AppsArabia invests in the best app ideas from throughout the MENA region, helps get them to market and assists in promoting them to maximise revenues for their creators.
BGR reported that it looks like more Android apps are now being downloaded than iOS apps. This insight came from a press release from ABI Research.
It could well be true but the press release does make the point that “despite leading in total mobile app downloads, Android’s app downloads per user still lag behind Apple’s by 2-to-1″.
And I’m pretty sure that Apple is way ahead in terms of paid downloads too … Apple’s ecosystem is far more profitable (for Apple and for app entrepreneurs) than Android’s.
This is a very interesting metric from David Barnard, founder of App Cubby: developers who build and sell apps for Apple’s iOS platform will collectively earn more money over the next year than Google will earn from its entire mobile business.
Google expect to earn $2.5 billion
Apple will pay app publishers $2 billion
Include third party ad revenue from the likes of AdMob and indie app developers will make more than $2.5 billion
We at AppsArabia are interested in providing investment for app projects that are commercially viable. This means they have to generate revenue and, for them to generate revenue, they have to add value to consumers by meeting a demand. So some tips from us are:
do a simple focus group to test that people are going to want your app & that they are going to be prepared to pay for it (how much?)
consider how you will get your app to the target market (the appropriate App Store)
how will people pay for your app (are you relying on them having a credit card)?
And, obviously, the cost of creating the app (i.e. the level of funding from AppsArabia) should be sensibly modest. As a rough guide, we expect the app to have a realistic revenue forecast which can pay back the cost of development within 3 to 6 months of net revenue.
Edge Magazine interviewed four successful indie app entrepreneurs/developers and I respect their advice on how to find success in developing your own iOS games.
Our friends at SAE Institute have kindly offered 2 free places on their one day iPhone app development training on 4th June.
During this One-Day training you will:
Learn the fundamentals of Objective-C programming.
Learn how to use the Xcode IDE.
Be taught how to make different view/window/tab bar/etc based applications.
Learn how to work with table views.
Learn how to access Accelometer to recognize device’s orientation.
Learn how to use image views to make image galleries.
Learn how to pack your applications and send it to App Store.
Be introduced to marketing tools for iPhone applications.
Be introduced to alternative iPhone/mobile application development platforms.
Be introduced to iPhone application development industry and its potentials.
Fees:
AED 500 online registration (Inc free software installation + snacks, coffee and lunch).
(Registering for iPhone shortcourse during the one day training will waive AED 1,500 off the course’s fee).
Arab Business Machine (ABM), the Apple Authorised Distributor, are running an iOS app development course from 29th May to 2nd June at Zayed University’s Media City Campus in Dubai. This is a special, invitation only, event and ABM have offered 2 places for free to AppsArabia.
I think it is only right that I offer these places to local iOS app developers who are active AppsArabia members … and the fairest way to do this is via a mini competition
we must receive your email no later than midnight on Monday 23rd May
Obviously, we’re keen for you to use your app development skills to actually build apps, perhaps funded by AppsArabia?
The trainer will be coming from Atlanta’s Big Nerd Ranch Co., a company that works closely with Apple (and previously NEXT).
You will learn how to …
create iPhone applications that use Core Location (GPS, Cell Tower Triangulation, Wifi Access Point Location) to pinpoint a user’s location
localize applications for international use
swap out different interfaces (windows) with animation
display data in tables
create applications that can record audio and play short sounds and full audio files
store data as files or SQLite databases
handle warnings from the phone so applications don’t get shut down
handle touch and complex multi-touch sequences
draw with Core Graphics
animate user interfaces with Core Animation
create an application that can access the user’s photos or use the camera to take new photos for use within the application
use the accelerometer to detect changes in the device’s orientation
pull data from a web service for use in an application
create applications that access and modify the user’s Address Book through a standard or customized interface
maintain a preference file for an application
use Instruments to profile an application
ABM is the Apple Authorised Distributor in the region and one of the very few companies that are able to provide such courses. This is a wonderful opportunity – you’ll learn new skills and how to improve your existing development talents.
Many thanks to our friends at ABM and Apple for providing us with this opportunity!
Here’s a great article on Mashable which gives some insight into what the global smartphone market might look like in 2015, courtesy of insight from Gartner.
Key points are:
Microsoft Windows Phone 7 will overtake Apple iOS market share by 2015
Android will control nearly 50% of the mobile smartphone market within two years
iOS will actually peak in market share this year at 19.4%, then drop to 18.9% next year and 17.2% by 2015
BlackBerry is destined for a slow decline, dropping from 13.4% this year to 11.1% in 2015
We’re very pleased to announce that our first project, Kalimat, is now live in the App Store. Click here to get it.
Kalimat is an addictive multiplayer word game with a difference. Click here to find out more about the game and see the video of how Kali & Mat’s dinner date was disrupted.
Please post comments on this blog post to let us know what you think of the app!
