Author Archive

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Last day, and I managed to break Xcode on the bus.  Doh!  Luckily, one of the first labs was an Xcode lab, and I got it fixed.

Sessions Today:

9:00

  • Performance Tuning with Shark on Mac and iPhone
    • I think this will help me optimize the performance of my app
    • Update: Completely full.  I’ll have to watch the video

10:30

  • Various labs - time to work!
    • Update: Success in getting location data (GPS) from OS.  Success in putting location data in image.  Fail in getting said image into the photo library with GPS data intact.  Time to submit an enhancement request!

2:00

  • Publishing on the App Store
    • Hoping to do this soon!
    • Update: Seems pretty straightforward.  Can’t wait to try it.

3:30

  • Performance Tuning with Shark on Mac and iPhone Lab
    • Let’s see if we can finish optimizing my table code
    • Update: Shark is kinda clunky, but wow does it let you see what’s going on!  My tables are looking GOOD!
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Second day of filtering sessions based on prioritizing stuff for my app.  Hope it goes even half as well as yesterday!

Sessions Today:

9:00

  • Processing Multi-Touch Events on iPhone
    • I don’t currently, but might in the future, support multi-touch
    • Update: Some good info.  Sample code would be worth looking at when available.

10:30

  • Managing the iPhone Development Process
    • The process guy in me wants to go.  And it will cover Beta, which I’m in (or want to be in!)
  • Optimizing Performance on iPhone
    • I really need to get my app’s performance maxed out.  I’ve done a bunch so far, but more would be good.
    • Update: Awesome information.  Wow.  More stuff to do!
  • Embedding Maps in iPhone Applications
    • Maybe next version of the app
3:30
  • Understanding Memory Management on iPhone
    • Still so much for me to learn!
    • Update: Great info, and I actually understood it this year.
5:00
  • iPhone Performance Optimization with Instruments
    • I really need to learn how to run the various instruments
    • Update: I went to the TableView lab first, where I got some awesome hints for improving my tableview performance.  I went late to the session, but ended up mostly implementing the hints!

After the last session, I did some more optimization, then it was off to the Bash, for beer, food and “Cake”.

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I found a very good article on the iPhone OS Upgrade cycle.

This graph is really interesting:

iPhone OS

It looks like it only takes 1-2 weeks to get to 50% adoption, 1-1.5 months to get to 66% adoption, and 2-3 months to get to 90%.  And that is for upgrades that are less interesting than the 3.0 upgrade.  So, let’s say 1 month from next Wednesday’s 3.0 release, or mid-July,  for 66% and 2 months, or mid-August, for 90% adoption.

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On the way into Moscone West this morning, I finally saw the “Apple Confidential” sign, making it clear what I could post on my blog and what I couldn’t.  So I’ve removed my session posts from the first two days.  Sorry about that.  I’ll try to make some “non-Apple Confidential” observations during the remaining three days.

I have come up with a new scheme for selecting sessions.  Thanks to Peter Jackson, who gave me the idea (it’s similar to how he chose what to film for “Lord of the Rings”, although on a MUCH, MUCH, MUCH smaller scale).  I’ve decided that when there are multiple, concurrent sessions I want to attend, I choose the one that will help me get my app done, even if another one seems more interesting or fun.  It worked well yesterday, so let’s see how it works today.

Sessions Today:

9:00

  • Peer-to-peer Networking with Game Kit
    • Needed for one of my game ideas
    • Might be useful in sharing content in my current app, but later
  • Displaying Web Content in iPhone Applications
    • Might be useful for displaying web pages in my current app
    • Update: Good choice - lots of good info not just for viewable content, but also for downloading content, which I will need to do.
  • Getting Started with Interface Builder
    • Very good for my NEXT app
  • iPhone View Controllers Lab
    • Minimize memory consumption - very useful for my current app

10:30

  • iPhone Application Design Using Interface Builder
    • Very good for my NEXT app
  • In-App Purchase on iPhone
    • Interesting, but not useful
  • Prototyping iPhone User Interfaces
    • Very good for my NEXT app
  • What’s New in Core Data
    • Might be good for my current app, but later
    • Very good for my NEXT app
  • Zero Configuration Networking Using Bonjour
    • Interesting
    • Maybe good for a future app
  • iPhone View Controllers Lab
    • Minimize memory consumption - very useful for my current app
    • Update: Very good choice - I was able to get help in fixing a bunch of ugly rotation stuff.  I’ll definitely need to use more of the labs as the conference goes on!

2:00

  • Mastering iPhone Scroll Views
    • No brainer.  The heart of my app is a scroll view
    • Update: Super - not only learned a lot, but got some good ideas for better UI for my app!

Interesting note: Evangelist believes 3.0 will be adopted very quickly.  Move your apps to 3.0 is his recommendation.

3:30

  • iPhone Table Views and Scroll Views Lab
    • Work on table views and scroll views - oh, yeah, I use those!
    • Update: Didn’t end up talking with anyone, but I made some improvements none-the-less.
  • Cut, Copy, and Paste on iPhone
    • Just checked my app, and it appears to already work.  I think I’ll stick with that!

5:00

  • Customizing Xcode for Your Development Workflow
    • May get some tips I can apply
    • Update: Didn’t get much out of it, and I was late, and I had to leave earlier.  Oh, well.

Summary of the day:  AWESOME!

My development experience over the last year is making this WWDC a way different time. I’m learning tons in the sessions, and getting great help in the labs, both of which are enabling me to make major improvements to my app!
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Biggest pre-WWDC rumors:

  1. New iPhone H/W
  2. Web pad
  3. Steve sighting

More details from a Top-10 list:

  1. Multiple configs, prices starting at $99
  2. Wireless movie and TV downloads
  3. Increased storage, RAM and faster CPU
  4. Magnetometer (digital compass) and OLED screen
  5. Limited third-party background apps
  6. FM transmitter
  7. Better camera & video
  8. Similar look to iPhone 3G
  9. Voice control
  10. Illuminated Apple Logo
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Finally made it in to the Keynote. Cover your ears. I’m PISSED! Get here at 8:00am and miss the first 25 minutes of the Keynote! That sucks!

Anyway, CNET is live-blogging at: Live blog: WWDC 2009 keynote so I was able to follow the Mac H/W announcements.

They are now talking about Snow Leopard, the upgrade to Leopard. It was supposed to be just about bug fixes, but all they are showing is new features!

  • Expose and Spaces now have better integration. Click and hold on dock icon, and see all open windows for that app.
  • Very cool new features in safari - cover view browsing through history, with each page shown graphically.
  • Quicktime now allows you to trim and share videos while viewing.
  • All major system applications are running in 64-bit mode. Description of how Grand Central Dispatch takes advantage of multicore.
  • Exchange support will now be included in Mail, Address Book and iCal.

Observation: Just like last year, the applause is only in the Keynote room. The overflow room is silent. I wonder if the applause is from plants?

  • Available for all Intel Macintoshes, past and present. Leopard is $129. Snow Leopard is a $29 upgrade for Leopard users. OK, that one got applause. $49 for family pack.
  • Available in September. Developer preview today.

OK, now on to the iPhone!

  • SDK - 1 million downloads
  • 50K apps on the AppStore
  • 40M iPhones/iPod Touches sold
  • Video of iPhone developers - games, medical, sports - OK, applause for that, too.
  • OS 3.0 - Apps
    • Cut, copy and paste
      • Undo support (shake the phone)
      • Developer APIs
    • Landscape
      • Extended to all apps
    • ITunes
      • Rent and purchase movies from phone
    • MMS
      • Lots of laughter since no AT&T
    • Tethering
      • More laughter since no AT&T
    • Safari
      • Autofill
      • HTTP streaming
    • Find My iPhone
      • MobileMe will show location on map
      • Send message to phone “iPhone come home”
      • Alert sound even if in silent mode
  • OS 3.0 - SDK
    • 1000 new APIs
    • inApp purchasing
    • Peer-to-peer networking
    • Accessory APIs
      • Via dock connector or Bluetooth
    •  Embedded Maps
      • Developers are now allowed to provide turn by turn
    • Push Notification
      • Push text alerts, badges, alert sounds
      •  
  • OS 3.0 Developer Demos
    • gameloft - Asphalt 5 
      • race game
      • 27 cars, 5 motorcycles
      • “car stereo” can access iTunes library from within game!
      • Also using inApp purchase and inGame Voice
    • Airstrip Technologies
      • Medical
      • Sends “strips” to doctor’s iPhone.
      • Push notification of patient alerts.
      • Live streaming of vital signs.
      • Waiting for FDA clearance for new app
    • ScrollMotion
      • Icebook eReader
      • InApp purchase of books, magazines and newspapers
      • 1 Million books will be available, including textbooks
      • Copy and e-mail content
    • TomTom
      • Navigation in the iPhone
      • Turn-by-turn with Voice
      • Tom-tom car kit
        • Docks iPhone
        • Attaches to windshield or dashboard
        • Handsfree calling
        • Plays music over car stereo
        • GPS extensions
      • Available this summer
    • ngmoco
      • iPhone games
      • Star Defense
      • inApp purchase
      • head-to-head play
    • Pasco
      • Science Education - Experiments
      • Spark for iPhone
      • Sensors feed right into iPhone through docking connector
      • Demo demons - no pressure in the air hose trying to blow up the balloon
    • Zipcar
      • Zipcar iPhone app
      • 25% of Zipcar members live on the iPhone
      • Embedded maps
      • Tap horn icon on iPhone beeps car’s horn!
      • Tap unlock on iPhone unlocks car
    • Line 6 and Planet Waves
      • Control guitar and Amp from iPhone
      • Make guitar sound like completely different guitar
  • OS 3.0 
    •  Free for iPhones
    • $9.95 for iPod Touch
    • Available worldwide June 17
    • GM Seed available to developers today
  • New iPhone?  We still have a few minutes…
    • 2/3 of all mobile browsing is on iPhone
    • 50K apps
      • 5K Android
      • 1K for others
  • iPhone 3GS
    • Looks like 3G
    • S is for speed
      • 2 x faster to load apps
      • 3 x faster to load web pages and view attachments
      • Javascript on 3Gs is 8 x faster than 3G OS 2.2.1
      • Faster 3G support (7.2Mbps HSDPA)
    • New Camera
      • 3MPixel
      • Autofocus
      • Tap to focus - tap on what you want in focus
      • Automacro - 10cm
    • Video
      • 30 fps
      • VGA
      • Auto focus
      • Auto white balance
      • Auto exposure
      • Videos live in Picture application
      • Timeline
        • scrub and edit
      • Share
        • E-mail
        • MMS
        • MobileMe
        • YouTube
      • APIs
    • Voice Control
      • Voice dialing
      • Hold home button
      • Also interfaces with iPod
        • “What’s playing?”
    • Digital Compass
      • Integrated into maps
    • Nike+ Integrated
    • Better battery life - 3G +0-50%
    • Price
      • $299 - 3Gs 32GB
      • $199 - 3Gs 16GB
      • $99 - 3G 8GB
      • Available June 19
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Today is the first day of geekfest, I mean Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference 2009!

I’ll be live-blogging the conference (well, perhaps “lightly-delayed blogging”). I’ll also post other live blogging sites that I come across.

First News: The room for the 10:00am Keynote filled up at 8:00am! Shoot. It’s the overflow room again for me!

More News: Keynote minus 30 minutes. The line is around the block, as shown here:


View Larger Map

So I’m hanging out inside, where I can sit on the floor and use wifi. We’ll see how much of the keynote I end up missing…

OK, 10:03. Time to try to get inside!

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It seems every time I need to add some functionality to my app, I end up refactoring other code in the app so the new functionality can use it.  This is a GOOD thing.  Especially when one is not yet an expert in iPhone app development.  

It takes a fair amount of experimenting to learn how to write for the iPhone.  This experimentation yields pretty messy code, but code nonetheless.  In an ideal world I would throw away this experimental code and rewrite it once I learned the “right way”.  However, I fear no app would ever get finished that way.

Instead, go ahead and use the experimental code, realizing that it isn’t perfect.  Fix and clean it when you either need to reuse it somewhere else (and refactor mercilessly), or when you find that your code doesn’t really work as well as you thought, e.g. it won’t rotate worth a darn.

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Building an iPhone Business: A Look Back to Look Ahead
Elia Freedman, Infinity Softworks

Numbers

  • $222M net to developers in first 9 months of app store
  • .4% of apps are generating 15% of the income
  • Average app makes $3000 (~$300/month)
  • Numbers derived by Elia
  • Pinch Media has a lot of data
  • Mean price = $0.99, Average = $2.65

Infinity Softworks

  • 12 years in business

App Store

  • Great user experience
  • Margins are excellent (70%)
  • Minimizes tech support
  • Play by Apple’s rules
  • Prices are depressed artificially
  • Eliminates many promotion options

Prices

  • 6K @ Free
  • 11K @ 0.99
  • 3.2K @ 1.99
  • 1.7K @ 2.99
  • Impulse -or- buy cheapest?

Promotion

  • Top paid apps
  • appstore search terms
  • Word of mouth
  • Vertical marketing
  • Bloggers

Product Pricing

  • Free, Lite or LE version
    • But free people are not the same as buying people
  • Multiple programs
    • Good way to leverage users across multiple buys
  • Cross platform
    • VERY difficult
  • Add-ons
    • Kindle
    • Subscriptions
  • Real money is on the web and desktop

Summary

  • No easy money in AppStore
  • Highly vertical products can get highest prices
  • Highly horizontal products can sell lots
  • Don’t watch the sales every day
    • Numbers come out at 1:45am!

Discussion

  • Advertising
    • AdMob - click through (when advertising yourself, try to limit click through)
    • Exclusivitiy - all ads are for one company
  • AirSharing
    • 1 million downloads when free
    • $5.99 then $4.99
    • Moving to Pro ($10) / Lite ($?) model
  • Future
    • People who aren’t making a living will move on.
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Now if I can just get the testers to install it! ;-)