Understanding public Cloud : Cloud Real Devices vs. physical devices, VMs and Simulators
Tags: automationframeworks, fragmentationtesting
Published: 2024-05-13 10:35:14

Introduction:
 

– In today’s fast-changing digital world, making sure Android, iOS, and hybrid apps work well for users is really important. To achieve this, continuous testing has become a crucial practice. It’s like a steady beat that ensures that these apps are strong and reliable. And in this landscape, the pCloudy [Continuous Testing](https://www.pcloudy.com/blogs/continuous-testing/) Cloud stands out like a game-changer. It’s like a new tune that’s changing how we test apps, whether they’re for Android, iOS, or both.

 

The Need for Continuous Testing:
 

– Diverse Device Ecosystem:
 

  – The fragmentation of devices across Android, iOS, and hybrid platforms necessitates a comprehensive testing solution to ensure consistent user experience.

  – Without thorough testing, disparities in Android and iOS device capabilities could lead to suboptimal user interactions, hindering app adoption.

 

– User-Centric Approach:
 

  – Modern users demand impeccable performance from Android and iOS apps.

  – Continuous testing becomes essential to ensure that every update meets the high standards set by users and enhances their experience.

 

– Rapid Release Cycles:
 

  – Agile and DevOps methodologies emphasize frequent releases for Android and iOS apps to stay competitive.

  – Continuous testing serves as the backbone of this approach, facilitating rapid iterations while preserving app quality.

 

The Working of Public Cloud for Continuous Testing:
 

Hosting Real Devices on a Public Cloud:

 – Device Cloud:
    – The core of pCloudy’s offering is the Device Cloud — a virtual repository hosting an extensive range of real Android, iOS, and hybrid devices.

    – These devices are remotely accessible, enabling testers to assess app performance across diverse hardware configurations.


  – Device Management:
 

    – Beyond device availability, public cloud platforms offer sophisticated tools to effectively manage Android, iOS, and hybrid devices.

    – Testers schedule tests, install applications, and execute actions across multiple devices simultaneously, optimizing efficiency.

 

  – Remote Access:
 

    – Remote access to real Android, iOS, and hybrid devices via the cloud platform enables testers to replicate real-world scenarios.

    – This ability for manual testing and debugging contributes to a more holistic validation process.

 

  – Automation Integration:    –
 

The support for [automation frameworks](https://www.pcloudy.com/top-10-test-automation-frameworks/) within public clouds empowers teams to execute automated tests across a multitude of devices concurrently.

    – This integration accelerates testing for Android, iOS, and hybrid apps and bolsters confidence in app quality.

 

– Real-Time Debugging:

  – pCloudy’s real-time debugging capabilities empower testers to promptly diagnose issues as they arise, streamlining the troubleshooting process.

  – Rapid issue identification accelerates defect resolution, leading to faster iterations and reduced bottlenecks in Android, iOS, and hybrid app development.

 

– Comprehensive Test Reports:

 
– The test reports generated by platforms like pCloudy provide a deep dive into test executions, offering actionable insights.

  – These insights facilitate informed decision-making, enhance collaboration among Android, iOS, and hybrid app development teams, and drive continuous improvement efforts.

 

Benefits of Public Cloud Testing over VMs and Simulators:
 

– Real Devices vs. Simulators:
 

  – Accurate Testing:
 

    – Real Android and iOS devices replicate real-world usage conditions, enabling precise assessment of performance and identification of subtle bugs that might remain hidden on simulators.

    – This accuracy reduces the risk of releasing Android and iOS apps with latent defects, leading to higher user satisfaction.

 

  – Sensor Testing:
 

    – Many Android and iOS apps rely on device sensors like GPS and accelerometers to deliver core functionalities.

    – Real devices are essential for comprehensive sensor testing, ensuring that the app behaves as expected in practical scenarios.

 

  – Network Conditions:
 

    – Real devices emulate genuine network conditions, uncovering potential connectivity issues that simulators often struggle to replicate accurately.

    – This realistic network testing mitigates the risk of poor user experience due to connectivity problems in Android and iOS apps.


– Real Devices vs. Virtual Machines (VMs): 
 

  – Performance Evaluation:
 

    – VMs lack the nuanced performance characteristics of real Android and iOS devices, rendering them inadequate for simulating real-world app behavior.

    – Testing on real devices provides a more reliable assessment of how Android and iOS apps will perform in actual usage scenarios.



  – Hardware Interaction:
 

    – Real devices facilitate interaction with specific hardware components such as camera quality, touch sensitivity, and battery behavior.

    – These interactions are crucial for validating the holistic functionality of Android and iOS apps.

 

  – [Fragmentation Testing](https://www.pcloudy.com/blogs/testing-fragmentation-and-need-for-cross-browser-compatibility-testing/):
 

    – Public cloud platforms grant access to an expansive array of devices, effectively addressing the challenge of device fragmentation.

    – Fragmentation testing on real Android and iOS devices ensures broad compatibility, enhancing user satisfaction and minimizing post-release issues.

 

Exploring the Interface: pCloudy’s Public Cloud vs. Physical Devices:
 

– A Haven for Remote Testing: Cloud Real Devices: 
 

  – Access from Anywhere:
 

    – Remote access and control of Android, iOS, and hybrid devices helps remove geographical barriers, enabling teams to collaborate effortlessly across different geolocations.

 

  – Seamless Interaction:
 

    – The interface delivers real-time control, allowing testers to execute actions just as if they were physically handling the Android, iOS, or hybrid device.

    – This seamless interaction accelerates testing workflows and fosters more accurate testing scenarios.

 

– The Traditional Approach: Physical Devices:
 

  – Physical Presence Needed:
 

    – Interacting with Android, iOS, and hybrid devices necessitates physical presence, posing challenges for remote teams and hindering distributed testing efforts.

    – This requirement limits flexibility and potentially elongates the testing lifecycle.

– Need for Speed: Low Latency and Swift Interactions:

 

  – pCloudy’s Agility Advantage:
 

    – pCloudy’s commitment to being the fastest-performance cloud translates to minimal latency during interactions.

    – This low latency leads to swift touch, swipe, and gesture interaction with devices, giving users insights into real-time user experiences.

 

  – Instant Responsiveness:
 

    – The rapid response times contribute to enhancing the accuracy of testing and provide a more realistic user experience during testing.

    – Instantaneous feedback reduces idle time and accelerates the overall testing process.

– Traditional Delays with Physical Devices:

 

  – Device Availability:
 

    – The availability of Android, iOS, and hybrid devices can introduce delays, causing testers to wait for access and affecting project timelines.

 

  – Geographical Hurdles:
 

    – Teams dispersed across different locations may encounter difficulties in accessing and sharing Android, iOS, and hybrid devices.

    – These geographical barriers can hamper collaboration and introduce inefficiencies into the testing process.



6 Common Misconceptions about the public cloud.

Can You Really Test Audio Output? What About Touch ID, Barcode Scanning, and More?



1: Can You Really Test Audio Output on Cloud Devices?


Response: Yes, you can! pCloudy’s innovative cloud platform paves the way for audio output testing by delivering audio feedback during app testing. Testers can verify audio quality, volume control, and sound performance across a wide spectrum of real devices.

 

2: What About Touch ID Testing on Cloud Devices?

Response: Testing the Touch ID feature on real android and iOS devices is a piece of cake on the pCloudy platform. Touch ID testing is no longer an enigma. The platform enables interactive testing on actual devices, allowing testers to perform Touch ID interactions and replicate user actions for authentic testing scenarios.

 

3: Is Barcode Scanning Possible in a Cloud Device Testing Environment?

Response: Barcode scanning can be performed in a jiffy. pCloudy’s trailblazing cloud platform offers support for barcode scanning functionality on real devices. Testers can harness the camera functionality to thoroughly test barcode scanning, ensuring accuracy and performance.

 

4: Can Gesture Control Testing Truly Be Achieved?

Response: Absolutely. pCloudy’s cloud platform demystifies gesture control testing by granting testers remote control over real devices. This empowers them to perform gestures like swipes, pinches, and taps, just as they would with a device in hand.

 

5: How Effective is Accessibility Testing on Cloud Devices?
 

Response: The pCloudy platform addresses accessibility testing with a proactive approach. By providing real devices with various accessibility features enabled, testers can meticulously evaluate the app’s compatibility with screen readers, magnification, and other accessibility settings.

 

Beyond the Misconception: Exploring pCloudy’s Holistic Approach
 

Seamless Integration through APIs:
pCloudy’s cloud platform seamlessly integrates with testing workflows using an extensive set of APIs. Testers can automate tasks, manage devices, and run tests with ease through API calls, streamlining the testing process.


Device Interaction and Remote Control:
 

Testers can exercise remote control over real devices on the pCloudy platform, engaging with them as if they were physically present. This facet ensures exhaustive testing of touch-based interactions, hardware functionality, and real-world scenarios.

 

Fostering Collaborative Testing:

pCloudy’s collaborative testing capabilities foster effective teamwork. Multiple team members can simultaneously access and test devices, promoting parallel testing and enhancing overall collaboration.

 

Device Management and Live Monitoring:

The pCloudy platform empowers testers with robust device management capabilities. From installing and uninstalling apps to clearing cache, testers can perform various device-related actions. Real-time device monitoring ensures efficient device utilization and availability for testing

 

6: Can You Test Intranet Applications on Cloud Devices?
 

Response: Yes, with pCloudy’s innovative Wildnet feature, you can indeed test intranet applications on cloud devices. Wildnet lets you access devices in your local environment, bridging the gap between the secure boundaries of your network and cloud testing.

 

Presenting pCloudy’s Wildnet Feature:
 

What is Wildnet?
 

pCloudy’s Wildnet is a groundbreaking feature that enables testers to access and test devices within their organization’s intranet environment. This feature ensures that even applications hosted on local environments or intranet networks can be tested effectively.

 

How Does Wildnet Work?
 

Wildnet leverages a secure agent installed within the organization’s network. This agent acts as a bridge, facilitating secure communication between devices within the intranet and the pCloudy cloud platform. Testers can then remotely access and control these intranet devices, just like they would with devices hosted on the cloud.

 

What are the Advantages of Cloud real devices Over Traditional Physical Devices?

Collaboration Made Effortless: Sharing Bugs and Screenshots with Integration
 

– pCloudy’s collaboration feature enables testers to share bugs and screenshots seamlessly with test management and collaboration tools like [Jira](https://pcloudy.document360.io/docs/jira) and [Slack](https://www.pcloudy.com/slack-integration/). With just one click, testers can provide detailed bug reports and visual evidence, streamlining the debugging process and enhancing team communication.


Parallel Testing on Multiple Real Devices: A Test Team’s Dream
–  pCloudy allows testers to conduct parallel testing on multiple real devices simultaneously. This capability drastically reduces testing time and accelerates the release process, ensuring optimal test coverage across a diverse device landscape.


Integration with CI/CD and Automation Tools: Streamlined Testing Workflows
 

– pCloudy’s compatibility with various CI/CD and automation tools empowers testing teams to seamlessly execute tests through their preferred tools. This integration enhances automation efficiency, allowing teams to run tests continuously as part of the development pipeline.

 

Device Planner: Optimizing Device Access and Availability
 

– pCloudy’s Device Planner helps testing teams manage device access efficiently. Testers can reserve devices for specific testing slots, ensuring devices are available when needed and preventing resource clashes.

 

Self Healing: Ensuring Device Health and Consistency
 

– pCloudy’s Self Healing feature automatically restores devices to their original state after each test, ensuring consistent test environments. This minimizes the impact of test artifacts and guarantees reliable testing results.


Follow Me: Synchronous Mode Testing Across Devices
 

Response: The Follow Me feature enables testers to replicate their test steps across multiple devices effortlessly. This ensures consistent testing across devices, eliminating variations and time consuming due to manual efforts.


Certifaya: Exploratory Testing Bot 
 

– pCloudy’s Certifaya enables testers to focus on the more important aspects of testing while the bot performs exploratory testing to check various functionalities and performance of the app. 

 

The Cost Benefits of pCloudy public cloud Compared to Physical Devices

Cost Savings:
 

Utilizing pCloudy for testing across 500+ real mobile devices and 5000+ device-browser combinations comes at a cost of less than $1 per day. In contrast, opting for physical devices involves a significant upfront investment of $1200 for an average iPhone alone, not including maintenance costs. By leveraging pCloudy, the need for these initial expenses in procuring physical devices is eliminated, resulting in substantial savings equivalent to the average device cost of $1200 each.

Pay-as-You-Go Model: Pay only for the resources you use, ensuring efficient and budget-friendly testing.

For a detailed overview of our pricing plans and options, please navigate to our [dedicated pricing page](https://www.pcloudy.com/pricing-packages/)  Make informed decisions about the best package for your needs.

Reduced Hardware Costs: With pCloudy, there’s no need to invest in an extensive range of physical devices, leading to significant cost savings.
Time and Resource Efficiency: Parallel testing on cloud devices accelerates testing cycles, saving valuable time and resources in the long run.
Maintenance Overhead Reduction: pCloudy handles device maintenance, updates, and upkeep, eliminating the need for dedicated resources to manage physical devices.
Global Accessibility: pCloudy’s cloud-based approach enables teams to access devices from anywhere, reducing the need for physical device distribution and management.

Key Takeaways
 

The choice between testing on real devices via public clouds, VMs, or simulators holds the power to significantly shape the final quality of a product.
Public cloud platforms, exemplified by pCloudy’s Continuous Testing Cloud, serve as comprehensive solutions by hosting a diverse spectrum of real devices, allowing accurate testing in myriad scenarios.
The benefits of testing on real devices—ranging from accurate performance assessment and sensor validation to network simulation—outweigh the constraints of VMs and simulators.
By embracing continuous testing powered by public cloud infrastructure, businesses can confidently ensure their applications meet user expectations, deliver seamless performance across devices, and seamlessly integrate with rapid development cycles.