How to Create an Apple iPhone App
Posted: Monday, September 20, 2010
by Sergio D'Alesio
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The market place for iPhone apps is growing rapidly, there are currently over 200,000 apps available from Apple's app store and it is a multi-billion dollar economy. So do you want to cash in on the iPhone apps craze and make your own app? Follow this fun, easy to follow guide and you'll be rolling in digital money before you know it.
1. The Drawing Board
2. Your Toolbox
Next you'll need to join the Apple iPhone Development Program which will cost you $99/60 per year, without joining you will not be able to submit apps so it's vital if you want to make any money. You need an iPhone!, you can't create an iPhone app without actually owning an iPhone, how will you know what's relevant otherwise? Get a Non Disclosure Agreement ready for the possibility that someone else works with you on the job; this will stop them running off your idea. Lastly, you'll need a notepad, sounds simple but you'll need to jot down every single detail if you want your app to work.
3. What can you do?
Creating an iPhone app can be a one man job but take into account the tasks involved in making an application. You'll need to be able to decide what works and doesn't work in existing iPhone apps, so you know what to not do before you know what to do. Along with programmers and designers as well, so identify what you can do yourself and what jobs other people will have to take care of.
4. Market Research
Well essentially, spying on the competition. Trawl through apps that are in direct competition to you, and just generally pay attention to apps functions and what make them successful or even failures. Analysis of what to do and what not to do is critical when making apps nowadays due to market saturation, every inch you can get ahead of competitors is key.
5. Use the iPhone's Functionality
Don't forget that the iPhone is a powerful piece of kit, use it's functionality to effect and not for the sake of it. Yes it can be impressive to use every feature but remember to make it useful as well; you don't want your app to be a gimmick. Don't forget to tailor your app to the iPhone, you don't want any limitations on either your app or on the iPhone.
6. Intended Audience
Who will use your app? Keep them in mind when you're making your app, don't over complicate things and make usability hard to follow. The last thing you want is an app that needs a guide before use.
7. Sketch Out Your Ideas
Not figuratively, literally. Get some paper, even make a cut out of the iPhone screen, and draw what you want your app to look like. This will help you proportion everything properly, people will need to tap buttons on screen so don't make anything too small, or overly big. What elements need to be included and plan out how you navigate through your app, make sure to draw out, in detail, every page of your app for reference.
8. Design Your App
Download the iPhone Graphical User Interface (GUI) Photoshop Template, which is available online, this will save you a lot of time getting started as you don't need proportion everything to a .mm, just add your own designs. If you've sketched everything out well then you won't need to worry about layout and you can just focus on design. If you're not able to design then hire someone who can, just remember to use someone with experience of designing for mobile devices and take into any consideration any feedback they have, after all they are professionals.
9. Nearly Done, Programming
Last bit of creating your iPhone app is the programming, arguably the most crucial stage where all your previous tasks come together into the final product. You can either hire someone to do this if you're unsure of what to do or if you're a seasoned programmer then crack open Xcode and get started on programming your iPhone app.
10. Submission To Apple
The hard part is over, now you just need to get Apple to sign the dotted line and accept your app. If you're not a programmer then use the programmer you used to program your app to submit the app, as you will have to submit the application in binary to iTunes Connect which isn't a simple task.
Hopefully you're app has been accepted by Apple and you're on the road to riches and wealth. You may have a complete app but even the most ground breaking and revolutionary apps will fail to take off without effective marketing.
Market like crazy through whatever resources you have, suggest the app to friends, set up a twitter and facebook group. Get your app out there!
For more information on iPhone App creation visit iPhone App Creator
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