Release Notes

Today we discuss the trials and tribulations of supporting new features and new operating systems. We start by recapping the recent problems with the roll out of iOS 8, particularly those surrounding iCloud Drive and the code signing of iOS 8 extensions. We look at the relative advantages and disadvantages of living on the bleeding […]

Today we discuss the recent Apple event in which we learned about Apple’s new products and got a free lesson in spoken Chinese. We start by talking about the new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus and Joe’s disdain for the larger form factors, as well as how the new screen sizes will affect design […]

Today we talk about Joe’s recent trip to 360|iDev and the talk he gave about the video app previews that are coming soon to the App Store. Joe tells us what he’s learned about app previews, their format, what’s allowed, and what’s not. Then we talk about what goes into a good marketing video, and […]

Today we continue the market research discussion that began last week, and explore a few tangents along the way. We talk about reusing code in new apps, researching competitors, and being a student of apps. We consider possible responses to new competition, and the risks and benefits of entering a market with existing competition. We […]

Today we take a look at market research and “market driven development” as a means of increasing an independent developer’s chances of success in the App Store. We discuss strategies for choosing a group of people to target with a new app, picking profitable app ideas that solve a target group’s problems, and the extent […]

Today we discuss the upcoming changes to the iOS 8 App Store and how we’ll be affected by them. We consider the new Explore tab and how it will affect app discoverability, app bundles and what you can and can’t do with them, video previews and their effect on the purchase process, as well as […]

Today we reflect on the state of being indie, particularly in light of the discussion that we had last week with Jared Sinclair. We start, as every good argument should, by defining our terms and taking a look at what exactly we mean when we call someone “indie.” The conversation then turns to setting reasonable […]

You probably know Jared Sinclair from his app Unread and his recent tell-all financial post that’s been making waves in the iOS development community this past week. Today Jared joins us to explain why exactly he shared Unread’s financial results, his reaction to the feedback he’s received since sharing his sales figures, his thoughts on […]

Today we look at the partnership that was recently announced between Apple and IBM. We discuss what it means for the iPhone and iPad, what it means for Apple, and what it means for independent software developers. We talk about why enterprise is such a hard business for indies to break into, and how the […]

Today we take a look at the 2014 Apple Design Award winners, and discuss what lessons we can draw from the winners to apply to our own apps. We consider the importance of polish, creating atmosphere, and delivering “surprise & delight.” We talk about business models, building apps that are resistant to cloning, and how […]