developing an iPhone app for the first time

structured final leg

2011-04-07T11:40:00.000+01:00

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

iPad2

2011-03-31T11:38:00.000+01:00

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!

looking towards the end of the road

2011-02-21T12:06:00.000Z

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!)

iPhone 5

2011-02-21T12:00:00.000Z

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

something to consider

2010-11-24T10:54:00.000Z

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.

it's been a while

2010-10-14T10:33:00.000+01:00

Ok, so it's been a while since our last post but here is the update, it's been exciting and we hit a few snags.

QUICK ESTIMATE WEBSITE
this is complete and fully cfunctional, I love it, I use it, It's great. Big thanks to the Mofirst web developers for this, they are pretty clever dudes. It is fully functioning, you cant register but you can log in (registration is via the paid iphone app) and create products and services, rates and prices and whole new estimates, upload your logo, define your terms for the bottom of the estimates and invoices and produce pdf estimates and invoices for print or email. It is very clever and will really strengthen the phone app. The webapp also indicates once an estimate has been converted to an invoice after job completion. (there is possible future updates that would indicate when paid/part paid, produce outstanding invoices etc etc)

QUICK ESITMATE FREE PHONE APP
This is completed too and about to be final tested for launch. It has limited functionality and a maximum number of estimates but otherwise, you can set your products and services, rates and create estimates for emailing to the customer. It gives you a good feel for what the paid app is.

QUICK ESTIMATE PAID APP
This is the deluxe model and has everything, is fully functioning and synchronises with the web application. You can be out on site, create an estimate, add the services, rates and approximations and send it over to the server and it will be ready to edit/amend or print when you return to the office. Alternatively, you could email the customer and it could arrive in his inbox as a pdf before you even leave. Obviously the data connection may be an issue with syncing and has given us some trouble, we are looking at a manual sync instead of auto sync, and/or auto detection of data signal. This is the real snag and has caused a few issues when out testing the app. This is the main item delaying the launch and production of a final build for testing.

SUPPORT SITE
This is 90% complete and will have latest news about builds, updates, planned updates, as well as a FAQ, quickstart guide to using the app and support contact links. Big thanks to Richard at seveninternet.co.uk for his help with this, its looking very cool now.

It's been a while but we have been busy, the next steps are really going to be planning the launch, the marketing and then launching...it's about to get exciting, we hope!

the webapp and the backend

2010-09-08T15:03:00.000+01:00

The web application is 99% complete and tested thoroughly and we can create estimates in seconds, fully itemised, with taxes and discounts and the companies logo. This is a very cool web app and once it syncs to the iOS devices it will be very cool indeed.

The backend administration for the webapp is also very cool and includes mailings to all subscribers, activations, subscription amendments and other cool geeky statistic type stuff.

The free iOS app is complete and the paid app is just being finalised.

We dont have a definiate launch date yet, however if you visit www.quick-estimate.com you can check out the website right now!

We are looking at a few more weeks then we will launch on a thursday, to itunes (they update the itunes server with what's new and hot etc on a Thursday Pacific Time) and then promote to various reviewers whilst we wait approval.

The whole process takes longer than you might think and you have to consider all sorts of things when your app links to a webapp server, synchronises and such, you have to launch all of them at the same time!

Anyway, heres hoping we do launch soon, simultaneously and successfully!

support@quick-estimate.com

writing the app description

2010-08-04T10:56:00.000+01:00

So while we are testing and trying our damndest to hit the submission target date of August 6th (although we may extend this I think) I figured now might be a good time to write the description of what our app does and aims to do.

In essence it could help streamline small/medium sized business that have to produce estimates regularly but find themselves scrawling notes or recording dictations, for later translation onto a decent estimate. Here is the first draft of what we hope will become a polished well written description, app prices and webapp subscription proces are not set yet.

QEFREE
Quick Estimate Free allows you to create business/trade estimates with your mobile device while out on site with your client.

Set up your company name, details, services, products, hourly/daily/fixed unit costs, tax percentages, all worldwide currencies.

Input your estimates on the job so that you don't have to refer to dictation notes or scrawled notes later in the office. Input your estimate, email it to your customer or to yourself for printing out.

QE FREE has all the fundamental functionality of the paid Quick Estimate with detail estimates displaying taxes, subtotals and (optional) discounts. Estimate can be converted to invoices and sent once the work is complete.

QE FREE is limited to 20 estimates as a limited demonstration of Quick Estimate
Quick Estimate paid app allows upto 12 months of archived estimates, synchronises to our web application with options of estimate layout choice, setup via the web application, printing from the web application and your brand logo uploaded to the estimate layouts.

The use of the web application does have a very small annual subscription to cover server costs and is done via the web app paypal module. Your first year is free with the paid app and the paid app can be used without the web application.

QEstimate
Quick Estimate allows you to create business/trade estimates with your mobile device while out on site with your client.

Set up your company name, details, services, products, hourly/daily/fixed unit costs, tax percentages, all worldwide currencies.

Input your estimates on the job so that you don't have to refer to dictation notes or scrawled notes later in the office. Input your estimate, email it to your customer or submit it to the server for final adjustments, it will be there waiting on our server for you by the time you return to the office, all formatted, ready to save as a pdf and print with your logo, terms, (optional)discounts and local taxes.

Quick Estimate allows upto 12 months of archived estimates, synchronises to our web application which has additional options and makes it easier to add new categories and items to your service/product list.

Estimates can also be converted to invoices and sent/saved once the work is complete.

transferral from free app to paid app will be seamless and retain your categories/items and all setup options.

Web Application (only in conjunction with the paid app)
The web application automatically syncs to the phone application and stores all your categories, company details as well as additional options such as terms, logo upload, estimate layout choice. You can browse estimate, convert them to invoices for sending/printing once the work is complete and search your estimate/invoices by numerous date/name searches.

The use of the web application does have a very small annual subscription to cover server costs and is done via the web app paypal module. Your first year is free with the paid app and the paid app can be used without the web application if subsequent subscriptions are not required.

support
contact support via support@quick-estimate.com or visit the support site support.quick-estimate.com for quickstart help and other tips (live chat support coming soon)

Future updates
Possible multiple users from one company could log in and add estimates (identified by the estimator)
Universal app for iphone/ipod/ipad
more options of estimate layouts and skins to match your brand identity

icons and retina display optimisation

2010-07-26T14:30:00.000+01:00

ok...so we move on and the iPhone 4 is firmly established. There is an issue as a developer though. This lovely new hi res retina display means we have to have our apps fitted with hi res images and low res (for the iphone/3/3g crowd) images and the app detects the phone and iOS and puts the right ones in there.

What does this mean? it means we have to re-create our icons a coupld of times over, for different phone screens, ipad screen and then smaller versions for the settings menu and such like. I had fun with this, way more fun than coding could ever bring. So I donned my photoshop cape and got to it right away....here are my results.

Pretty cool even if i do say so myself. Take note of the size difference from iphone to iPhone 4 and iPad, this gives you an idea of how hi res the phone screen really is. Let me know if you need any help with an icon, we love designing them and enjoy it way more than coding! (did i mention this once or twice already?)

So, on to the final phase of testing and we're looking good for a launch in the next few weeks, although i am due a vacation and will probably delay launching until my return!

testing, testing, testing and oh so close nearly there

2010-07-21T16:57:00.000+01:00

Testing
if there is a certain way to fry your brain is to repeatedly test, test, test and test again, the same thing over and over. I think it is the best way to make your eyes cross involuntarily and confuse the hell out of yourself. You start to second question yourself and repeat yourself in your notes. So you get the point?

I am in the final stages of testing, we have about 10 different configurations of devices and iOS to test as thoroughly as we possibly can. It is the repetition that makes it difficult, that and getting reliable testers to return your emails ASAP (ahem people...come on!)

So it all sounds frustrating, but it isn't, because you get to see what was originally a written or sketched out idea, coming to life, in your hand, operating (almost) perfectly on your shiny new Apple device with its very cool operating system.

So...we're oh so close nearly there!

final testing of the free app in iOS4

2010-06-29T13:50:00.000+01:00

so everything looks good for the free app and almost everything is working perfectly, a few more tweaks under the hood and we're good to go. We have just tested the latest build under iOS4 and it is very fast on a 3Gs phone and has no additional bugs or crashes or tweaks than already underway. This is great news and means the free app could be ready for release VERY soon. Exciting times ahead...we are just figuring the strategy for release dates, timeframe between free and paid releases and testing is still needed for the paid app (which is more complicated as it submits data to the server and synchronises)...we will keep you posted!

more testing and iPhone 4 with iOS4

2010-06-28T14:25:00.000+01:00

Our App
we continue to graft away heartily, fine honing the app and tweaking it to make it as user friendly as possible and as intuitive an interface as possible! we are so near and testing will sooon begin under iOS4 and for the paid app which will interact with the web application (the tricky bit!!!)

iPhone4
this thing looks superb, the fit and finish and quality of construction goes way bove anything I have seen on a mobile phone before. The screen is superb with the colour rendition and the camera sharpness and focussing look to be great improvements.

iOS4
this is as big a leap forward as the phone is from 3Gs, very cool and much better for organising your apps.

Issues
I know we have heard about some screen issues with yellow and brown spots, apparantly it goes after a few days as it is a glue setting and curing fully. We have also heard these things about holding the bottom left corner, I havent seen this happen yet but Steve Jobs says they are working on a software update to handle it, meanwhile, stop holding it in your left hand tightly under your palm!

Quick Estimate - pre-release

2010-06-15T10:31:00.002+01:00

pre-release information

Quick Estimate is a new app for small/medium sized business/tradesmen and enables a quick estimate to be created on your iphone and submitted to our servers where you can log in later at home or the office and print out that estimate. This could save hundreds of thousands of man hours translating dictation or scrawled notes. The free version is email estimates only and the paid version has multiple features including the web application use and 12 months of archived searchable estimates

another build, more UDID's and iPhone 4 keynote

2010-06-08T09:29:00.000+01:00

Another Build;
the guys sent me over another build and things are looking real neat and tidy, slick and very intuitive. I can't thank these guys enough, if you need a team to work with on an application or even a web application they are pretty fast, responsive and have heaps of creativity and initiative. The app is almost 100% fully functional, a few minor kinks and things to iron out. Adding estimates is a whizz and adding to estimates is a whizz too. With this in mind we are adding UDID (the unique identifier number each device has) to our provisioning portal, a developer is allowed 99 devices for a larger group of testers and we have about 10 so far and adding more as we go. Now that the free version of the app isreaching final stages we want to expand the test group and put the thing out in the field for live testing very soon,

iPhone 4 Keynote
what a great keynote by Steve jobs and what excellent steps forward the 4th phone is taking. The thing I love about Apple is that they are putting the millions back into the company to move design, engineering and creativity forwards in software and hardware, something you never saw Microsoft do to the same extreme (they had bad OS after bad OS in the late nineties). Even the iOS itself (branded so that it canapply to phone and pad alike) is leaping forwards and really making the wannabe copy iPhones on the market look like a shim sham effort. The screen and the Apple made chip are the big news to me (i've had a test OS4 for a while now) but in conjunction with the materials it is made with and what's under the hood AND the OS, this is really the package to beat. It has been the package to beat for 3 years now and they just raised the bar in a big big way!

build number 3, OS4.0 and the iPad

2010-05-28T11:43:00.000+01:00

build number 3
We have produced build number 3 now with the rehashed visuals and interactivity and the guys have done a great job. Some functionality wasn't quite hitting the spot and some basic bugs need ironing out. It is looking good and soon we will be operational and hoping to tie the APi's in with the server so that it can all work together successfully.

iPhone OS 4.0
I have a fully installed version of the latest beta for iPhone OS 4.0 on a 3G and a 3Gs and on the 3Gs it is sweet and very very fast and smooth. There is some limited functionality on a 3G but on the whole it is real cool. The OS visually is a lot prettier and borrows the MacOSX glass pane at the bottom (the dock) for the 4 key shortcuts on the home screen. You can change the background image for the home screen aswell as the locked background image. Of course there is multitasking, which works very easily and fast and then the folders of apps, which is great, except the current iTunes doesnt support it so every time i re-sync it removes them all from the folders again. This is about the best update I have ever seen, especially the gamers network (think Playstation Network or Xbox Live, but for iPods and iPhones) and the iAd. Check the keynote presentation by Steve Jobs himself, the iAd is awesome and all done in HTML5.0 (there's one in the eye for Adobe!)

iPad
So...the iPad. I have played with one and the screen is awesome, very cool, very crisp and very very responsive. In 3 words... i love it. It isn't mine, and I may hold off getting one to see if the price drops, but as a device for reading, newspapers, magazines, browing the web, it is very very cool and perfectly sized. I think the netbook market (those who bought one for browsing mostly) will feel the pinch with this device, especially as the iTunes distribution model is super easy for users and developers alike. We dont have any plans for an iPad app but who knows, watch this space!

visuals re-hash and iPhone 4.0

2010-05-17T15:51:00.000+01:00

We had a few minor things which didn't and weren't going to work or be as user friendly as we had hoped and this effected the visuals. the great guys working with me, over in India came up with a few re-designed visuals based on various feedbacks from ourselves and things are back on the boil again. This is kind of a step backwards, but long term a step forwards (if that makes any sense). The app is going to be designed with the exact purpose of being the best quick estimate app out there.

iPhone OS 4.0
I had a wee play with this on my son's iPhone 3g and I think some of the functionality is deactivated for whatever reason, perhaps the 3g doesn't get the full hit, but the 3Gs does? I haven't had chance to check this out more thoroughly. What I did check out looks very very cool, first of all the display at the bottom matches the desktop Mac OSX icons on a shiny glass shelf effect and looks real cool, second is the function of creating folders of apps on one screen, instead of having 20 screens to scroll through. this works by hovering one app over another and hey presto! you created a folder. Great for having a folder of apps for different people if it's a multi user ipod/phone and also great for organising those apps into fun and work and such like. Another great feature will be the apple player network (think xbox live or playstion network), so instead of lots of different user logins for multi online player games (think feint, connect+ and others) it is all done via the same servers and connections. This will be very cool and friends who play similar games can hook up whatever they are playing and hopefully you can switch game if it shows what your buddies are playing. I haven't installed os 4.0 because I want the 3Gs for testing our app when the next build is ready. 4.0 compatibility will be added in the latter stages.

If you are a developer and have access to 4.0, try it out, download it then install by alt clicking on the restore button on the home screen of itunes for your device...have fun!

iPhone builds, thick and fast

2010-04-27T16:20:00.000+01:00

build one of the native iphone application arrived in my email and was a little rough around the edges but that's the whole point of the first build, to gauge a direction.

Build two arrived this morning and looks heaps better, and i can even get a real estimate out onto it, lovin it!

The speed these guys turned around build 1 to 2 is pretty good too, all we need now is to make it uber easy to use and a little slicker visually and we are hitting a home run!

iPhone 4.0, backend module, iPad and iPad 4th generation

2010-04-15T11:08:00.000+01:00

First of all, it's been a busy old month or two with Apple products, new macbook pro's in the lineup, new iPad launched (selling half a million in week 1 and causing delays on international launch...in the UK we now have to wait until the end of May!!! they have also sold a couple million ebooks via itunes for the iPad...pretty good going).

Sticking with the iPad for a moment, I have a few questions, can it share my desktops printing? I want to print those beautiful photos on it, I want to print that website I found on it, this is important to me to make it a viable option to a netbook or smaller laptop. I need to know if I can buy the wifi iPad and tether from my 3gs to it, rather than paying two accounts for mobile data. I also want to know if I can play multiplayer wifi games on my ipad against my son on his iphone? These are things that would swing it for me.

Now, back to Apple....iPhone 4.0 software looks good, is it going to cause freezes and glitchiness, pausing and slowing down? sounds like a hungry OS for a phone, is it going to eat my RAM? it looks massively promising though and I look forward to it. The next big thing? the 4th generation iPhone is rumoured to be launching on June 22nd, as Apple have booked their usual venue for these things, on that date, this I really look forward to. my 3g contract is due renewal and the 3gs is no massive bump up IMHO.

So...back to our app...we now have to ensure 4.0 compatibility as well as 3g and 3gs compatibility, but no testing on the first gen phone will take place, at least i dont think so, either way, it has no 3g connection and this would make for slow data transfers.

Our backend admin module is complete, has a few glitches and should be done soon. The next big thing to test is the native iPhone application itself, on a beta phone and using the iPhone emulator that apple kindly supply when you register and download the SDK.

I look forward to my next post being something that answers thoseipad Q's and maybe states something about the OS 4.0 and rumoured 4th gen phone...let's wait and see!

looking good, fun on the way

2010-03-18T16:22:00.000Z

progression is upon us once more and things are looking very good.

The web app is so close I can almost smell it! calculations are back on properly and just a few more final tweaks and it can be uploaded to the server for all it's glory, then we will just need to wait for iphone code to test and after that, making the iphone app talk to the web app...that should be fun!

Technical Issues...

2010-03-18T11:34:00.002Z

so...from incoming to not so incoming.

We have technical issues.

The iPad is imminent. iPhone 4 rumours are abound.

Our web application for Quick Estimate is near as dammit finished, but for a few annoying issues.

I haven't gotten my hands on the phone code to test the native app yet, so I am eagerly waiting this to run on the phone simulator on an iMac.

Things are looking forward and the pro version of the app is going to be quite something, so here's to looking forward...

incoming...

2010-02-26T11:17:00.000Z

Our app (I have been assured by our lead programmer) is very much on the way, so now it's time to research and double check the details, like compatibility of SDK's and OS X's and such.

Once we are all on the same playing field then it is a case of testing the app to death and of course the webapp which the phone app talks to via our servers, making sure all scripts work, all information transfers and archives the way we want it to.

Once we test it under simulation it is time to test it on a few live handsets and amend until it all does what it should!

After that it is the procedure of submitting the app to Apple and launching the support and help website using our newly created cms version 2.0!

exciting times are upon us, I will keep posting upto date through the whole live testing and app submission process, hopefully something we put will highlight and help somebody somewhere that is thinking about an app development!

End of Feb could be exciting!

2010-02-09T15:38:00.000Z

The end of February is the target date for completion of the iphone coded app and final polishing touches to the web application for our much anticipated iPhone/webapp 'Quick Estimate'.

The point of the application is to input estimates on the go, using an iPhone. When you return to the office/home/any location with an internet connection, you then log in and print out the estimate. Users can set up categories and sub categories and on the fly discounts and prices for estimates to be emailed or downloaded as pdf's to print. Less time spent listening to dictations or deciphering scrawling notes and less time typing out estimates.

End of February is the target date for our testing of the iPhone code, launch of the app for this quarter: things could be getting sxciting !

the final say on our strategy and moving forward

2010-01-19T16:36:00.000Z

Very exciting now as the debates and discussions and research and information gathering (to ascertain and finalise our best marketing strategy in terms of what functions the free app will have and what functions the paid app will have) are finally nearing an end.

the next move is to incorporate those decisions and move forward, which means finalising development and making that phone app talk to the web app and vice versa, then test it in real life scenarios before moving toward launching on itunes.

On another note, it is also exciting that, if numbers and sales go well and interest is high enough, we may look toward developing it as a multi platform supported business with delivery on android and blackberry platforms. It is also interesting that Apple have a media event planned for January 27 to launch the new iPhone OS4.0 and much rumoured tablet, delivery on this device could be a straight forward port if it uses much the same code and frameworks as the phone.

2010 could be an exciting year folks!

different apps and functionality

2010-01-12T10:56:00.000Z

so we are at the point where we decide how to approach the launch of the app. Do we have a free app with annual subscription? do we have a paid app with annual subscription?

We need the annual subscription as the software will archive upto 12 months of estimates and invoices on our servers. Do we just charge for the app and have no subscriptions?

Apple SDK states it can utilise in-app subscriptions. Do we make use of this (and let apple have 30%) or do we have an online webapp subscription payment module?

There is a ton of questions regarding this and we are knocking it about at the moment. Perhaps we have a free app and no paid app but with only annual subscriptions to gain the full functionality, even then, do we make this subscription payment online or in-app?

This is the point we are at right now and it seems to be a very lengthy point that doesnt seem to be moving forward at any great rate. The only good news is, once we settle on it, we will start to move fast!

Decisions & issues

2009-12-18T14:27:00.000Z

So the webapp is prtty much complete and therefore we move onto the phpne app, then we will make the two talk to each other.

The web app evolved into something much more functional than originally intended and the guys doing the coding really did us proud, however, with the web app being more functional there are some issues and questions raised by this, in terms of the phone talking to the web app and the differentiation between the free and the paid versions of the app.

We have reached what I think is a fair decision in terms of the user and what they can have for free before needing to pay. Hopefully it is fair for the user and of course, ourselves in terms of gaining sales of the paid app. We are just waiting a reply from the coders in terms of what techincal issues this may raise.

Our original pre-christmas launch has fallen back by maybe upto 4 weeks due to numerous contemplative discussions regarding this and testing and tweaking of the webapp. The next stage for me is the exciting one, where we see the phone app come to life and take the form of my original concept and visuals!

we said there would be ups and downs

2009-12-07T11:12:00.000Z

...and so there is!

A little miscommunication with the brief and/or misunderstanding. So far the phone app has been written with the assumption of a data connection (wifi or edge or 3g) whereas my intention was always to have the iphone app work offline and only connect when submitting an estimate.

I figured this may create an issue with making sure the webapp and iphone had the same data in terms of categories etc, the coding guys said they use the same data which is when the penny dropped, they have it always connecting. This may be the way we go now that we are down the road some, but with an update to v2 for offline use and data syncing.

My only argument against this is that if we intended it to be always connected then we would have written an iPhone web app, not a desktop webapp and iphone app. The guys have been very good about it and are looking into possibilities of making it work offline then sending info to the webapp.

Other than this 'DOH!' moment we have been rigorously testing and amending and testing and amending and it is looking very cool in its own right purely as a desktop web app, these guys have me impressed with their speed and ability and we are thinking of them for one or two other future projects we have on the boil.

getting there

2009-12-01T10:20:00.000Z

the web application is looking very cool now, everything slides and fades very neatly and it even calculates everything as it should. Still a few little options to add and a few glitches to iron out but it is looking like a decent bit of kit now.

testing testing testing

2009-11-30T14:32:00.000Z

more testing and more glitches, fix a few and find some more.

It is looking very cool in the setup section and the whole sliding fading and fading menus and options look very cool and very slick. Once the thing functions as well as it looks I will be real happy.

Of course once the web applications works then we have to test the iPhone native application and that t works with the web application and that they talk to each other correctly.

O joy of joys, why is testing so laborious and time consuming and tedious!?

testing time

2009-11-24T09:30:00.000Z

time to test the webapp side of things. I have to say from my brief and visuals the guys have done a great job, using their initiative on things I had omitted to give direction on to create a very slick webapp so far indeed, excellent javascripts, slick mouseover events and very cool menu sliding and such.

I am very impressed with the guys and we should definitely look in their direction for any of our upcoming projects in the future, they have worked fast and hard and so far delivered well. They even dont like to show me anything until it is testable, so avoiding my meddling micromanaging impatient ways!

I have more testingto do thoroughly and so far can only find one little niggle, so all looking good. The interesting part will be testing the phone inputs, then submission to the server for integration to the web app.

Making some headway

2009-11-23T10:15:00.000Z

just received a link for testing the website app side of things, which will receive some testing once i get the go ahead from the coders. Looking good now and has good capabilities.

Time to start promoting with a hopeful launch date sometime in December on the app store (depending how the testing goes and such!)

Next up is the native phone application, looking forward to the visuals becoming reality and playing and testing, pleaselet our idea of intuitive navigation of a business app be everybody elses idea of it too!

is that the horizon moving...?

2009-11-04T15:56:00.000Z

So...before, I mean earlier, in the beginning, it looked promising that everything could be up and running, phone talking to server and server recording data and then outputting pdf files for user to print, all tested and launched on the app store for mid december.

But guess what?

December really isn't all that far away any more and I still haven't been given the web app to test, nevermind the phones native app. It's like the horizon is moving away from me just as we feel like we're approaching it. I may be wrong of course, I am assured confidently that things are still on schedule and I will receive a url for testing purposes any day now, shortly after which the phone native app will be heading towards it's testing.

It really hit home most when a friend asked what I would be doing in 8 weeks, 'hell if I know' was my first thought, but then they said 'it will be Christmas Eve'! So it's that close, and we aren't in initial testing yet.

We can't pomote too heavily or market anything if we don't have it's launch date. Sure you can put out feelers, teasers, tasters, but nothing too definite, we haven't got any screenshots yet.

So...another frustrated post by an impatient pain in the ass!

App store reaches 100,000 apps

2009-10-29T12:22:00.000Z

Apple is very near the milestone of having 100,000 apps in their app store. Whislt this is a massive result for Apple and iTunes, being the largest online software distribution model in the world, I'm not sure it is that great for those of us creating new apps. Even more so as it concentrates strongly on games, how do the business app guys get a look in?

It is amazing but the downside could be the difficulty in being recognised or even found, kind of like a needle in a haystack.

another SDK download

2009-10-28T12:34:00.000Z

with Snow leaopard comes a new iPhone OS update to 3.1.2 and with that comes a new SDK to download, for iPhone OS 3.1.2, massive file and not massively fast to download. The guys developing the webapplication for our iPhone native app say it is near completion for testing, so getting exciting to see something I drew and designed, operating and in a basic way, talking to data from my phone app. The app on the phone itself isnt yet complete but that will be the real exciting part!

For now, I wait so that I can test the webapp. Once this runs smoothly and is tested to death we canmove onto the phone app which will submit data to our server from the phone via wifi or the cellular network.

The down side is that the app store is massively saturated with apps and the more there are, the harder it is to get your app noticed, marketed well and sold in large numbers. It could be that the massive sales of apps is becoming a less heard of story

Frustratingly slow

2009-10-21T15:32:00.000+01:00

no updates from our coding guys and it is frustratingly difficult not to pester them while we wait the word with something to show for all the time and effort coding. In the meantime a new update of the Apple SDK and new news of an updated iMac range and soaring Apple profits with the shares climbing ever higher. It's funny really, about 12 months ago I recommended to anybody I could, buy apple shares now...whilst the recession was at it's lowest...anybody that listened sure could make a lot of money right now with the shares flying high. I hope ournext update is that we have managed to test the backend of the webapp and the front end...our target launch date is mid december and we still want that, our coding guys say they are on target so it is down to trust and my struggling ability not to micro manage!

Evolution of a specification

2009-09-11T14:40:00.000+01:00

The specification has evolved and is going to cost additional developer time, however, this is essential as two competitive releases have arrived in the app store recently, having checked them out they both get ok reports although neither do what ours will do... we have tweaked our specification so that one key element that one of the competitors can do functionally, ours wil now do. I checked it out and it was a real pain to use the competitors app on the phone, something which i hope the painstakingly long time I spent creating visuals and re-creating them, to make it as easy and intuitive an interface as could be, will show this. The spec evolves, which makes the web app evolve, to cope with the eveolved iphone spec, the cost evolves too!

progression and the ever growing team

2009-09-11T14:37:00.000+01:00

Our team is growing and now has a visual designer, a network/internet specialist, a web developer, a php developer, a project manager and 2 database specialists. It is amazing to see how things are coming together with so many hands at the pump, Isometimes forget which version of the written specification is the final one, and even that has evolved further as my next post will reveal!

coming together

2009-08-21T14:47:00.000+01:00

I have just previewed the first incarnation of the sliced graphic for the web application side to our project.

Essentially there wil be a web app for printing things off which were first created by the iphone out in the field during the working day. Download times looked a little slow but it is great to see things in working code rather than a large photoshop file with hundreds of layers in different groups!

Activation

2009-08-21T12:52:00.000+01:00

today we baccame officially approved and activated iPhone developers.

So far we have nothing to submit, but we wanted to check out the tools available to us via the developers web log in and to make sure this was in place before we got too far in and for some reason were declined!

Becoming a registered developer

2009-08-21T12:51:00.000+01:00

This took a fair bit of time, whether Apple are snowed under with requests or just not that efficient, I don't know.

I think I chased this for a few weeks though, maybe a month or more even, come to think about it.
Basically you apply to register, then the good folks at Apple Incorporated request a few documents from you to prove you are
a>real
b>an existing company
c>incorporated
One of the documents is proof of company incorporation from companies house (UK), however my family firm didn't have this as we were first registered in 1946 and it was something obscure like the working companies register or something. this really messed with Apple and they said it wasn't acceptable (at first!!!)

Finally they did accept it after a variety of additional proof of the company's existence and a number of emails with an increasing degree if imptaience reflected in the text on my part!

Anyhoo, all is good with those nice Apple folks as we were accepted and should receive the activation code within 24 hours...this was maybe 3 weeks ago. 3 emails in the last week and no reply so far.

The Beginning

2009-08-21T12:44:00.000+01:00

it must be a while ago now, I had this (what I considered to be) great idea for an iPhone app, and it seemed like a no brainer to me. This was when I had the first generation iPhone. So I made a few enquiries and didn't really go anywhere with it at first, a few visuals in Photoshop and a few sketchy pages as the specification.

Richard and I work together already on a variety of projects, internet services, web design and such and we have hooked up together on bigger projects in the past.

The first stage was to find a developer to work with that had experience with the native coding for the iPhone with ourselves handling most of the web based stuff, server space, domains, websites etc

Richard has heaps of resources and contacts so we gained a contact through one of his resources and I set about writing a detailed spec for the web app and native app along with heaps of visuals of the interface, menu's and app screens.