#Best web Design Company in US

[himanshurashtech]

RashTech Info: Where Imagination Meets Design in Graphics

RashTech Info, where creative visions converge with cutting-edge design in graphics. Unleash your imagination through innovative solutions and captivating visuals. Discover a dynamic platform where design meets technology, inspiring limitless possibilities. Join us on a journey where imagination thrives, shaping the future of graphic innovation.

[web2411]

[zoptalsolution]

In the rapidly evolving landscape of mobile app development, businesses are seeking innovative and efficient solutions to stay ahead of the curve. One technology that has gained significant traction is Flutter, a versatile and powerful framework for building cross-platform mobile applications. As the demand for seamless user experiences grows, businesses are turning to the expertise of a trusted mobile app development company in the USA to harness the full potential of Flutter app development services.

[isynbus]

Enhancing the Real Estate Experience: Isynbus - Your Premier Real Estate Mobile App Development Company

In today's digital age, the real estate industry has witnessed a significant transformation. Real estate mobile applications have become an integral part of this evolution, offering convenience, efficiency, and enhanced experiences to both property buyers and sellers. If you're in the real estate business and looking for a reliable partner to develop a cutting-edge mobile application, look no further than Isynbus, your premier real estate app development company. In this blog, we will explore the world of real estate mobile applications and how Isynbus can help you turn your vision into a reality.

The Rise of Real Estate Mobile Applications

The real estate industry has come a long way from traditional methods of property hunting and transactions. The days of poring over newspapers and physically visiting numerous properties are gradually fading away. Instead, modern consumers are turning to real estate mobile applications to streamline their property search, buying, and selling processes.

The reasons behind this shift are evident. Real estate apps offer users a plethora of benefits:

1. Convenience: With a real estate app in their pocket, users can access property listings, schedule viewings, and even complete transactions from the comfort of their own homes.

2. Efficiency: Mobile apps provide quick and easy access to a vast database of properties, allowing users to filter and sort listings based on their preferences, budget, and location.

3. Enhanced Experience: Features like virtual property tours, high-quality images, and detailed property descriptions provide a richer and more informative experience for both buyers and sellers.

4. Real-Time Updates: Real estate apps offer real-time notifications on new listings, price changes, and other relevant updates, ensuring users stay informed.

5. Paperless Transactions: The digitalization of transactions through real estate apps eliminates the need for excessive paperwork, making the process faster and eco-friendly.

Isynbus: Your Trusted Real Estate App Development Partner

Isynbus is a name synonymous with innovation and expertise in the realm of real estate mobile applications. As a dedicated real estate app development company, we understand the unique demands of the industry and have honed our skills to deliver tailored solutions. Here's why you should choose us to turn your real estate app idea into reality:

1. Expertise: With a team of experienced developers and designers, we have a deep understanding of the real estate industry's nuances. We can create a feature-rich app that caters to your specific needs.

2. Custom Solutions: At Isynbus, we don't believe in one-size-fits-all solutions. We work closely with you to understand your goals and vision, ensuring that the app we build aligns perfectly with your business objectives.

3. User-Centric Approach: Our primary focus is on creating apps that provide an exceptional user experience. We incorporate user-friendly interfaces, intuitive navigation, and cutting-edge features to keep users engaged.

4. Cutting-Edge Technology: Isynbus stays at the forefront of technological advancements. We leverage the latest tools and frameworks to build robust and scalable real estate mobile applications.

5. Data Security: We understand the importance of data security in the real estate industry. Our apps are designed with strong encryption and security measures to protect sensitive information.

6. Post-Launch Support: Our commitment doesn't end with the launch of your real estate app. We provide ongoing support and maintenance to ensure your app remains up-to-date and runs smoothly.

7. Cost-Effective Solutions: We offer competitive pricing without compromising on quality. Our goal is to provide you with a high-quality real estate app that fits your budget.

Key Features of Real Estate Mobile Applications

Isynbus specializes in creating real estate apps that are feature-rich and tailored to meet your business requirements. Here are some key features commonly found in real estate mobile applications:

1. Property Listings: An extensive database of property listings with detailed information, images, and virtual tours.

2. Advanced Search: Filters for location, price range, property type, and more, to help users find their ideal property.

3. User Profiles: User accounts that allow buyers and sellers to manage their listings, save favorites, and track their transaction history.

4. Geolocation and Maps: Integration with maps for property location, nearby amenities, and neighborhood information.

5. Virtual Tours: High-quality 360-degree virtual property tours, providing an immersive experience for potential buyers.

6. Notifications: Real-time alerts for new listings, price changes, and appointment scheduling.

7. Mortgage Calculators: Tools to help users estimate mortgage payments and affordability.

8. Chat and Messaging: In-app communication for buyers, sellers, and agents.

9. Reviews and Ratings: User-generated feedback and ratings for properties and agents.

10. Secure Payment: A secure payment gateway for transaction processing.

Conclusion:

The real estate industry is evolving, and real estate mobile applications have become a vital tool for success. Isynbus, your trusted real estate app development company, is here to turn your real estate app idea into a reality. With our expertise, user-centric approach, and commitment to excellence, we can help you create a feature-rich and user-friendly mobile app that sets you apart in the competitive real estate market.

Don't miss out on the opportunity to provide your customers with a modern, convenient, and efficient way to engage with your real estate services. Contact Isynbus today to start the journey towards a successful real estate mobile application that can transform your business.

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Best Website Development Company in USA

Webslogin IT Services Private Limited is a leading Best website development company in USA. With a stellar track record, they offer top-notch web solutions, tailored to meet clients' specific needs. Their team of skilled professionals excels in crafting user-friendly, responsive, and visually appealing websites. They provide a comprehensive range of services, including web design, development, e-commerce solutions, and SEO optimization. Webslogin IT Services strives for excellence, ensuring client satisfaction through innovative solutions, timely delivery, and exceptional customer support. With their expertise, businesses can enhance their online presence and achieve remarkable success in the digital landscape.

[synergytop]

Progressive Web Apps for Content Publishers: Benefits and Use Cases

Imagine this: You can offer to your audience all the cool experience that are possible with mobile applications. But they don’t have to download any apps.

You are happy because you can offer an engaging experience.

They are happy because they can get all the awesome features without having to download yet another app.

It’s a win-win scenario. And PWA aka Progressive Web Applications make it possible. 

The features: All like the mobile apps

The interface: Web browser. Not a standalone app.

Cool, right?

Now, if you are content publisher “engaging” people is a your key aim. It is with engagement that you drive your revenue.

A major roadblock in that is having to ask your potential audience to download one more app. They smartphone storage - no matter how spacious - is filled. And they aren’t very keen on taking the effort to download an app.

Solution 1: Deliver your content via a website. 

Fair. But what about the features then? They’d definitely be restricted. 

Like websites don’t work offline or with slower Internet. Neither can they send push notifications. Nor can they use geolocation or Bluetooth from the device.

Solution 2: You get a PWA developed for your content publishing business. 

The outcome: You get a vast majority of features that are not available for websites. Plus, you get features like Search Engine Visibility and HTTPs security, which are not available in native apps.

Sounds perfect, isn’t it? Wait till you hear some of the other benefits of PWAs for content publishers.

Benefits Of PWAs For Content Publishers 1. Reach More People PWAs are easy to find. No need to look them up in the app store. Your audience can now find you with just a simple Google search. That ensures more people can see and enjoy the content. Imagine this: You can offer to your audience all the cool experience that are possible with mobile applications. But they don’t have to download any apps.

You are happy because you can offer an engaging experience.

They are happy because they can get all the awesome features without having to download yet another app. 

It’s a win-win scenario. And PWA aka Progressive Web Applications make it possible. 

The features: All like the mobile apps

The interface: Web browser. Not a standalone app. 

Cool, right?

Now, if you are content publisher “engaging” people is a your key aim. It is with engagement that you drive your revenue.

A major roadblock in that is having to ask your potential audience to download one more app. They smartphone storage - no matter how spacious - is filled. And they aren’t very keen on taking the effort to download an app. 

Solution 1: Deliver your content via a website. 

Fair. But what about the features then? They’d definitely be restricted. 

Like websites don’t work offline or with slower Internet. Neither can they send push notifications. Nor can they use geolocation or Bluetooth from the device.

Solution 2: You get a PWA developed for your content publishing business. 

The outcome: You get a vast majority of features that are not available for websites. Plus, you get features like Search Engine Visibility and HTTPs security, which are not available in native apps. 

Sounds perfect, isn’t it? Wait till you hear some of the other benefits of PWAs for content publishers.

Benefits Of PWAs For Content Publishers 1. Reach More People

PWAs are easy to find. No need to look them up in the app store. Your audience can now find you with just a simple Google search. That ensures more people can see and enjoy the content.

2. Make Things Awesome

PWAs are designed to deliver smooth and exciting experiences. They can send you notifications about new stuff, even when you're not online. Plus, they load super fast, so your audience won’t have to wait around.

3. Speed Things Up

The loading signs - no matter how fancy - are a pain to stare at. PWAs have a trick up their sleeve called service workers. They make everything load really quickly. Even if the Internet is slow.

4. Save Money

PWAs work on any device. All they need is a website browser. Which web browser? Literally any modern web browser will work. That means as content publishers, you don't have to spend a ton of money making separate apps for different devices. You can channel those funds towards creating awesome content.

Okay, but are PWAs suitable for my kind of content?

Absolutely. 

No matter what kind of content you publish, PWAs can be used for content delivery. 3 key use cases are detailed below:

PWA Use Cases For Content Publishers

1. News and Media

Imagine being able to send out news right away. Even personalized news for specific audience members! PWAs allow sending notifications about important news. And of course, articles can be read even without Internet. That’s a surefire way to drive up engagement.

2. E-Books and Magazines

Reading content is simpler, faster, and more affordable on tablets and phones than purchasing physical copies. And PWAs can make reading super fun for your audience with features like bookmarks and searching. And, of course, your readers can start reading on one device and continue on another based on their needs and preferences. Their read progress is saved with PWAs and available across devices.

3. Video and Audio Streaming

Who doesn’t like watching videos or listening to music? PWAs make it even better than the experience already is. You can also allow download and watch offline options. And ensure your audience can enjoy the content even when their Internet is slow. Say goodbye to buffering.

To start with PWAs, content publishers can follow these simple steps:

1. Decide what they want to achieve with their PWA. Do you want more people to see your content or make the experience more exciting?

2. Choose the tools that will help your build the PWA. Without the right tools, even the best of ideas will go to waste.

3. Design and create the PWA. Make it easy for people to use and add the special features they’d want, like notifications or offline access.

4. Test everything to make sure it works well. Fix any problems and make it as awesome as possible.

5. Show off the PWA to the world! Tell people about it on your website, social media, or emails. Be receptive to feedback and make it even better based on that.

PWAs are like magical bridges between websites and apps. So don’t wait, find your magic bridge builders, i.e. PWA developers and maximize the returns for your content publishing business.

[webdesigncompanyindubai]

Top 7 Tools for Front-end Web Development

Front-end web development has evolved significantly over the years, and with it, a plethora of tools have emerged to make the process smoother, more efficient, and visually appealing. These tools empower developers to create stunning user interfaces, enhance user experience, and optimize website performance. In this article, we'll explore the top 7 tools for front-end web development that are essential for modern web projects.

1. Visual Studio Code (VS Code):

Visual Studio Code, commonly known as VS Code, is a versatile and powerful code editor developed by Microsoft. With its rich features and extensive extensions, it has become the preferred choice for front-end developers. Its built-in Git integration, IntelliSense, debugging capabilities, and support for multiple programming languages make it an indispensable tool for coding, debugging, and collaboration. Hire Megatask Web for Web Design and Development Service.

2. React:

React, a JavaScript library developed by Facebook, is widely used for building dynamic and interactive user interfaces. It allows developers to create reusable UI components, making the development process efficient and scalable. With its virtual DOM and one-way data binding, React ensures optimal performance and responsiveness in web applications.

3. Bootstrap:

Bootstrap is a popular front-end framework that provides a collection of pre-designed components, layouts, and styles to expedite web development. It offers a responsive grid system, typography, and CSS classes for rapid prototyping and consistent design. Bootstrap's documentation and ease of use make it an excellent choice for both beginners and experienced developers.

4. Sass (Syntactically Awesome Style Sheets):

Sass is a powerful CSS preprocessor that enhances the capabilities of traditional CSS. It introduces variables, mixins, nested rules, and more, making the process of writing and maintaining CSS code more efficient. Sass enables developers to create reusable styles, streamline code organization, and achieve consistent design across projects. Click Here for Best Web Design Company in US

5. Webpack:

Webpack is a module bundler that simplifies the management of assets, such as JavaScript files, stylesheets, and images. It enables developers to bundle, minify, and optimize assets for production, improving website performance. Additionally, Webpack supports hot module replacement, allowing developers to see changes in real-time without reloading the entire page.

6. Figma:

Figma is a collaborative design tool that facilitates the creation of visually appealing user interfaces. It allows designers and developers to work together in real-time, streamlining the design-to-development process. Figma's responsive design features, prototyping capabilities, and shared libraries make it an invaluable tool for creating cohesive and user-centric designs. Visit https://megataskweb.com/  for Web Design and Development Company in US

7. Chrome Dev Tools:

Chrome Dev Tools is a set of browser-based developer tools that enable developers to inspect, debug, and optimize their web applications. It provides real-time monitoring of network activity, performance analysis, and responsive design testing. With its advanced features like JavaScript debugging and CSS profiling, Chrome Dev Tools aids in identifying and rectifying issues efficiently.

FAQs about Front-end Web Development Tools:

Q1: Are these tools suitable for beginners in front-end development?

A1: Yes, many of these tools offer user-friendly interfaces and comprehensive documentation, making them accessible to beginners.

Q2: Can I use multiple front-end tools together in a project?

A2: Absolutely, many developers use a combination of tools to streamline various aspects of web development, such as code editing, UI design, and asset management.

Q3: Are these tools relevant for mobile-first design?

A3: Yes, these tools are adaptable to mobile-first design principles, allowing developers to create responsive and mobile-friendly websites.

Q4: Are there any costs associated with these tools?

A4: Most of the tools mentioned offer free versions or open-source options. Some may have premium features or subscription plans for advanced functionalities.

Q5: Do I need to be proficient in coding to use these tools?

A5: While some tools require coding skills, others like Figma offer a visual interface that can be utilized by designers and developers alike.

Conclusion

front-end web development tools have revolutionized the way developers create captivating user interfaces and seamless user experiences. From code editors and frameworks to design tools and preprocessors, these tools empower developers to achieve efficiency, maintainability, and innovation in their projects. By harnessing the power of these top 7 tools, front-end developers can stay at the forefront of modern web development practices and deliver exceptional digital experiences.

[websolutionproviderblog]

Enhancing Digital Success: DCUB3 is your Reliable Web Development Company in Singapore

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Elevate Your Website's Visual Appeal With These Effective Techniques For Centering Elements Using CSS

In today’s fast-paced digital world, having a visually appealing website is essential to stand out from the crowd. One effective way to achieve this is by centering elements using CSS. Not only does it make your website look more professional, but it also enhances user experience.

In this blog post, we will introduce you to 11 effective techniques for centering elements using CSS that will elevate the visual appeal of your website and take it to the next level! So get ready to enhance your design skills with these simple yet powerful techniques.

WHAT IS CENTERING ELEMENTS IN CSS?

Centering elements in CSS is a technique for positioning HTML elements on a web page. There are several ways to center elements in CSS, and the most common method is to use the “margin: 0 auto” property.

Other methods of centering elements in CSS include using the “text-align: center” property, or setting the element’s position to “absolute” and using the “left: 50%” and “transform: translateX(-50%)” properties.

The method you choose will depend on the type of element you’re trying to center, and whether or not you want that element to be responsive.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO CENTERING ELEMENTS IN CSS?

It’s important to center elements in CSS because it helps create a more balanced and symmetrical look for your web page. When elements are properly centered, they can add visual appeal and help direct a user’s eye toward the most important information on the page.

There are a number of different techniques that can be used to center elements in CSS. The most common method is to use the text-align property with a value of “center.” This will align all the text within an element to the center of that element.

Another popular technique is to use the margin property with auto values for both the left and right margins. This will cause the browser to automatically calculate equal margins on both sides of an element, effectively centering it within its containing element.

One can also use absolute positioning to center an element within its containing element. This involves setting the position property to “absolute” and then using either top or bottom and left or right properties to adjust the position of the element until it is perfectly centered.

HOW TO CENTER DIV OR TEXT IN DIV USING CSS?

If you’re working on a web design project and want to center either a div or text within a div, there are a couple of ways you can do it using CSS.

If you want to center a block level element like a div, you can use the CSS property “margin: 0 auto”. This will set the margins on the left and right sides of the element to be equal, thereby centering it.

If you want to center text or inline elements within a div, you can use the “text-align: center” property. This will align all the text within the div to be centered.

8 EFFECTIVE TECHNIQUES FOR CENTERING ELEMENTS USING CSS

In order to center elements using CSS, there are a few different techniques that can be employed. One popular technique is to use the “text-align” property with a value of “center.” This can be applied to any block level element, such as a paragraph, and will cause the contents of that element to be centered within the overall width of the containing element.

Another common technique is to set the width of the element to be centered to a specific value, then use the “margin” property with a value of “auto.” This will cause the element to be horizontally centered within its containing element, regardless of the width of that container.

It’s also possible to center elements vertically within their containing elements using CSS. This can be accomplished by setting the height of the container to a specific value, then using the “line-height” property with a value that is equal to or greater than the height of the container. The element will then be vertically centered within its containing element.

These are just a few of the many techniques that can be used for centering elements using CSS. By employing one or more of these techniques, you can easily improve the visual appeal of your website.

– FLEXBOX

When it comes to centering elements using CSS, there is no better option than flexbox. Flexbox provides a simple way to center elements horizontally and vertically within their container. In addition, flexbox can be used to create responsive layouts that automatically adjust to the size of the screen.

To use flexbox for centering, you must first set the display property of the container to flex. Then, you can use the justify-content property to center the elements horizontally, and the align-items property to center them vertically. For example, if you want to center an element horizontally and vertically within its container, you would use the following code:

container { display: flex; justify-content: center; align-items: center; }

– GRID LAYOUT

When it comes to CSS, there are a few different techniques that can be used to center elements on a page. The most common technique is known as the grid layout. This technique involves using a series of nested divs to create a grid of boxes that can then be used to position elements within that grid.

The first step in using the grid layout is to create a series of divs that will act as the columns of your grid. These divs should be given a class name so that they can be easily targeted with CSS. Once you have your column divs in place, you’ll need to add some content to them. This can be done by adding more divs or by using other HTML elements such as paragraphs or headings.

Once you have your columns and content in place, you can start positioning elements within the grid. To do this, you’ll need to use the CSS properties “float” and “clear”. The float property allows you to specify how an element should float within its parent container. By default, elements float to the left side of their container. However, if you want an element to be centered within its container, you’ll need to set the float property to “none”.

The clear property specifies what side of an element’s container other elements are not allowed to float on. So, if you want all subsequent elements after a centered element to also be centered, you would set the clear property to “both”.

App lying the grid layout technique is a great way to create a visually appealing design that is easy to understand and maintain. It also allows you to easily define how elements should be positioned within the grid, making it simple to adjust as needed.

– ABSOLUTE POSITIONING

When it comes to CSS, there are a few different methods that can be used to center elements on a web page. The most common method is to use the text-align property, which can be applied to both block-level and inline elements. However, this method only works if the width of the element is explicitly set.

Another method that can be used is the margin: auto; technique. This can be applied to block-level elements that have a set width, and will cause the element to be centered within its containing element.

If you want to center an element that is not a block-level element, or if you don’t want to set a width, then you can use the absolute positioning technique. With absolute positioning, you can specify exactly where you want an element to appear on the page using the left and top properties. You also need to set the position property to “absolute” for this technique to work.

– RELATIVE POSITIONING

When it comes to CSS, there are a few different ways to center elements on a web page. The most common method is to use the “text-align” property. This can be applied to either the entire page or to individual elements. For example, to center all of the text on your page, you would add the following CSS rule to your stylesheet:

body { text-align: center; }

You can also use the “text-align” property to center specific elements on your page, like images, blockquote, etc. For example, if you want to center an image that’s inside a div element, you would add the following CSS rule:

div { text-align: center; } img { /* this is for centering images */ display: block; margin: 0 auto; /* important */ /* top and bottom margins are 0 */ width: 50%; /* image width can be anything less than or equal to container width */ }

Another way to center elements is by using the “margin” property. You can set the left and right margins to “auto”, which will evenly distribute them within the containing element. This works for both block level and inline elements. For example, if you want to center a div element on your page, you would add the following CSS rule:

div { margin-left: auto; /* important */ margin-right: auto; /* important */ width: 50%; /* div width can be anything less than or equal to its parent container width */ }

Finally, you can use the “position” property with the “relative” value. This will set an element’s position relative to its containing element and then center it using margins. For example, if you want to center a div element on your page, you would add the following CSS rule:

div { position: relative; /* important */ left: 50%; /* important */ top: 50%; /* important */ margin-left: -25%; /* important */ margin-top: -25%; /* important */ width: 50%; /* div width can be anything less than or equal to its parent container width */ }

– TRANSLATE METHOD

When it comes to centering elements using CSS, there are a few different methods you can use. The ‘translate’ method is one of the more popular and effective techniques.

With the translate method, you can essentially move an element around on the page until it’s perfectly centered. To do this, you’ll need to set the element’s ‘transform’ property to ‘translate(X, Y)’. X and Y represent the amount of pixels you want to move the element horizontally and vertically, respectively.

For example, if you wanted to center an element horizontally on a page, you would set the X value to ‘50%’ and leave the Y value at ‘0px’. This would cause the element to be positioned 50% from the left side of the page (the exact center).

You can also use negative values for X and Y if you want to move an element up or left from its current position. So, if you wanted to move an element 10px to the left and 5px up from its current position, you would set the X value to ‘-10px’ and the Y value to ‘-5px’.

Once you have your desired position set, all that’s left is to add some vendor prefixes (-webkit-, -moz-, etc.) so that your CSS will work across all browsers.

– MARGIN AUTO METHOD

When it comes to CSS, there are a number of different methods that can be used to center elements on a web page. One popular method is known as the margin auto technique. This approach is relatively simple and only requires a few lines of code.

Here’s how the margin auto method works:

First, you need to set the width of the element that you want to center. This can be done using the width property in CSS. Next, you need to set the left and right margins to auto. This will cause the browser to automatically calculate equal margins for the element, effectively centering it on the page.

And that’s all there is to it! The margin auto method is a quick and easy way to center elements using CSS. Give it a try next time you’re working on a web project.

– TEXT ALIGN PROPERTY METHOD

The text-align property is a CSS method for centering elements on a web page. This can be done horizontally, vertically, or both.

To center horizontally, you would use the text-align:center; property. This is probably the most common way to center elements on a web page.

To center vertically, you need to use a different method. One way to do this is by setting the element’s height and width properties to 100%. Then, set the top and bottom margins to auto. This will make the element centered vertically on the page.

You can also use the flexbox model to center elements vertically. The flexbox model is powerful and has many other applications beyond centering elements. If you’re not familiar with flexbox, there are plenty of tutorials online that can help you get started.

– TRANSFORM PROPERTY METHOD

When it comes to centering elements using CSS, the transform property method is one of the most effective. This is because it allows you to center an element horizontally and vertically at the same time.

To use this method, you first need to add the following CSS code to your element:

transform: translate(-50%, -50%);

This will cause your element to be positioned 50% from the top and 50% from the bottom of its containing element. As a result, it will be horizontally and vertically centered.

CONCLUSION

CSS centering elements is a simple but effective way to improve the visual appeal of your website. By implementing these techniques, you can create attractive and well-balanced designs that are both eye-catching and easy to read. With the help of CSS, you can add custom styles to your webpages in no time at all.

So don’t wait any longer – get started with centering elements using CSS and elevate your website’s visual appeal today!

[knick-global]

The Rising Trend of Play-to-Earn Games and Innovative Development Companies in the USA

In recent years, the gaming industry has witnessed a revolutionary shift with the emergence of play-to-earn games. These games allow players to earn real-world rewards and even make a living through their in-game achievements. Alongside this trend, various innovative game development companies in the USA have been leading the charge in creating immersive experiences through procedural animation and web-based augmented reality (AR) development. In this blog, we will explore the growing significance of play-to-earn games USA and highlight some prominent USA-based companies driving the advancements in procedural animation and web AR development.

Play-to-Earn Games: A Gamechanger in the Industry:

Play-to-earn games, also known as blockchain-based games or decentralized gaming, have disrupted the traditional gaming landscape. These games leverage blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies to create unique ecosystems where players can earn digital assets, tokens, or even real-world currencies. By participating in gameplay, completing tasks, and achieving in-game milestones, players can unlock valuable rewards that can be traded or monetized outside the game.

The concept of play-to-earn has gained immense popularity due to its potential to provide financial independence and create new economic opportunities for players. With the rise of non-fungible tokens (NFTs), which enable the ownership of unique digital assets, play-to-earn games have seen explosive growth. Players can buy, sell, and trade these digital assets, allowing for a vibrant virtual economy that transcends traditional gaming boundaries.

Prominent Play-to-Earn Game Development Companies in the USA:

Forte: Based in San Francisco, Forte is a leading play-to-earn game development company that focuses on building blockchain-based ecosystems for game developers and players. Their platform enables the creation of in-game economies and facilitates secure and transparent transactions using blockchain technology.

Immutable: Headquartered in Sydney, Australia, with a strong presence in the USA, Immutable has developed the popular play-to-earn game "Gods Unchained." This blockchain-based trading card game allows players to earn digital assets that hold real-world value, creating a thriving marketplace for collectors and players alike.

Procedural Animation: Breathing Life into Virtual Worlds:

Procedural animation is a technique that empowers developers to create lifelike and dynamic movements within virtual environments. By using algorithms and mathematical functions, developers can generate animations that respond intelligently to in-game interactions, enhancing immersion and realism.

Several game development companies in the USA specialize in procedural animation, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in virtual worlds:

SideFX: Based in Santa Monica, California, SideFX develops Houdini, a powerful software widely used in the entertainment industry for procedural animation, visual effects, and game development. Houdini's procedural workflow empowers developers to create complex animations and simulations efficiently.

Giant Sparrow: Known for their critically acclaimed game "What Remains of Edith Finch," Giant Sparrow is a game development studio located in Santa Monica, California. They excel in combining procedural animation techniques with compelling storytelling, creating emotionally engaging experiences for players.

Web AR Development: Augmenting Reality through the Browser:

Web-based augmented reality (AR) development has opened up new avenues for creating interactive and immersive experiences accessible through web browsers.

By leveraging web technologies such as WebGL and WebXR, developers can deliver AR content directly to users' devices without the need for installing additional apps.

Prominent Web AR Development Companies in the USA: 8th Wall: Headquartered in Palo Alto, California, 8th Wall specializes in developing tools and platforms that enable web-based AR experiences.

Their technology allows developers to build and deploy AR content easily across a wide range of devices, empowering them to create engaging and interactive web AR.

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How lock-in hurts design

Berliners: Otherland has added a second date (Jan 28) for my book-talk after the first one sold out - book now!

If you've ever read about design, you've probably encountered the idea of "paving the desire path." A "desire path" is an erosion path created by people departing from the official walkway and taking their own route. The story goes that smart campus planners don't fight the desire paths laid down by students; they pave them, formalizing the route that their constituents have voted for with their feet.

Desire paths aren't always great (Wikipedia notes that "desire paths sometimes cut through sensitive habitats and exclusion zones, threatening wildlife and park security"), but in the context of design, a desire path is a way that users communicate with designers, creating a feedback loop between those two groups. The designers make a product, the users use it in ways that surprise the designer, and the designer integrates all that into a new revision of the product.

This method is widely heralded as a means of "co-innovating" between users and companies. Designers who practice the method are lauded for their humility, their willingness to learn from their users. Tech history is strewn with examples of successful paved desire-paths.

Take John Deere. While today the company is notorious for its war on its customers (via its opposition to right to repair), Deere was once a leader in co-innovation, dispatching roving field engineers to visit farms and learn how farmers had modified their tractors. The best of these modifications would then be worked into the next round of tractor designs, in a virtuous cycle:

https://securityledger.com/2019/03/opinion-my-grandfathers-john-deere-would-support-our-right-to-repair/

But this pattern is even more pronounced in the digital world, because it's much easier to update a digital service than it is to update all the tractors in the field, especially if that service is cloud-based, meaning you can modify the back-end everyone is instantly updated. The most celebrated example of this co-creation is Twitter, whose users created a host of its core features.

Retweets, for example, were a user creation. Users who saw something they liked on the service would type "RT" and paste the text and the link into a new tweet composition window. Same for quote-tweets: users copied the URL for a tweet and pasted it in below their own commentary. Twitter designers observed this user innovation and formalized it, turning it into part of Twitter's core feature-set.

Companies are obsessed with discovering digital desire paths. They pay fortunes for analytics software to produce maps of how their users interact with their services, run focus groups, even embed sneaky screen-recording software into their web-pages:

https://www.wired.com/story/the-dark-side-of-replay-sessions-that-record-your-every-move-online/

This relentless surveillance of users is pursued in the name of making things better for them: let us spy on you and we'll figure out where your pain-points and friction are coming from, and remove those. We all win!

But this impulse is a world apart from the humility and respect implied by co-innovation. The constant, nonconsensual observation of users has more to do with controlling users than learning from them.

That is, after all, the ethos of modern technology: the more control a company can exert over its users ,the more value it can transfer from those users to its shareholders. That's the key to enshittification, the ubiquitous platform decay that has degraded virtually all the technology we use, making it worse every day:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/02/19/twiddler/

When you are seeking to control users, the desire paths they create are all too frequently a means to wrestling control back from you. Take advertising: every time a service makes its ads more obnoxious and invasive, it creates an incentive for its users to search for "how do I install an ad-blocker":

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2019/07/adblocking-how-about-nah

More than half of all web-users have installed ad-blockers. It's the largest consumer boycott in human history:

https://doc.searls.com/2023/11/11/how-is-the-worlds-biggest-boycott-doing/

But zero app users have installed ad-blockers, because reverse-engineering an app requires that you bypass its encryption, triggering liability under Section 1201 of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. This law provides for a $500,000 fine and a 5-year prison sentence for "circumvention" of access controls:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/01/12/youre-holding-it-wrong/#if-dishwashers-were-iphones

Beyond that, modifying an app creates liability under copyright, trademark, patent, trade secrets, noncompete, nondisclosure and so on. It's what Jay Freeman calls "felony contempt of business model":

https://locusmag.com/2020/09/cory-doctorow-ip/

This is why services are so horny to drive you to install their app rather using their websites: they are trying to get you to do something that, given your druthers, you would prefer not to do. They want to force you to exit through the gift shop, you want to carve a desire path straight to the parking lot. Apps let them mobilize the law to literally criminalize those desire paths.

An app is just a web-page wrapped in enough IP to make it a felony to block ads in it (or do anything else that wrestles value back from a company). Apps are web-pages where everything not forbidden is mandatory.

Seen in this light, an app is a way to wage war on desire paths, to abandon the cooperative model for co-innovation in favor of the adversarial model of user control and extraction.

Corporate apologists like to claim that the proliferation of apps proves that users like them. Neoliberal economists love the idea that business as usual represents a "revealed preference." This is an intellectually unserious tautology: "you do this, so you must like it":

https://boingboing.net/2024/01/22/hp-ceo-says-customers-are-a-bad-investment-unless-they-can-be-made-to-buy-companys-drm-ink-cartridges.html

Calling an action where no alternatives are permissible a "preference" or a "choice" is a cheap trick – especially when considered against the "preferences" that reveal themselves when a real choice is possible. Take commercial surveillance: when Apple gave Ios users a choice about being spied on – a one-click opt of of app-based surveillance – 96% of users choice no spying:

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/05/96-of-us-users-opt-out-of-app-tracking-in-ios-14-5-analytics-find/

But then Apple started spying on those very same users that had opted out of spying by Facebook and other Apple competitors:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/11/14/luxury-surveillance/#liar-liar

Neoclassical economists aren't just obsessed with revealed preferences – they also love to bandy about the idea of "moral hazard": economic arrangements that tempt people to be dishonest. This is typically applied to the public ("consumers" in the contemptuous parlance of econospeak). But apps are pure moral hazard – for corporations. The ability to prohibit desire paths – and literally imprison rivals who help your users thwart those prohibitions – is too tempting for companies to resist.

The fact that the majority of web users block ads reveals a strong preference for not being spied on ("users just want relevant ads" is such an obvious lie that doesn't merit any serious discussion):

https://www.iccl.ie/news/82-of-the-irish-public-wants-big-techs-toxic-algorithms-switched-off/

Giant companies attained their scale by learning from their users, not by thwarting them. The person using technology always knows something about what they need to do and how they want to do it that the designers can never anticipate. This is especially true of people who are unlike those designers – people who live on the other side of the world, or the other side of the economic divide, or whose bodies don't work the way that the designers' bodies do:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/10/20/benevolent-dictators/#felony-contempt-of-business-model

Apps – and other technologies that are locked down so their users can be locked in – are the height of technological arrogance. They embody a belief that users are to be told, not heard. If a user wants to do something that the designer didn't anticipate, that's the user's fault:

https://www.wired.com/2010/06/iphone-4-holding-it-wrong/

Corporate enthusiasm for prohibiting you from reconfiguring the tools you use to suit your needs is a declaration of the end of history. "Sure," John Deere execs say, "we once learned from farmers by observing how they modified their tractors. But today's farmers are so much stupider and we are so much smarter that we have nothing to learn from them anymore."

Spying on your users to control them is a poor substitute asking your users their permission to learn from them. Without technological self-determination, preferences can't be revealed. Without the right to seize the means of computation, the desire paths never emerge, leaving designers in the dark about what users really want.

Our policymakers swear loyalty to "innovation" but when corporations ask for the right to decide who can innovate and how, they fall all over themselves to create laws that let companies punish users for the crime of contempt of business-model.

I'm Kickstarting the audiobook for The Bezzle, the sequel to Red Team Blues, narrated by @wilwheaton! You can pre-order the audiobook and ebook, DRM free, as well as the hardcover, signed or unsigned. There's also bundles with Red Team Blues in ebook, audio or paperback.

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/01/24/everything-not-mandatory/#is-prohibited

Image: Belem (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Desire_path_%2819811581366%29.jpg

CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en