State of Mobile Development - March 2014

State of Mobile Development

March 2014

Who Are We?

Shawn Grimes Steph Grimes

Technologist App Developer

Director of Technology Maker

@shawng

Former Teacher App Designer

Director of Curriculum Maker

@createdbysteph

iOS Overview

• iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad

• iTunes App Store

• 1 store, 1 approval

• 3 Aspect Ratios (5 resolutions)

• 81% chance user is on the latest OS

iOS Fragmentation

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

iOS

81%

13.8%4.7%0.4%

4.x 5.x 6.x 7.x

http://david-smith.org/iosversionstats/

0

225000

450000

675000

900000

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Apps Games

http://148apps.biz/app-store-metrics/?mpage

Android Overview• Multiple devices - phones and tablets

• Amazon App Store, Google Play, Independent Carrier stores (Verizon, Nook, etc.)

• # of stores, # of approvals

• Multiple aspect ratios

• 2.5% chance user is on latest OS

Android Fragmentation

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

Android

2.5%

62%

15.2%

0.1%

19%

1.2%

2.2 2.3 3.2 4.0 4.1-4.3 4.4

https://developer.android.com/about/dashboards/index.html

Native App Development Benefits

• Best user experience

• Response times

• Familiar UI elements

• Access to device hardware

• Access to low level optimization tools

Native App Development Disadvantages

• Multiple code-bases to maintain

• Multiple languages to know

Cross-Platform Development

• Corona

• PhoneGap

• Appcelerator / Titanium

• Adobe Air

• Game Salad

Cross-Platform Development Benefits

• Write-once deploy multiple places

• Use web-like languages such as javascript or HTML

• Supports most popular hardware features (GPS, Camera)

Cross-Platform Development Disadvantages

• Performance

• Long-term availability

• Limited access to low-level functionality

Thoughts...

• Don’t start with your best idea

• The more apps you make, the more money you will earn from one app: experience matters

• Consistency over Jack Pot

• Be A Hank Aaron, not a Barry Bonds*

Making Money

Giving Your App Away

• Ad-Supported

• Freemium

• Offer special features

• Remove ads

• Progress faster

• High Expectations

Freemium Example

• Flower Garden

• Made $21k in 8 months

• Added iAPs and free version and made $30k in one month

• Flower Garden Post Mortem

Sale Thoughts...• Free Promotions

• Can lead to more downloads

• May not translate into sales

• May hurt ratings

• Sale Promotions

• Being featured by Apple has great impact

• Being featured by TouchArcade has great impact

Working As A Mobile Developer

How Many Jobs?

• As of December 2011:

• 466,000 app related jobs in U.S.

• Up from 0 in 2007

Getting Started

Where to start?

• Mozilla App Maker

• https://appmaker.mozillalabs.com/

• CoronaLabs.com

• www.coronalabs.com/resources/tutorials/corona-basics/

More ResourcesMobile Dev Tutorials:

www.RayWenderlich.com

!

Free Game Art:

www.VickiWenderlich.com/category/free-art/game-art/

!

Corona Resources

• www.LearningCorona.com

• Book: Mobile App Development with Corona by: Brian G .Burton

• Book: Corona SDK Mobile Game Development: Beginner's Guide by: Michelle M. Fernandez

Questions?• [email protected]

• Twitter: @shawng