The final leg of our journey is in sight now and we have a stringent structured 4 week process which entails a list of issues to be resolved and weekly builds to be tested before the final test build for launch onto itunes.
This pretty much means we are very solidly going to launch in the next 4-5 weeks the free app, paid app and web app that synchronises everything together.
We are now running the pre launch promotional, meta data, search engine and optimisation to get the thing noticed as much as possible. As soon as we have pre launch codes from itunes we will post those and post those on twitter facebook and www.iaindeandesign.co.uk
follow on twitter: iaindean
Thursday, 7 April 2011
Thursday, 31 March 2011
iPad2
iPad 2 arrived and I waited outside Apple Store Liverpool, England for 4 hours just so my 4 kids could get their hands on one of these things. We didn't have an iPad1 for long (11 days then we got a full refund the day after iPad2 was announced!) so they love this thing to bits. We opted for white with an orange smartcover and a 16gb wifi.
All in all it is amazingly thin and very fast, instant startup and very slick,smooth transitions when being used. The real star for me though is the hdmi output and the garage band app. This is an awesome app with superb intuitive controls and with the hdmi out into my Onkyo AV receiver and 1200w surround sound, I am truly a rock star in the making! (not)
Our app
Our app is complete in terms of web and free app and has been for some time. We have had to apply some pressure to the software guys for completion of the paid app and are right now structuring a timeframe which we have really got to comply with as we are falling behind and now have a small handful of competitors with similar apps. The good news is, i beleive we still have the better app, and are the only one syncing it to a webserver and a multi platform web app. Hoping to launch in the next month or so!
All in all it is amazingly thin and very fast, instant startup and very slick,smooth transitions when being used. The real star for me though is the hdmi output and the garage band app. This is an awesome app with superb intuitive controls and with the hdmi out into my Onkyo AV receiver and 1200w surround sound, I am truly a rock star in the making! (not)
Our app
Our app is complete in terms of web and free app and has been for some time. We have had to apply some pressure to the software guys for completion of the paid app and are right now structuring a timeframe which we have really got to comply with as we are falling behind and now have a small handful of competitors with similar apps. The good news is, i beleive we still have the better app, and are the only one syncing it to a webserver and a multi platform web app. Hoping to launch in the next month or so!
Monday, 21 February 2011
looking towards the end of the road
OK, so it's been some time since my last post and we are looking like we have about a month to completion.
The FREE APP is complete, operational and I have used it lots and tested it to death.
The WEB APP is complete, fully operational and I use it and have done for a while, to produce my own estimates for work.
THE PAID APP is in it's final state and I am just waiting for the final build for testing and final polishing and tweaks, then we look to go live on the app store!
It's been a long road and we have had many hands involved, it's evolved into what we believe is a reallly creditable app that could be massively useful for small-medium business worldwide in streamlining the way that they create estimates in the workplace. My next post will hopefully be that we are live and approved by Apple (assuming that goes smoothly!)
The FREE APP is complete, operational and I have used it lots and tested it to death.
The WEB APP is complete, fully operational and I use it and have done for a while, to produce my own estimates for work.
THE PAID APP is in it's final state and I am just waiting for the final build for testing and final polishing and tweaks, then we look to go live on the app store!
It's been a long road and we have had many hands involved, it's evolved into what we believe is a reallly creditable app that could be massively useful for small-medium business worldwide in streamlining the way that they create estimates in the workplace. My next post will hopefully be that we are live and approved by Apple (assuming that goes smoothly!)
iPhone 5
I have just received images of an alleged iPhone5 device, with a slide out second touch screen which would have controls or context sensitive buttons to the software running on the phone itself. What we could have here is a slimmer, edge to edge screen (4inch maybe?) with a slide out to complete with the new Ericcson playstation device.
Im not sure how genuine this may be as to manufacture a dual touch screen device and make it slimmer, have good battery life and then there are the dev implications, does everybody want to redevelop their iOS software for this new dual screen device?
Im not so sure
Im not sure how genuine this may be as to manufacture a dual touch screen device and make it slimmer, have good battery life and then there are the dev implications, does everybody want to redevelop their iOS software for this new dual screen device?
Im not so sure
Wednesday, 24 November 2010
something to consider
whilst we are eagerly working away to try and launch the paid app and the free app simultaneously we have hit a few snags in the original concept of limiting the functionality for the free app. Something other developers may want to consider is how this can be regulated and/or enforced without a workaround for all the smart alecs out there who want your free app with unlimited use.
Originally our idea was to limit for a month, we figured 'hey, let's get folks hooked on our functionality and then they will upgrade to the paid app and get the bonus of the web app'. WRONG! Apple wont allow time limitations. so instead, we allow 30 estimates, based loosely on one per day for a month. Sounds good. Then we figured, if they removed the app then re-installed they could run it again for 30 days. Then we figured link it to their email address when they set up their company details...sorted. Then the clever guys at mofirst came up with some other limitations which will allow use of the free app to get hooked, but not enough so you would want to workaround and use it all the time, that's the job of the paid app.
Trying to gauge something like this is a logistical nightmare, not everybody agrees what is reasonable for a free app to do functional wise. Not everybody agress with what is enough limitation to make them like the app enough to upgrade. We have hit upon what we believe is the right answer but only time will tell. At least we can update the app and amend it if it doesnt work out in terms of numbers of downloads and sales.
And so...onto the good news. The web app is fully functioning and I use it myself for creating estimates. It's brilliant, slick smooth and fast and an estimates can be fired off as a pdf attachment in around 9 minutes even with careful consideration! The downside is that you cant use the webapp as a standalone, you have to register for it via the paid app, which isnt complete yet. Once apple get the airprint feature right and driverless printing from your iOS device is a realistic option without having to buy a HP printer, then we can look at integrating that and adding extra cool streamlining to the way folks produce their Quick Estimates.
And so time crawls on and we are heading towards Christmas of the wrong year...but we are working hard and tirelessly to launch pre-Christmas 92010) on iTunes store.
Originally our idea was to limit for a month, we figured 'hey, let's get folks hooked on our functionality and then they will upgrade to the paid app and get the bonus of the web app'. WRONG! Apple wont allow time limitations. so instead, we allow 30 estimates, based loosely on one per day for a month. Sounds good. Then we figured, if they removed the app then re-installed they could run it again for 30 days. Then we figured link it to their email address when they set up their company details...sorted. Then the clever guys at mofirst came up with some other limitations which will allow use of the free app to get hooked, but not enough so you would want to workaround and use it all the time, that's the job of the paid app.
Trying to gauge something like this is a logistical nightmare, not everybody agrees what is reasonable for a free app to do functional wise. Not everybody agress with what is enough limitation to make them like the app enough to upgrade. We have hit upon what we believe is the right answer but only time will tell. At least we can update the app and amend it if it doesnt work out in terms of numbers of downloads and sales.
And so...onto the good news. The web app is fully functioning and I use it myself for creating estimates. It's brilliant, slick smooth and fast and an estimates can be fired off as a pdf attachment in around 9 minutes even with careful consideration! The downside is that you cant use the webapp as a standalone, you have to register for it via the paid app, which isnt complete yet. Once apple get the airprint feature right and driverless printing from your iOS device is a realistic option without having to buy a HP printer, then we can look at integrating that and adding extra cool streamlining to the way folks produce their Quick Estimates.
And so time crawls on and we are heading towards Christmas of the wrong year...but we are working hard and tirelessly to launch pre-Christmas 92010) on iTunes store.
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