iPhone Courses and Forums

There seem to be more iPhone courses available now - I have considered the following...

Leeds NTI / Shiny Development
iPhone Boot Camp
Academy Class

I wanted to ensure that I get quite an advanced course as I don't want to be sitting there learning all about 'if' statements!!

I decided that if they require you to have your own Mac - then the level of the attendees is such that they have at least installed the SDK and at the very least ran a few projects.

I also checked out the course lecturers - to find out what applications they have published.  I feel like a stalker - following tweets to see if a given developer is in the 'know' enough to have me as a course attendee!!  I guess this is how Internet research has changed now!

I decide on iPhone Boot Camp September meetup as Charles Gamble (the lecturer) seemed really experienced.   Also, the course details kept using the word 'intensive' so it sounds like it must have some pace to it!

It may also be useful to meet other developers to bounce ideas off - after working in a development team for so long - forums are your only colleagues when a coding problem arises!  The following sites have helped me out of a few jams...

Stack Overflow
iPhone Dev SDK
Apple Forum

iPhone Application Sales

I have downloaded the application sales app and I cannot wait to see my application sales displayed!

I really liked the article Resize an uiimage the right way - basically if you take bits of code from all the samples on the internet to solve problems - I think you end up with a hyrid project with lots of hidden bugs.   If I reuse code - on the whole I make sure I understand it before using it but there has been the odd occasion that I pasted a bit of code and thought "I will get back to the bit!" and move on to the next problem so it is a very easy trap to fall into.

I think a course is the way to go so that you understand all the topics from the ground up - inside out!

iPhone Marketing

Marketing seems to have changed since I went to college!   I have setup VitVot and purchased the relevant VitVot website address's (and blog!)  - joined LinkedIn and created an email signature so I am ready to go.   I have also setup Twitter, Facebook and Flickr accounts for my application so I ready to communicate what my application is all about.

Although to be honest I don't have too much to say at the moment!   Bizarrely, I already have some Twitter followers and I am yet to tweet!

iMadeThis iPhone Application

I also now have an excellent new name for my application - it is especially good as this is how I feel about my development - i Made This !!!

I have also finished my icon...

 I like it but any feedback would be useful!!

My new opportunity (although I don't get paid!)

I am now on gardening leave from my job as I was made redundant from the Bank that I worked for the last 13 years so this project has changed from a hobby to a possible career!

I am really enjoying the luxury of spending some real time on this project and actually being able to focus on learning how to develop iPhone apps.

It is quite scary and yet exciting at the same time!

My idea!!

I have a great idea for an iPhone application and I am looking forward to developing a real iPhone application rather than running through exercises or taking apart samples Apple Developer Sample Applications.   Although I found iPhoneCoreDataRecipes, UICatalog, PageControl and Locations really good applications to take apart.

My idea is based on something I thought "oh, wouldn't it be useful if I could..." which is normally how good ideas materialise.  Although I know that I haven't come up with anything totally revolutionary like 'Cat Eyes' or 'the Dyson'! - but it is something that I would use everyday and I know that I can produce a system that is robust and stylish.

The application is also centred around a topic that is very important to me - protecting memories.

iPhone icons and graphics

I have decided that you need many skills to develop these apps!! Programmer, Graphic Designer, UI Designer, Marketing Expert etc.   I am quite jealous of people who say things like "I asked the graphics people to produce...".

I keep getting distracted by working on the icon - it seems really important as the whole brand, design and colours seem to start with the icon.

I have lost hours looking at ShutterStock, iStockPhotos and Dreamstime looking for inspiration for graphics.

I found the following article really interesting regarding iPhone icon development.....

Tutorial on how to create iTunes icon

I am rapidly becoming a Photoshop expert and found the following sites really good for actions and graphics...

Commercial use
Atomic Cup Cake