{
looks like my keyboard threw up on my screen;
}
Wasted talent
Scam apps like this one here irritate me to such an extent that I am actually writing about it, which in fact only helps the developer out. There is no bad promotion. But the fact remains there is too much crap in the App Store. Search is broken, unless a developer has fantastic marketing through word of mouth, they really have to choose smart creative keywords to be found. They would also be wise to enroll in app reviewer and promotion programs. But before I digress too much, let me state my point. Smart developers, please, apply yourself and your talents in a better way.
Since the launch of the app store I have been curious about the market as a whole. I check out craigslist and job boards with keywords like iPhone, developer, Cocoa, Obj C, etc. There is a market with job openings, the mobile developer/programmer job openings are astounding given the economy. Go off and do some good. Stop putting apps out there that only tech savvy people would know are fake. Claiming the app will track your friends phone if you give it the number, unlock your phone with a thumb print scan, there are even hand warmer apps. Actually I think my phone has that app already installed, it opens after an hour long conversation.
This practice is especially evil when you charge for it. Unfortunately given the structure of the store it breeds a window shopping experience asking for impulse buying. Typically there will be a disclaimer telling the buyer that this app does not actually do what we just told you it did. But awesome news for shady developers, don’t fret, you can still trick your buyers. That wonderful “more” button is so convenient. Depending on the length of the description the disclaimer on the bottom could be hidden, only revealed when clicked. Why would someone develop an app where ratings dwindle and reputation is tarnished? I don’t know, I want to understand, I do. Does the feeling of “taking someone” give that of service.
Yes, the claims of millions and billions of apps and download’s and dollars made is justified. But frankly too much of the app store is reminiscent of that guy in the trench coat selling fake Rolex watches to trusting tourists. Both will give the time, it’s accuracy is another story.
Really to the disingenuous developers in the crowd, check craigslist. You will make more money that way, and guess what? There’s an app for that. Personally I like this one.
PayPal, Bump and mashups
Although they do charge a small fee, something like 2.9% + $ .30 (don’t quote me, I’m just the messenger). With this new option, link your credit card and bank account with PayPal and pay your friends without needing cash.
Mashing-up with Bump, allows users to make paying people just a bit more entertaining. My buddy needed to pay me for a parking validation the other day so we "bumped" phones. Bumps app recently added Facebook integration, the list goes on.
App developers are starting to get very creative with collaboration mash-ups that shared the best technology with the best features and design. Another great example is Occipital, makers of Red Laser. From their site "Occipital, LLC is a technology startup focused on mobile visual search, founded by University of Michigan alumni Jeffrey Powers and Vikas Reddy."
Apps such as Alice.com, Cor.kz, and many others are using Occipital’s Red Laser technology to make product search a lot quicker.
I think it’s great that although the iPhone OS is essentially a close system, developers are teaming up to share and license technology.
Interview with Stefan Fuerst, author of GrandTotal and TimeLog
One of the toughest parts of being a freelancer or starting a small business is tracking time and billing. I spoke with Stefan Fürst of Media Atelier (@mediaatelier) about two applications he developed, GrandTotal and TimeLog, that make billing and invoicing a lot easier.
What is GrandTotal?
GrandTotal does what most service providers (hopefully) do from time to time: It creates invoices and estimates and keeps track of the payments and due dates. The key feature is that invoices can have almost any look, which is really important to most of my users.
How did you get started developing the application?
I started in early 2008, building the layout engine, which was the most important thing to get done. If I would fail on that my yet unnamed product would never make it to a final release. After 7 months of development I picked some of my TimeLog users to give it a try. Thanks to my users, with their input I could release a fairly mature product in September. Maybe I should mention, that I tried this several times before and failed big time.
Where did you get the idea to create the application?
That’s an easy one. It was #1 request of my TimeLog users. So I knew there is a demand.
One of the features of your application is the ability to have multiple customizable tax rates, domestic and international. Were there any issues or complications dealing with taxes?
GrandTotal is a European product; dealing with international customers is a very common thing here. This required a bit a more flexible of a tax system - which in some cases can make the product look more difficult than it actually is.
TimeLog is one of your other apps, is it difficult to create applications that “play well” with each other?
Not really - being in control of the source allows you to make them fit together. It’s harder to deal with 3rd party integration.
What is TimeLog?
TimeLog was my first Mac application I wrote, it was written in RealBasic. I wrote it for myself to figure out where my time going. I submitted it to MacUpdate with no expectations. My first sale was a great experience.
Some invoicing application’s log time as well. Was there a reason you chose to write GrandTotal and TimeLog as separate applications?
Yes there were several reasons. One reasons is that TimeLog can collect working time over the network which means more than one person can be involved.
Another is that a lot of users don’t track time because they work for fixed fees anyway. Last but not least, I did not want to raise the price of TimeLog, nor was I willing to give away the app for 19€.
I love when applications incorporate companion mobile apps. What drove you to develop GrandTotal for the iPhone?
That was a logical step. I love the iPhone, my users love it…
How difficult is it to write applications for a separate platform like the iPhone?
It’s just another product. There is almost no code you can share. It’s more about dealing with the limited screen-space you have on the iPhone. You have to also consider the feature-set. But it’s a very nice experience.
How did you get your creative juices flowing to create such usable invoice designs?
I wish I had. One of my users (hi Frank) provided me with some very nice layouts. Actually the templates are not intended to be used 1:1.
At the beginning, the built-in template had a fairly bright orange typo on it, and instead of modifying it, a lot of users just kept that. Meanwhile I supplied a grayish, less screaming one as default.
How do you go about promoting and distributing your applications?
I should really do more on this part. I was lucky to have a big installed base of TimeLog users and sales where excellent from the first day on.
What are some of the difficulties you run into being an independent developer?
You don’t have to search for a distributor. I just ran across one Belarus site selling an outdated crack of GrandTotal for 8€…
Personally I don’t see the point of selling boxed software these days. My shop is open 24/7 worldwide.
You have several Mac OS and iPhone applications, are there any future projects you have in the works?
I focus on the future versions of my applications. Currently I have no intentions to launch a new product. GrandTotal and TimeLog keep me very busy right now. But that’s how it should be, isn’t it?
Thanks again to Stefan Fürst of Media Atelier for speaking with me.
Stefan can be found at @mediaatelier and http://www.grandtotal.biz/GrandTotal/?lang=en
Do just about anything on your Mac with your iPhone
I used Air Mouse Pro [iTunes Link] quite often back in the day. In my opinion it is one of the best mouse/trackpad applications for the iPhone. The setup is quick, and it not only allows you to use it as a trackpad but also as a gestures based pointer. You use it like a remote control for a TV, flick your wrist and the cursor flies up, down, left, right, etc. Before I had my Roku, I was using it everyday to watch movies on my Mac via Netflix.
R.P.A. Tech, the makers of Air Mouse Pro, released a significant update earlier this year. Now not only is it a mouse, but also an application launcher. It syncs with your dock giving you the ability to launch, switch to and quit any application sitting in your dock. Air Mouse gives you a visual of your current dock right on your phone. Toggling the applications is very similar to the command + tab [⌘+tab], command + Q [⌘+Q] shortcuts.
But what if you want to launch and application that’s not in your dock? I have been using Google’s Quick Search Box (gQSB). Right away the gQSB became my default app launcher. I press [⌘+⌘] to activate the box, type any application’s name and hit return. So how do we tie the two together to launch any application or command? Well, Air Mouse Pro has a separate module controlling the the function keys F1-F12 as well as four shortcut buttons you could use for assigning applications or scripts.
But the gQSB is set to run in the background so it’s already open, it needs activating not opening.
Here’s the steps:
1. Under the QSB prefs make sure ‘open at log in’ is checked, then assign an obscure keyboard shortcut to activate.
gQSB Preferences Window
-I used control+grave accent (tilde) [⌃+~], making sure it was not already assigned to the system.
Keyboard Shortcut’s
-You may notice ⌘+⌘ is already assigned, but Air Mouse Pro only allows one modifier key so you must create a new shortcut.
2. In the Air Mouse server settings go to the ‘Hot Key Setup’, for the name I chose gQSB, and the action is control+tilde [⌃+~], click apply with Air Mouse open on your phone.
Air Mouse Pro Hot Keys Setup
You should now see one of the four buttons on top in the functions module as gQSB. If everything went as planned tapping it will activate the box.
Air Mouse Pro Function and Shortcut Module
From there you can do anything from launching any app, opening files, Google queries. Best of all QSB can control system commands. Type trash to empty the trash, shutdown, etc, a couple good article on all the functionality can be found here and here.
The combination of Air Mouse Pro [iTunes Link] and the Google Quick Search Box allow’s you to do just about anything with your Mac from your phone.