Hi chaps … I have a client who’d like to get on the app bandwagon with a simple app for ipad/phone - I have no coding skills whatever (and am disinclined to make that leap) - I can make the app look pretty but what about the coding ? - anyone know of anything out there to help me or should I suggest he finds an app developer ? - I did a google search and could only find lots of people selling’ books on how to make apps/games … regards Roger
There are a couple of frameworks out there that purport to allow
mortals to build iApps “without coding!” but I don’t know if that
means no coding, or “much less coding than usual”, which could be as
much as trying to write War and Peace.
My recommendation is that you find a developer to do this.
As a distant second option, maybe try to think about the project in
terms of a Web application. There are toolkits like Sencha and jQTouch
to give you a leg up with the JavaScript specific to the iDevices, and
PhoneGap, which can turn a Web application into a stand-alone
(installable) app.
But I fear that this second approach will still be way more code than
you’ve expressed an interest in. If you want to stay in the
relationship with this client, I would try to find a developer to
subcontract to. You could make some money on the project by marking up
their rates. But if you want to get right out of the way, I understand
that motivation as well.
Walter
On Apr 7, 2011, at 2:54 AM, Roger Burton wrote:
Hi chaps … I have a client who’d like to get on the app bandwagon
with a simple app for ipad/phone - I have no coding skills whatever
(and am disinclined to make that leap) - I can make the app look
pretty but what about the coding ? - anyone know of anything out
there to help me or should I suggest he finds an app developer ? - I
did a google search and could only find lots of people selling’
books on how to make apps/games … regards Roger
As ever - thanks Walter … having done a little more research I’m leaning towards leaning away and putting him onto a developer. Can’t quite understand why it’s such a big deal - there are a million and one apps out there (maybe even 2 million and one) who’s doing all the work - it can’t be just a ‘chosen’ few, even my local estate agent advertises his ‘app’ in the window of his shop … maybe I’ll ask him … though he’d probably want to do a survey and take 50% commission … have a good weekend and if you’re betting on the Grand national - good luck - Roger
What does the app intend to do? If it’s only a interactive book/brochure type app the soon to be released QuarkXpress 9 is supposed to let mere mortals design and publish apps.
We use Quark on the print side of work, it will be interesting to see if this is any good.
There are fees to pay on the route to publish an app though.
David
On 7 Apr 2011, at 07:54, “Roger Burton” email@hidden wrote:
Hi chaps … I have a client who’d like to get on the app bandwagon with a simple app for ipad/phone - I have no coding skills whatever (and am disinclined to make that leap) - I can make the app look pretty but what about the coding ? - anyone know of anything out there to help me or should I suggest he finds an app developer ? - I did a google search and could only find lots of people selling’ books on how to make apps/games … regards Roger
Thanks David … I will check Quark out but having migrated to Indesign there’s a bit of a dilemma … I understand Adobe are into digital publishing but I think that’s more for ‘magazine’ type formats - interesting area though … I sometimes think I’d like to go back to a drawing board pen and ink and letraset … not really I really enjoy the stunning things that can be achieved with current technology I’m just a bit disinterested when it comes to attempting to write too much ‘code’ hence my affection for Freeway … Roger
I think Quark is first out of the gate with digital publishing for apps - brochure / book style, I believe Quark publishing fees are cheaper than Adobe.
Hopefully this competition will stifle Adobe high software prices.
David
On 7 Apr 2011, at 19:55, “Roger Burton” email@hidden wrote:
I understand Adobe are into digital publishing but I think that’s more for ‘magazine’ type formats
If your client doesn’t need to sell the planned and, and their app needs can be boiled down into a form format, then FormEntry 2 from Widget Press may be suitable. Down side would be the $4,999.00 price tag to get it white labeled and posted to App Store. Pretty reasonable ignoring that option.
Yes I agree chuckamuck Adobe’s dominance is a shocker - I like the look of Formentry though I think he wants something a bit more ‘frivolous’ visually - no matter - good of you to take the time … Roger
I like the look of Formentry though I think he wants something a bit more ‘frivolous’ visually
I’ve taken a look at the FormEntry product. At it’s current ability level it’s pretty limited in terms of how complex the forms it creates can be. It’s extremely trivial to set up a form that works on any iPhone or iPad and uses the standard IOS interface objects. The design portion that runs on a Mac only is dead simple but there is no customization at all possible other than color, icons and text content. Still, if your goals are modest, for $19 it’s hard to beat.