Friday, July 16, 2010
The term “app” has so far been pretty synonymous with Apple’s mobile devices. However, Google is hoping to change that association with a new do-it-yourself app builder specifically made for the Android.
The “App Inventor” is so simple builders don’t even need to speak code to create what they want.
“Using an online interface, would-be developers visually design the app’s interface and interactions, using drag-and-drop blocks that specify what the app should look like and how it should behave” – ReadWriteWeb.com
While app building tools are not a new concept, Google’s approach to them is. By giving the power to create to the everyday user, Google gives anyone with a great idea the same app-creating power as programmers.
Although the approach is liberating and opens the door for more app concepts, you can’t help but wonder if this will create a collection of half-apped ideas. Just because the ingredients and recipe are in front of you, it doesn’t mean you’re a chef.
What’s your vote? Google’s open app building platform or Apple’s more controlled approach?
Think you have an awesome idea for an Android app? You can start here.
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Labels: Android, App Inventor, Apple, apps, Google, social media tools
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Seeing ads on your iPods, iPads and iPhones is not anything new. However, with the new iAd platform that Apple launched earlier this month, you might be seeing them in a new way.
“iAd brings motion and emotion to mobile advertising. Entertain and inform with full-screen in-line video, wallpapers, games, interactive maps, in-ad app or iTunes content downloads, social networking tools, and more. Viewers can dive into immersive ads without ever leaving their apps. Tap the ad and the application pauses. Close the ad and the application resumes. Your ad will captivate your audience from the moment it launches to the moment it closes.” – Apple.com
Reports on the success of the new platform have thus far been positive, according to MarketingVox.com.
“One developer, Jason Ting, famously posted details of his initial iAd earnings for an LED camera light application - he has seen a click-through rate of nearly 12% and earned a total of $1,372.20 in revenue in a single day.”
The big question though is will the success last? Will the millions of Apple mobile device users embrace the more sophisticated ads or will they grow annoyed by them?
The good news (or slightly creepy, if you think about it) is that Apple is able to target which ads you see based on their “unique audience interest and preference data,” which includes:
- Demographics
- Application preferences
- Music passions
- Movie genre interests
- Television genre interests
- Location
So your ads will always be tailored to a specific audience that has already indicated interest in your products or products like yours.
Have you encountered any ads built on the new iAd platform? Are they interesting and engaging or do you find them annoying?
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Labels: advertising, Apple, iAd, MarketingVox
Monday, January 25, 2010
Gigoam recently released a glimpse into the Apple App Store economy. One interesting thing is that in December 2009, developers realized $175 million in revenue. Conventional wisdom has always held that most iPhone users only want free apps. While it’s true that three-quarters of downloaded apps were free, the other one-quarter resulted in a significant chunk of change. The second interesting thing is that nearly 300 million apps were downloaded in December 2009 alone. We’re going on record now–if your target audience’s demographics overlap with the average iPhone users, then you should think about developing an app (paid or not). It’s a great way to be literally in your customer’s pocket and at their fingertips.
Here’s the graphic, with thanks to Gigoam:
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Labels: Apple, apps, iPhone, statistics
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