Author Archives: Hussain Fakhruddin

Top 12 Reasons Why You Should Request Free App Quotes

Prior to delegating your app project to any mobile development agency, you should ask for a detailed free app quote. In today’s discussion, we highlight some key benefits of asking for such app quotes from companies.

 

If you have a viable app idea, getting it developed is not a tough ask. There are hundreds of good mobile app development companies in practically every country – who can handle your project, do the necessary coding, share prototypes and wireframes with you, and submit the app in its final form. However, the first point of interaction between you and any app developer (from a company or a freelancer) would be when you ask for free app quotes. Why do you need to get detailed quotes at the very outset? Here are some reasons:

 

  1. To get an idea about the overall expenses – Depending on the type of Android or iPhone app you wish to create, companies will give you estimates of the total app development costs. This is essential for you to determine whether your idea is indeed worth spending the quoted amount, or whether you should put it on the back-burner and think up some other, simpler app concept. Unplanned expenses are never good, and mobile app development is not an exception to that.
  2. To compare and select – Wherever you might be from, do a bit of online research – and you will find several local mobile app companies proclaiming themselves to be the best. What’s more, most of them would promise free app quotes as well. It would be a smart option to collect quotes from, say, 4 different companies – compare among them (proposed features, estimated project completion time, costs, etc.), and then select the one that seems the most suitable. Hiring the very first app developer you come across would be too naive.
  3. To make sure that you do not pay unnecessarily – Okay, now let’s focus on the ‘free’ part. When you visit the website of an app development company/get in touch with a freelance developer and ask for online quotes, you are seeking information only, and not any service per se. Only when you select a company and delegate your project to it, does the question of making payments arise. Think of it this way – you have to come to a bookstore and have asked the price of a new novel. Does the store assistant charge you for giving you that information?
  4. To fit app development plans within your budget – One good thing about the online free app quote forms of most companies is that, they let clients take their pick from alternative budget options. Chances are that, you will also find details of the services available corresponding to the different budget slabs. That way, you can proceed with your plans to make a custom mobile app, without having to go overboard with your expenses.
  5. To avoid payment confusions in future – The last thing you want to worry about while your app is being developed are uncertainties about the payments that have to be made. Asking for a detailed free app quote is the smartest way to avoid such concerns. The total cost figure will be clearly specified in the response that your chosen company(ies) provides. If you find that the expenses are spiralling upwards, simply notify the developers about it. Chances of quabbles over payments after the app project is complete will be minimal.
  6. To confirm ownership of intellectual property rights – Nearly all leading iPhone app companies provide a non-competing agreement along with the free app quotes. This is vital, since it establishes that you retain the sole ownership of all intellectual property rights of your application (i.e., the company cannot pass off the app as its in-house product). In case you find that a company is hesitant about signing such agreements, it would be advisable to stay away from it.
  7. To stay involved with the development process – Many people plan to create an app, delegate their project to a company, and wait for the time when the latter finishes the task and the app is submitted to the store. This often results in the app in its final form turning out to be quite different from what you had initially envisaged it to be. At the end of the day, the app developers are working on your idea – and it’s only fair that you should have a say in how the software would be developed. When you ask for a free app quote, you can also share wireframes (if available) with the professionals of your selected firm. Other specific instructions can also be given.
  8. To avoid undue delays – Perfectly good app ideas might come to nothing, if there is too much delay between the thinking and the implementation stages. Almost every good mobile app company responds within a few hours of your contacting them for free quotes on apps. This, in turn, ensures that the actual development starts as soon as you have finalized which company to hire, and signed on the dotted line. When you think up an app idea, you should always look to implement it as soon as possible.
  9. To find out about advance payments – No mobile app developer in the world would agree to take his/her entire payment after the creation of your application is complete. Conversely though, you will come across many companies that demand hefty advance payments – even before any work is started on your project. At the time of asking for free app quotes, you should inquire about the timings when payments would have to be made, and how much has to be paid in advance. Ideally, a decent app company would never ask for more than 30%-35% of the total quoted development cost as advance payment.
  10. To ensure that app upgrades in future would be free too – This is a point where shady app development firms really become active. At the face of it, they give out free app quotes – but they also specify that app upgrades in future would involve additional payments. This somewhat defeats the very essence of getting app quotes for free. You need to make sure that the company of your choice would upgrade your app (if and when required), without charging you anything extra. To create an iPhone/Android app, recurring expenses should not be necessary.
  11. To avail the services of truly the best app companies – There used to be a time (even 3-4 years back), when clients used to look for local app development experts to handle their projects. Thanks to the proliferation of internet across the globe and the provision of free app quotes, getting in touch with, and availing the services of the best multinational mobile app company has become easier than ever before. You might be a resident of, say, Australia, and delegate your app project to a good European, or even Indian, app firm. Geographical boundaries have ceased to really matter.
  12. To give companies a proper launching pad to start brainstorming – The time when you request for app quotes is the best to highlight the precise type of mobile software you wish to be developed. The description and proposed features you provide would give your chosen company a reference point to start brainstorming on how the same can be implemented and what, if any, tweaks would be necessary. Consider this: if you mention that ‘I want an IM app’, the developers would be at a loss about what new features to include in it. However, if you specify that ‘I want an IM app with anonymous chatting features and real-time audio/video sharing’, the company gets a fair idea about the type of application it has to create.

The terms of usage documents provided at the time of getting app quotes should be scanned very carefully – since there are several companies that take up projects, only to re-delegate them to other, third-party firms (not something you would like). If you want to make an app with cross-platform compatibility, you can state that at the outset as well. When you find a mobile app company whose services seem to be good enough, ask for a detailed free app quote from it first. Go through the given details, compare the quote with that provided by at least a couple of rival companies – and then take a final decision on which app company you should hire.

 

Mobile Game Development – Tips For Beginners

In terms of downloads, mobile games have raced ahead of other app categories over the last few quarters. With more and more app developers turning to make games, we have shared a few tips for game development in what follows. They would come in handy for interested developers.

 

Mobile games have come a long way from the days of ‘Snake’ and ‘Bantumi’. The download stats for the first two weeks of January 2015 at the Apple App Store clearly indicate that gaming apps are by far the most popular category of mobile applications at present. During this period, 21.14% of all downloaded apps were iOS games – while educational apps came in a distant second, with a shade over 10% downloads. Not surprisingly, app development companies are increasingly starting to turn their attentions towards creating gamers. We will here discuss a few pointers for efficient mobile game development for professional developers:

 

  1. Start off with a 2D game – Yes, 3D games are more popular, but they are trickier to create as well. As a beginner, you should start out with a relatively simple 2D game. For creating the game elements and assets, you will need to have in-depth knowledge of working with Photoshop. There are several 2D game engine tools available as well (e.g., GameSalad), which you can refer to – in case your programming expertise is on the lower side. With time, start learning 3ds Max, Maya and similar applications, which would help you graduate to 3D games.
  2. Select the iOS or Android platform – Blackberry App World is not going to recover anytime soon, Tizen is still iffy, and Windows has a lot of catching up to do. To ensure high visibility of your game, choose between the Apple iOS and the Google Android platforms. Getting a new app approved on the latter is easier, but app and game developers typically make more money from Apple App Store.
  3. Keep things familiar – The interaction time of users with gaming apps is low – generally, a few minutes at a stretch. If you put in a host of never-seen-before features in your game, do not expect people to actually spend time to ‘learn’ how it works. Keep the gameplay options simple – so that users from any age group can try their hands on it, without having to refer to the instruction manual. The moment your mobile game is perceived to be ‘difficult’, its download figures will plummet.
  4. For games, content is the king – Most new indie app developers as well as mobile game development companies make the mistake of focusing too much on the graphic designs of games – while the actual game content takes a backseat. This should never be the case. The layout, display, controls and UI/UX of a game should complement a strong, engaging, unique content. No one downloads games to check out how beautiful it looks – it’s all about whether the central theme of the game appeals to them.
  5. Go with the flow – Selecting the genre for a new game need not be as difficult as it is often made out to be. Any good Android/iPhone game developer would agree that the best idea is to do a research on which genre(s) are the most popular at present, and make your game belong to it. For instance, the immense popularity of Candy Crush Saga confirms that Arcade games are in vogue now. Action-based games, like treasure hunts, have plenty of takers too. Avoid making a game in a genre that is not generally liked. To put it differently, don’t try to be a ‘game-changer’!
  6. Keep learning all the time – As you gradually move your mobile game from the concept to the development/designing stage, avail of all the available online tutorials and resources. From sources like Lynda, Cartoon Smart and Digital Tutors (to name a few), you will find a lot of helpful pointers for making your very first gaming app. Network with other mobile app and game developers, and find out what other resources/references/game samples they use as reference. The more you know about making a game, the better it will turn out to be. Remember, you should never be in a tearing hurry to launch your game.
  7. Don’t get bogged down by mistakes – Coding, even during your college days, wasn’t easy – and things will (let’s face it) get tougher when you start developing your own game app. Be prepared to make coding errors, design mistakes and other follies – even the best mobile app developers make them. What you need to do is learn from your mistakes, and make sure that they do not happen again. In case your first mobile game flops (and there is a fair chance of that), try to find what exactly went wrong. You will be able to make a better, more successful game later, with the help of this knowledge.
  8. Be familiar with the IDEs – If you are planning to go for cross-platform mobile game development, you will have to simultaneously learn how to work with Xcode (for iOS) and Eclipse (for Android). Ideally though, you should select one platform, and get familiar with its integrated development environment (IDE). For designing purposes, you will have to learn (in case you have a separate team of mobile app designers, train them) the workings of free tools like Inkscape and Gimp first. Later on, you can move on to more complex tools like Adobe Creative Suite. Take one step at a time, and get your feet gradually wet in this domain. There is no need to learn everything at once.
  9. Keep the user motivated – There are two basic thumb-rules that any mobile game development expert must follow: Firstly, the game should never ‘end’, and there should be many levels which the users can gradually progress too. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, there needs to be missions/objectives of the gameplay. A user should feel that the entire game has a goal (maybe collecting coins, getting reward points, unlocking secret treasures, etc.). A purposeless mobile game would soon bore people.
  10. Consider your target audience – Are you making a mobile game for small kids? Will your game mostly be played by adults on the go (think about those people furiously tapping away at their smartphones while traveling!)? What would be the income bracket of the people who are most likely to download your game? These basic queries need to be resolved, before you get down to make an Android or iPhone game. Features like in-app purchases, inclusion of violence in the gameplay (for combat games) should be decided on the basis of the profile of your target audience. In a fun game for kids, you will need to include child-friendly controls too.
  11. Have a USP for your game – While it is not advisable to not make a totally out-of-the-box app, it is vital to differentiate your game from the thousands of others already present at the online app stores. Pick a feature of your game that, while not necessarily unique, can serve as its main USP (for instance, one-shot death, star system, online/offline modes, multiplayer options, etc.). Make sure that all your hard work does not lead to the creation of ‘just another game with nothing special about it’.
  12. Test your game – The last thing any new game developer wants to hear is that bugs and crashes have been reported in his/her recently launched mobile game. Prior to submitting at the App Store/Play Store, get your game tested on devices – by relatives, colleagues, friends and other reliable acquaintances in your circle. Ask for honest, detailed feedback. If any of the features of the game is found to be problematic, work on it (redesigning and tweaking with the app codes are part and parcel of mobile game development). Only when your focus group of testers are satisfied with your game, plan its release.
  13. How long should you spend on developing a game? – A tricky question – but one you need to address at the very outset. While it is not possible to make a proper mobile gaming app in a couple of weeks flat – do not spend more than 12-14 weeks on a single project. The development process can get delayed due to a host of reasons – and if most of those reasons are technical, you would be better off moving on to another mobile game project.
  14. Give your game as much exposure as possible – Making a great game no longer cuts the ice, if you do not promote it properly. The World Wide Web is as good a platform as you can hope to get, to publicize your game. Use social networking channels like Twitter, Facebook and Google Plus to share screenshots and trivia about your game. Share reviews of your games (provided, of course, they are positive!) on these sites as well. Do not publish fake testimonials and reviews, however – as many mobile app companies do. Ask for opinions and suggestions from people who have already downloaded your game. Ideally, you should start building up curiosity about your game from a few weeks before its release.

 

There are certain app categories, in which new apps start off slowly, and then gradually pick up. Unfortunately, mobile games are not one of them. If the download figures remain low over the first 2-3 weeks after its launch, you will have to accept that it has not worked (for whatever reasons), learn from the experience, and proceed towards making a better game. Making mobile games can be a lot of fun – all that you need to have are the necessary coding skills, an imaginative streak, eagerness to learn, and…the most difficult part for many…lots of patience.

 

14 Handy Pointers For Programming With Apple Swift

All set to start creating iOS apps with Swift? Go through our round-up of some interesting features of Apple’s new programming language, before getting down to code with it.

 

Apple’s all-new programming language, Swift, has been in the news ever since it was initially announced at WWDC 2014. The internet has been flooded with online tutorials, for programmers and app developers to get a hang of the new language. On October 7, Apple posted a video on its official developer blog, providing directions as to how iOS apps could be created using the new programming language. We will here share a few tips and pointers that would come in handy while coding for apps with Swift:

 

  1. No more ‘go to fail’ errors – Swift has been conceptualized as a more secure programming language than Objective-C. Software and mobile app developers need to use open brackets while using ‘if’ statements in their codes. This, in turn, removes all chances of the problematic SSL ‘go to fail’ bug message. A default statement also has to be provided in the switch statements. That way, even if none of the statement possibilities are satisfied, the program will have something to run on.
  2. Using Swift REPL – One of the smartest (and easiest too) ways to interact with the Swift codes is Apple’s very own ‘Read-Eval-Print-Loop’ (or, REPL) technique. The best thing about REPL is that you need not be working in an Xcode playground to use the method. All that you require are the program command lines and the latest version of Xcode beta – and you will be able to implement Swift REPL right from the Terminal on your Mac system running on OS X Yosemite.
  3. Working with Arrays – The way in which iPhone app developers can create and manage arrays in Swift is a major departure from the manner in which the same tasks can be done in good ol’ Objective-C. In particular, the process of adding objects to arrays has been made easier than ever before. The following line of code does the trick:

          <code>var yourArray = [“Hello”] var yourString: String = “World” yourArray+=yourString

  1. Other array-related functionality in Swift – Apart from allocating arrays and adding    objects to them, Swift allows iOS app coders make and manage array subsets, change the objects inside arrays and join multiple arrays with ease. The feature that allows arrays to be declared as ‘constants’ (Constant Arrays) is also worth a mention. Working with Arrays can become significantly faster in Swift, once you have invested some time in learning the language thoroughly.
  2. Creating a caching library – A common problem of both Objective-C and Swift is data caching, particularly when developers are working with lengthy codes. With Apple’s new programming language, caching libraries can be created to do away with this issue. For instance, in table view, images can be cached in the library – till the time the table view is finally deallocated. After that, the cache gets cleared. That way, scrolling remains smooth, your coding speed remains high, and there is no chance of unnecessary data overloading. However, for smaller Swift codes, default libraries like NSCache might be enough.
  3. Advantage of Inferred Typing – With Swift, coders from iPhone app companies no longer have to explicitly set types in their codes at all times. The built-in compiler can access information to activate ‘Inferred Typing’, to set types on its own. Of course, the option of explicit typing is still available, but picking ‘inferred typing’ generally makes app codes much easier to use/understand/share.
  4. Optionals in Swift – In Objective-C, every property has to be declared with an initial value (barring which, an error message is generated). In Swift too, variables are assigned the ‘non-optional’ attribute (i.e., valid values are required) by default. However, coders get more leeway in this language, thanks to the ‘Optionals’ feature. A ‘question-mark’ (?) has to be included to define any variable as ‘optional’, and it does not contain any initial value (remember that having a nil value is a different thing altogether). What’s more – values can be added to variables declared as ‘optional’ later on.

                Example of Optionals in Swift: var message = String? //OK

  1. Using generics for more customized functions – What ‘Templates’ are for the C++ language, ‘Generics’ are (roughly) for Swift. You no longer have to rewrite function types for every different case (e.g., when it has to handle integers and floating point numbers). Generics are, in essence, functions which offer enhanced reusability with all types of variable types. Once you are comfortable with using Generics, you will find that the total amount of manual coding required has gone down quite a bit.
  2. Working in Xcode Playgrounds – To take full advantage of the features of Swift, iPhone app development experts need to have in-depth knowledge of Xcode Playgrounds first. You need to download Xcode 6 on your system, and move to File → New File → iOS\Source\Playground. Once you have clicked on ‘Next’ a new editor file will open. Rename the file with the ‘ .playground’ extension. As you start coding in the editor file, the outputs will be viewable on a real-time basis in the sidebar. This, understandably makes code debugging – and ultimately, the overall mobile app testing – a lot more foolproof.
  3. Overriding dealloc – Yet another effective way for iOS memory management while coding with Swift is by overriding the ‘dealloc’ method. In other words, while creating iPhone apps, developers can deallocate the viewcontroller whenever required. In addition, the retain cycle within an app code can be found very easily with this method. Never deallocating the ‘dealloc’ method (in either Swift or Objective-C often leads to memory leakages and errors.
  4. Do not expect a big difference in speed – iOS apps created with Swift are accepted at the Apple app store (the new language was accorded ‘Gold Master’ status in early-September). However, contrary to initial expectations (and despite the name!) Swift is roughly similar to Objective-C in terms of coding speed. This is, in fact, not a surprising fact – since both the languages use the Cocoa and Cocoa Touch frameworks (for making Mac and iOS applications). In any case, Apple does not have any immediate plans to phase out the 30-year old Objective-C language anytime soon, and Swift is meant to be used in collaboration with it.
  5. Compound variables in tuples – Unlike most other programming languages, the code tuples in Swift do not require that the values in them have to be identical. Right from integers and string elements, to Boolean values – multiple types of values can be stored together in a single Swift tuple. The tuples can be further divided into variables and constants as well. Accessing a tuple in Swift by its index number is not at all difficult either.
  6. ‘Let’ vs ‘Var’ – In an Apple Swift code, variables are declared with the ‘var’ keyword, while all constants must have the ‘let’ keyword preceding them. While declaring every value as variables offers greater flexibility, coding experts have highlighted that doing so prevents the Swift compiler from functioning optimally. In fact, you should try to use the ‘let’ keyword (i.e., use Constants) as much as possible. Use ‘var’ only when it is absolutely necessary.
  7. No more semicolons – Just as in Python, you need not worry about putting a semicolon at the end of every statement in a Swift code. For iPhone app developers used to coding in Objective-C, Swift offers a way out from forever being wary of error messages being flashed – whenever they forget to put in a semicolon after any line. Furthermore, the Swift shares the code bases and libraries of Objective-C – which makes it easier for developers to make the transition to the new language.


The growing popularity of Swift programming language would pose at least one difficulty for professionals who specialize in cross-platform mobile app development – since porting iOS apps to the Android platform will become much tougher than before. However, that is only a minor blip in what is a really well-conceived and user-friendly language. You have to agree with what most developers have to say – “Swift is the future”.

AppBoard Tuesday: Mobile App Designing – Do-s & Don’t-s

Brilliant app concepts count for very little if graphic designers botch up the interface of the application. If you browse through the 1.3 million+ apps at iTunes and Play Store, you will come across many applications which are difficult to even understand, let alone using them. A simple rule of thumb needs to be followed – mobile app designing should always be about facilitating app-usage, and never about the designers/animators showing off their professional skills. In the first AppBoard Tuesday of 2015 (by the way, HAPPY NEW Year, everybody), we will highlight some key do’s and don’t’s of designing iPhone/Android applications:

Mobile App Design DOs:

  1. Think from the user’s perspective – There are two ways of conceptualizing how the screens/interface of an app should be designed. The first is the one which would be easy for the UI/UX designers at your mobile app company, while the other is the one which focuses on user-convenience. The latter should be the one you focus on. Remember, the success of an application is not determined by how easily it can be designed, but whether it is finally deemed to be user-friendly (easy-to-understand menu bars, smooth in-app page navigation, etc.). Put ‘designer needs’ in the back-burner, and let ‘user needs’ take centerstage.
  2. Factor in virtual keyboards – An otherwise good-looking app screen can appear messy and cluttered as soon as users call up the virtual keyboard (e.g., to provide text inputs) on it. In fact, this is often one of the reasons why many promising new mobile apps for kids fail every quarter. During the app testing phase, you need to check every screen of the app, with the keyboard displayed on it. Do not just assume anything about user-behavior, you are more than likely to be proved wrong!
  3. Be logical in choosing app designs – ‘It looks good’ is never a good enough reason for choosing any particular layout/design theme for an app. Most mobile app development companies, while providing online free app quotes, request users to share preliminary layouts, and provide a brief summary of what the application would be all about. Use this data while designing the concerned app (i.e., the mobile app design chosen should be relevant to its genre/type/specific features). And yes, if that means sacrificing some of your creativity, so be it.
  4. Keep the platform and the device in mind – Gone are the days when you could create an iPhone app and be done with it. Given the overwhelmingly larger market share that Android enjoys, cross-platform mobile app development and designing are skills you need to muster. In addition, keep track of all the new and popular mobile devices on which the app would be used, and optimize the design layouts accordingly. The last thing you want is anyone complaining that your new app is not properly viewable on his/her device.
  5. Remember the importance of reiteration – Contrary to what many mobile app developers believe, making apps is NOT a one-shot game. You need to implement the preliminary design elements, test the app, make changes (if necessary), iterate the entire app testing procedure, and so on (this chain should continue until all design flaws have been ironed out). Do not rely only on automated testing, and get feedback from human testers (ideally, form a focus group). The more the number of app reiterations you do, the less you would have to worry during the final mobile app testing phase.
  6. Use icons cleverly – New developers make the mistake of pushing in as many words as possible on the, relatively speaking, small app screens. Using icons in place of words would be a much smarter strategy. For starters, you would save a significant amount of space (a nice and clear icon would take up a lot less space than even a 3-letter word) – and as we know, keeping app screens uncluttered is of essence. What’s more, app icons, over time, help in marketing/branding purposes. When chosen and used properly, the icon can become the ‘symbol’ of a mobile application…at times a repeated icon can be more identifiable to users than even an app’s name.
  7. Refer to available app design tutorials and guidelines – Thanks to the emergence of so many online mobile app development forums and communities, there is no paucity of app design tutorials and case studies. Make use of such open source resources as much as possible (without, of course, stooping to the level of full-on copying!). Share your app design ideas with peers, and learn from their successful (and failed) projects. While designing an Android or iOS app, you might overlook a design mistake – but the same can get easily spotted if there are other professionals taking a look at your work.

 

(Note: Make sure that no one else can ‘steal’ your app ideas/concepts/designs though. Be careful about copyrights and intellectual property rights).

 

 

Mobile App Design DONT’s:

  1. Not considering the profile of the target audience – Mobile app designing not something you do ‘on the app screens’, it is something that has to augment user-convenience. An iPhone app for kids, for instance, should have automatic page turning features, text-highlighting options, and bright, colorful illustrations. On the other hand, for a personal finance-related app (most of the users of which would be 30+ in age), the texts, icons and checkboxes need to be relatively large (for proper viewability). Think about the type of layout that the final users of the app would prefer, and proceed accordingly.
  2. Making things complicated – There is a general rule that ecommerce websites and most mobile apps share – a maximum of 3 clicks/taps should take users to the page/screen that they are looking for. Just because you can create unique and snazzy app design themes does not mean you should do it – since such ‘new’ and ‘complicated’ designs might totally confuse final-users. In case your app links to other web resources, put links at appropriate places – instead of cramming in all the text in the app screen. Your clients might not get the chance to know your full expertise, but they will certainly be delighted with your simple, user-friendly app. Remember the catchphrase, ‘Less Is More’?
  3. Considering mobile screens as miniature computers – Well, they are not. A mobile app can never be the extension of a mobile website (even if your web application is hugely successful). While incorporating the designs of a smartphone app, you need to focus more on gestures, and less on viewing time on single screens. Researches have shown that the interaction time of users with mobile applications is, on average, significantly lower than that with web apps. App designing should always start from scratch – trying to make a smaller version of a website will simply not work.
  4. Displaying the splash screen for too long – For all the colors and images that you include in the splash screen of an app, remember that it is a static page, and should never be displayed for more than 5-7 seconds (for certain exceptions, the duration can be 10 seconds). While testing the app, ensure that the ‘default.png’ file(s) are getting properly loaded on the splash screen. Let’s put it this way – the splash screen is something that the user sees as the app loads on his/her handset. No one is interested in staring at it for minutes!
  5. Making the app a riot of colors – Definitely not a smart idea. If the app screens look like a veritable rainbow (!), rest assured that people would not like your app. Any professional graphic designer worth his/her salt would know how gradients and textures should be used so that the screens look nice and lively, without coming across as too frivolous. Consistency is the name of the game here. The text color has to be chosen in such a way that it stands out against the background. There are plenty of alternatives available, and there is no reason to assume people would strain their eyes to read the text on your app screens.
  6. Being too innovative for your own good – Always keep in mind, anyone can download the app you have designed. While there might be mobile app addicts who would soon grasp the navigation features and displays you have included, there can also be first-time users who would find the controls and features of the application as too difficult. Do some advance research about the types of app designs that work well at the stores, and create a variant of the themes that have already been tried-and-tested. If your mobile app designs are too innovative, there is every chance that it would be perceived as ‘experimental’ and not quite worth it.
  7. Including buttons that are too small – There are lots of images and illustrations in your app, and you need to manage the screen space properly. Many app designers make the folly of including buttons that are not of the optimal size (read: too small), to save some space. You need to make sure that the buttons present on the screens of the app should be such that, users with comparatively thicker thumbs/fingers have no troubles in tapping them. Trying to tap an app button, and failing repeatedly, can be a major irritation.

 

The first thing any good mobile app company should do is recruit and train a separate in-house team of graphic designers and animators – who would work in collaboration with the developers/coders. In an earlier post, we had highlighted that app developers cannot double up as designers themselves. The secret to creating efficient, engaging, apt and attractive mobile app designs is to keep things simple. Ironically, that is the most difficult challenge for many designers!

 

And folks, that’s that for this week’s edition of AppBoard Tuesday (ABT). If you have a tip for mobile app designing to share, simply put it in the comments section – and we might include it in our list (we love to keep learning!). Wish to see any other specific topic related to mobile app development? Let us know, and we’ll be only too happy to cover your topic of interest in a future edition of our newsletter.

 

ABT will return with another interesting discussion on…you guessed it…next Tuesday. Till then, stay well, and love thy apps!

iCloud Drive – 15 Things You Should Know

The iCloud storage setup gave way to the new iCloud Drive, with the launch of iOS 8 and OS X 10.10. It offers greater opportunities to share and sync documents between their Macs and Apple handheld devices. In what follows, we have highlighted some topics of interest related to iCloud Drive.

 

Unveiled at the Worldwide Developers’ Conference in 2014, iCloud Drive has been tipped by many software developers and analysts as Apple’s answer to Google Drive. Contrary to what initial rumors were though, the new cloud storage system is NOT a substitute of Dropbox. iCloud Drive was made available to users with the release of iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite (10.10) in October, and it has been given the thumbs-up by researchers and app developers worldwide. We will here familiarize you with some basic features and functionalities of iCloud Drive:

 

  1. Activating iCloud Drive – This one is a no-brainer – before you check out its features, you need to enable iCloud Drive first. Doing so is easy enough. On your Mac, go to System Preferences, select the iCloud icon, and check the box beside iCloud Drive (it might be checked by default too). Once that is done, you can start selecting the apps that are to be stored on the cloud.
  2. Selecting a iCloud Drive storage plan – You can take your pick from 5 alternative storage plan options that Apple offers for its all-new cloud storage system. According to Mac and iPhone app developers, people who do not use iCloud on a regular basis can very well do with the basic 5GB storage option (which is free). Depending on the formats of the files to be stored and whether other cloud storage services (Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.) are being used, you can also choose from the 20GB (Monthly $0.99), 200GB (Monthly $3.99), 500GB (Monthly $9.99) and 1TB (Monthly $19.99) options. Your choice should be such that you never run out of storage space due to heavy backups.
  3. Compatibility features required for using iCloud Drive – Apple iCloud Drive can be used to sync data between Mac systems, and upgraded iPhones, iPads and iPod Touch devices. Prior to upgrading to the new iCloud, all mobile devices have to be upgraded to the iOS 8 platform (of course, you need not worry about that if you are using iPhone 6/6 Plus), while the Mac system has to be running on OS X Yosemite. Mobile app developers have confirmed that iCloud Drive can be used to store select iWork apps as well. The minimum browser requirements for using this cloud service are Chrome 28, Firefox 22, and Safari 6.
  4. What can you do with iCloud Drive? – Syncing and saving files across Apple devices are not the only two services of iCloud Drive. After activating it, you can use the new iCloud to edit, access and import documents directly (you would need compatible apps for doing so). Early adopters had made the mistake of activating iCloud Drive right after the launch of iOS 8, before OS X Yosemite was released. They had, understandably, not been able to sync files between their computers and mobile devices. In essence, iCloud Drive is a virtual external hard drive.
  5. Viewing files stored in iCloud Drive – On OS X 10.10-powered Mac systems, files saved in iCloud Drive can be accessed directly via the iCloud.com website. Alternatively, iCloud Drive can be viewed from the sidebar of your Mac system’s sidebar. Files can be created directly, and folders can be removed from Drive. All the folders/files are displayed in an organized manner – based on the app they have been created from (a far cry from the ‘Documents & Data’ setup of the erstwhile iCloud). Although Apple app development services have come a long way, there is still no dedicated iCloud Drive app for iOS 8 devices. A third-party app (from the App Store) has to be used to use Drive and access the files stored in it. The ‘storage provider’ point on iOS 8 devices is directly plugged into by iCloud Drive.
  6. File types that can be stored in iCloud Drive – There are no restrictions as such regarding the file formats that can be stored/synced in iCloud Drive. However, experts in cloud-sharing and app development advise users about two things. Firstly, files uploaded to iCloud Drive need to be less than 15 GB in size. Secondly, users have to make sure that they are not running out of overall storage space (this is where the selection of the right cloud storage plan is of essence). Provided these conditions are fulfilled, any type of file can be uploaded on the new iCloud Drive – right from presentations and projects, to professional documents and files.
  7. The ‘Look Me Up By Email’ feature of iCloud Drive – Apple offers users the opportunity to let other users find you (by your unique Apple ID/email) and share with/get from you documents via Drive. Once this lookup option is tapped, a set of iPhone apps are displayed – through which users can start connecting with other users of the new Apple Drive. The ‘look me up by email’ feature can be used directly via iCloud.com as well.
  8. What is the iCloud Drive storage space used for? – Users are often concerned about the things that are present in iCloud Drive by default (those who go with the free 5GB storage option are particularly concerned about it). Professional cloud storage experts and mobile app analysts have explained that the storage space in the new Apple Drive contains iCloud Photo Library beta, iCloud Mail, iCloud Backup, the files stored in the Drive, and the apps that are used to activate/avail iCloud Drive services. The iOS apps, music and books are not counted within the free storage. My Photo Stream does not occupy space within the Drive either.
  9. Photos on iCloud Drive – The iCloud Photo Library was made available by Apple alongside the release of the (rather troublesome) iOS 8.1 upgrade. There was some initial confusion regarding how the Library was to be used – which were soon cleared up by tutorials and guidelines in online iPhone app development communities. All that you need to do is go to ‘Settings → Photos & Camera’, and toggle the ‘iCloud Photo Library beta’ tab to ‘On’. While the presence of the iOS photos app makes accessing the Library a breeze on mobile devices, accessing it on Mac systems is slightly more problematic. Things are expected to change after the arrival of the OS X Photos application later this year.
  10. Using iCloud Drive on Windows systems – iCloud Drive becoming available on Windows systems before iMacs was a bit of a surprise. All systems running on Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 can use the Drive – thanks to the ‘iCloud for Windows 4.0’ resources. There are many people who work simultaneously on Windows and Mac computers, and iOS devices – and this feature comes in mighty useful for them.
  11. Customized folder setup on iCloud Drive – After you have activated iCloud Drive on your Mac system, there should be a corresponding icon (of the same name) on the desktop. Unlike the earlier iCloud system, file and folder arrangement is a lot more systematic and organized on iCloud Drive. For instance, there is a Quick Time Player folder that can only store files which can actually be played by Quick Time Player. Since files are categorized in folders according to their types, risks of data losses are minimal. The simple ‘drag-&drop’ feature can be used to create any number of personalized files and folders in iCloud Drive. For easy access, app developers recommend saving documents in the ‘Pages’ folder.
  12. Compatible apps with iCloud Drive – Pages, Keynote, Byword, Numbers – all the iWork applications are provided with built-in iCloud Drive integration feature. iOS app developers also have the CloudKit (set of APIs for iCloud) to use the applications that actually help in storing data on the Drive. Every file and app saved in the new iCloud can be accessed directly by users.On Yosemite systems, creating apps inside the compatible applications is also extremely easy.
  13. Viewing photos on iCloud Drive – Earlier on, we had highlighted how the iCloud Photo Library can be enabled and images can be stored on them. To view the saved photos on your iOS device, you only have to tap the ‘Photos’ app. All the images will be synced inside it. If you wish to see the images on your Mac, you will need to download and install the iPhoto application (from the Mac App Store). Once that’s done, activate iPhoto and turn on the iCloud integration feature. In ‘Shared’, there will be a iCloud option. Click on that, and your photos will become viewable.
  14. Storage space management in iCloud Drive – Getting rid of old backups and tweaking the backup settings of iCloud Drive (read: deleting unnecessary data/files) is essential to make optimal use of the available storage space. Instead of storing all your photos in Drive, mobile app development experts advise people to use other apps, like Flickr, Cloud Drive and Google Plus. The storage space status of iCloud Drive should be regularly checked (iCloud → Storage & Backup → Manage Storage). In addition, remember that photos on iCloud remain on the servers of Apple for a maximum period of 30 days.
  15. How does iCloud Drive stack up against its competitors? – In terms of free storage options, Microsoft OneDrive (15 GB), Google Drive (15 GB) and Box (10 GB) are ahead of Apple’s iCloud Drive. Dropbox and Box also have unlimited storage plans (@ $15/user) while iCloud Drive maxes out at 1TB. Some of the rival cloud storage tools have more number of storage options as well. However, iCloud Drive comes up aces in terms of security and reliability. There are hardly any chances of a rehash of the infamous celebrity iCloud hack (which happened last August).

To keep files secure and in sync on the cloud network, Apple’s iCloud Drive is a powerful tool. Although the storage options could have been better (e.g., users would have loved to have the 20GB storage for free too), Drive is great for people who work on their Macs and iOS devices in tandem. Over the next few months, Apple might make iCloud Drive even more user-friendly, so that it starts comparing favorably with its major rivals.

AppBoard Tuesday – The Many Benefits Of Mobile Payments

‘Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle All The Way’

 

Hello everyone, and a very warm welcome to this year’s final edition of AppBoard Tuesday. All eyes are on the arrival of 2015, so let’s focus on something that has been tipped to be one of the ‘next big things’ in the field of mobile technology, what say? That’s right folks, today’s ABT is all about what everyone’s talking about – mobile payments.

With Google Wallet lingering around since 2011 (many have found the app not quite up to the mark though), Apple Pay was officially launched on the 20th of October this year, and there are several other mobile digital wallets currently available. As per projections by researchers and mobile app developers, the total value of mobile payments is set to go beyond $720 billion by 2017 globally (it is around the $325 billion mark at present). So, there must be something about the entire concept of mobile transactions that both buyers as well as merchants are finding to their liking? Let’s take a look:

 

  1. Moving beyond cash-only payments – Digital wallets have helped relatively small companies to expand their potential clientele by several notches. The rationale is simple enough – when a merchant company who was earlier accepting only cash payments starts accepting credit/debit cards, more people will be interested in doing business with it. Hardly anyone moves about with huge amounts of cash, and mobile payments have brought a whole new convenience for buyers too.
  2. Obtaining information on special deals and offers – Oh yes, many companies offer discount coupons and loyalty cards to avail special offers – but remembering to carry them is, at times, a hassle. In its stead, buyers can now access all the details about such special deals on a real-time basis on their smartphones. Sellers need not worry much about publicizing their offers either. What’s more – many of these deals can be availed via phones…there’s no need to actually visit stores.
  3. Giving a boost to corporate branding endeavors – The levels of competition in the world of business is fierce (in practically all professions). The trick for any entrepreneur lies in projecting his/her company as more advanced, customer-oriented, sophisticated than its competitors. Mobile apps for business serve this purpose beautifully. Ask yourself something – Company A sends you regular information on seasonal offers and incentive programs on your handset, while Company B delivers the same data, but through post (which often gets delayed). Which one would you choose to purchase things from? That’s right, the one that supports mobile payments.
  4. No more long payment queues – Mobile app development experts unanimously agree that digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Wallet make shopping a much more enjoyable experience. Most stores have multiple contactless payment terminals/points, where the transaction can be completed. There used to be a time when the term ‘shopping’ was synonymous with standing in long queues, but mobile wallets have changed the scenario completely.
  5. Heightened security – Even a couple of years back, there were plenty of concerns over mobile payment mechanisms. Although Android wallets did come with NFC (near field communication) support – displayed first in 2011’s Google I/O event – that was not enough to convince too many users worldwide. However, with most digital wallets having 2D barcode scanners, RFID support, and Wireless Application Protocol assurance, sending/receiving payments via mobile networks have become a lot more secure than ever before. As technology has advanced, digital wallets have found greater acceptance.
  6. Smartphones have become a part of everyday lives – We might forget our wallets at home – but seriously, when was the last time you left your beloved iPhone or Android handset behind? For most of you, the answer would be ‘never’. This has bolstered the popularity of mobile payments big-time. The very idea of using a user-friendly mobile app for payments instead of having to carry heavy wallets have appealed to users worldwide. Buyer convenience has gone up to a whole new level.
  7. Reduction in dependence on direct card payments – In the United States alone, hundreds of cases are reported every year regarding misuse of credit card data. Shady merchants/hackers have exploited the mag-swipe technology to gain unauthorized access to user’s financial account information. On the other hand, mobile payments are contactless, which totally rules out such risks. Not good news for hackers, but general users certainly don’t mind!
  8. Bringing down transaction cost figures – Reports from iOS/Android app development communities confirm that mobile payments reduce the total costs associated with every individual transaction. These savings can run into thousands of dollars every year (due to more clients, better customer-service, quicker payments, etc.). It’s hardly surprising that merchant retailers from all over have started to a) set up in-store payment points, and b) actively promote their mobile applications via which payments can be made. In a nutshell, mobile payments have helped businesses to really expand.
  9. Fees of mobile payment companies are generally lower – In comparison with most credit card companies. Square and LevelUp are two classic examples of mobile applications which have been accepted by merchants – simply because the per-transaction charges are significantly lower than what they are for credit card payments. The app development cost and payment schedules differ from one mobile payment company to another though – and the onus is on merchants to find the one that would be the best-suited for their businesses.
  10. Transferring funds to fellow buyers – Not every mobile platform supports this yet, but this technology is poised to gain popularity over time. Funds can easily (and more importantly, securely) transferred between friends, family members, colleagues, and the like. If you have that one buddy who keeps on conveniently ‘forgetting’ his/her moneybag after dinners – you can help him/her out by transferring the requisite funds quickly. Do ask for the amount to repaid later, however!
  11. Keeping track of sales trends and demand levels – Digital wallets and mobile payment apps have helped small businesses (in particular) to monitor sales trends in a smarter, more reliable manner. In addition to facilitating the actual payments process, sellers can now create and maintain records of what’s selling and and what’s not (and manage their store inventory accordingly) with the help of these apps. Since mobile payment apps are helping in better demand management, the quality of service provided by merchants is also getting a lift.
  12. Connecting with others – Mobile app developers generally include high-utility social networking features in apps meant for making payments. As such, users can always stay in the loop regarding what/where their friends are purchasing, how much they are paying for the stuff, and what special deals and offers have been recently announced by the big brands. Mobile payment platforms have made shopping-in-a-group that much easier.
  13. Possibility of decentralized payments – This is another big advantage for merchants that mobile payment tools bring to the table. During business exhibitions, conferences and other such offsite corporate events – merchants can offer the contactless payment option, to bolster sales and profitability figures. Mobile payments is not only a solution for one-on-one store purchases, they support decentralized payments. Transactions can be held anywhere, anytime.

Setting up mobile payment systems is a quick and simple process, and they do not involve exorbitant costs. Buyers, of course, have lots to gain by switching over to this new-age mode of making payments (security is no longer an issue either). It took all of 72 hours for Apple Pay to touch the magical 1 million mark of registered cards, and there is considerable anticipation about the upcoming CurrentC tool too (which will be launched probably in the first half of 2015). It’s safe to say that the world is ready to switch over to mobile payments, and enjoy its benefits to the fullest.

 

With that, AppBoard Tuesday would bid adieu to you for one final time in 2014. Do write in if you feel there has been any major mobile-related news we have missed out on. If you are already a user of Google Wallet and/or Apple Pay, share how your experience has been till date. We love to hear from you, and to learn from you.

 

We hope each of you had a splendid Christmas and a fantastic Boxing Day. From the entire Teks team, we wish you a VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 

ABT returns in 2015…Stay tuned!

 

15 Xcode Features That Every iOS App Developer Should Know

Proficiency in Xcode is the very first requirement for any aspiring iOS app developer. Even experienced developers can miss out on some of the interesting hotkeys and shortcuts that the latest version of the Apple IDE offers. We will here familiarize readers with some of the best features and functionality of Xcode.

 

Xcode has been the default integrated development environment (IDE) for iOS app development experts for years now. The introductory version of Xcode was launched way back in 2003, and at present, version 6.1 (available for free download at the Mac App Store) is available. Professional app developers need to have a thorough knowledge of working with the latest version of Xcode, to make the best use of this truly user-friendly tool. Here are some features and tricks of Xcode that you will find handy:

 

  1. Making more screen space – When you are creating an iPhone app that involves relatively lengthy coding, managing the total screen space can become an issue. Thankfully, Xcode offers an easy solution for this. All that you need to do is hit ‘Command+0’, and you will be able to toggle the navigation panel from being displayed or hidden. The screen no longer needs to get cluttered, no mattered how complex the app codes might be.
  2. Creating Sort Descriptors – To make sure that the array controller has something to bind to (so that code lines in table view can be sorted), Sort Descriptors are required. In Xcode, mobile app developers get them as ‘NSSortDescriptor’. Once the sort descriptor array is created by manual coding, ‘NSSortDescriptor’ can be used for binding any array controller. Of course, the name of the ordering attribute(s) of your entity also needs to be provided.
  3. Making Key Bindings – Yet another hugely time-saving feature of the Xcode IDE is the option of mapping Keys to Actions. Every logical keystroke can be mapped to a corresponding action – and with a bit of practice, iOS developers would discover how easy the entire process of doing this is. The steps for the key-action mapping is Preferences → Key Bindings → Actions → Keys → (name of the keystroke) → OK.
  4. Facilitating code building and running – The ‘Play’ button on the Xcode workspace window (you will find it in the left corner) is one of the best features of the IDE. In addition to building a project, codes can be cleaned and run with ease on the workspace. What’s more – there is a host of keyboard shortcuts to make the task of developers that much easier. Play around with the ‘B’, ‘K’, ‘R’ and ‘G’ tabs for a while, and you will get a hang of it.
  5. Setting bookmarks – iOS app developers often need to segue one file on another, to find specific code snippets and/or make modifications in the program. The Xcode framework allows users to do that – thanks to the bookmark-setting feature. Developers have to hit Ctrl-D and then enter a unique name for their bookmark, before proceeding with seguing files. It would not be advisable to create too many bookmarks though.
  6. Finding method names and variables – Written a lengthy app code, and need to find out where and how many times a method name has been mentioned? You need not plough through the entire program for that – the ‘Command-Shift-F’ function would find and display the method names you wish to see. The same goes for variables used in the Xcode environment. In addition, older variable names can be replaced with new ones with the help of this Search/Find Navigator functionality. Developers can avail of case-sensitive search features as well.
  7. Simultaneously viewing multiple code windows – Experts in the domain of iOS app development find this option really useful. When the ‘Option’ tab in the Xcode workspace is held down and the icon for ‘Split Window’ is clicked, multiple code windows can be viewed at the same time. The default split option of the Xcode Split Editor is horizontal, but you can – for the purpose of comparisons – alter the split option to vertical too.
  8. Navigating the code – Apple’s ‘Open Quickly…’ feature is the best friend of iOS developers, when it comes to navigating long codes snippets and programs. As soon as you start typing in the search box, the file list is loaded automatically, and the names are displayed (drop-down) as suggestions. Simply use the up and down arrows to select the file you wish to view. Particularly when the ‘Project Navigator’ option is not available, the ‘Open Quickly…’ search option comes in mighty useful.
  9. Using the Instruments UI – In Xcode 6, the smartest (and the easiest) way to make changes to the user interface is by using the new ‘Instruments’ tool. There are buttons for recording and displaying the settings, while app developers can check out the Extended Detail View as well. The option to view the CPU strategy and the Threads strategy (note the three buttons) helps in optimizing how your new iPhone app is using the core.
  10. Referring to relevant API documentation – While working in the iOS software development kit (SDK), developers might need to check the corresponding API documentation at any time. Xcode makes this apparently tricky task easier than ever. The concerned code has to be double-clicked, in order to generate a popup window – which contains all the relevant class information. Information regarding platform availability (e.g. iPhone OS 3.0) is also displayed.
  11. Switching from .m to .h files (and vice versa) – Although iPhone app developers who have already started to develop in the Swift programming language no longer need this feature, it is a great aid for those coding in C++ and Objective-C. Hitting ‘Control+Command+Up arrow’ lets users toggle between .h and .m files. All types of implementation and header files currently existing can be viewed by this cool keyboard shortcut technique. While developing programs with any open source resources too, this option proves handy.
  12. Using the Assistant Editor – The ‘Simulate Document’ feature has disappeared in Xcode 6, with ‘Assistant Editor’ taking its place. While the former definitely had its merits, the new few feature offers more flexibility to developers while working in the IDE’s Interface Builder. A ‘Preview’ option becomes visible once the navigation tab (in the jump bar) is clicked, which helps users select storyboard and/or xib files to view/edit. There have been reports from some quarters though, that this ‘Preview’ option is not visible in the Assistant Editor.
  13. Mobile app debugging – Testing iPhone/iPad apps thoroughly is of essence, and the Xcode framework helps with that too. The ‘F6’ and the ‘F7’ keyboard buttons are meant for ‘Step over’ and ‘Step into’ functions respectively, while breakpoints can also be added, removed, enabled and disabled via simple keyboard actions. In addition, the debugger itself can be paused and resumed at any time. It’s not for nothing that Xcode is trusted by developers worldwide for customized mobile app development.
  14. Commenting out code blocks – If you wish to comment (i.e., hide) a line/snippet of code from your program, you need to type ‘Command-/’ (after selecting the line(s) of code that has to be commented). And what if you wish to ‘uncomment’ the code lines later on? Simple – just select the line and type ‘Command-/’ again.
  15. Running iOS apps real-time – Apart from the debugging option in Xcode discussed above, the IDE allows real-time bug-testing of iOS apps as well. When you hit ‘Command+R’, you can find out whether your application runs properly, or if there are bugs to be removed. The entire procedure of mobile app testing becomes quicker and easier thanks to this feature, since all probable bugs are detected and removed at an early stage.

Binding core data entities with view-based tables is yet another useful feature of Xcode. App developers can change the indentation of their codes, toggle between the Editor and Detail views, and navigate the history of code files. There are keyboard shortcuts in Xcode for building iOS apps (Command+B) too. The way in which the workspace of the IDE has been designed (Editor, Navigator, Utility and Debug areas) also helps in systematic, error-free coding. Xcode 6.2 Beta has already been seeded to developers, and it would be interesting to see what new features it comes with.

iTunes Connect Shutdown – 12 Things That Developers Cannot Do Now

This year, iTunes Connect has taken its annual winter leave from December 22 to December 29. We here take a look at the things that app developers won’t be able to do during this store shutdown.

 

 

It’s the Christmas week, and iTunes Connect is on its annual holiday. This year, Apple’s App Store is shut down from the 22nd to the 29th of December. While this does not essentially affect the day-to-day operations of mobile app companies, there are certain things that cannot be done during this ‘iTunes on holiday’ period. To drive away all probable developer confusions, we will highlight some of these activities which are now out-of-bounds:

 

  1. Accessing the iTunes Connect portal – App developers can carry on with their in-house development work, but they won’t be able to access the iTunes Connect portal till the 30th. Try typing https://itunesconnect.apple.com/ in the address bar of your browser window, and you will be greeted with a message indicating the temporary ‘unavailability’ of the portal.
  2. Revamping the app UI – Already submitted your app to the iTunes store and have suddenly realized that the overall app design could have been better? Well, too bad – for you can do nothing about it till iTunes Connect reopens. In the interim, graphic designers can chalk up the revamped design schemes for the concerned app, so that they can be applied immediately after the holiday period. There remains the risk of missing out on a fair number of downloads though during the festive week.
  3. New app submissions – Christmas is the biggest day for app downloads, by a long distance. In comparison to any other day during the first half of December, downloads spike by more than 90% on Christmas day and the next couple of days. This, in turn, explains why iPhone app development companies rush to submit their new apps before the iTunes Connect shutdown. If you have been smart enough, you must have submitted your application(s) by the 18th (latest). If you have not, you need to wait till the 30th. No new apps are going to appear on the Apple App Store during the holidays.
  4. Publishing app updates – Most mobile app developers are in favor of releasing upgraded versions of their apps a couple of weeks before the Christmas shutdown date. The reason is simple enough – no app updates can happen when iTunes is not available for developers. In case you have not tested the new version of an app properly before the shutdown, it would be prudent to wait till the 30th, and then submit it. Changes in any app are not showcased during the Christmas shutdown of the App Store.
  5. Altering the app prices – Many new developers make the folly of scheduling price changes (through interval pricing) during the iTunes Connect shutdown period. Not only are such proposed price changes not displayed to buyers, but there is every chance that the app itself will become unavailable for purchasing. Instead, use this period to frame the best possible monetization strategy for your app, so that it can be implemented as soon as the Apple Store reopens.
  6. Testing already published apps – Arguably, the thing that developers dread the most during the Christmas holidays of iTunes. In case an app has been approved and showcased at the store, and a bug/virus/malware is discovered in it anytime between the 22nd and the 29th of December this year – download figures will go down, there will be a negative buzz about your new iPhone application, and your company goodwill will also take a hit. You cannot do any additional testing for bug-detection during this period. It is of utmost importance for developers to be not in a rush, and perform the mobile app testing procedures properly, before the shutdown. If a buggy app gets ‘locked’ when iTunes is closed, that’s a nightmare for any developer. (Note: Testing for apps in pre-release stage can go on during this time).
  7. Including in-app purchases – Developers who wish to include in-app purchase options in their applications should have done it before the 22nd. Those who did not will have to wait till iTunes Connect is up again on the 30th. No new in-app purchase plans can be submitted in the meantime. iOS developers who specialize in freemium apps for kids need to particularly keep this factor in mind. Default in-app purchases continue over the Christmas holidays (of course, only if your app had such options to start off with).
  8. Scheduling the release of new apps – In order to take advantage of the busiest ‘app downloading week’ of the year, many iOS developers schedule their apps to go live on (or a couple of days before) Christmas. Sadly, this strategy is misplaced, since no scheduled apps are displayed at the App Store until the holiday week is over. This year, Apple had advised developers to schedule their apps for release by the 18th of December (latest), if they wanted their apps to be available for download during the festive period.
  9. Altering the mobile app marketing strategy – Cannot be done, as simple as that. If a developer wishes to ramp up the marketing/promotional strategies for his/her app, (s)he has to wait till December 30. Once again, this emphasizes the importance of meticulous planning before the release of any app just before the store shutdown. Apps that have been hurriedly launched with half-baked marketing plans have poor visibility during this busy season, as a result of which their download figures remain low.
  10. No new apps for buyers – And what does the iTunes Connect shutdown mean for the general public? They won’t get to see any new iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch/Mac apps from the 22nd to the 29th of December. No changes in app prices will be displayed either. However, given the way in which app download figures are increasing every year during the Christmas period, buyers probably do not miss the absence of new apps that much over these few days.
  11. Launching new live music – Just like mobile apps, iTunes won’t feature any new live music during the annual closure of the store. Apple generally advises music distributors to submit their music a couple of weeks before the shutdown period. In general, there is some delay in the approval of iTunes music files from mid-November, owing to the higher volume of submissions.
  12. Changing the TestFlight Beta Testing – Although users who have been invited for TestFlight Beta Testing pre-release iOS apps are not affected by the shutdown, it is not possible to make any changes in the Testing during this phase. No alteration can be done in any portion of the TestFlight Beta Testing procedure. There remains a chance of the test results/reports not being entirely accurate as well.

During the iTunes Connect shutdown period, iAd reports cannot be synced. Of more importance for iPhone app developers is the fact that, the daily and weekly reports become either unavailable or heavily delayed. In essence, any activity that requires the Vendor ID of a developer cannot be performed during this span. Wait till the 30th – and things will become normal once again.

 

By the way, Happy Boxing Day, everyone!

 

14 Things That Apps For Apple Watch Won’t Be Able To Do

These are exciting times for professional app developers. With the buzz about Apple Watch at its peak (the smartwatch is slated to release in spring next year) and WatchKit already launched, many have started creating apps for Watch. We have here highlighted some limitations that the first-generation Watch apps would have to work with.

 

WatchKit was officially released a month back by Apple, much to the delight of iOS app developers. We had also done a piece at that time, about the types of apps for Watch that could be developed. It has to be kept in mind though that, to start off with, the degree of customization possible in third-party Watch apps would be rather limited. Wondering what are the things an app developed for Apple Watch won’t be able to do? Here’s a list:

 

  1. Use the Taptic Engine – Vibrations generated via the built-in Taptic Engine could have served great as app notifications. However, till now, only Apple’s own applications would be able to access this feature of Watch. Apps from other mobile companies would only have the option of using the regular vibration for generating push-notifications, and not the fine-tuned Taptic ones.
  2. Have customized audio support – The initial apps for Apple Watch are going to be a ‘silent’ lot. App developers won’t get the option of adding custom audio effects and/or notification alerts in their Watch software. This is, in fact, one of the many features that indicate that Apple is taking things really slowly with Watch. There is a silver lining though – sound files can be played via the Watch on paired iPhones.
  3. Operate in the absence of a paired iPhone – A point that might prove to be a roadblock in the otherwise lofty sales projections of Apple Watch. The smartwatch HAS to have an iPhone paired to it – barring which, all apps installed on it will become useless. Watch apps are going to have very short user-interaction periods (how long can a glance at a wristwatch possibly take?), and, at least for now, all third-party apps will be processed on the paired iPhone, and then displayed on Watch. In other words, Watch is not going to have its own standalone app platform – it is going to be totally dependant on iOS.
  4. Support apps with scrolling options – When developers are creating apps for Watch, they need to be very careful about the screen sizes. The ‘Glances’ display system of Apple Watch has been designed in a way that apps have to perfectly fit in the display area of the device. Scrolling is not supported, and it would be advisable to put in as few buttons/tabs in the app screens as possible. It’s going to be a challenge for UI/UX designers – that’s for sure!
  5. Use the features of Digital Crown – Although the ‘Digital Crown’ is one of the most exciting parts of the Watch hardware, it is still out-of-bounds for third party developers (which rules out the chance of implementing scrolling features with it). Watch apps will not have the API support for simple finger-scrolling either. What gets displayed on the screen of the wristwatch is all there would be about a third-party app. In-app navigation will remain rather limited.
  6. Display animations or videos – Unlike the popular mobile apps for kids, apps for Apple’s smartwatch won’t be able to render animation files or videos. For starters, WatchKit will let developers create apps that are based only on static images and text. The good thing is that, there is ample scope for coming up with unique and personalized app designing schemes for Watch. If rumors in mobile development forums are anything to go by, Apple will start supporting videos in third-party apps pretty soon.
  7. Cache iPhone information – Not only does Apple Watch have to be paired with an iPhone, but the latter has to be within reachable distance of the smartwatch. There is no way to cache information of the paired device on Watch, so that applications on it remain functional even when a user does not have his/her iPhone within reach. Apps cannot stay ‘alive’ when Watch is not able to detect the device working in sync with it.
  8. Access the near-field communication (NFC) feature – NFC debuted in the Apple ecosystem with iPhone 6/6 Plus, and would be present on Watch as well. While that is great news for mobile payments (read: the already popular Apple Pay), third-party mobile app developers won’t be able to create apps that would depend on NFC for their functionality. This does not come as a big surprise though – since the latest iPhone/iPad apps do not have NFC-support either.
  9. Support in-app purchase options – Freemium apps might be rapidly gaining in popularity in the App Store, but Watch is not yet ready to offer that feature to external developers. Third-party apps created with WatchKit cannot have any in-app purchase options. Among iOS app development experts, word is that this feature might be included in Watch applications sometime later.
  10. Create customized faces for Watch – Android smartwatches have them, and Apple Watch doesn’t (till now, at least). Users will have to take their pick from the set of twelve alternative Watch faces pre-built in the device. Creativity is a hallmark of this smartwatch, and developers are undoubtedly looking forward to the day when they can create apps that offer additional custom Watch faces.
  11. Complete use of the device mic – The full API capabilities of the Watch microphone have not been made available to third-party iPhone app developers. At present, all that the mic can do is dictate texts/queries, which have to be passed to a compatible iOS application. The response to the dictated text will be generated via API. In-flight apps for Watch have already tested and implemented this feature.
  12. Use data from the heart rate monitor – Like the new flagship iPhones (iPhone 6 has HealthKit), Apple Watch also has a hardware element to focus on personal health – the heart rate monitor. However, developers who are planning to make health and fitness apps cannot expect to use data from this source. The heart rate monitor would support only proprietary Apple software. It cannot be accessed in any way by third-party applications.
  13. Be paired with more than one iPhone – Oh well, not everyone struts about with multiple iPhones – but it is definitely within the realm of possibility. Watch-users have to pick any one iPhone to be paired with their smartwatch. While this ‘single-device-pairing’ feature is in keeping with Watch’s positioning as ‘Apple’s most personal gadget ever’, apps installed on separate iPhones (via WatchKit extension) cannot be simultaneously used on it.
  14. Make use of Force Touch – The developers at Apple have gone a step beyond traditional multi-touch features. Watch boasts of ‘Force Touch’, which uses small electrodes that can sense the difference between long presses and light taps (on and around the Retina Display). Sadly for iOS app developers though, their applications cannot make use of this innovative feature. All that apps other than those owned by Apple can do is pull a contextual menu via Force Touch.

There would be no custom codes for WatchKit apps, which takes up the importance of storyboarding and dynamic UI designing by several notches. It has been projected that over 40 million units of Watch would be sold by the end of 2015. Developers have already started conceptualizing apps for Apple Watch, and it remains to be seen how they can work around the limitations listed above.

 

AppBoard Tuesday – Types Of Diversification In Mobile App Business

“Do not put all your eggs in one basket!” – a common refrain among all investors and business entrepreneurs. What it basically means is that, corporate firms should buffer themselves against potential sources of losses (and as we all know, no one can rule out downturns in business). In other words, there should be some other channels to fall back on, in case one field of activity temporarily ceases to be as profitable. With the global mobile app industry projected to be worth more than $76 billion by the end of 2017, diversification is something that app companies from all over are also emphasizing upon. In today’s edition of AppBoard Tuesday (ABT), we will check out the possible types of mobile app diversification:

  1. Diversification across platforms – iOS apps are (still) the most profitable, Android has an overwhelming lead in terms of market share, and Blackberry can (okay, this is a li’l bit unlikely) make a strong comeback. There are platforms like Windows Phone, and Samsung’s new-fangled Tizen OS too. It makes no sense in specializing in creating Android or iPhone apps only. A sensible mobile app entrepreneur would always have separate teams in his/her company, to handle projects on all the popular platforms. Cross-platform mobile app development is no longer an option – it’s a necessity.
  2. Diversification regarding app-monetization – Every professional mobile app company is after profits (let’s be frank here) – and that depends on how the newly launched applications perform. Ideally, the portfolio of an app agency should contain both free and paid apps (free apps have a significant numerical lead). The current trend of creating freemium apps (free applications with in-app purchase options) should not be ignored either. The way in which revenue is earned via paid apps is self-explanatory – while for free apps, a viable monetization strategy (e.g., sponsored ads) has to be determined.
  3. Diversification across genres – This is the age of white-hot smartphone revolution, and people from all age groups use apps on a regular basis. Close to 40% of toddlers under the age of 2 (you read that right) spend hours everyday with iPads. If any mobile app development company decides to make only, say, professional apps – it is, in essence, canceling out all the other groups of app-users from its potential target audience. Travel, finance, business, social networking, educational apps for kids – everything should feature in the portfolio of a company. Mobile game development is another channel that is currently in vogue, and it has huge earning potential. Whenever the download counts of a particular category of apps go down, that can be made up with the steady downloads of other applications.
  4. Locational diversification – Okay, this option is not for the startups. However, for Android/iPhone app companies that have been on the scene for a few years – expanding to new markets (i.e., opening new branches at overseas locations) is a smart idea. This strategy works on two fronts – firstly, there is no chance of all markets getting ‘saturated’, thanks to the branches at other countries/continents. Secondly, prospective clients would surely be interested in doing business with truly ‘multinational mobile app organizations.’
  5. Diversification across mobile and web apps – By 2013, native mobile apps had captured 80% of the total time people spend (on average) using applications. This year, the figure has gone beyond 86%, leaving web apps with just a shade over 12% share in the total attention-span of viewers. However, it is way too early (and would be rather naive) to assume that ‘mobile web is already dead’. To keep all bases covered, a company should have a small team specializing in web application development. HTML5 and Java-based web apps still have decent demand levels.
  6. Service diversification as per budget specifications – Consider this: Someone has contacted you for a free app quote, and (s)he has a budget of $2000. However, yours is a high-end mobile app company – and your charges are fixed at $10000. You will lose that client (of course!), and along with that, everyone else who wish to create iOS/Android apps without having to incur such huge costs. The best policy would be to create separate budget slabs for customers. The latter can select the one they are comfortable with, while requesting for quotes. Information regarding what services are available in each slab should also be specified.
  7. Diversification of working time – For mobile app developers really willing to reach out to global clients, there is no fixed working-time. It is always day at some part of the world, and requests for quotes can come in at any time, quite literally. Someone from the company should be available to handle potential client queries on a 24×7 basis. There are several top-ranked Android and iPhone app development companies at present, which provide service across 18-20 time-zones. The entire point is – never missing out on a client.
  8. Diversification in work-teams – Relatively small companies make the mistake of not recruiting enough specialized manpower in-house (in most cases, this is a bid to reduce overall salary/monetary payout figures). In the domain of app development at a professional level, this is probably the biggest folly. It has to be understood that coding, UI/UX designing, mobile app testing and content development are all separate skills – and the same person/group cannot perform all of them satisfactorily (even if (s)he is the most efficient droid on Earth!). There has to different teams put in charge of the diverse day-to-day activities in the company.
  9. Diversification between freelance app development and working for office – This one is for all the CEOs and mobile app entrepreneurs out there. In addition to the app projects being worked upon at office, they can create iPhone applications on a freelance basis as well. That would: a) keep their coding skills alive, instead of getting dumped under managerial responsibilities, and b) offer opportunities for the bigger freelance clients to become formal partners of the company in future. There have been several cases where people have hired mobile app companies via sites like Freelancer.com – and have later gone on to become the COOs of new branches of the same firms.
  10. Diversification in brainstorming – Most mobile app developers believe in the practice of having a core group of creative people, who are in charge of brainstorming new ideas for every app. The one thing that is not considered is that – these ‘thinkers’ are not robots, and they can feel jaded and ‘out-of-ideas’. The way out of this problem? Simple enough! For in-house projects, every executive in a mobile application development firm can be requested to submit ideas. There is no saying who might come up with the best idea. In essence, app companies need to make use of the entire knowledge base at its disposal.
  11. Diversification in activities – There are scopes for looking beyond mobile apps as well. Any app development agency worth its salt would have a team of web developers (fluent in PHP, Java, Python and other languages). Hence, it makes sense for app companies to take up website creation, designing, development and maintenance-related projects – both for extra revenues, as well as to serve more clients. Many corporate clients, in fact, look for companies that can simultaneously create mobile apps and business websites. The more IT sub-domains an app company dabbles in, the better.
  12. Diversification in mobile app promotions – It’s high time companies started diversifying their strategies for promoting and marketing apps. No longer is the method of exchanging app reviews (often biased ones) with other developers sufficient. Instead, prototypes and demo screens of apps have to be shared with targeted buyers via social media channels – to create a pre-release buzz about the application. After the app has been approved and launched, the store link should be shared at relevant mobile app communities (do not spam, however!). Mentioning the date of the next upgrade and the awards/accolades received (if any) are also effective ways to promote an app.

At the end of the day, mobile app diversification is all about making sure that productivity and profitability levels of a company does not take a nosedive under any circumstance. With a diversified portfolio, well-trained and specialized in-house work-teams and availability around the clock, even a new app company can become a known brand name within a couple of years. Staying cooped up with a limited range of apps no longer cuts it.

 

That rounds off things for this week’s AppBoard Tuesday (ABT). Can you come up with any ideas for further diversification of mobile app businesses? If yes, do share them with us. Till next Tuesday arrives then…stay well and love thy apps!