Tips On Mobile App Development for New Mobile App Developers
http://mobileappsdevelopers.org/ -- Discover the benefits of employing expert app developers for all your application needs. For more details, please check out the site mentioned above.
Content
Tips On Mobile App Development For New Mobile App Developers
Page | 1
mobileappsdevelopers.org
Copyright 2012
Table of Contents
Page | 2
Time to Sweat the Small Stuff: Tips for Mobile Apps Developers
3
Traits to Develop as a Mobile App Developer
5
First 3 Steps to Consider During Business Mobile App Development
6
Other Sectors That Can Benefit From Mobile App Development
8
Top Design Tips for the Mobile App Developer
10
mobileappsdevelopers.org
Copyright 2012
Time to Sweat the Small Stuff: Tips for Mobile Apps Developers
Page | 3
Mobile phone applications may be one of the biggest developments in technology today, and the secret to its success may be found in the small details. A gesture, an icon, or a barely noticeable change in color can have dramatic impact on user experience. For mobile apps developers, the limitations of the (touch) phone screen offers equal parts challenges and opportunities. If you’re looking for ways to make your design more effective, you may want to start with identifying the small components that can thrust a mobile phone app in the spotlight or bring it to its knees. Mobile phone app subscribers are more sophisticated and discriminating than ever, so make sure you can make your mark with a design that’s impressive enough to gain small-screen stature. A small opening. Experts say that mobile phone users will make their judgments regarding a mobile application within the first 30 seconds of the first encounter. Furthermore, if your application fails to connect with the user during that short span of time, most of them won’t try to open or download your application the second time. Make sure that you hook your target audience within this small opening with fast loading graphics, attractive interface, or a premise that’s completely promising.
Copyright 2012
Page | 4
The little icon. In the “Design for Mobile” conference held in 2010, the design and mobile app gurus placed a primary importance on the role of the icon in mobile app design. In fact, they urged mobile apps developers to allot design attention to this tiny collection of pixels in “disproportionate amount” to its size. The icon is the face of your mobile app — its look alone will have to catch the interest of the subscriber, arouse their curiosity, and mobilize them into downloading the application. Treat your icon as not just another visual element, but a whole advertising campaign in itself. The tiny gestures. A small screen at the mercy of imprecise touch and taps from your fingers is not the most accurate platform to control. Make sure the input methods needed to navigate your application will enhance, not limit, interactivity. A touch, a tap, a swipe, or a pinch—those tiny movements called gestures in the mobile phone context—must help and encourage your user to explore the possibilities of your application. Make sure the user feels always in control— getting lost in an application means losing interest. For instance, when a user taps on a button, make sure your design responds even with a small change in color even if the program is still loading. The limitations of designing for the mobile phone require mobile apps developers to think of elegant solutions to accommodate, not challenge, these constraints. When designing for the mobile media, it’s not about making stuff smaller — it’s about making the weight of living in the big, bad world a little bit lighter.
Copyright 2012
Traits to Develop as a Mobile App Developer
Page | 5
Mobile application development is a highly exciting, rapidly-expanding field. For technology designers, developing within the dimensions of a phone screen means expanding to the big world of mobile media revolution. However, even with hundreds of millions of apps available to billions of subscribers, it’s a miscalculation to think that it will be easy to make a mark in the field of mobile app development. The market is becoming more and more sophisticated, and a huge reason is that if they find your mobile app not at par with their standards, they could always move to the next download (and the next one after that). As a mobile app developer, there are skills to sharpen, strategies to learn on a constant basis, and most importantly, new ways of thinking and behavior to develop. These traits will help you integrate theory and practice to create a great mobile experience for your users. The diligence of a student. Mobile app development, however big it is today, is still a relatively new industry. As it is still growing, you should expect major changes and adjustments along the way. Market trends, economic developments, technology breakthroughs — a lot of factors can change the mobile media landscape in a blink of an eye. As a designer and developer, you should grow with your medium. Be open to learning opportunities and never rest on your achievements. Constantly study your craft and learn from your peers. Just like when you’re in high school, healthy competition helps you sharpen your game. Let other developers’ successes motivate and inspire you to improve.
Copyright 2012
Page | 6
The obsession of a techno geek. The mobile phone is your canvas and your medium. It is your task to get to know everything about it to make your creation work the best way possible. Test your application on the phone itself. Hold the phone in your hands; learn how the gestures and commands feel for a usual onehanded, multi-tasking, impatient user. Is that action button at a comfortable distance from the thumb? Were you able to navigate the interface easily while you’re jogging along a busy park or walking in a dark alley? Does it fulfill its promise (fun, information, help) easily and almost instantly? The tenacity of a toddler. The mobile phone platform presents several constraints for the app developer: small screen, low battery power, limited memory, the distracted attention of users, and more. You can just imagine that sometimes developers may wail like toddlers out of frustration. But also like children determined to master their world, the best mobile app developers learn how to transform these limitations into elegant solutions through repeated attempts, non-stop testing, constant learning, and pure perseverance.
First 3 Steps to Consider During Business Mobile App Development
The skyrocketing popularity of mobile applications have made businesses more excited than ever to find out more about maximizing its potential to increase popularity and profits. A recent report said that downloads for mobile applications will reach up to
Copyright 2012
Page | 7
50 billion this year, a far leap from the already impressive 7 billion downloads just three years ago. It was also predicted that mobile apps will be the chosen media platform, with downloads to overtake CD sales. These forecasts show how consumers have embraced the technology, and how the market continues expand to accommodate room for more mobile app players. If you’re in the field of business, you know that an expanding market means more opportunities for growth — today is the perfect time to act if you want to launch your own mobile app. One of the first tasks during your mobile app development process is to choose the type of app that will suit your business. You could go for an entertainmentdriven format, as games and music mobile apps are popular downloads. Or you could decide to take a more functional route, such as an information service or a clever tool for daily life. Similar to identifying your business unique selling point, the key is to fill a need or create one. Hungry? Bored? Excited about marine biology? Bothered by mosquitoes? As that Apple trademark slogan says, “There’s an app for that.” Early in the development process, it is also important to outline design strategies to align your mobile app with your brand. The overall look, colors, and visual elements in your app interface must reflect or recall your visual branding. If your subscribers are using your app every day, you would want to make sure every minute is maximized for connecting the brand with your market. This doesn’t mean you’ll have your logo emblazoned on every square inch of the screen. If you’re working with a mobile app development team with design acumen, they’ll
Copyright 2012
know how to make your app look good, and at the same time make users associate their appreciation of the app with your business. Another important consideration is data security, an issue most mobile app developers fail to prioritize today. As what usually happens when a technology becomes more accessible, so does it become more vulnerable to security threats? Incidents of malicious software or malware spreading through smart phones are not that severe at the moment, but experts are predicting that more hackers will attempt to target mobile devices as the use of mobile apps increase. Make sure your mobile app development process focuses on strengthening testing and security protocols to protect your business and your users’ data. In business as in developing your mobile phone application, doing the first few steps with the right decisions can pave the way for a smoother process and more positive results. Watch your steps carefully, and walk your way to business success.
Page | 8
Other Sectors That Can Benefit From Mobile App Development
The advent of mobile phone applications has changed not only the way people work and do business, but also how they relax and have fun. This impact on the modern lifestyle is so much widespread that the popularity of mobile apps grows by leaps and bounds each period. If you’re
Copyright 2012
Page | 9
impressed by a recent report saying the number of mobile app downloads will reach 50 billion this year, wait until you hear the next prediction stating it will rise to 183 billion downloads after just three years. That means an increase of 1,600 percent in a span of just five years, in case you’re still counting. As with any commercial field, the growth of mobile app development benefits the consumers, but the advantage is truly felt by the business owners. In a highly competitive economic climate, every enterprise—from big-name brands to smallmedium businesses—is making huge adjustments to make budgets more conservative and focused on ROI. It is in this environment that mobile phone applications thrive, as a cost-effective and high-impact tool for launching marketing, advertising and promotional campaigns. The benefits of mobile apps may be obvious for the wise business owner, who will find ways to capitalize on the popularity of mobile apps across a wide range of consumers. But aside from traditional business setups, sectors outside the commercial industry can also benefit from mobile app development. Whether as a way to streamline their systems, reach out to their stakeholders, or increase revenues, mobile apps can be applicable to various fields and disciplines, even where you least expect it to. One of the sectors that is rapidly discovering opportunities with mobile application is the education sector. Universities are now establishing technology transfer programs that focus on strengthening students’ skills and enriching their
Copyright 2012
Page | 10
research regarding mobile media. These programs aim at maximizing the university’s pool of technical expertise and resources, as well as raise new revenues. While most university-based mobile app projects are geared towards corporate investors, other applications are created for the school population. Apps to update the registration process or SMS alerts for class schedules are two of the most popular mobile app programs you can see in schools today. Apps for simplifying processes and SMS alerts are now being maximized by the health sector. In private practices, clinics can minimize long lines and waiting periods for patients by organizing doctor’s appointments through a mobile application. Government health institutions can better serve the people with services such as SMS alerts containing important health-related announcements, seasonal health tips, and schedule of services. Other sectors experiencing a shift with the rise of mobile app development are journalism, travel, sports, non-profit and even religious organizations. Indeed, mobile apps cut across sectors and industries and can affect every aspect of your life if you want it to — from the news to your views.
Top Design Tips for the Mobile App Developer
An arrow. A plus sign. The exclamation point. That yellow smiling face. The rise of the Smartphone (or simply, the phone, to generations who grew up with it) has changed the social and cultural terrain — including the way we interpret images, beauty, and
Copyright 2012
Page | 11
design. Mobile phone applications engage a specific set of visual codes and aesthetic constructs, very much like a whole new language. This landscape presents unique opportunities as well as limitations for the mobile app developer. If you’re designing for the mobile phone platform, banking on these opportunities and creating innovations from the limitations can make your application a big star in the (new) small screen. Most experts will tell you that the most effective process of designing for a mobile application is to treat it like an anthropological experiment. Immerse yourself in the environment of a typical consumer, and learn more about their needs and wants within that context. For instance, will your application most likely be used at home while cooking? In the middle of a noisy sports stadium? Inside the library? Or while your users are traveling abroad? Make sure your interface, menu, and touch-screen nuances will be convenient, intuitive, and simple to use within these situations. Designing for the small screen needs you to focus on urgency, efficiency, and accuracy. Innovation is good, but it’s also important to build on what works. If your users are already accustomed to certain archetypes and modes of procedure when using mobile apps, it may be a good idea to work around those established behaviours as it can help ensure that your application will be easier to learn. Take note of the mobility, multi-tasking habits and impatience of most mobile phone users to make sure your design will work for them even while they’re on a move, in a hurry, or doing other things. Figure out a strategic layout so that the most
Copyright 2012
important content can be located easily, and action buttons are placed where tapping on them does not activate other functions. As you consider critical design elements, working with clients also calls you to integrate all these factors with their branding. Your design should be consistent with the personality of the company you’re designing for. The icons, color theme, and command language should all connect together and reflect what the brand stands for. In many ways, the application stands for the brand, and a lot of businesses have used mobile app development as their branding strategy. No matter what strategies you choose to employ, the true test of your creation’s success is through user experience. If your mobile app allows your users to feel good, discover something new, or help them in a small way, then you know that you’ve done your job as a mobile app developer. Smiley face!
Page | 12
Copyright 2012
Page | 1
mobileappsdevelopers.org
Copyright 2012
Table of Contents
Page | 2
Time to Sweat the Small Stuff: Tips for Mobile Apps Developers
3
Traits to Develop as a Mobile App Developer
5
First 3 Steps to Consider During Business Mobile App Development
6
Other Sectors That Can Benefit From Mobile App Development
8
Top Design Tips for the Mobile App Developer
10
mobileappsdevelopers.org
Copyright 2012
Time to Sweat the Small Stuff: Tips for Mobile Apps Developers
Page | 3
Mobile phone applications may be one of the biggest developments in technology today, and the secret to its success may be found in the small details. A gesture, an icon, or a barely noticeable change in color can have dramatic impact on user experience. For mobile apps developers, the limitations of the (touch) phone screen offers equal parts challenges and opportunities. If you’re looking for ways to make your design more effective, you may want to start with identifying the small components that can thrust a mobile phone app in the spotlight or bring it to its knees. Mobile phone app subscribers are more sophisticated and discriminating than ever, so make sure you can make your mark with a design that’s impressive enough to gain small-screen stature. A small opening. Experts say that mobile phone users will make their judgments regarding a mobile application within the first 30 seconds of the first encounter. Furthermore, if your application fails to connect with the user during that short span of time, most of them won’t try to open or download your application the second time. Make sure that you hook your target audience within this small opening with fast loading graphics, attractive interface, or a premise that’s completely promising.
Copyright 2012
Page | 4
The little icon. In the “Design for Mobile” conference held in 2010, the design and mobile app gurus placed a primary importance on the role of the icon in mobile app design. In fact, they urged mobile apps developers to allot design attention to this tiny collection of pixels in “disproportionate amount” to its size. The icon is the face of your mobile app — its look alone will have to catch the interest of the subscriber, arouse their curiosity, and mobilize them into downloading the application. Treat your icon as not just another visual element, but a whole advertising campaign in itself. The tiny gestures. A small screen at the mercy of imprecise touch and taps from your fingers is not the most accurate platform to control. Make sure the input methods needed to navigate your application will enhance, not limit, interactivity. A touch, a tap, a swipe, or a pinch—those tiny movements called gestures in the mobile phone context—must help and encourage your user to explore the possibilities of your application. Make sure the user feels always in control— getting lost in an application means losing interest. For instance, when a user taps on a button, make sure your design responds even with a small change in color even if the program is still loading. The limitations of designing for the mobile phone require mobile apps developers to think of elegant solutions to accommodate, not challenge, these constraints. When designing for the mobile media, it’s not about making stuff smaller — it’s about making the weight of living in the big, bad world a little bit lighter.
Copyright 2012
Traits to Develop as a Mobile App Developer
Page | 5
Mobile application development is a highly exciting, rapidly-expanding field. For technology designers, developing within the dimensions of a phone screen means expanding to the big world of mobile media revolution. However, even with hundreds of millions of apps available to billions of subscribers, it’s a miscalculation to think that it will be easy to make a mark in the field of mobile app development. The market is becoming more and more sophisticated, and a huge reason is that if they find your mobile app not at par with their standards, they could always move to the next download (and the next one after that). As a mobile app developer, there are skills to sharpen, strategies to learn on a constant basis, and most importantly, new ways of thinking and behavior to develop. These traits will help you integrate theory and practice to create a great mobile experience for your users. The diligence of a student. Mobile app development, however big it is today, is still a relatively new industry. As it is still growing, you should expect major changes and adjustments along the way. Market trends, economic developments, technology breakthroughs — a lot of factors can change the mobile media landscape in a blink of an eye. As a designer and developer, you should grow with your medium. Be open to learning opportunities and never rest on your achievements. Constantly study your craft and learn from your peers. Just like when you’re in high school, healthy competition helps you sharpen your game. Let other developers’ successes motivate and inspire you to improve.
Copyright 2012
Page | 6
The obsession of a techno geek. The mobile phone is your canvas and your medium. It is your task to get to know everything about it to make your creation work the best way possible. Test your application on the phone itself. Hold the phone in your hands; learn how the gestures and commands feel for a usual onehanded, multi-tasking, impatient user. Is that action button at a comfortable distance from the thumb? Were you able to navigate the interface easily while you’re jogging along a busy park or walking in a dark alley? Does it fulfill its promise (fun, information, help) easily and almost instantly? The tenacity of a toddler. The mobile phone platform presents several constraints for the app developer: small screen, low battery power, limited memory, the distracted attention of users, and more. You can just imagine that sometimes developers may wail like toddlers out of frustration. But also like children determined to master their world, the best mobile app developers learn how to transform these limitations into elegant solutions through repeated attempts, non-stop testing, constant learning, and pure perseverance.
First 3 Steps to Consider During Business Mobile App Development
The skyrocketing popularity of mobile applications have made businesses more excited than ever to find out more about maximizing its potential to increase popularity and profits. A recent report said that downloads for mobile applications will reach up to
Copyright 2012
Page | 7
50 billion this year, a far leap from the already impressive 7 billion downloads just three years ago. It was also predicted that mobile apps will be the chosen media platform, with downloads to overtake CD sales. These forecasts show how consumers have embraced the technology, and how the market continues expand to accommodate room for more mobile app players. If you’re in the field of business, you know that an expanding market means more opportunities for growth — today is the perfect time to act if you want to launch your own mobile app. One of the first tasks during your mobile app development process is to choose the type of app that will suit your business. You could go for an entertainmentdriven format, as games and music mobile apps are popular downloads. Or you could decide to take a more functional route, such as an information service or a clever tool for daily life. Similar to identifying your business unique selling point, the key is to fill a need or create one. Hungry? Bored? Excited about marine biology? Bothered by mosquitoes? As that Apple trademark slogan says, “There’s an app for that.” Early in the development process, it is also important to outline design strategies to align your mobile app with your brand. The overall look, colors, and visual elements in your app interface must reflect or recall your visual branding. If your subscribers are using your app every day, you would want to make sure every minute is maximized for connecting the brand with your market. This doesn’t mean you’ll have your logo emblazoned on every square inch of the screen. If you’re working with a mobile app development team with design acumen, they’ll
Copyright 2012
know how to make your app look good, and at the same time make users associate their appreciation of the app with your business. Another important consideration is data security, an issue most mobile app developers fail to prioritize today. As what usually happens when a technology becomes more accessible, so does it become more vulnerable to security threats? Incidents of malicious software or malware spreading through smart phones are not that severe at the moment, but experts are predicting that more hackers will attempt to target mobile devices as the use of mobile apps increase. Make sure your mobile app development process focuses on strengthening testing and security protocols to protect your business and your users’ data. In business as in developing your mobile phone application, doing the first few steps with the right decisions can pave the way for a smoother process and more positive results. Watch your steps carefully, and walk your way to business success.
Page | 8
Other Sectors That Can Benefit From Mobile App Development
The advent of mobile phone applications has changed not only the way people work and do business, but also how they relax and have fun. This impact on the modern lifestyle is so much widespread that the popularity of mobile apps grows by leaps and bounds each period. If you’re
Copyright 2012
Page | 9
impressed by a recent report saying the number of mobile app downloads will reach 50 billion this year, wait until you hear the next prediction stating it will rise to 183 billion downloads after just three years. That means an increase of 1,600 percent in a span of just five years, in case you’re still counting. As with any commercial field, the growth of mobile app development benefits the consumers, but the advantage is truly felt by the business owners. In a highly competitive economic climate, every enterprise—from big-name brands to smallmedium businesses—is making huge adjustments to make budgets more conservative and focused on ROI. It is in this environment that mobile phone applications thrive, as a cost-effective and high-impact tool for launching marketing, advertising and promotional campaigns. The benefits of mobile apps may be obvious for the wise business owner, who will find ways to capitalize on the popularity of mobile apps across a wide range of consumers. But aside from traditional business setups, sectors outside the commercial industry can also benefit from mobile app development. Whether as a way to streamline their systems, reach out to their stakeholders, or increase revenues, mobile apps can be applicable to various fields and disciplines, even where you least expect it to. One of the sectors that is rapidly discovering opportunities with mobile application is the education sector. Universities are now establishing technology transfer programs that focus on strengthening students’ skills and enriching their
Copyright 2012
Page | 10
research regarding mobile media. These programs aim at maximizing the university’s pool of technical expertise and resources, as well as raise new revenues. While most university-based mobile app projects are geared towards corporate investors, other applications are created for the school population. Apps to update the registration process or SMS alerts for class schedules are two of the most popular mobile app programs you can see in schools today. Apps for simplifying processes and SMS alerts are now being maximized by the health sector. In private practices, clinics can minimize long lines and waiting periods for patients by organizing doctor’s appointments through a mobile application. Government health institutions can better serve the people with services such as SMS alerts containing important health-related announcements, seasonal health tips, and schedule of services. Other sectors experiencing a shift with the rise of mobile app development are journalism, travel, sports, non-profit and even religious organizations. Indeed, mobile apps cut across sectors and industries and can affect every aspect of your life if you want it to — from the news to your views.
Top Design Tips for the Mobile App Developer
An arrow. A plus sign. The exclamation point. That yellow smiling face. The rise of the Smartphone (or simply, the phone, to generations who grew up with it) has changed the social and cultural terrain — including the way we interpret images, beauty, and
Copyright 2012
Page | 11
design. Mobile phone applications engage a specific set of visual codes and aesthetic constructs, very much like a whole new language. This landscape presents unique opportunities as well as limitations for the mobile app developer. If you’re designing for the mobile phone platform, banking on these opportunities and creating innovations from the limitations can make your application a big star in the (new) small screen. Most experts will tell you that the most effective process of designing for a mobile application is to treat it like an anthropological experiment. Immerse yourself in the environment of a typical consumer, and learn more about their needs and wants within that context. For instance, will your application most likely be used at home while cooking? In the middle of a noisy sports stadium? Inside the library? Or while your users are traveling abroad? Make sure your interface, menu, and touch-screen nuances will be convenient, intuitive, and simple to use within these situations. Designing for the small screen needs you to focus on urgency, efficiency, and accuracy. Innovation is good, but it’s also important to build on what works. If your users are already accustomed to certain archetypes and modes of procedure when using mobile apps, it may be a good idea to work around those established behaviours as it can help ensure that your application will be easier to learn. Take note of the mobility, multi-tasking habits and impatience of most mobile phone users to make sure your design will work for them even while they’re on a move, in a hurry, or doing other things. Figure out a strategic layout so that the most
Copyright 2012
important content can be located easily, and action buttons are placed where tapping on them does not activate other functions. As you consider critical design elements, working with clients also calls you to integrate all these factors with their branding. Your design should be consistent with the personality of the company you’re designing for. The icons, color theme, and command language should all connect together and reflect what the brand stands for. In many ways, the application stands for the brand, and a lot of businesses have used mobile app development as their branding strategy. No matter what strategies you choose to employ, the true test of your creation’s success is through user experience. If your mobile app allows your users to feel good, discover something new, or help them in a small way, then you know that you’ve done your job as a mobile app developer. Smiley face!
Page | 12
Copyright 2012
