iPhone app development is a very viable industry indeed. The hundreds of thousands of apps available in the Apple App Store is a strong indication of the demand for various types of mobile apps among the Apple devices such as the iPhone and iPad. One can just view the statistics below to have a full appreciation of the immense popularity of iOS apps.
Active Applications in the App Store Available for Download: 780,147 Number of Applications Submitted Monthly: 20,035
The stats above clearly shows the huge number of iOS apps available today. Truly, it’s not surprising to know that developers are coming in droves to produce various apps for iPhone and other Apple devices. If you are one of those who are planning to develop apps for the iPhone, or want to know pointers and tips on how you can improve your method of developing apps, then you will surely find this post useful. Feel free to continue reading to know about the things that iPhone app developers should consider when developing an iPhone app.
Downloading the Essential Tools (SDK!):
It is crucial for a developer on any platform to have the basic tools that will enable them to start with the development. Developers for iOS apps need to download the iPhone SDK (Software Development Kit) to set up the development environment. The iPhone SDK also contains an iPhone simulator, which is very essential in testing and developing the app.
Knowing Web and Native App:
You must first know what exactly is it that you want to develop a web app or a native app? A web app is an application that runs in the browser, while a native app is installed on the iPhone. If you are planning to develop a game or an application that’s responsive and high-performing, then native app should be most suited for you. Mobile apps on the other hand is what’s more suited and practical if you’ll be developing something more simple like a mobile version of your website or blog. It would be best though if you could eventually develop both these apps.
Specifying the Viewport (for web apps):
This is one of the basics when developing an app for the iPhone. You must make sure that your page is scaled such that it fits nicely on the iPhone. Specifying the viewport is an essential step in making your web app iPhone-friendly.
Test Your App on iPhone and Web Browsers (for web apps):
It would prove to be beneficial and advantageous if you can test your web app on normal browsers as well. The great thing about it is that you can use existing web tools such as Firebug for your app.
Changes in Orientation:
Your app should be viewed in two modes of orientation: portrait and landscape. It would be best if your application can react to changes in orientation, as most apps for iPhone do.
So there you have it, some tips and pointers that’s worth considering in iPhone application development. Hopefully, these tips will be helpful as you develop your first application for the iPhone. Always keep in mind to stick with the basics. Once you have perfected the essentials then, it would be the best time to stretch the limitations and see how far you can go in developing apps.