This document provides an overview of considerations for developing mobile apps. It discusses the popularity of mobile apps compared to mobile web browsing. It then covers the two main mobile platforms - iOS and Android, including development tools, stores, and OS market share for each. Cross-platform development options are also introduced. The document discusses monetization strategies like paid apps, freemium, and ads. It provides examples of successful monetization and average app prices. Overall tips are given around starting with your first app idea and consistency in app development.

1. Jumpstart Your Mobile App Idea
An Intro to Mobile Development &
Considerations
Last Updated:
03-23-2012

2. Shawn Grimes
Tutorial Writer
Indie iOS Dev
Freelancer
www.shawnsbits.com
@shawng

3. Stephanie Grimes
Marketing & Design
Indie iOS Dev
www.CampFireApps.com
@createdbysteph

4. About You?

5. About You?
What kind of device do you own?

6. About You?
What kind of device do you own?
Android?

7. About You?
What kind of device do you own?
Android?
Blackberry?

8. About You?
What kind of device do you own?
Android?
Blackberry?
iOS?

9. About You?
What kind of device do you own?
Android?
Blackberry?
iOS?
Windows Phone?

10. About You?

11. About You?
What is your background?

12. About You?
What is your background?
Business?

13. About You?
What is your background?
Business?
Develop?

14. About You?
What is your background?
Business?
Develop?
Design?

15. About You?
What is your background?
Business?
Develop?
Design?
Marketing?

16. About You?
What is your background?
Business?
Develop?
Design?
Marketing?
Sound?

17. About You?

18. About You?
What are you interested in?

19. About You?
What are you interested in?
Apps/Utilities?

20. About You?
What are you interested in?
Apps/Utilities?
Books?

21. About You?
What are you interested in?
Apps/Utilities?
Books?
Games?

22. Why Mobile Development?

23. Why Mobile Development?
Taking products where people already are

24. Why Mobile Development?
Taking products where people already are
People want mobile access to your products

25. Why Mobile Development?
Taking products where people already are
People want mobile access to your products
It’s becoming a Post-PC era

26. Mobile Apps Web Browsing
http://blog.flurry.com/bid/80241/Mobile-App-Usage-
Further-Dominates-Web-Spurred-by-Facebook

27. Mobile Apps Web Browsing
100
75
50
25
0
06-2010 12-2010 06-2011 12-2011
http://blog.flurry.com/bid/80241/Mobile-App-Usage-
Further-Dominates-Web-Spurred-by-Facebook

28. Mobile Apps Web Browsing
100
75
64
50
43
25
0
06-2010 12-2010 06-2011 12-2011
http://blog.flurry.com/bid/80241/Mobile-App-Usage-
Further-Dominates-Web-Spurred-by-Facebook

29. Mobile Apps Web Browsing
100
75
66 70
64
50
43
25
0
06-2010 12-2010 06-2011 12-2011
http://blog.flurry.com/bid/80241/Mobile-App-Usage-
Further-Dominates-Web-Spurred-by-Facebook

30. Mobile Apps Web Browsing
100
75 81
70 74
64 66
50
43
25
0
06-2010 12-2010 06-2011 12-2011
http://blog.flurry.com/bid/80241/Mobile-App-Usage-
Further-Dominates-Web-Spurred-by-Facebook

31. Mobile Apps Web Browsing
100
94
75 81
70 74 72
64 66
50
43
25
0
06-2010 12-2010 06-2011 12-2011
http://blog.flurry.com/bid/80241/Mobile-App-Usage-
Further-Dominates-Web-Spurred-by-Facebook

32. Mobile Options

33. Mobile Options
iOS
Android
Kindle
Nook
Other (Windows, RIM)

34. iOS Overview

35. iOS Overview
iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad

36. iOS Overview
iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
iTunes App Store

37. iOS Overview
iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
iTunes App Store
1 store, 1 approval

38. iOS Overview
iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
iTunes App Store
1 store, 1 approval
2 Aspect Ratios (4 resolutions)

39. iOS Overview
iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
iTunes App Store
1 store, 1 approval
2 Aspect Ratios (4 resolutions)
79% chance user is on the latest OS

40. 3.x 4.x 5.x
Apple iOS Distribution
http://www.macrumors.com/2012/03/23/developer-sees-quick-adoption-of-ios-5-1-amongst-users/

41. 3.x 4.x 5.x
2%
Apple iOS Distribution
http://www.macrumors.com/2012/03/23/developer-sees-quick-adoption-of-ios-5-1-amongst-users/

42. 3.x 4.x 5.x
2% 19%
Apple iOS Distribution
http://www.macrumors.com/2012/03/23/developer-sees-quick-adoption-of-ios-5-1-amongst-users/

43. 3.x 4.x 5.x
2% 19%
79%
Apple iOS Distribution
http://www.macrumors.com/2012/03/23/developer-sees-quick-adoption-of-ios-5-1-amongst-users/

44. Apps Games
# of Apps in iOS App Store
http://148apps.biz/app-store-metrics/?mpage

45. Apps Games
500000
375000
250000
125000
0
2008 2009 2010 2011 03-2012
# of Apps in iOS App Store
http://148apps.biz/app-store-metrics/?mpage

46. Apps Games
500000
375000
250000
125000
0
2008 2009 2010 2011 03-2012
# of Apps in iOS App Store
http://148apps.biz/app-store-metrics/?mpage

47. Apps Games
500000
375000
250000
125000
0
2008 2009 2010 2011 03-2012
# of Apps in iOS App Store
http://148apps.biz/app-store-metrics/?mpage

48. Apps Games
500000
375000
250000
125000
0
2008 2009 2010 2011 03-2012
# of Apps in iOS App Store
http://148apps.biz/app-store-metrics/?mpage

49. Apps Games
500000
375000
250000
125000
0
2008 2009 2010 2011 03-2012
# of Apps in iOS App Store
http://148apps.biz/app-store-metrics/?mpage

50. Apps Games
500000
375000
250000
125000
0
2008 2009 2010 2011 03-2012
# of Apps in iOS App Store
http://148apps.biz/app-store-metrics/?mpage

51. Android Overview

52. Android Overview
Multiple devices - phones and tablets

53. Android Overview
Multiple devices - phones and tablets
Amazon App Store, Google Play, Independent Carrier
stores (Verizon, Nook, etc.)

54. Android Overview
Multiple devices - phones and tablets
Amazon App Store, Google Play, Independent Carrier
stores (Verizon, Nook, etc.)
# of stores, # of approvals

55. Android Overview
Multiple devices - phones and tablets
Amazon App Store, Google Play, Independent Carrier
stores (Verizon, Nook, etc.)
# of stores, # of approvals
Multiple aspect ratios

56. Android Overview
Multiple devices - phones and tablets
Amazon App Store, Google Play, Independent Carrier
stores (Verizon, Nook, etc.)
# of stores, # of approvals
Multiple aspect ratios
1.6% chance user is on latest OS

57. 1.x 2.1-2.2 2.3 3.x 4.x
Android OS Distribution
http://developer.android.com/resources/dashboard/platform-versions.html

58. 1.x 2.1-2.2 2.3 3.x 4.x
1.2%
Android OS Distribution
http://developer.android.com/resources/dashboard/platform-versions.html

59. 1.x 2.1-2.2 2.3 3.x 4.x
1.2%
31.9%
Android OS Distribution
http://developer.android.com/resources/dashboard/platform-versions.html

60. 1.x 2.1-2.2 2.3 3.x 4.x
1.2%
31.9%
62.0%
Android OS Distribution
http://developer.android.com/resources/dashboard/platform-versions.html

61. 1.x 2.1-2.2 2.3 3.x 4.x
1.2%
3.3%
31.9%
62.0%
Android OS Distribution
http://developer.android.com/resources/dashboard/platform-versions.html

62. 1.x 2.1-2.2 2.3 3.x 4.x
1.60%
1.2%
3.3%
31.9%
62.0%
Android OS Distribution
http://developer.android.com/resources/dashboard/platform-versions.html

63. Developing for iOS

64. Developing for iOS
Xcode - Download free from App Store

65. Developing for iOS
Xcode - Download free from App Store
$99/year

66. Developing for iOS
Xcode - Download free from App Store
$99/year
Requires a Mac

67. Developing for iOS
Xcode - Download free from App Store
$99/year
Requires a Mac
Objective-C

68. Developing for iOS
Xcode - Download free from App Store
$99/year
Requires a Mac
Objective-C
Nimblekit*

69. Developing for Android

70. Developing for Android
Eclipse

71. Developing for Android
Eclipse
Win, Linux, Mac supported

72. Developing for Android
Eclipse
Win, Linux, Mac supported
$25/Year

73. Developing for Android
Eclipse
Win, Linux, Mac supported
$25/Year
Java

74. Native App Development
Benefits

75. Native App Development
Benefits
Best user experience

76. Native App Development
Benefits
Best user experience
Response times

77. Native App Development
Benefits
Best user experience
Response times
Familiar UI elements

78. Native App Development
Benefits
Best user experience
Response times
Familiar UI elements
Access to device hardware

79. Native App Development
Benefits
Best user experience
Response times
Familiar UI elements
Access to device hardware
Access to low level optimization tools

80. Native App Development
Disadvantages

81. Native App Development
Disadvantages
Multiple code-bases to maintain

82. Native App Development
Disadvantages
Multiple code-bases to maintain
Multiple languages to know

83. Cross-Platform Development

84. Cross-Platform Development
Corona

85. Cross-Platform Development
Corona
PhoneGap

86. Cross-Platform Development
Corona
PhoneGap
Appcelerator / Titanium

87. Cross-Platform Development
Corona
PhoneGap
Appcelerator / Titanium
Adobe Air

88. Cross-Platform Development
Corona
PhoneGap
Appcelerator / Titanium
Adobe Air
Game Salad

89. Cross-Platform Development
Benefits

90. Cross-Platform Development
Benefits
Write-once deploy multiple places

91. Cross-Platform Development
Benefits
Write-once deploy multiple places
Use web-like languages such as javascript or HTML

92. Cross-Platform Development
Benefits
Write-once deploy multiple places
Use web-like languages such as javascript or HTML
Supports most popular hardware features (GPS,
Camera)

93. Cross-Platform Development
Disadvantages

94. Cross-Platform Development
Disadvantages
Performance

95. Cross-Platform Development
Disadvantages
Performance
Long-term availability

96. Cross-Platform Development
Disadvantages
Performance
Long-term availability
Limited access to low-level functionality

97. How To Make Money

98. How To Make Money

99. How To Make Money
1.Come up with idea

100. How To Make Money

101. How To Make Money
3.Make it rain!

102. How To Make Money
3.Make it rain!

103. How To Make Money
2.????

104. Thoughts...

105. Thoughts...
Don’t start with your best idea

106. Thoughts...
Don’t start with your best idea
The more apps you make, the more money you will
earn from one app: experience matters

107. Thoughts...
Don’t start with your best idea
The more apps you make, the more money you will
earn from one app: experience matters
Consistency over Jack Pot

108. Thoughts...
Don’t start with your best idea
The more apps you make, the more money you will
earn from one app: experience matters
Consistency over Jack Pot
Be A Hank Aaron, not a Barry Bonds*

109. Giving Your App Away

110. Giving Your App Away
Ad-Supported

111. Giving Your App Away
Ad-Supported
Freemium

112. Giving Your App Away
Ad-Supported
Freemium
Offer special features

113. Giving Your App Away
Ad-Supported
Freemium
Offer special features
Remove ads

114. Giving Your App Away
Ad-Supported
Freemium
Offer special features
Remove ads
Progress faster

115. Giving Your App Away
Ad-Supported
Freemium
Offer special features
Remove ads
Progress faster
High Expectations

116. Freemium Example

117. Freemium Example
Flower Garden
Made $21k in 8 months
Added iAPs and free version and made $30k in one
month
Flower Garden Post Mortem

118. Average Price of Apps
iOS Android*
http://www.redmondpie.com/paid-apps-cost-more-on-android-than-ios-study-reveals/
http://148apps.biz/app-store-metrics/?mpage=appprice

119. Average Price of Apps
iOS Android*
$4.00
$3.00
$2.00
$1.00
$0
App Games Average
http://www.redmondpie.com/paid-apps-cost-more-on-android-than-ios-study-reveals/
http://148apps.biz/app-store-metrics/?mpage=appprice

120. Average Price of Apps
iOS Android*
$4.00
$3.00
$2.00 $2.23
$1.00
$0
App $0 Games Average
http://www.redmondpie.com/paid-apps-cost-more-on-android-than-ios-study-reveals/
http://148apps.biz/app-store-metrics/?mpage=appprice

121. Average Price of Apps
iOS Android*
$4.00
$3.00
$2.00 $2.23
$1.00
$1.00
$0
App $0 Games $0 Average
http://www.redmondpie.com/paid-apps-cost-more-on-android-than-ios-study-reveals/
http://148apps.biz/app-store-metrics/?mpage=appprice

122. Average Price of Apps
iOS Android*
$4.00
$3.74
$3.00
$2.00 $2.23
$1.00
$1.00
$0
App $0 Games $0 $0Average
http://www.redmondpie.com/paid-apps-cost-more-on-android-than-ios-study-reveals/
http://148apps.biz/app-store-metrics/?mpage=appprice

123. Sale Thoughts...

124. Sale Thoughts...
Free Promotions

125. Sale Thoughts...
Free Promotions
Can lead to more downloads

126. Sale Thoughts...
Free Promotions
Can lead to more downloads
May not translate into sales

127. Sale Thoughts...
Free Promotions
Can lead to more downloads
May not translate into sales
May hurt ratings

128. Sale Thoughts...
Free Promotions
Can lead to more downloads
May not translate into sales
May hurt ratings
Sale Promotions

129. Sale Thoughts...
Free Promotions
Can lead to more downloads
May not translate into sales
May hurt ratings
Sale Promotions
Being featured by Apple has great impact

130. Sale Thoughts...
Free Promotions
Can lead to more downloads
May not translate into sales
May hurt ratings
Sale Promotions
Being featured by Apple has great impact
Being featured by TouchArcade has great impact

131. Local Resources

132. Local Resources
Baltimore Mobile Meetup Group
www.meetup.com/baltimoremobile/

133. Local Resources
Baltimore Mobile Meetup Group
www.meetup.com/baltimoremobile/
MoDev@TU Meetup Group
http://www.meetup.com/MobileDevTU/

134. Local Resources
Baltimore Mobile Meetup Group
www.meetup.com/baltimoremobile/
MoDev@TU Meetup Group
http://www.meetup.com/MobileDevTU/
APPlied Club
http://apps.campfireapps.com/applied-coach-
training/

135. iOS Resources

136. iOS Resources
Ray Wenderlich
Forums and Tutorials
www.RayWenderlich.com
iOS for High School Students

137. iOS Resources
Ray Wenderlich
Forums and Tutorials
www.RayWenderlich.com
iOS for High School Students
Shawn Grimes
Tutorials
www.ShawnsBits.com
Book: iOS 5 Recipes by: Shawn Grimes & Colin Francis

138. Android Resources

139. Android Resources
Google
http://developer.android.com

140. Android Resources
Google
http://developer.android.com
Jeff Six
Android Tutorials & Resources
www.JeffSix.com/software
Application Security for the Android Platform:
Processes, Permissions, and Other Safeguards

141. Gaming Resources

142. Gaming Resources
Vicki Wenderlich
www.VickiWenderlich.com
Free game art packs to match tutorials on Ray’s site

143. Gaming Resources
Vicki Wenderlich
www.VickiWenderlich.com
Free game art packs to match tutorials on Ray’s site
iOS - Cocos2D
www.cocos2d-iphone.org
Ray Wenderlich - www.RayWenderlich.com
Learning Cocos2D: A Hands-On Guide to Building iOS Games with Cocos2D,
Box2D, and Chipmunk

144. Gaming Resources
Vicki Wenderlich
www.VickiWenderlich.com
Free game art packs to match tutorials on Ray’s site
iOS - Cocos2D
www.cocos2d-iphone.org
Ray Wenderlich - www.RayWenderlich.com
Learning Cocos2D: A Hands-On Guide to Building iOS Games with Cocos2D,
Box2D, and Chipmunk
Cross Platform - Corona
www.LearningCorona.com
Book: Mobile App Development with Corona by: Brian G .Burton

145. Questions?