving only the most needed functionality.

The app’s backend was also changed. We personalized Google Maps API with custom bundles, clusters, and pop-overs so that users could find the properties easier. With the help of a neural network, we managed to create a filter that analyzes and estimates property prices according to the given information such as location, floor, the number of rooms, elevator and balcony availability, etc. The algorithm eliminates the possibility of fraud, which allows this app to stand out from the number of already existing aggregators that pull up real estate’s prices from other web resources instead of generating and outputting real numbers.