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Aim/Purpose: As smartphones proliferate, many different platforms begin to emerge. The challenge to developers as well as IS [Information Systems] educators and students is how to learn the skills to design and develop apps to run on cross-platforms. Background: For developers, the purpose of this paper is to describe an alternative to the complex native app development. For IS educators and students, the paper provides a feasible way to learn and develop fully functional mobile apps without technical burdens. Methodology: The methods used in the development of browser-based apps is prototyping. Our proposed approach is browser-based, supports cross-platforms, uses open-source standards, and takes advantage of "write-once-and-run-anywhere" (WORA) concept. Contribution: The paper illustrates the application of the browser-based approach to create a series of browser apps without high learning curve. Findings: The results show the potentials for using browser app approach to teach as well as to create new apps. Recommendations for Practitioners: Our proposed browser app development approach and example would be useful to mobile app developers/IS educators and non-technical students because the source code as well as documentations in this project are available for downloading. Future Research: For further work, we discuss the use of hybrid development framework to enhance browser apps.

As mobile devices become prevalent, there is always a need for apps. How hard is it to develop an app, especially a cross-platform app? The paper shares an experience in a project that involved the development of a student services web app that can be run on cross-platform mobile devices. The paper first describes the background of the project, the clients, and the proposed solution. Then, it focuses on the step-by-step development processes and provides the illustration of written codes and techniques used. The goal is for readers to gain an understanding on how to develop a mobile-friendly web app. The paper concludes with teaching implications and offers thoughts for further development.

Aim/Purpose Despite millions of apps on the market, it is still challenging to develop a mobile app that can run across platforms using the same code. Background This paper explores a potential solution for developing cross platform apps by presenting the hybrid app approach. Methodology The paper first describes a brief evolution of the different mobile app development approaches and then compares them with the hybrid app approach. Next, it focuses on one specific hybrid app development framework called Ionic. Contribution The paper presents the hybrid app approach as an emerging trend in mobile app development and concludes with the highlight of its advantages and teaching implications. Findings The hybrid app approach reduces the learning curve and offers tools to allow the reuse of code to create apps for different mobile devices. Recommendations for Practitioners The experience that the paper describes in using Ionic framework to create a hybrid app can be adopted in a web design or mobile app development course. Impact on Society The advance in hybrid framework in general and the growing acceptance of open source framework, such as Ionic in particular, may provide an alternative to the native app domination and may trigger the rapid rise of hybrid apps in the years to come. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) has been reported to be widely distributed in mountain wetlands of Nepal, though recent records have been scarce. The species is categorized as Near Threatened in the National Red List Assessment estimating its population as 1,000-4,000 individuals which is not based on a comprehensive status survey. Here, we review the past reports of the status and distribution of Eurasian otters in Nepal, and provide an update on the basis of literature review and a limited test surveys of some wetlands. We conclude that there has not been a single verifiable and conclusive record of the Eurasian otter in Nepal in recent years. Recent verifiable reports of otters have been entirely of smooth-coated otters. We suggest that there may have been a dramatic countrywide decline of Eurasian otter from their former ranges. Anthropogenic threats, illegal trade and habitat degradation threaten otter species throughout Asia, and reliable scientific and genetic studies are needed to get clear understanding of Eurasian otter status in Nepal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]