Archive for: app development
- February 8, 2010 11:42 am
Say what? To pretty much everyone in world who has seen an iPhone, the iPhone is the pinnacle of mobile computing/smartphones. Till this day, no one has quite copied the ease of use and cohesiveness of the hardware, software, and features. Though the platform isn’t without it’s problems. Most notably, the walled garden that Apple has erected around the iPhone has caused controversy since day 1. The iPhone walled garden has been called many things. A “mobile platform strategist, consultant, and trainer” by the name of Peter-Paul Koch has surprised me however by whipping up a new comparison…
To Koch, the iPhone is the IE 6 of the modern age. How can anyone compare easily the worst browser still in existence to one of the best smartphones in existence? Koch’s rationalization is pretty lengthy and expletive filled (my how we love a colorful blogger) though goes on to highlight how the entire world bending over backwards to cater to the iPhone is a bad, bad thing. Even worse, as the world moves more and more towards an “iPhone compatible/iPhone app” version of their products and services, those developers and companies are alienating those who do not use an iPhone. And contrary to popular belief, that number is quite large — much larger than the number of actual iPhones users.
One question keeps popping up in my mind: What happens in 5, 10, or more years when Apple and the iPhone platform are no more or drastically different? What happens to all of those iPhone-formatted web pages, special iPhone apps, and other iPhone specific aspects of the internet? It goes to waste. Developers spend countless amounts of time and money developing strictly for the iPhone. Consumers likewise spend copious amounts of money on the same platform.
That is precisely what Koch is hinting at. Just as IE6 gained it’s popularity back in the day, that is, “it was where the money was at”, the iPhone too treads down this path. Developing and catering to a single platform instead of universal standards is a dangerous thing to those not on board with whatever platform is popular at the moment.
The sad part is, the iPhone and all of it’s specially designed apps and services won’t be here forever. Then what?
Guardian UK
[Image Source 1] [Image Source 2]
- November 13, 2009 8:31 am
Think Facebook’s Joe Hewitt giving up on iPhone development was a one time thing? At the very l east it’s a ground rule double as Rouge Amoeba has announced that they too are ceasing iPhone development on account of Apple’s App Store policies.
What exactly did Rouge Amoeba make? Their iPhone baby, Airfoil Speakers Touch 1.0 allows iPhone/iPod Touch users to pick up broadcasted audio from their Mac or Pc. A handy app no doubt. After they released the first version, the realized that there were a few bugs in in audio playback when multiple sources were being output too. A fix was promptly submitted. What ensued next was 1/4 year of hell.
Apple rejected the update soon from the start because the app used images of “Apple-owned Graphic Symbols” — something the first version had for some time. Not to mention, using “Apple-ownded Graphic Symbols” for things such as navigation is completely legal in Mac development. Why is the iPhone any different?
The last straw wasn’t an “all of a sudden” type of deal. Instead, when the developers finally saw their update hit the light of day and the App Store storefront, they realized that it had taken Apple three and a half months — three and a half months — to approve and release a small update. This update mind you while small, fixed a rather serious bug. Meanwhile, the entire time this back and forth, wait, wait, wait game was going on, the original bugged version with “infringing symbols” was still available for purchase. Rouge Amoeba developer Paul Kafasis stated:
“Rogue Amoeba no longer has any plans for additional iPhone applications, and updates to our existing iPhone applications will likely be rare. The iPhone platform had great promise, but that promise is not enough, so we’re focusing on the Mac.”
Public accounts of developers big and small leaving the iPhone platform because of the approval process and overall App Store policies should be worrying Apple. Without breakthrough devs and apps, there’s nothing to the iPhone. It’s just another phone. Though as many have already mentioned (Joe Hewitt in particular), “for every one developer that leaves, ten more sign up”. That statement should be exciting and encouraging. But it’s not. Instead of feelings of joy and excitement I’m left feeling sad that more devs are getting sucked into this pit of suck.
9to5 Mac
- November 11, 2009 7:09 pm
If there was ever a perfect example of hell freezing over, this is it. After months and months of harsh criticisms stemming from the god awful review process and absolute lack of any communication, it seems Apple is finally starting to listen to the very people that have catapulted the iPhone to what it is. Starting today, Apple is making steps towards a more transparent app approval process and communication with devs. I wouldn’t exactly call it transparent yet, more like opaque. Still, it’s better than the brick wall that existed but 24 hours ago. Under this new system, devs will be able to see between three states of change as their app moves through the crowded digital halls of Apple’s review HQ. The stages…
- Waiting for review
- In Review
- Ready for Sale
It’s nothing to get all slap happy about, but it is a start. I’m excited for devs as happy devs equal happy end users. For if they get to fed up, they’ll just up and leave and take their code weaving skills to some other platform. I just hope Apple doesn’t stop here. The “Waiting for Review” stage could use quite a bit more breakdown as simply staring at “Waiting for Review” or “In Review” for months still leaves devs wondering what the hell is going on. Some ideas I’ve already thought of:
- Display number of remaing apps in front of you: Give each app an ID number (I’m sure they already have them). Allow devs to see that number in the form of “Waiting for Review — there are “x number of apps in front of you”. That would be huge. Knowing that there are 4,000 apps in front of you is a tad more comforting than endlessly sitting for weeks not knowing.
- Daily updates for apps in review: To expand on “In Review”, Apple could and should give updates maybe once or twice a day as to what they reviewed, problems they had/have, and what is the immediate next step. I’m not saying give a small novel, just a few short sentences. You know…communicate!.
Would the above suggestions add to wait time? Ya, slightly. But I’m pretty sure devs would appreciate the exponential increase in communication. Going from email bombs with no response to daily updates is a god send of epic proportions.Apple has every tool to do this. So you see, in the end, I’m not that impressed. Content, but not satisfied. It’s more than most others are doing, but that doesn’t mean it’s perfect. Far from it. If Apple really wants to turn around the App Store image in regards to the shifty approval process, taking the ideas highlighted above and implementing them would go a long way.
I’m just one guy. I’m sure there are many more of you with several ideas that could greatly benefit the App Store. Share them inside. Intrigue us…
Textually > Wired
- September 21, 2009 7:39 am
Well that was fast. If you recently picked up a Zune HD, you have a new game to look forward to. Wordmonger, a word puzzle game by Foundation 42 has successfully been ported to the Zune HD from it’s iPhone counterpart. The nifty factoid: it was completed from start to finish in 12 hours! Talk about getting a leg up on the situation. Because Microsoft is currently keeping the Zune app market (or lack thereof) under tight control, interested hopefuls will have to download the developers kit in order to get this new found goodness on their unit. Hopefully M will take the locks off the app market and allow more end user options for publishing and downloading Zune HD apps. Once they do, expect Wordmonger to be among the first.
Check out a vid of the app in action just inside…
- September 18, 2009 12:36 pm
How about another follow up? The post from yesterday regarding the Microsoft Marketplace kill switch and the ability to remotely uninstall apps led to a flurry of fears and concerns yesterday. I will admit outright I had some pretty big concerns as the ability to do such a thing comes with great responsibility that has the potential to be misused quite easily. Luckily Microsoft has taken the time to reach out and clarify a bit more as to the usage of “the switch”. From the horses mouth:
In the vast majority of instances where an application is removed from Windows Marketplace for Mobile, users of this application will continue to be able to use these applications on their phones. In the rare event an application from Marketplace exhibits harmful behavior or has unforeseen effects, Marketplace has the capability to remotely uninstall these applications. While we hope to avoid this scenario, we will make refunds available in such cases.
While you can’t always believe everything you hear/see, the response from Microsoft seems wholly transparent and comforting with the best part acknowledging refunds will be issued in case an app goes kamikaze. Feeling a bit better are we?
Source: BGR, Ars Technica
With all of the publicity surrounding Apple, the iPhone, Google, and the rejection of the Google Voice app from the App Store, one can understand why other platforms such as Android and BlackBerry are tooting their horns happily crying out regarding their support for the Apple shunned service. Naturally, those who are trying to catch up to the success that has rained down on Apple and the iPhone (pretty much everyone), have begun talking up the fact that Google Voice will work flawlessly on their platforms. Palm, being the fact they needs some major boosts in the popularity and monetary departments are joining in and announcing that they plan on having full and deep Google Voice integration on the Pre and future devices. The only catch….? Google isn’t even working on a full fledged Pre version of Google Voice at this point and time.
- February 14, 2009 11:06 am
Now that the Android Marketplace will start taking on paid apps, many are fearing that all of the freebies will be quickly replaced by waves of pay applications that will cost an arm and a leg and at times part of a torso. Fret not as an emerging team of developers over at Froogloid (Frugal + Android…Get it!) who are bringing a level of affordability to the marketplace from the get go. They are a devoted team of developers who are looking to change the world and the Android Marketplace one impeccable application at a time. Currently Froogloid is working on two applications and getting them ready for the paid app release on marketplace next week. Come inside to find out what they are!
The first application, A2B is a very handy app that will help you at those most difficult times of your life. For instance, you’re in the big city, park your car. You laugh it up shopping all day, go to a party in the evening, have a few drinks and before you know it you might as well be in Africa because that’s about as far as you feel from finding your car. But the functionality doesn’t stop there. Use it to find a lost trail hiking. Can’t find a store your friend raved about…ditto. But they don’t stop there. Think how much easier it would be if you used a picture or audio message coupled with the GPS coordinates in order to make those coordinates actually mean something to you. That is exactly what A2B can do. It will definitely be one of the first great “location finder” paid apps to debut.
The second application is called Key Ring and is a little bit more of a surprise. The developers won’t release too much information other than “they don’t intend to change consumer shopping habits drastically”, however it isn’t out of the question. They also say that it isn’t a price comparison tool. What could it be? We’ll just have to wait until sometime in Q2 of 2009 as that is their current target launch date. Head on over and check out what they have to offer as well as leave a comment or two.
Source: Froogloid
