The Appys - The Very Best in App Development and Design

Google launches guide for app developers who want to make money

Stephen — Wed, 16 May 2012 11:26:19 +0000

This new site from Google is a pretty good resource. The Guide to the App Galaxy by Google is designed to help app developers, regardless of platform, build a business on mobile.

The site is also useful for people who have already built and launched apps. There are additional tips for developers and publishers as they grow their portfolios.

Google’s mobile ad platform AdMob, also features and gives app developers two ways to build their app user base through advertising. App publishers & developers can run a paid campaign to advertise within the tens of thousands of apps in the AdMob network or use Google’s House Ads tool to cross-promote apps within their own portfolios.

A single software development kit (SDK) integration gives developers access to the combined network of AdMob and Google advertisers. As the site’s motto goes, ‘Don’t just build a mobile app, build a business’.

The Appys 2012 – Mobile/Tablet/Social/Web

Stephen — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 14:52:18 +0000

The Appys 2011 saw over 250 apps entred to the competition and over 300 people attended the awesome event in Dublin’s Mansion House. This year we aim to be bigger, better and smarter.

MOBILE SMARTS
By the end of 2012 at least 50% of personal phones in Ireland will be smartphones. The European average is about 20%, suggesting Irish consumers are early adopters of smart handsets, as we were of mobile phones in general.

TABLET MOUNTAIN
Apple sold 15.4m iPads in the final quarter of 2011. 39% of the 26.8m tablets that shipped that quarter were running Google’s Android operating system. There are over 180,000 iPad apps

A TSUNAMI OF APPS
There was a time when it was important for Apple and Android to promote app development and tout the number of apps they have in store. This is no longer true. There are well over 600,000 apps for iPhone and 500,000 apps for Android. No one is counting anymore. It’s the quality of the apps that counts.

NEW TO THE APPYS 2012

Cloud apps – the web apps that are changing the way we work.

Social apps – apps developed for Facebook’s Timeline – a revolution in the way we share information

2012 Awards

Des — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 15:57:27 +0000

Hello!

Yes, after a second successful round of The Appys, we are coming back for more in 2012!

The awards ceremony will take place on 8th November 2012, location TBC. So, while we at The Appys HQ are getting things off the ground and lined up for the awards ceremony and all that it entails, all you have to worry about it making your app the best it can possibly be and enter it!

Details of categories and entry forms will be posted on the website when entries open on 27th August, so keep your eyes peeled on our Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn accounts.

Something to keep you on your toes and in the ‘Appys Mood’ is to enter our App of the Month. Every month we run this competition celebrating well.. apps! For more details you can click here, or to enter click here.

If, in the meantime you have any questions about the awards, you can give Alice a call on 01 284 6096.

AIB Mobile app wins first App of the Month with Newstalk

Stephen — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 15:09:02 +0000

The winner of The March App of the Month, in association with Newstalk is the AIB Mobile App. Over 35 apps were entered last month and the judge, Martin Casey – managing director of Arekibo, said he had a hard time choosing a winner.
Martin felt that “the design and ease of use of this mobile banking app made is a real win for AIB and something that the customers of AIB’s competitors should really be expecting their banks to produce. Top app. Well done”.

A couple of apps that deserve an honourable mention
• My Quit Time by Debbie Harper of Tus Nua Designs – A quit smoking aid which sent regular messages of encouragement to the users which worked very well.
• Making out in Irish by Rosssa O’Snodaigh of Kila – An app that takes the sting out of “Flirting, kissing, cuddling and all kinds of other shenanigans.” As Gaeilge, which Martin felt was a lot of fun.

April’s competition
This month’s judge is Patrick leddy, CEO and founder of Furious Tribe. App of the Month is free to enter and is part of The Appys. Winners get a lovely trophy – coverage on Newstalk and Digital Times and the all important boasting rights.

The criteria for success are very simple:
• Utility – Is it useful, would you download it, does it do what it promises?
• Design – Is it easy to navigate, is it laid out well, do you find it well designed?

Awesome apps being developed for Kinect

Stephen — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 12:55:23 +0000

Kinect apps have huge potential in medicine and education

The Microsoft and TechStars Kinect Accelerator program for 2012 has chosen 11 startups (out of 500 who applied) to develop apps for Kinect. Those chosen will get $20,000, free office space for three months and will be based in Seattle, USA.
Since Microsoft has opened Kinect up to developers an amazing raft of applications have been conceived and developed.

The eleven finalists are:

• Freak’n Genius lets anyone animate using Kinect.
• GestSure Technologies brings gestural, touchless interfaces into the operating room.
• Ikkos uses algorithms to teach movements.
• Jintronix uses Kinect and 3D gaming to improve rehabilitative therapies.
• Kimetric is in stealth mode.
• Manctl made a cheap 3D scanner using Kinect.
• Nconnex is using the Kinect to rethink healthcare, e-commerce, and education. One of the products lets you try furniture before you buy it.
• Styku wants to reinvent how you shop online by giving you an avatar that lets you ‘try on’ clothes before you buy it.
• Ubi can turn any display into a 3D touch-screen.
• Voxon wants to democratisde 3D tech by letting artists, filmmakers, and game designers dabble in 3D more freely.
• Zebare is in stealth mode.

Shopping on your iPad

Stephen — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 15:50:24 +0000

Online marketing firm Zmags has just launched a product that will allow retailers create a shopping environment for iPad and smartphone users. It’s a new e-commerce solution that could work well for retailers of all kinds in the social and mobile world.
“Most retailers have treated the Facebook experience as an extended blog and if it doesn’t work for them, they think there is a flaw with the channel,” says Sean Ford, CEO. “ZMags is taking different channels and packaging them in a way that is appealing to customers and how they want to shop.”
First impressions are it looks good and seems to be built very much with the iPad and other tablet devices in mind.

The best, and worst, apps in the world

Stephen — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 11:29:41 +0000

This infographic features some of the best and worst apps currently on the market. It also features top developers, top app categories, top app platforms, top Facebook games, most expensive apps and more. Enjoy app-fans.

How to develop iPhone and iPad apps

Stephen — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 15:17:33 +0000

Apple’s new ‘Start Developing iOS Apps Today’ guide has been launched. Aimed at aspiring iOS app developers, the 13-step guide splits up the process of app development into five key areas.
“The road map provides you with a breadth of knowledge to get you started, and the last page, Where to Go from Here, includes links to documents you should read next,” says the guide. “After you finish the road map, you will be prepared to delve deeper into any individual topic. You’ll have the knowledge, tools, and skills to start developing iOS apps,” promises Apple.
Sounds great. However, you will have to have some level of digital know how.
“Before you begin writing a line of code, you should make some critical design decisions,” suggest Apple. “Be as specific as possible about your app’s purpose and features. Choose the kind of data model your app will use. Decide on a user interface style for your app; for example, should it follow a master-detail pattern or that of a utility app? Do you want your app to be universal—that is, an app that runs on iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch?”
Well … to be honest I just want to write and develop the next Angry Birds. Is that too much to ask?

The 25 billion app countdown

Stephen — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 13:00:08 +0000

Very soon, someone, somewhere on the planet will download the 25 billionth app from Apple’s app store. To celebrate, Apple will give that person a $10,000 dollar gift card to spend on apps from the app store.
“The countdown has started. And there’s going to be a winner,” says Apple. “As the 25 billionth download approaches, we want to say thank you. Download any of the a lot more than 500,000 apps on the App Retailer for iPhone, iPod touch or iPad – if you download the 25 billionth app, you could win a $10,000 App Retailer Gift Card.”
The app store opened its virtual doors in July 2008 and has been an enormous success for Apple. Within two and a half years 10 billion apps had been downloaded. Six months later this figure reached 15 billion and now, just eight months down the line, it is close to 25,000,000,000.

The app that could win an Oscar

Stephen — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 12:13:36 +0000

If you haven’t heard of Moonbot Studios, and you have kids and an iPad, then you’re in for a treat. Moonbot creates quirky and beautiful iPad apps for kids, one of which The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore was extended into a short animated film. An Oscar-nominated film.
The short animation “draws its inspiration from Hurricane Katrina, Buster Keaton, The Wizard of Oz, and a love for books”. It’s a remarkable piece of work and a creation that is destined to win awards. The first app to win an Oscar perhaps?

The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore from Moonbot Studios on Vimeo.

The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore iPad App Trailer from Moonbot Studios on Vimeo.