Creating iOS apps

1. Creating iOS apps
Pieter Siekerman, The Saints
17-1-2013
pieter@the-saints.nl

2. The Saints
• 2005
• 15 people
• Mobile apps for customers
• iOS & Android

3. • Voetbal International
• Eredivisie Live
• Geenstijl & Dumpert
• Lowlands
• Het Financieele Dagblad
• Leeuwarder Courant
• Wired
• Webwereld
• Red Bull
• Happinez
• Mees Kees
• ...

4. About this presentation
• No code
• Things you won’t learn from a book
• Ask questions any time!

5. 1.
Work with a designer

6. Design
• Default UI components look dated
• Mobile design has evolved
• Use other apps to keep in touch
• If this is not your cup of tea, find a designer!
• But... know the basic tools

8. 2.
Develop for iOS 5 & 6

9. iOS version
iOS 6
iOS 5
iOS 4
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Data: 15-01-2013

10. iOS version growth
iOS 6 iOS 5
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
0 30 days 60 days 90 days 120 days

11. Devices (mobile)
iPhone 5
iPhone 4S
iPhone 4 & iPod 4
iPhone 3GS
iPad
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%
Data: 15-01-2013

12. Devices (tablet)
iPad Mini
iPad 4
iPad 3
iPad 2
iPad 1
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
Data: 15-01-2013

13. Android
• Downloads: equal to iOS
• Active users: close to iOS
• In App Purchases: 10% - 20% of iOS

14. 3.
Develop on device, not
simulator

15. Device vs Simulator
• Simulator
✓ Quicker
• Device
✓ Actual performance
✓ Actual SDKs
✓ Actual UI

16. 4.
Provisioning profiles
won’t bite

17. Ad Hoc build
Member Center
Provisioning Portal
Apple ID
Enterprise Program
Ad Hoc Provisioning Profile
Development Certificate
Certificate Assistant
App ID
.p12
iTunes Connect Private Key
Xcode Organizer
Public Key Push Distribution
Certificate Bundle Identifier
Keychain
Device ID Distribution Certificate
Development Development Profile
Provisioning Profile Team ID
UDID App Store
Bundle Seed ID Provisioning
Profile

18. Developer Account
• iOS Developer Program (€80,-)
‣ 100 devices
‣ App Store
• iOS Developer Enterprise Program (€240,-)
‣ Unlimited devices
‣ Private distribution

19. Private Key & Certificate
+
App ID / Bundle ID (nl.thesaints.app)
+
Devices (UDID)
=
Provisioning Profile

20. https://www.testflightapp.com/

21. 5.
Stay away from
WebViews

22. Options
• Objective-C
• PhoneGap
• Appcelerator Titanium
• Mobile webpage
• ...

23. Cross-Platform
• Efficient multi-platform
• Existing language skills
but ...
• Performance of webviews is terrible
• Lowest Common Denominator

24. Native
• Native “feel”
• All features
• Always cutting edge of platform

25. Our opinion
• Currently two relevant platforms
• Each platform has unique qualities
• If possible, always build native
• Avoid webviews!

26. 6.
Apple’s word is law

27. The rules
• App Store Review Guidelines are final, but...
• ... not all rules are enforced as written
• ... rules change over time
• ... reviewers make mistakes
• ... reviewers test as end-users

28. Solutions
• Read the rules
• Some ‘common wisdom’ is outdated
• Don’t try to outsmart Apple
• Don’t touch Apple’s 30%.
• Roll with the punches

29. 7.
Never commit to a
launch date

30. The review process
• Currently 1 week, but ...
• ... can take longer
• ... can take shorter
• ... only when you are approved

31. Solutions
• Always plan for delayed approval
• Publish a launch date after approval
• Apps for events are tricky
• Expedited reviews
• Contacts inside Apple

32. 8.
Track your app

34. AppViz
http://www.ideaswarm.com/AppViz2.html

36. AppViz
• Sales
• Rankings
• Reviews

38. 9.
Your app will (probably)
not make any money

39. A typical app
• A peak and then nothing
• Invisible in the mass of apps
• Building a good app is a must, but not enough
• Gimmicks hardly attract attention anymore
• Mobile ads are no goldmine
• Making money in The Netherlands is hard
• NL is 60/40 not 70/30

40. Solutions
• Any attention helps: press, advertising, App
Store visibility, related channels
• Established brands are powerful
• Freemium models work, payed apps are
harder
• Jailbreaked devices and cracked apps are often
a small problem
• Validate In App Purchases

41. 10.
Go for it!

42. Benefits
• Mobile is here to stay
• You will have a job
• It’s very visible
• People will understand what you’re talking
about
• Still much to be discovered

43. Questions?
Pieter Siekerman, pieter@the-saints.nl