Showing posts with label App Store. Show all posts
Showing posts with label App Store. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 09, 2011
Why doesn't The Guardian write about more Android apps?
Here's an interesting post in The Guardian's App Blog about why they review so many more apps for iOS than they do for Android.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Small Icons - Big Impact
A slide from a presentation Apple used at one of its conferences was forwarded to me and the first thing I noticed on the screen of the iPad they were displaying was GoodReader's icon. It's distinctive green color and recognizable "file and eye" mark tells anyone that sees it that it stands for GoodReader.
For many consumers out there, the tiny app icon is the first design element they'll encounter when looking around for apps to buy. In fact, if it's not a good one, it may be the only thing they EVER experience about your app.
Make sure your app icon is distinctive, clever, and gives a good indication of what they might discover when they click on it in the App Store. If it's your first impression, that tiny icon better be able to deliver - big time!
For many consumers out there, the tiny app icon is the first design element they'll encounter when looking around for apps to buy. In fact, if it's not a good one, it may be the only thing they EVER experience about your app.
Make sure your app icon is distinctive, clever, and gives a good indication of what they might discover when they click on it in the App Store. If it's your first impression, that tiny icon better be able to deliver - big time!
Thursday, May 05, 2011
Apple still dominates in app market, despite Android growth, report says
Apple is still full of its juicy sweetness when it comes to market dominance in the smartphone app business.
Apple is projected to rake in $2.91 billion selling apps in 2011, a 63.4% increase from the $1.78 billion earned last year from the App Store, according to a report from research firm IHS Screen Digest. But it is Google's Android market that appears primed for explosive growth this year -- predicted to jump almost 300% compared with last year, to $425 million.
But where there's a winner, there's a loser, and BlackBerry-maker Research in Motion is expected to lose its second-place spot in app revenues to Android this year.
The overall app market -- which includes Apple, Google and RIM among others -- will see a 77.7% jump to $3.8 billion this year, IHS said, and in three years' time, that figure is expected to double to $8.3 billion.
Read the full article.
Apple is projected to rake in $2.91 billion selling apps in 2011, a 63.4% increase from the $1.78 billion earned last year from the App Store, according to a report from research firm IHS Screen Digest. But it is Google's Android market that appears primed for explosive growth this year -- predicted to jump almost 300% compared with last year, to $425 million.
But where there's a winner, there's a loser, and BlackBerry-maker Research in Motion is expected to lose its second-place spot in app revenues to Android this year.
The overall app market -- which includes Apple, Google and RIM among others -- will see a 77.7% jump to $3.8 billion this year, IHS said, and in three years' time, that figure is expected to double to $8.3 billion.
Read the full article.
Friday, March 25, 2011
3 New Ways to Get Your App Noticed
GigaOM's JKontheRun blog posted on 3 new ways to get your app noticed. We all know the struggle of standing out in a crowd of, literally, millions of apps. The three tangible ways the article refers to are Appolicious, which helps people discover apps by using what they call "social graphs" plus an algorithmic search and recommendation engine, Appsfire, which personalizes apps in an app stream like Pandora has done for music, and Appboy, which now lets users "check in" when they open an app to let their friends know about the apps they like and use -- Foursquare style.
Robert Scoble, in response to the post, said, "You forgot the most important way: to get Apple to feature your app. That gets you more users than anything any of these other sites can do. Now, all is NOT lost, though, because if you get everyone else to feature your app, and get some bloggers to say it’s the best thing since sliced bread, then the chances that Apple will feature it go way up."
The problem is there aren't that many featured spots Apple or Google can deliver, but he's right that if your app gets publicized on some top blogs, the gangs at Apple or Google will likely notice it and it will improve your odds of getting featured. But smart developers can't necessarily just bank on this hope -- because there's no guarantees and even if you get featured, it's a short lived spike you'll experience. Smart developers should try a number of avenues to reaching potential users, including Appolicious, Appsfire and Appboy -- and don't forget YouTube videos.
Robert Scoble, in response to the post, said, "You forgot the most important way: to get Apple to feature your app. That gets you more users than anything any of these other sites can do. Now, all is NOT lost, though, because if you get everyone else to feature your app, and get some bloggers to say it’s the best thing since sliced bread, then the chances that Apple will feature it go way up."
The problem is there aren't that many featured spots Apple or Google can deliver, but he's right that if your app gets publicized on some top blogs, the gangs at Apple or Google will likely notice it and it will improve your odds of getting featured. But smart developers can't necessarily just bank on this hope -- because there's no guarantees and even if you get featured, it's a short lived spike you'll experience. Smart developers should try a number of avenues to reaching potential users, including Appolicious, Appsfire and Appboy -- and don't forget YouTube videos.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Meet the Android Millionaires
Electric Pig posted a good article with some tips on how to succeed as a developer of Android apps.
1. Make it great
It might sound simple, but quality really matters in the Android market. A dearth of second-rate apps means the great ones really stand out. Android owners will give everything from simple games to handy utilities and even swift iOS ports the time of day, so long as they’re worth the asking price. Make it great, price it sensibly and you’ll see there are greater opportunities for cut-through than in other mobile markets.
2. Sell it in the Android Market
Many Android developers still hawk their wares outside Google’s official Android Market, but that’s a mistake. Recent security scares, and an enormous pace of growth mean the Android Market’s being seen as the only trusted destination. Improvements by Google that let users discover apps more easily will help you out too, and it’s no longer a race to the bottom. Price your app sensibly, and as long as it conforms to point 1 above, you’ll be on the right track.
3. Don’t be cynical
Being motivated by profit isn’t necessarily a bad thing, just don’t try to cash in too obviously. There are already several I Am Rich apps on the Android Market going for anywhere between $99 and $199, none of which appear to have sold any at all. Don’t be that guy, create something worthwhile and have faith in your customers. If you build it, they will come… and pay.
4. Invest in Android now
“Android was always an afterthought,” Will Moore tells us. “The business world wanted iOS; Once an app had been made for iOS, we often made it work for Android too, but it wasn’t the starting point for any project.” As these high achievers indicate however, that’s about to change forever. “Sadly, Android is still seen as the domain of geeks, but I don’t think it will be long before this changes. With Android appearing in everything from fridges to cars, as well as mobiles, the world will be using Android without even knowing it…Android is on the tipping point of big brand adoption.”
1. Make it great
It might sound simple, but quality really matters in the Android market. A dearth of second-rate apps means the great ones really stand out. Android owners will give everything from simple games to handy utilities and even swift iOS ports the time of day, so long as they’re worth the asking price. Make it great, price it sensibly and you’ll see there are greater opportunities for cut-through than in other mobile markets.
2. Sell it in the Android Market
Many Android developers still hawk their wares outside Google’s official Android Market, but that’s a mistake. Recent security scares, and an enormous pace of growth mean the Android Market’s being seen as the only trusted destination. Improvements by Google that let users discover apps more easily will help you out too, and it’s no longer a race to the bottom. Price your app sensibly, and as long as it conforms to point 1 above, you’ll be on the right track.
3. Don’t be cynical
Being motivated by profit isn’t necessarily a bad thing, just don’t try to cash in too obviously. There are already several I Am Rich apps on the Android Market going for anywhere between $99 and $199, none of which appear to have sold any at all. Don’t be that guy, create something worthwhile and have faith in your customers. If you build it, they will come… and pay.
4. Invest in Android now
“Android was always an afterthought,” Will Moore tells us. “The business world wanted iOS; Once an app had been made for iOS, we often made it work for Android too, but it wasn’t the starting point for any project.” As these high achievers indicate however, that’s about to change forever. “Sadly, Android is still seen as the domain of geeks, but I don’t think it will be long before this changes. With Android appearing in everything from fridges to cars, as well as mobiles, the world will be using Android without even knowing it…Android is on the tipping point of big brand adoption.”
Monday, February 28, 2011
Combining Keywords in App Store Descriptions
Someone asked on a developer's forum the following question:
I was glad to see the question and hoped someone would answer because it's one that I wasn't sure about myself. Fortunately, someone answered. Elia Freeman replied:
"Does anyone know if the App store successfully combines keywords? For instance, if I have these keywords: "project, tracking, widgets" and someone searches for "Project tracking" will my App appear? Should I be wasting space with: project, tracking, project tracking, widgets?"
I was glad to see the question and hoped someone would answer because it's one that I wasn't sure about myself. Fortunately, someone answered. Elia Freeman replied:
"You do not need spaces and it does combine keywords. Project,tracking will show your app in searches for project, tracking and project tracking. It will not, however, show your keyword if the search term is project track. I also wanted to comment that Apple uses the app name for searches also, splitting it up into keywords automatically. So the name Gobble for Project Tracking, excluding any other keywords, would find you for Gobble, project, tracking, project tracking and any other combination of those three words."
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