📅 February 25, 2010

Apple Removes ‘Explicit’ App Category From iTunes

Last night Apple added an ‘explicit’ app category in iTunes Connect, and the thought was that, it would be a new category above and beyond the 17+ rating. Well, surprise, surprise… Apple already removed it.

Last night Apple added an ‘explicit’ app category in iTunes Connect, and the thought was that, it would be a new category above and beyond the 17+ rating. Well, surprise, surprise… Apple already removed it.  Steve, since today is your birthday, we are not going to say anything. But , who is in charge of running things over there?

📅 February 24, 2010

Apple Adding An ‘Explicit’ Category To The App Store

In the past few days, Apple blocked a few ‘overtly sexual’ apps from app store. You know, the same old story. The app was accepted, then they realized that you can see an ankle somewhere.

In the past few days, Apple blocked a few ‘overtly sexual’ apps from app store. You know, the same old story. The app was accepted, then they realized that you can see an ankle somewhere.

While this actions are welcomed by some puritans, others believe that Steve Jobs conspires with the Vatican and they are claiming Apple is being hypocritical for allowing Playboy and Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit issue to remain on the App Store, while similar (and, in some cases, even less “overtly sexual”) apps are being banned.

Continue reading “Apple Adding An ‘Explicit’ Category To The App Store”

📅 February 2, 2010

Apple Released iPhone SDK 3.1.3

If you are a developer on the other hand, it is time to update your SDK , because Apple just released iPhone SDK 3.1.3.

We just reported that Apple made available firmware 3.1.3 , but if you are using a jailbroken/unlocked iDevice , DO NOT update ( we are serious. NONE of the tools work with the new FW ). If you are a developer on the other hand, it is time to update your SDK , because Apple just released iPhone SDK 3.1.3.

The new SDK contains the usual Xcode, iPhone simulator, and various tools for developing applications for iPhone and iPod touch. If you want to develop for the iPad instead, you will need to join a $99/year program and download SDK 3.2

📅 July 23, 2009

You Can Call The iPhone DevTeam…

Do you know what google voice is? Well don’t worry if you don’t know, just make sure you check the video below. The good news is that the iPhone DevTeam just got their google voice number and made it public for anybody to use it

Do you know what google voice is? Well don’t worry if you don’t know, just make sure you check the video below. The good news is that the iPhone DevTeam just got their google voice number and made it public for anybody to use it. You can call them at (347) DEV-TEAM or (347) 338-8326.

Number was  made it public on twitter a couple of minutes ago by iPhoneDev , a member of the iPhone DevTeam.

Continue reading “You Can Call The iPhone DevTeam…”

📅 April 13, 2009

Build, Compile, and Run Your iPhone App in 2 Days

There are two paths that you can take in order to become an iPhone dev : learn on your on or with/from your friends or participate in iPhone devs workshops. If you want to take the the second path, you’re in luck. O’reilly Media got exactly what you need.

Pretty much everybody wants to be a iPhone App developer this days. Seems to be the hottest thing right now. And the beautiful thing is that, anybody can do it. There are two paths that you can take in order to become an iPhone dev : learn on your on or with/from your friends or participate in iPhone devs workshops. If you want to take the the second path, you’re in luck. O’reilly Media got exactly what you need.

What will I learn?
  • Get familiar with the tools for developing on the iPhone
  • Build an iPhone application, compile it, and get it onto a device
  • Debug common problems and use the development environment
  • Scan iPhone’s documentation for pieces you want to use in your application
  • Learn where to get more information about iPhone development
  • Develop the confidence to take a simple project from start to finish


About this class
Learn to build mobile applications for today’s most popular platform: Apple’s iPhone and iPod touch. In this dynamic, two-day workshop, you’ll get up to speed on the basics, including the Cocoa programming environment, the Xcode suite of tools, the Objective-C language, and Instruments, a tool to help debug your applications. And then you’ll create two real iPhone applications. All you need is familiarity with the Mac, basic experience with object-oriented programming (such as Java or Visual Studio), and an understanding of pointers and C syntax. Instructor and expert iPhone app developer Joe Heck will quickly teach you the rest. What you’ll take away from this workshop is the knowledge you need to build effective iPhone apps with the same tools Apple uses.


Who should attend?
  • Experienced programmers interested in iPhone application development
  • People new to Mac development and iPhone development


What Should I Bring With Me?
  • An Intel Macintosh laptop computer
  • An iPhone or iPod touch, if you have one
  • Basic programming knowledge, including object-oriented programming experience, such as Java or Visual Studio
  • An understanding of pointers and C syntax
  • Familiarity with the Mac
  • Xcode and the iPhone SDK installed on your Macintosh laptop


Instructor

Joe Heck is a software developer, technology manager, author, and instructor who’s been involved with computing for 25 years, and developing for the iPhone platform since the its first beta release. Employed at the Walt Disney Interactive Media Group, Joe is involved in various technologies and development platforms, and assisted the development team for Disney’s iPhone game “Fairies Fly.” He’s the founder of the Seattle Xcoders developer group, which supports Macintosh and iPhone development in the Seattle area, and the author of SeattleBus, an iPhone app that provides real-time arrival and departure times of Seattle public transportation (available at the iPhone App Store).

For more info, schedule, prices and how to apply , please visit O’reilly

📅 April 7, 2009

Lawyer Gives Up Day Job To Get Into iPhone App Business

Attorney Michael Schneider quit his corporate gig at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati last month to develop iPhone apps. It is hard to say goodbye to a six figure salary — especially in this economic climate.

If it’s not enough that everybody who got to learn how to code, is now a dev and always complain about this or that, now lawyers become iPhone devs. Let me put it another way: it not enough that anybody with lack of experience in the software business can be a iPhone dev, now somebody with a background in a law firm and with tons of connections (maybe) will be a developer. Wonder how he will act when his app will get cracked. Wonder how he will deliver. Personally i welcome the dude, so let’s get to his story :

Attorney Michael Schneider quit his corporate gig at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati last month to develop iPhone apps. It is hard to say goodbye to a six figure salary — especially in this economic climate. But the Seattle lawyer-turned-iPhone-app-developer said it was the right time to strike out on his own.

He’s now operating a new startup called HiveBrain, with plans to roll out additional applications in the coming weeks. (His latest is an instructional dog training app.)

“I am heading out on my own to pursue the entrepreneurial dream,” said Schneider, who developed 13 iPhone apps prior to leaving the law firm. “I’ve been doing it on the weekends and at night, and so now I will be able to spend my days doing the kinds of stuff that I used to enjoy on the weekends.”

Schneider isn’t the only one looking to cash in on the iPhone. Several startups have either formed or repositioned in recent months in order to develop new products for the popular device. In the Seattle area alone, companies such as Mobui, Melodeo, Zumobi and Zero260 are transforming into full-service iPhone development studios.

And The New York Times published a story last week titled “The iPhone Gold Rush” in which it described the how small development shops and individual developers quickly made in excess of $100,000 with their iPhone apps.

With more than 25,000 applications now available in Apple’s app store, it is getting harder to stand out. And that means it’s tougher for the small developer to make money.

“It is still a big opportunity out there, but it is not the gold rush that people think it is,” said Schneider. “If (an app) is not in the top 100 in its category or the top 100 overall, people are probably not going to find it. So, I don’t know what the market is going to look like in six months when there are 40,000 apps or something.”

Still, Schneider said there’s room to develop high quality products for the iPhone. And he believes that those developers who establish a name for themselves will be able to rise above the clutter.

“It is like the Web. A lot of big companies are going to have to have a presence,” said Schneider, who is hoping that HiveBrain can establish a top-notch reputation. “It is just a matter of time before you start seeing a lot of Web site like applications.”

Schneider started iPhone application development as a hobby last summer, and quickly discovered that he was good at it. Many of his applications – including TouchType, Private-I and Direct Line — have won critical acclaim from bloggers  and users who like the simple functionality of his inventions.

The 99 cent Direct Line application, for example, allows iPhone users to quickly connect with live customer support agents without getting stuck in a corporation’s automated phone system. Meanwhile, TouchType (also 99 cents) allows iPhone users to turn the device on its side in order to send email messages in the wider landscape mode.

To date, iPhone users have downloaded more than 500,000 of his applications.

Despite the success, Schneider is not giving up entirely on the law. The 34-year-old attorney plans to funnel some of the money from his iPhone apps into a new software-as-a service startup that’s designed to help companies get a better handle on legal bills.

“The iPhone apps are fun and I am going to basically use that to bootstrap this other business, which is more ambitious,” he said.

The success of the iPhone apps also gave Schneider the confidence to launch the new business, something he said would have been a lot harder without the cash flow.

“I had the fortunate situaiton that I could leave with some security knowing that I had an income stream,” said Schneider, who is now making about the same income as he did as a corporate attorney.

“I figure if I put more time into it, it is bound to have better results,” he said.

So what’s next?

Schneider is working on a casual game and the instructional dog training application, with plans for the latter to launch as early as this week.

Here’s a look at some of Schneider’s iPhone apps, including the relaxation, weight loss and smoking cessation apps that he developed in conjunction with hypnotherapist Andrew Johnson.


[via TechFlash]