iPhone developer's Journey - Blog

Added a new "Games" Section

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 22:03:02 -0800

This won't be a big post don't be afraid. It's just to tell you that I've added a "games" to the website. But watch out, it's not some random game that I'm putting here just to add traffic (I already have plenty of already anyway!) Really?!). So the game That will be added in the section are flash versions of games that are available the AppStore. The first game is called GlueFO 2.0. It's actually the flash version of a game called Uforoids that is sold on the App Store. So I'll keep adding other games so you can try them for free before purchasing 'em on your iPhone. Hope you will enjoy!

Francois

What's next for the App Store?

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 22:53:01 -0800

With now over 1,5 billion apps downloaded in a little less than one year, it's still ok to say, like the Inc. Magazine did in 1981, ¨This man (Steve Jobs) has changed buisness forever¨. There's no doubt that Apple's App Store has changed the cell phone and entertainement industry forever. Giving people the chance to express themselves this way will always be the best bet. Possibilities are endless.

First of all, let's go back to July 10th of 2008. This day was the very first one of the App Store. Even though there were not much to know if it was going to be a success, no one could havec guess it was going to be that big. With only 500 applications at launch, it still managed to get 10 million downloads in the first wee-end! From that moment it was clear something big was happening. By April they hit the billion download and three months later, in July, it was 1,5 billion. Another thing to be mentionned, from 500 applications available there is now, up to this date, more than 35,000 available. That'S amazing.

Anyway, that being said, there's also been some controversy during the year. I think the most weird one happened in March when some developpers complained that they had not been paid and some even claimed to be owed a couple of thousansds dollars. There was also some weird app like Ï am Rich¨or the ¨Baby Shaker¨app that made it through the approval process and should have not.

Ovi Store

It's an easy thing to be on top when you're alone but during the year Apple saw some compeitors launched their own App Store. The first one was Nokia's Ovi Store. Then RIM launched theirs. There is also one on the Android plateform and Palm will release one for the Pre's launch. None of them had the APple's App Store succes but some of them, like the Android one, are going in the right direction and may become some serious competitors. Anyway Google is always a bad competitor to have against you. Oh and don't forget Windows Mobile Marketplace...well maybe you can forget it. Now that others App Store are running on competitor's device, it may get a little harder for Apple to retain its crown.

To conclude, Apple's number 1 place in the mobile application market will not be in danger for the next few years that's for sure. The main reason is explained here by Phone developer consultant Raven Zachary:¨I think some of the other online app stores are keeping up as far as having a base set of features like being able to search for applications, but no one else has the ease of purchase, the catalog size and the power and flexibility of the iPhone." That summerize why the iPhone will still be on top again next year.

Back from vacation? I don't think so!

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 09:11:54 -0800

Hey everyone! It’s been a while since the last post but now I’m back for real! The last month has been overcharged for me and I’ve been trying to look for a moment to write something here but it’s been just impossible. Anyway, here’s an update of what happened during the past month and why it’s been hard for me to work on my application development project.

First of all, even though it may look this way, the project is far from being dead and the objective is still there : having an application on the AppStore. I know this may look like a simple goal for some, let me remember you that I have no programming background. The goal here is not to make money but just a personnal accomplishment. So, that being said, I’ll keep posting on my progression and about pertinent apple news.

As for the project itself, I did not have a lot of time to work on it. I did dome sample apps but but nothing really exciting. I feel like it’s going in the right direction and once I’ll have some more time to work and practice I think I’ll be able to make something good out of it.

I think that wraps up the last month. I’ve add some pretty cool widget on the website like the Twitter thing on the left side of the page. If you wanna talk to me just open it and reply to me on twitter directly via the homepage. I’m pretty active on Twitter so if your interested in iPhone (of course), web marketing and everything concerning the so-called web 2.0, just follow me. You will find me under the name iDevFrancois. I’ve also add the Facebook embedable fan page so you can see what’s happening on the Fanpage directly from the website homepage. Don’t be afraid of becoming a fan! (With a hundred I'll have a personal URL!) I’m posting all kind of things I can’t put on twitter like pics and vids.

I should be posting something here next week talking about the AppStore turning 1 this July. I’ll write about my toughts and some predictions and feelings I have for the future of the AppStore. Leave any comments and I’ll reply for sure!

Francois

WWDC and its Keynote in 3 minutes

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:13:11 -0800

You asked for it well here it is! Well maybe you did not but anyway. As you probably already know, this week (8-12 June) is the most important for all the Mac and iPhone developers around the world. If you don't know what I'm talking about, it's the World Wide Developers Conference in San Francisco. This is the place where developers go to get an update on everything possible. You also get the chance to program with Apple engineer. Here's the link to follow all the update and watch HD version of conference http://developer.apple.com/WWDC/. On monday Apple announced a lot of new things on Mac and iPhone, including an all-new iPhone called 3Gs ("s" stands for Speed). I'm posting this wrap-up video of the conference so you don't have to watch the entire conference. You will get an idea of the conference and see its big annoucement. Here it is :

Project Natal (Off Topic!)

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 18:10:24 -0800

I know it's off topic but I had to share it with you guys. Since I'm pretty sure most of you are gamers (just like me) I know you're gonna appreciate the post. So, yesterday I streamed the Microsoft press conference at the E3 and I was blown off by their final announcement. They kept the best for the end and it's called "Project Natal". This project can be seen as a Wii on steroids. What it does is that it's some kind of motion capture gameplay. It's video game without controller. Okay I'm already hearing the hardcore gamers community saying that again video game are going in the wrong direction and that such project should just not exist. But hey! Just think about all the possibilities of such a technology. Okay enough talking and here's a video of the Natal Project so you can vizualise what I mean. To conclude, even if I consider myself as a harcore gamer, I love seeing such technology being developped and I'm not going to do some casual gamer bashing since, in my tought, their arrival on the market made the industry grow and renewed itself. Anyway here it is!

Everything is set up!!

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 17:14:54 -0800

I finally have my Mac Mini! After a month of waiting, here it is. A month ago, I would have never taught that buying and receiving the computer would be the hardest part of the whole project! But anyway, it gave me time to set everything up and be ready as sonn as I receive it. I have a couple of things to share with you so let's begin.

First of all, I ordered the "iPhone applications development for dummies" book. I already have a lot of books but I think that this one will be the best one to wrap up everything I've seen and learn so far. It will be the last one and I don't think I nned anymore books. The sad things is that there's still the non-disclosure on the OS 3.0 and, as I wrote two weeks ago in this blog, all apps submitted must now be OS 3.0 ready in order to be accepted by Apple. It's not that a big deal but still a bit annoying.

When I first ordered I had planned to add 3gb of ram to make it a 4gb comp. So I ordered two 2gb of ram that cost me 125$ and I wanted to make it install by some technician since opening the Mac Mini and playing inside of it can get touchy. So when I received it last Saturday I start searching for some guy in a Futureshop or something to install it but I found nobody who was qualified to do such job. (Yeah in quebec city?!). Anyway, I did not want to wait anymore to find some stupid Mac technician to install it so I watched the videos posted here in the last post and made it by myself. It worked on the first time and I didn't break it. So I now suggest everyone to do it by themselves if you want to save 40 bucks. Here are some pics of me installing it and the tools I used.

Finally, I've had a little time this weekend to begin working with the 3.0 SDK and It's been pretty well for now. Unfortunately I didn't hve much time and this week I'll be working like 50 hours so I still won't have much time but I can't wait to begin for real. I have about 5 or 6 ideas for great apps and I want to know if I'll be able to build them. Here's some pics of a simple (and I mean very simple!) app I made after about two hours of exploring ths SDK.

That's it for now and as soon as I have a bit more time I'll post again to let you know where I am in the learning and cretion process.

Francois

Preparing the stuff for the arrival!

Mon, 18 May 2009 18:13:53 -0800

Couple of news here while i'm still waiting for IT to arrive. First, I bought a couple cable, wireless keyboard and mouse and extra ram for the MacMini. I'm preparing my setup and it should be a nice one. I'll have my two computers plugged in my hp screen (It can take up to two with one vga entry and one DVI entry). I will also plug in my Mac on my Sharp LCD tv so I can use it as some sort of media center. As you maybe already know the MacMini can support two screen simultanously. Anyway once it's done and working I'll post pics and explanation on my setup so you can understand better what I mean. As for the extra ram, I found this nice little tutorial on showing how to upgrade it by yourself so you can save money. here it is and see you later!

Reading, Waiting, Wishing

Sun, 10 May 2009 15:12:59 -0800

Can't wait anymore. I need my Mac. It's sooo long. Hopefully I should receive it this week but who really knows. I've past the last week reading all kind of stuf and watching videos but all I want is to start working with the SDK and I still can't. Damn it's long. There is some advantages tough. First I have plenty of time to find other great ideas for iPhone apps and second...well I don't thnik there is an other advantage to my situation. Anyway I'll keep posting blogs for any developments there may be. Finally, as you've probably already see there's a new section called "Getting Started". I wrote an article telling what to do and what to buy if you're new and want to start developing. Here's a little video for absolute newcomers on the iPhone SDK. It takes back some of the ideas I've already said here but I find it nice to be able to see it on video.

New Logo and Bad News..

Mon, 04 May 2009 20:10:32 -0800

First of all, let's begin with the good news. I've spend the last two days working on a new logo for the website. The same logo should be used for the applications on the AppStore. Okay let's make it clear, I'm not a computer graphics designer or whatever u can call it. To be true, I had barely ever used Photoshop. I did not have money to spend on it so I decided to give it a shot and I do think it gave a pretty good result in the end. I'll probably work on it again but for now I'm satisfied with it.

Next, the computer. Bad news for Francois today...My MacMini is backordered. So I should receive it in maybe not until 2 weeks. I guess i just have to wait. I'll take this delay to order some more memory and install it myself when it arrives. This way I'll save a few bucks...I'm only trying to see the good side of it!

Another announcement ... (Drumroll)... I'm now on Facebook! You can add me as your friend by the name of Francois Harvey. I created a faebook page for one main reason. I'll be publishing ads through the "Facebook Ads" program. I bought one week just to see how effective it can be and if ti really is well I'll probably buy some more in the future. Like I said in my earlier post, I have to make the wheel turn and this way I think i'm giving a little nudge to this wheel to help it start turning.

That's about it for today. If you have any comments on the logo or any suggestions on what I should do to make it look better well I hope you'll tell me!

See ya
Francois

Learning the Web 2.0

Sun, 03 May 2009 12:07:40 -0800

Social Media

I created this blog for two reasons. First, I wanted to show and tell people about my experience of creating and applications for the iPhone OS. That is the main reason and if I can give some advice and tips by the way well it's just better. The second reason, for the creation of this blog and the forum, was to promote my applications. Okay that sounds like a good idea in theory but for my website to promote my apps, I need people on my website first to make the wheel turn. That's where this thing called Web 2.0 enters the scene.

Within a promotional optic, the Web 2.0 seems to be the real deal. The new way to go for the enterprise who wants to sell more and be world-wide-known. But it's also pretty useful for people like me who wants to get known just like them. I see it as the "users revenge" over the web. Yes it is because users are now taking back control of the web. Blogging and social networking have never been that popular. Users don't go anymore towards company but now company has to go towards users (Facebook is the best example with his ads and know reknown "Beacon"). They have to adapt to you and that's why internet users are know in control (well that's all relative).

Twitter, Facebook, RSS, Digg, Del.icio.us, LinkedIn and Flickr are just some of the few network and sharing software users may use. If you, the website owner wanting to make a little money with it, or some big enterprise like Wal-Mart (Yes Wal-Mart!) wants to be up-to-date with your customer, you want to be part of it and you NEED to be. It isn't called Web 2.0 for nothing. Old internet marketing strategies are know part of the past. You need to start all over.

That being said, I'm still in the learning process. Since, I have no reknown to count on I'll need to be a little creative. I'm now on Twitter under the name "iDevFrancois" and I'm looking forward to create a Facebook acount. If you want to learn more on the Web 2.0, I suggest you to read the article of Tim O'Reilly (father of the expression Web 2.0), called What Is Web 2.0 here. Till, the next post follow me on twitter!