Article (last December)
Posted on 05/27/2014 7:27:35 AM PDT by killermosquito
I have an idea for a smart phone app. Does any freepers have any experience doing that?
I'm curious to know if charging for the app or selling advertising in the app makes more sense.
I agree, I can’t imagine why anyone would be developing in VB, but like it or not that’s to MS we have a derivative language designed for folks to learn how to program running a lot of crap in the field, and folks won’t be ending it sadly anytime soon.
Thanks for the clarification on VBA.
As one of those people that have and use a windows phone, (I’m using it to post this) it would be nice if there were more apps for it.
Kirkwood, since you have created phone apps, what tools did you use?
It seems that some of the advise I’m being given here is valid.
LostPassword, it seems that I would be creating a native app that does not require the web or access to any of the phone features.
It seems that I would be creating a native app that does not require the web or access to any of the phone features.
My idea seems like a simple thing to create but I don’t want to add so many features that it goes overboard.
Questions:
It sounds like if it is created in Javascript and HTML that it might run on on any platform. Is that true?
Are apps patented?
I wasn’t expecting that I would create something in VBA or VB. I was just indicating that I’m not a complete stranger to coding.
The app would not require a network or internet connection.
Those of you who have created apps? Name names...where can I (we) find your apps? Care to share some links?
If you’re thinking patents, remember, it’s now first to file.
Apologies for double-teaming. Didn’t read past your post #3 nor check existing responses. Will do in the future.
Have a great day, FRiend.
I earn money doing that, so I don’t give free advice of such a specific nature. However I will suggest you spend a week viewing youtube tutorials and various websites for background info, and then spend a few months learning how to code whatever approach you decide to take. There are multiple approaches, some very difficult and some quite easy, but each has good and bad points.
If you do that, it's not a mobile app. It's a mobile website. The entire application is loaded from the web server, and run inside the mobile device's web browser.
On iOS, the browser is most likely Safari. On Android, I'm not sure what is the default browser -- perhaps Chrome?
Are apps patented?
You don't patent an application. You can patent a unique functionality, that can be implemented in your application. Depending on the application, that unique functionality might include most of the application's features, or it might only be a part of it.
The app would not require a network or internet connection.
If you create it in Javascript/HTML, it will require a network connection, even if only to get started.
Those of you who have created apps? Name names...where can I (we) find your apps? Care to share some links?
No.
You need a Macbook laptop to program on. The lynda tutorials are $30 month for unlimited viewing. If you can swing those costs, it's a fairly cheap education. Good luck!
I will also say that you need to think through the entire process of your project before you even start. This includes not only how the app looks and behaves, but also how you will market and sell it. Unless you get everything figured out ahead of time, you will waste much time and probably have to restart several times. Fortunately, you don’t have to spend any money to build apps. Everything you need is free, although you can spend some money to make it easier if you want to.
I have patents on software algorithms, but the code is not worth patenting. It is the algorithm that is your IP and that you try to protect. Also, all of your code is open to anyone to look at. There are ways to build and use algorithms and also protect them behind the code, but that is for you to figure out.
Article (last December)
Or you could be a ‘community organizer’...
I am sure it would, I write apps and honestly have had MS directly contact me to try to get me to port some of them, I did the numbers it wasn’t worth the effort. The user base is too small to be relevant I am better off focusing my efforts where they make money.
Well if you believe in the idea, and don’t have the personal skills to write it yourself, just go over to oDesk or a site like that and hire a programmer to write it for you.
Otherwise, you need to invest the time, effort and energy to learn how to do it yourself.
Windows phone is somewhere around 5% of the total market, and that number isn’t likely to change anytime soon.... Folks are free to write apps for these devices, but reality is there is no significant money to be made.... The user base is to small... So at best you will get afterthought ports or hobbiests writing things.
Or MS will just have to keep cutting checks to folks like Rovio to make sure they make a port for their devices to keep them from becoming even more irrelevant.
“What about me who has no ideas, no talent, no money, and no social skills? What do I do?”
Run for political office like the other bums.
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