How To Make Apps - A Good Guide

I've been getting swamped with questions lately.  People have been asking:

• how did you get started making apps?
• whats better: iPhone Apps or Android Apps
• And the most popular:
• how do you MAKE apps?

I'm going to address all of these eventually.  But I'd like to address the last question first.  I've literally gotten tons of emails from people who want to create their own apps...it's a little annoying.  So instead of replying to each and every one of you I'm going to dedicate this blog post to all of you so there is ONE resource you can go to to check it out.  

So please, stop asking me and just refer to this post.  Thanks!

Firstly, I'd recommend this awesome guide at smashing magazine to give you a brief introduction:

http://coding.smashingmagazine.com/2009/08/11/how-to-create-your-first-iphone-application/

Next, check out this awesome video:

Next, get the FREE EBOOK at Make App Ideas about making Apps:

How to Make Apps

This should be a good, general outline for you guys.  So please, stop bugging me, thanks!

Rant on designing

Hey hey, Jay here.

As most of you know I am not the type of guy who regularly designs iPhone Apps.  I make the backend, strictly working with Objective C (xcode) to get the program functioning.  I understand the value in making things look pretty but it is NOT my thing.

So I thought maybe I should train myself.  I picked up a copy of Photoshop CS4 and a book to follow along.  I get the basic interface, but for the life of me it is quite difficult to get the hang of everything.  I now know I am not a designer.  But can I even design a simple user interface that looks even slightly beautiful?  Well, today I tried it out.  Following some tutorials (btw, no good video tutorials on iPhone App desiging...get to work designers).

I was lightweight successful, I found a really cool resource that really helped with designing.  Check it out, its a .psd file (photoshop layered file) with highly used iPhone app vectors:

but for now, I know that I am not the best designer out there.  Anyone got any tips?

Great Advice

This is great advice for anyone trying to get in to iPhone App Development.  Appropriately titled "How to Build an iPhone App That Doesn't Suck".  Thoughtful advice ensues:



From one of my heroes at Stanford. Check it out if you are trying to get in to this game

My Rants

Hey.

I am a freelance iPhone developer.  I love developing apps but dealing with clients isn't my favorite part of the job.  Let me just tell you this: I know you think you have a genius idea, but every great app takes time and discipline. And yes, I do charge $x per hour because this is my livelihood.

Sigh.  I created this blog partly to rant, partly to give you advice on how to deal with freelancers, and partly to teach you how to make iPhone apps so you don't bother me to death.

The end.  Until next time, of course.