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Cheaper Apple iPhone On the way

1 Mar

Apple’s COO Hints At Cheaper iPhone

iPhone nano

Forbes reports that Bernstein Research analyst Toni Sacconaghi apparently had a meeting with Apple COO Tim Cook, CFO Peter Oppenheimer and VP of Internet Services Eddy Cue last week.

The analyst reports that Apple’s COO suggested that it is “likely to develop lower priced offerings” to expand the iPhonemarket.

Forbes reports:

The analyst says Cook “appeared to reaffirm the notion that Apple is likely to develop lower priced offerings” to expand the market for the iPhone. Cook said the company is planning “clever things” to address the prepaid market, and that Apple did not want its products to be “just for the rich,” and that the company is “not ceding any market.”

We’ve heard rumors that Apple is working on a cheaper and smaller iPhone model, which could be priced at $200 without requiring a contract. However, New York Times reported that although Apple is exploring ways to reduce the price of the iPhone to make it affordable to a wider audience by changing internal components of the device, it is not working on a smaller iPhone.

The analyst also reports that Cook believes that the tablet market will be much bigger than the PC market. He wrote:

Cook indicated that the tablet market would be much bigger than the PC market. Sacconaghi concludes that if so, it could eventually be a $60 billion to $100 billion business for Apple alone. Cook also said he expected intense competition in tablets, more so than in smart phones, with all PC and smart phone vendors likely to participate, but he added that Apple has a strong head start, and that it has interesting new things in the pipeline.

What do you think? Should Apple launch a cheaper iPhone model?

iPhone App Design Coach – Part 2

28 Feb pipe

Design On Paper

Think about the size of the screen. Are you planning to publish for the iPhone or iPad?

Be aware that iPhone users are accustomed to the app design features. It has een reported that users will use apps in very short bursts, often five minutes at a time.

People don’t necessarily want to type excessive amounts of text on the iPhone whilst on the move so many apps are geared towards consumption rather than production. The iPad offers a much larger screen and additional features. There is an opportunity to taylor your application for the device and therefore providing an up-sell opportunity.

Sketch: To help you with selecting minimal features for your application, get your ideas down on paper. Think about your audience, what does your user need?

Keep narrowing down your user group. It’s much better to build a great app for a small number of users, than an app that’s half ok for alot of people.

If you have a small user group that likes your app a lot, you can always expand from there once you get feedback.

Your Mobile App Design Process

Putting your sketches and designs in front of your users will give you some great feedback to work with.

In fact alot of your design process could be based around feedback loops.

Have a go at creating 3 to 10 completly different designs for you application. Creating the first 3 designs will be relatively easy. Creating 7 different designs may be more of a challenge.

If you can design 10 completly different iPhone or iPad applications you will have pretty much captured all of the possible features that could be included.

Build a Paper Prototype: Use one piece of paper for each screen. The idea is that this is a replica of your application for demonstration purposes. The value here is that you can have your user group use the application before its published. You can do this with a relatively small investment and gain much richer feedback than simply just showing your sketches. It will quickly emerge that people like some functionality and not others.

The final thing to do at the prototyping phase is get feedback on possible interactions such as shaking or rotating the device.

Build Your Brand on the iTunes App Store

Publishing an iPhone App to build your personal brand begins by asking yourself some important planning questions. Your responses focus your efforts and help launch you on the mobile application market.

Why do you want to publish an iPhone app?

What are your goals and expectations? How will you benefit from writing your application?

Who is your audience?

A successful publishing experience begins when you identify the specific audience that you wish to attract.

Why will your intended audience want to purchase your app?

What types of information are they looking for? What kinds of problems do your intended readers want to solve? What kinds of goals do they want to achieve?

Have you prpared a content plan for your app?

A content plan is more than a table of contents, it will direct your thinking and provide a way for you to track your progress.

What kind of products can you offer on a continuity basis?

Module-based, or subscription iPhone and iPad app content is the key to providing the annuity based revenue needed to contine to wroite new applications and develop new products.

Do you have a marketing funnel?

A marketing funnel refers to a system of monetizing your app by driving users to your website, obtaining their e-mail address and permission to market to them, offering them a series of products and services at different price points.

What is the status of your business platform?

Your business platform is the measure of your current online visability to search engines and individuals looking for information about your topic. Knowing where you are now is the first step to enhancing your platform.

What about existing iPhone or iPad apps on your topic?

What are their pros and cons? What types of fresh information or perspectives can you offer to make your app more useful for your intended readers?

Do you have a blog or blog-based website?

A blog is the easiest way you can create, and maintain, a significant web presence at minimum cost.

iPhone App Design Coach – Part 1

28 Feb Water

Who Are Your Customers?

A key factor for the design of your application is in understanding your potential user group. Use the following questions to help you evaluate your customer base:

1) Where do you operate, provide services or sell products?

2) What are the characteristics of the people who use your products or services?

3) How many customers do you have?

4) How many potential customers are there?

5) Why do your customers do business with you?

6) What features of your product or service do your customers like the most?

7) Could your products or services be sold in other markets or elsewhere in the world?

8) Could you help your customers to solve a problem or be more effective?

Your Business Growth

What is your business growth strategy?

Concentration: Your resources could be focused towards the continued and profitable growth of a single product or service in a single market. This could be achieved by attracting new customers or by increasing their usage rate, or, where feasible, by attracting customers away from competitors.

Product Development: You could think about what modified products or services you could offer to your existing customers.

Market Development: You could build on your existing strengths, skills and capabilities in order to market your present products to new customers. This often requires new or renewed approaches to advertising, promotion and selling.

Innovation: This implies the development of products or services that are new as aposed to modified. Innovative organisation can keep ahead of their competitors by introducing new products or services.

Think Mobile Solution

Explore Possible Solutions for Your Application

What will your user need on the go?

The goal could be to provide information to your users with as fewer features as possible. People often make the mistake of putting the focus on features and putting as many as possible in their iPhone or iPad application.

You can skrike a balance on your features through feedback loops.

Form a User Group

Form a user group to help you to determine which of your designs is best. Even asking friends and family will be very useful in helping you to narrow things down.

Once you have shared your ideas, gained feedback and narrowed it down, you will have a good idea what your application will look like?

A Unique iPhone App Idea

Explore what being unique is with this Unique Mind Map.

The Unique Mind Map will help you to consider what makes for uniqueness.

Every person has unique abilities, passions and talents.

This mind map is designed to help you to structure your thinking around what makes you who you are. What to you have to offer your customers interms of a unique solution?

If you find the unique mind map helpful in inspiring your creativity have a look at some of the other work by Paul Foreman at:

www.mindmapinspiration.com

A Compelling User Experience

The iPhone allows an immediacy and intimacy as it blends mobility and the power of the desktop. A compelling user experience enables users to do what they need to do with a minimum of fuss and bother. Try tomeet the expectations of your potential iPhone app user by meeting their expectations based on the context in which they may use your application.

The Phones unique software and hardware allow you to create an application that enables the user to do something that may not be practical with a laptop computer. The iPhone has the capability to be an extension of the user, seamlessly integrated into his or her everyday life, and able to accomplish a singly focused task, or step in a series of tasks, in real time based on where he or she is.

Think about the possibilities that open up to you when your application can easily do the following:

1) Access the internet

2) Know the location of the user

3) Track orientation and motion

4) Track the action of the user’s fingers on the screen

5) Play audio and video

6) Access the users contacts

7) Access the users pictures and camera

A compelling user experience has to result from the interaction of several factors:

1) Interesting, useful, plentiful content.

2) Powerful, fast, versatile functionality.

3) An intuitive, well-designed user interface.

Reasons for publishing an iPhone App

27 Feb revpod1

20 Reasons for publishing an iPhone App

More and more traffic is coming from mobile platforms lately and it seems that the smartphone or internet in your hand is something that can’t be ignored.

The growth in the market share of the iPhone as well as the continual replacement of the traditional mobile phones with Internet enabled phones like Android and Blackberry are driving traffic to sites at an increasing rate.

Here are some numbers.

Comscore announced that 45.4 million people in the U.S owned smartphones in an average month during December to February period, 2010. This is up 21 percent from the three months ending November 2009.

Android phone app downloads to hit 800 Million in 2010. The iPhone will continue to be the leading app platform, with a database of over 200,000 applications offering niche localized content. Apple iPhone downloads have exceeded 3 Billion at the start of 2010.

ABI Research reported that just under six billion mobile applications will be downloaded in 2010.

Smartphone OS-based phones will grow at more than 30% compound annual growth rate for the next five years globally.

Bloggers and corporate website owners cannot continue to ignore the smartphone app markets compelling growth. So what should you keep in mind when considering an opportunity whose time has come.

1) If you develop an iPhone App let everyone know about it through email, website, SMS and Twitter.

2) Add more value by including content and functionality that are location based or time sensitive.

3) Just like social media don’t sell but provide content that adds value to people’s lives.

4) Develop a Mobile App that becomes a part of a persons life and hopefully becomes indispensable.

5) Remember that with an iPhone or mobile app your website or blog presence is just one or two slides or touches away on that persons phone anywhere anytime.

6) Consider convenience.

7) You can use the App to drive traffic to your bricks and mortar store.

Engage your potential customer with a taste of your expertise.

9) The mobile internet market is growing at a much faster rate than fixed internet.

10) The developing world’s connection to the internet is much more mobile centric than the Western world’s fixed line communication infrastructure.

11) 75% of our planet is still not connected to the Internet so potential over the coming decades is substantial.

12) It will differentiate you from your competition.

13) You create deeper engagement.

14) Drive more loyalty.

15) You get to put your branding on your customers phones.

16) Your business is provided with great feedback.

17) It is going to drive more revenue and ultimately more profits.

18) It enables easy sharing of your content between mobile users.

19) Reduce costs to your business through automation.

20) Benefit from annuity based revenue streams.

So what sort of Mobile App could you develop for your website or blog that adds value to your readers, customers or prospects?

The App Business

1 Jan ProductiseIT on the App Store

Two Basic Business Models

After you develop an app, you basically have the choice to distribute it as either a paid application or a free application.

You can make money from both models, and depending on the application sometimes you can actually make more by giving it away for free.

For our iPhone app business, 70% of the income comes from paid apps, and the other 30% comes from free apps.

I’ll go over each model and how it works for you below:

Paid Applications

iPhone apps are sold in increments of a dollar starting at $0.99 ($0.99, $1.99, $2.99, etc.).

Apple takes a 30% cut of each sale, so your $0.99 application actually yields $0.69. It might not seem like much, but over thousands of downloads (and potentially millions), the figures really add up.

This is why Lima Sky, the two person company behind the wildly successful game Doodle Jump (which sold for only $0.99) netted $2.08 million in about one year.

Not bad.

Pros of Developing Paid Applications

Probably the biggest benefit of going with a paid application is the income potential. Although you can make money with free apps, you’re not going to see numbers like Lima Sky with money from advertisement clicks, generally speaking.

Also, the App Store seems to favor paid apps more than free apps. This makes sense, because Apple doesn’t get any money from distributing free applications (except those that incorporate Apple’s advertising platform, iAd).

Check out this screenshot of the App Store below:

Paid vs. Free - iPhone AppsIn order for your app to do well, you’ve got to have exposure in the App Store. This means getting onto those top 200 or top 100 or top 10 lists, getting featured on “New & Noteworthy” and “What’s Hot”, and getting exposure as a new app in the “All [Category] iPhone Apps” space, which highlights the latest applications approved in that category, and all of this is much easier with a paid application.

Free Applications

Money can be made from free applications primarily by using a pay-per-click advertising model, which is very similar to Adsense.

There are other methods such as in-app purchases or using a free app as a preview or “teaser” app for a paid version, but for the sake of this post I’ll be talking solely about the advertisement model, which is the easiest to implement and has yielded some generous results for our apps.

There are several Adsense-like advertising companies you can use to embed advertisements into your application:

Code from these ad companies are placed into your application during the development process. After your app goes live and is downloaded, it requests to show an advertisement and then places that ad onto the screen. Here’s a screenshot of one of our free applications showing an advertisement at the bottom.

Scanner Application - iAdThe thing is, not all of the advertising companies are the same. Some have different payouts, different advertisements, different conversion rates, and all have different fill rates.

A fill rate is the ratio of how many times an application requests to show an application and how many times it actually shows up.

Because of the fill rate issue, we have a dilemma.

How do we choose one advertising platform that has the highest payouts but also has a high fill rate?

This is where the Adwhirl comes into play.

Adwhirl is a free “mediation solution” for app developers, which means you can sign up for as many ad agencies as you want and Adwhirl will make sure you always have a 100% fill rate. If an ad request goes through for one agency and it doesn’t fill, Adwhirl will immediately go to the next agency and find an ad that is available.

All of the ad agencies listed above are supported by Adwhirl, although we’re currently running a split between iAds, Google Adsense and Admob and have been seeing some nice results.

Pros of Developing Free Applications

The nice thing about free apps is that you have more opportunities to make money from each person who downloads your app.

With a paid app, you only make money on the initial purchase, and that’s it (unless you have in-app purchases). With free apps, those advertisements are constantly being shown every time a user loads your application.

Another benefit of developing a free application is that you’ll have much more reach. People download free apps just because they are free, so you’re going to see a lot more downloads than you would the same application at a price. If you want to use an iPhone app to expand a brand or reach a new audience, then I’d definitely go the free route.

Just to give you an idea, one of our free applications has been downloaded nearly 1,000,000 times in less than a year, and it continues to generate a steady stream of income (about $80-100) each day through its advertisements.

If you’ve got a great idea, I say go for it because you’ll never know what can happen, at ProductiseIT we have a range of affordable white label apps available to customise to allow you to test the market before you decide to make a bigger investment.

Apple’s New App Store Review Guidelines Explained

2 Jan

Apple’s New App Store Review Guidelines Annotated & Explained

As we recently announced, Apple unveiled its App Store review guidelines today. The guideline document can be found on Apple’s website, but we thought we would try to give you more insight on these rules, and why they’re here.

Despite what you may think, the document is written in layman’s terms. As you’ll see, it reads nothing like a law book. It also does leave Apple some room, so they’re not completely giving up on their freedom to reject you. Furthermore, you’ll see that this new transparency comes at a price, as it seems that Apple will be much stricter regarding what it approves in the future.

First, here are the the main leading ideas of the approval process:

  • We have lots of kids downloading lots of apps, and parental controls don’t work unless the parents set them up (many don’t). So know that we’re keeping an eye out for the kids.

This means, as Steve said before, freedom from porn. Yet, they only enforce this to a certain level and you’ll still find some hot stuff, but they keep it pretty clean.

  • We have over 250,000 apps in the App Store. We don’t need any more Fart apps. If your app doesn’t do something useful or provide some form of lasting entertainment, it may not be accepted.

This is actually welcome news. Apple, for example, approves 20 to 40 new flashlight apps every single day. This is going to put an end to this  ”artificial” growth due to crappy apps we’ve seen lately.

  • If your App looks like it was cobbled together in a few days, or you’re trying to get your first practice App into the store to impress your friends, please brace yourself for rejection. We have lots of serious developers who don’t want their quality Apps to be surrounded by amateur hour.

This again is a change and Apple seems to really want quality from now on, just like on the Apple TV.

  • We will reject Apps for any content or behavior that we believe is over the line. What line, you ask? Well, as a Supreme Court Justice once said, “I’ll know it when I see it”. And we think that you will also know it when you cross it.

This one is a bit unclear and they’re leaving a lot of room for rejections. This means no offensive or pornographic content. Also, you can’t make fun of Steve.

  • If your app is rejected, we have a Review Board that you can appeal to. If you run to the press and trash us, it never helps.

This is new, you can now appeal if you believe your app was rejected unfairly. Apps are rejected by mistake, and an appeal board will allow Apple to stay away from bad press, which they don’t seem to appreciate.

  • This is a living document, and new apps presenting new questions may result in new rules at any time. Perhaps your app will trigger this.

Rules are adapted as new apps appear. For example, policital satire was not allowed at first, now there is an exception for that.

  • Lastly, we love this stuff too, and honor what you do. We’re really trying our best to create the best platform in the world for you to express your talents and make a living too. If it sounds like we’re control freaks, well, maybe it’s because we’re so committed to our users and making sure they have a quality experience with our products. Just like almost all of you are too.

Translated: We are the good guys, but don’t mess with us.

2. Functionality

2.1

Apps that crash will be rejected

Obviously, you don’t want buggy apps. Yet, all apps crash every now and then, so this is more of a general rule reiterating that they want quality.

2.2

Apps that exhibit bugs will be rejected

Again, it’s about quality. Nobody would argue with that.

2.3

Apps that do not perform as advertised by the developer will be rejected

You can’t scam people into buying your apps by saying it has certain features when it doesn’t.

2.4

Apps that include undocumented or hidden features inconsistent with the description of the app will be rejected

You can’t add secret features and hide them from Apple. With the exception of easter eggs, which need however, to be disclosed to Apple’s review team.

2.5

Apps that use non-public APIs will be rejected

You can’t use iDevices, their features and the OS in a way Apple doesn’t sanction. For example, you can’t make a camera app that uses the volume button as a shutter. Also, you’re not allowed to use certain functions reserved for Apple’s own apps.

2.6

Apps that read or write data outside its designated container area will be rejected

Your app can’t mess with the system or with other apps.

2.7

Apps that download code in any way or form will be rejected

Your app can’t get new features over the air, or updates and new features without going through Apple. All code that runs on your iOS device needs to go through Apple.

2.8

Apps that install or launch other executable code will be rejected

Your app, again, can’t mess with the system and install other apps. Enterprise apps can however do that with a dedicated special Apple certificate.

2.9

Apps that are “beta”, “demo”, “trial”, or “test” versions will be rejected

You can’t submit an app that is not completely finished or doesn’t stand on its own. You can do a lite version which is cheaper or ad-sponsored with less features. However you can’t do an app that turns off after a couple days.

2.10

iPhone apps must also run on iPad without modification, at iPhone resolution, and at 2X iPhone 3GS resolution

You must make sure your apps can run correctly on all of Apple’s devices. You can’t prevent your app from working on the iPad in compatibility mode to better sell the iPad version of your app. With the exception of GPS navigation apps.

2.11

Apps that duplicate apps already in the App Store may be rejected, particularly if there are many of them

Like they said in the introduction, Apple will now try to limit the clutter in the App Store. No more new fart or flashlight apps.

2.12

Apps that are not very useful or do not provide any lasting entertainment value may be rejected

Your app must do something, and it must be somewhat good. It can’t just be an RSS reader for your blog. This rule has been around for a while, but it’s not enforced very strictly.

2.13

Apps that are primarily marketing materials or advertisements will be rejected

This seems to be new, as a lot of new apps are just doing advertising. It seems that just like with 2.12, you need to add something more to your app. It must provide some sort of game, or extra information. It can’t just be an infomercial PDF.

2.14

Apps that are intended to provide trick or fake functionality that are not clearly marked as such will be rejected

This is an extension of 2.3. If you want to make an app that makes people believe you can localize other phones, it’s ok. You must however say that it’s fake in the description very clearly.

2.15

Apps larger than 20MB in size will not download over cellular networks (this is automatically prohibited by the App Store)

This is more informational, but it’s not new at all.

2.16

Multitasking apps may only use background services for their intended purposes: VoIP, audio playback, location, task completion, local notifications, etc

This means you can’t trick the multitasking into doing something else. For example, you can’t add music in the background of your app, just so it can continue running and do something else. Pastebot tried to do that, they got rejected and here is the resulting rule.

2.17

Apps that browse the web must use the iOS WebKit framework and WebKit Javascript

This is an interesting one. Apple doesn’t want third-party browsers on iOS. However, we think that if your app is just pulling websites rendered on a remote server, like Opera mini, then it’s ok. Yet, this might mean Apple wants to put an end to third-party browsers.

2.18

Apps that encourage excessive consumption of alcohol or illegal substances, or encourage minors to consume alcohol or smoke cigarettes, will be rejected

Again, Apple wants to protect children and doesn’t want apps that are over the line in terms of content.

2.19

Apps that provide incorrect diagnostic or other inaccurate device data will be rejected

I believe this means you can’t do a stethoscope app that gives false results. Again, it’s about enforcing quality and fighting against scams.

2.20

Developers “spamming” the App Store with many versions of similar apps will be removed from the iOS Developer Program

You can’t submit multiple apps that are very similar to each other just to have more presence on the App Store.

3. Metadata (name, descriptions, ratings, rankings, etc)

3.1

Apps with metadata that mentions the name of any other mobile platform will be rejected

They don’t want you to promote the competition in your description. For example, this means you can’t mention that your app is also available on the Android.

3.2

Apps with placeholder text will be rejected

You can’t submit unfinished apps.

3.3

Apps with descriptions not relevant to the application content and functionality will be rejected

Your description is about your app, you can’t hold a blog in there or use it as a platform to talk about your company and other apps.

3.4

App names in iTunes Connect and as displayed on a device should be similar, so as not to cause confusion

Your app can’t have a different name on the App Store and on the iDevice. It’s about clarity.

3.5

Small and large app icons should be similar, so as to not to cause confusion

Keep it clear, again.

3.6

Apps with app icons and screenshots that do not adhere to the 4+ age rating will be rejected

While parents can prevent kids from getting Apps that are R rated on the App Store, they can’t prevent them from seeing app descriptions. Therefore, the icons and the screenshots need to be family-friendly.

3.7

Apps with Category and Genre selections that are not appropriate for the app content will be rejected

3.8

Developers are responsible for assigning appropriate ratings to their apps. Inappropriate ratings may be changed by Apple

3.9

Developers are responsible for assigning appropriate keywords for their apps. Inappropriate keywords may be changed/deleted by Apple

Don’t try to use the keyword system to lure people into seeing your app. You shouldn’t use the name of your competitors applications

3.10

Developers who attempt to manipulate or cheat the user reviews or chart ranking in the App Store with fake or paid reviews, or any other inappropriate methods will be removed from the iOS Developer Program

Don’t try to take advantage of the system or to cheat. This means no keyword or app name spamming, and no messing with the reviews.

4. Location

4.1

Apps that do not notify and obtain user consent before collecting, transmitting, or using location data will be rejected

You need to protect your users’ privacy.

4.2

Apps that use location-based APIs for automatic or autonomous control of vehicles, aircraft, or other devices will be rejected

4.3

Apps that use location-based APIs for dispatch, fleet management, or emergency services will be rejected

You can’t make apps to watch your employees, or make apps that rely too heavily on location. Nobody wants an accident to happen because the device was not precise enough or didn’t work correctly. Also, you can’t use the iPhone to spy on people.

5. Push notifications

5.1

Apps that provide Push Notifications without using the Apple Push Notification (APN) API will be rejected

You can’t push notifications without going through Apple.

5.2

Apps that use the APN service without obtaining a Push Application ID from Apple will be rejected

5.3

Apps that send Push Notifications without first obtaining user consent will be rejected

5.4

Apps that send sensitive personal or confidential information using Push Notifications will be rejected

You can’t send out sensitive things over Push notifications as these can be easily intercepted.

5.5

Apps that use Push Notifications to send unsolicited messages, or for the purpose of phishing or spamming will be rejected

Push notifications are here to provide something for the app, not anything else.

5.6

Apps cannot use Push Notifications to send advertising, promotions, or direct marketing of any kind

Again, you can’t use push notifications to promote your other apps and so on.

5.7

Apps cannot charge users for use of Push Notifications

5.8

Apps that excessively use the network capacity or bandwidth of the APN service or unduly burden a device with Push Notifications will be rejected

You can’t overuse and put strain on Apple’s servers. However, if you’re just running a big app with a lot of users, Apple will contact you directly to help you make your systems better. Not much to worry about regarding this.

5.9

Apps that transmit viruses, files, computer code, or programs that may harm or disrupt the normal operation of the APN service will be rejected

As usual, you can’t misuse Push notification maliciously.

6. Game Center

6.1

Apps that display any Player ID to end users or any third party will be rejected

Game Center players should be kept anonymous.

6.2

Apps that use Player IDs for any use other than as approved by the Game Center terms will be rejected

You can’t use Game Center for other purposes than it what it’s meant for.

6.3

Developers that attempt to reverse lookup, trace, relate, associate, mine, harvest, or otherwise exploit Player IDs, alias, or other information obtained through the Game Center will be removed from the iOS Developer Program

You can’t use Game Center to find out things about your users. You must respect their privacy.

6.4

Game Center information, such as Leaderboard scores, may only be used in apps approved for use with the Game Center

6.5

Apps that use Game Center service to send unsolicited messages, or for the purpose of phishing or spamming will be rejected

6.6

Apps that excessively use the network capacity or bandwidth of the Game Center will be rejected

6.7

Apps that transmit viruses, files, computer code, or programs that may harm or disrupt the normal operation of the Game Center service will be rejected

7. iAds

7.1

Apps that artificially increase the number of impressions or click-throughs of ads will be rejected

You can’t try to hack the system to make more money.

7.2

Apps that contain empty iAd banners will be rejected

Your app must hide the iAd banner when no ads are being served to you. You don’t want to confuse people with blank iAds.

7.3

Apps that are designed predominantly for the display of ads will be rejected

iAds are only here to help you make a living from your app, they shall not be the only purpose of your app. For example, you can’t make an app that just shows off iAds.

8. Trademarks and trade dress

8.1

Apps must comply with all terms and conditions explained in the Guidelines for using Apple Trademark and Copyrights and the Apple Trademark List

You must respect the law, and you can’t use Apple’s trademarks. For example, you can’t use trademarked brands in your application’s name.

8.2

Apps that suggest or infer that Apple is a source or supplier of the app, or that Apple endorses any particular representation regarding quality or functionality will be rejected

You can’t tell people Apple is behind the app.

8.3

Apps which appear confusingly similar to an existing Apple product or advertising theme will be rejected

You can’t do what Apple already did. This means you can’t duplicate core functionality or steal Apple’s ideas and ads.

8.4

Apps that misspell Apple product names in their app name (i.e., GPS for Iphone, iTunz) will be rejected

We’ll be very upset if you don’t know how to spell our product’s names correctly.

8.5

Use of protected 3rd party material (trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, otherwise proprietary content) requires a documented rights check which must be provided upon request

8.6

Google Maps and Google Earth images obtained via the Google Maps API can be used within an application if all brand features of the original content remain unaltered and fully visible. Apps that cover up or modify the Google logo or copyright holders identification will be rejected

You can’t mess with what Google is providing us through the API. For example, you can’t adapt the maps and make them look like your own.

9. Media content

9.1

Apps that do not use the MediaPlayer framework to access media in the Music Library will be rejected

You can’t try to access system files unless going through the official iOS way.

9.2

App user interfaces that mimic any iPod interface will be rejected

9.3

Audio streaming content over a cellular network may not use more than 5MB over 5 minutes

In an effort to limit strain on the wireless data network, the quality of the audio you’re streaming over 3G can’t be higher than 160 kb/s

9.4

Video streaming content over a cellular network longer than 10 minutes must use HTTP Live Streaming and include a baseline 64 kbps audio-only HTTP Live stream

You must use our own streaming technology that can adapt for the network so we can guarantee a better experience and limit strain on 3G networks.

10. User interface

10.1

Apps must comply with all terms and conditions explained in the Apple iPhone Human Interface Guidelines and the Apple iPad Human Interface Guidelines

Your apps must look and feel like Apple apps. This is not really enforced.

10.2

Apps that look similar to apps bundled on the iPhone, including the App Store, iTunes Store, and iBookstore, will be rejected

You can’t try to copy what we already did.

10.3

Apps that do not use system provided items, such as buttons and icons, correctly and as described in the Apple iPhone Human Interface Guidelines and the Apple iPad Human Interface Guidelines may be rejected

You can’t use the interface elements provided to you in a way people are not familiar with. Like 10.2, it’s about keeping the experience user friendly.

10.4

Apps that create alternate desktop/home screen environments or simulate multi-app widget experiences will be rejected

This one came at the release of the iPad. Apple doesn’t want the iPad to be like a desktop computer.

10.5

Apps that alter the functions of standard switches, such as the Volume Up/Down and Ring/Silent switches, will be rejected

You can’t use the buttons or the iDevice in a way it was it was not intended.

10.6

Apple and our customers place a high value on simple, refined, creative, well thought through interfaces. They take more work but are worth it. Apple sets a high bar. If your user interface is complex or less than very good it may be rejected

It’s about quality.

11. Purchasing and currencies

11.1

Apps that unlock or enable additional features or functionality with mechanisms other than the App Store will be rejected

You can’t have your own in-app purchase system. Apple wants you to use their own system as they feel they keep you safe doing so. Also, they get a 30% cut.

11.2

Apps utilizing a system other than the In App Purchase API (IAP) to purchase content, functionality, or services in an app will be rejected

Same as 11.1

11.3

Apps using IAP to purchase physical goods or goods and services used outside of the application will be rejected

You can’t use in-app purchases for something other than unlocking new features. You can’t buy a real world product through an in-app purchase.

11.4

Apps that use IAP to purchase credits or other currencies must consume those credits within the application

11.5

Apps that use IAP to purchase credits or other currencies that expire will be rejected

11.6

Content subscriptions using IAP must last a minimum of 30 days and be available to the user from all of their iOS devices

11.7

Apps that use IAP to purchase items must assign the correct Purchasability type

11.8

Apps that use IAP to purchase access to built-in capabilities provided by iOS, such as the camera or the gyroscope, will be rejected

11.9

Apps containing “rental” content or services that expire after a limited time will be rejected

This doesn’t really make much sense. Apps like Netflix do it, and it’s alright.

11.10

Insurance applications must be free, in legal-compliance in the regions distributed, and cannot use IAP

11.11

In general, the more expensive your app, the more thoroughly we will review it

12. Scraping and aggregation

12.1

Applications that scrape any information from Apple sites (for example from apple.com, iTunes Store, App Store, iTunes Connect, Apple Developer Programs, etc) or create rankings using content from Apple sites and services will be rejected

You can’t make an app, for example, that scrapes trailers off Apple’s website. You can however scrape that from other sites.

12.2

Applications may use approved Apple RSS feeds such as the iTunes Store RSS feed

You can use some of Apple’s content, but there are limits on what.

12.3

Apps that are simply web clippings, content aggregators, or a collection of links, may be rejected

Your app must do more than be a reader for your blog. It must add some added value.

13. Damage to device

13.1

Apps that encourage users to use an Apple Device in a way that may cause damage to the device will be rejected

Don’t make apps that push people to do something bad with their device. Hand-warming apps that force your iPhone to work a lot and get hot won’t be allowed anymore.

13.2

Apps that rapidly drain the device’s battery or generate excessive heat will be rejected

See 13.1

14. Personal attacks

14.1

Any app that is defamatory, offensive, mean-spirited, or likely to place the targeted individual or group in harms way will be rejected

You must stay respectful

14.2

Professional political satirists and humorists are exempt from the ban on offensive or mean-spirited commentary

This is something Apple introduced after rejecting a lot of cartoonists. However, you still can’t make fun of Steve apparently.

15. Violence

15.1

Apps portraying realistic images of people or animals being killed or maimed, shot, stabbed, tortured or injured will be rejected

15 is all about protecting kids. It’s self-explanatory.

15.2

Apps that depict violence or abuse of children will be rejected

15.3

“Enemies” within the context of a game cannot solely target a specific race, culture, a real government or corporation, or any other real entity

15.4

Apps involving realistic depictions of weapons in such a way as to encourage illegal or reckless use of such weapons will be rejected

15.5

Apps that include games of Russian roulette will be rejected

You can’t encourage people to shoot themselves.

16. Objectionable content

16.1

Apps that present excessively objectionable or crude content will be rejected

16.2

Apps that are primarily designed to upset or disgust users will be rejected

17. Privacy

17.1

Apps cannot transmit data about a user without obtaining the user’s prior permission and providing the user with access to information about how and where the data will be used

17.2

Apps that require users to share personal information, such as email address and date of birth, in order to function will be rejected

17.3

Apps that target minors for data collection will be rejected

18. Pornography

18.1

Apps containing pornographic material, defined by Webster’s Dictionary as “explicit descriptions or displays of sexual organs or activities intended to stimulate erotic rather than aesthetic or emotional feelings”, will be rejected

No pornography will be allowed.

18.2

Apps that contain user generated content that is frequently pornographic (ex “Chat Roulette” apps) will be rejected

Even if your app doesn’t contain pornography, if it will likely lead kids to being exposed to it, Apple won’t accept it.

19. Religion, culture, and ethnicity

19.1

Apps containing references or commentary about a religious, cultural or ethnic group that are defamatory, offensive, mean-spirited or likely to expose the targeted group to harm or violence will be rejected

19.2

Apps may contain or quote religious text provided the quotes or translations are accurate and not misleading. Commentary should be educational or informative rather than inflammatory

20. Contests, sweepstakes, lotteries, and raffles

20.1

Sweepstakes and contests must be sponsored by the developer/company of the app

You can’t run contests for third-parties in your app.

20.2

Official rules for sweepstakes and contests, must be presented in the app and make it clear that Apple is not a sponsor or involved in the activity in any manner

20.3

It must be permissible by law for the developer to run a lottery app, and a lottery app must have all of the following characteristics: consideration, chance, and a prize

20.4

Apps that allow a user to directly purchase a lottery or raffle ticket in the app will be rejected

Again, you can’t purchase real-life goods inside the app.

21. Charities and contributions

21.1

Apps that include the ability to make donations to recognized charitable organizations must be free

21.2

The collection of donations must be done via a web site in Safari or an SMS

22. Legal requirements

22.1

Apps must comply with all legal requirements in any location where they are made available to users. It is the developer’s obligation to understand and conform to all local laws

Make sure your app is not doing anything illegal wherever it’s sold. Basically it’s about keeping Apple’s responsibility out of it.

22.2

Apps that contain false, fraudulent or misleading representations will be rejected

22.3

Apps that solicit, promote, or encourage criminal or clearly reckless behavior will be rejected

22.4

Apps that enable illegal file sharing will be rejected

This prevents bit torrent clients and similar programs from accessing the App Store. It’s about preventing Apple from helping piracy.

22.5

Apps that are designed for use as illegal gambling aids, including card counters, will be rejected

Apple is apparently trying to preserve a good reputation for its iDevices. Also, it has to respect the law.

22.6

Apps that enable anonymous or prank phone calls or SMS/MMS messaging will be rejected

22.7

Developers who create apps that surreptitiously attempt to discover user passwords or other private user data will be removed from the iOS Developer Program

You can’t make an app that tries to steal people’s credentials.

iPhone and Smartphone Application Development Introduction

10 Jan

A Smartphone…

…is a mobile phone like iPhone, Android, Blackberry or Symbian offering advanced capabilities, often with PC-like functionality. Smartphones run operating system software which provides a standardized user interface and platform for software applications. Smartphones have advanced features like e-mail, Internet, e-book reader capabilities, enhanced video camera, touch screen keyboards and much more. In short, Smartphones are miniature computers that have phone capabilities. The demand for these advanced mobile devices which boast powerful processors, abundant memory, large screens and open operating systems has outpaced the rest of the mobile phone market and is anticipated to continue for years to come.

The iPhone…

…is a multi-function mobile phone that was designed and marketed by Apple Inc. in 2007. The popularity of this revolutionary device is constantly growing due to its technological flexibilities making iPhone application development very popular in the field of iPhone app dev. Having started in the U.S., the iPhone is confidently taking positions on the world market of electronics. iPhone’s game-changing touch-interface has for the first time created a product that is revolutionizing the usage of mobile devices due to it’s ability to adapt to it’s user’s experience. This has opened up the doors for a wide range of applications to be ported to the iPhone and companies across the globe have started building an iPhone roadmap into their customer relationship management strategies with the growing field of iPhone application development. Appiction encourages potential minds to convey their iPhone app ideas to us so that we can help iPhone app developers bridge the gap between their ideas and the market!

The BlackBerry…

…is a line of wireless handheld devices that was introduced in 1999 as a two-way pager. In 2002, the more commonly known smartphone BlackBerry was released, which supports push e-mail, mobile telephone, text messaging, internet faxing, web browsing and other wireless information services as well as a multi-touch interface. Developed by the Canadian company Research In Motion (RIM), it delivers information over the wireless data networks of mobile phone service companies. We encourage you to come up with stellar ideas for blackberry application development.

Smartphone Application Development…

…or “Apps” are software products built for Apple iPhone, Android, BlackBerry and others and have grown in popularity since the recent growth of Smartphones due to amazing success in smartphone application development domain. Resourceful apps like iphone business are popular due to the ubiquity of web browsers, and the convenience of using a web browser as a client. The ability to update and maintain web applications without distributing and installing software on potentially thousands of client computers is a key reason for their popularity, as is the inherent support for cross-platform compatibility. This opens up a new marketing and brand-building channel for marketers and organizations looking to interact with mobile users on a one-to-one basis. Downloaded directly to the phone, mobile apps leverage and interact with the unique features of the operating system to give consumers a richer experience thereby adding more value to the field of smartphone application development. Plus, the ability to include Location Based Services and user preference settings ensures a more personal experience.

The App Store…

…is a service for the iPhone and iPod Touch created by Apple Inc. which allows users to browse and download applications from the iTunes Store. Depending on the application, they are available either for free, or for a small cost. As of July 14, 2009, there are over 65,000 third-party applications officially available for the iPhone and iPod Touch on the App Store.

Types of Applications…

…include webmail, online retail sales, online auctions, wikis and many other functions. Once developed, an iPhone application is deployed through Apple which manages all iPhone applications through its online App Store. Before an application is placed on the App Store, Apple must review and approve each application. iPhone application developers are then able to set a price point for their applications, of which the developers (you) receive 70% of the profits from all downloads and Apple receives the other 30% for distributing your App.

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