Step by Step to make an app

• Gordon Eccleston
• g.eccleston@rgu.ac.uk
Why go mobile?
The mobile lifestyle – digital natives
Decisions Decisions Decisions
Where do you start?
The platform

 Phone or tablet
 Recent surveys make Tablets the new pc
• Larger screen
• Easier to input and process data
 Though everyone has a (smart) phone
• simple apps with simple user input
Which system?

 Operating system
 iOS, Android, Blackberry, Windows
 Market share
 Recent figures give
• Android has lead in phone sales (45%)
• iOS has lead in tablets (80%)
• iOS has lead in no. of apps
• iOS has lead in revenue from apps
• Windows (and Nokia) may emerge
Existing apps could meet your needs
Business Intelligence

 An app that connects to

 Spreadsheet or database

 Your users will be able to

 make better decisions, faster
 with interactive and dynamic views
Sales and Service

 An app can give your employees access to

 Order entry
 Payment processing
 Help desk services
 Whilst out of office
Business process

 Make your employees productive when out of

the office
 Project management
 expenses
Collaboration

 Enable online meetings

 Instant messaging
 Voice services
 Content sharing
Reference

 Access services to keep your users informed

and up to date
In-House development or not?

 Do you have the resources?

 Staff, time, training, equipment
 Do you only wish to deploy internally?
 Do you want to make a profit or provide a
service?
 The answer probably goes back to your
business plan
Different types of licenses

 iOS Developer Program

 ($99/year approx. £62 )
 App Store distribution only

 iOS Developer Enterprise Program

 ($299/year approx. £187)
 In-house distribution only

 Remember you need to renew your license every

year
Xcode

 Is your IDE for iOS development

 Can only run under the Apple Mac OS
• Snow Leopard or Lion
Resources

 A developer will require

 Images/logos
 Colour/fonts
 Approx layout
 Access to databases/files
Design
 Is done under storyboard/Interface Builder
Contains Instruments

 Instruments collects data

 such as disk, memory, or CPU usage in real time
 data is graphically displayed as tracks over time
 Instruments ensures your app responds as
expected
Sample code available on developers website
The future is your world!