Creating an iphone/android app

budeman

Hi,

I have an idea for an iphone/android application and would either like to develop it myself or use a company to develop it for me.

The idead is very basic and based around the google maps - just pinpointing places on the maps and navigation eg locating the nearest chip shop to where you are - I have all the addresses that will be on there.

What I was wondering is would it be possible to develop this myself? I have seen a few companies online that you give the idea to and they develop it or some that let you develop your own.

Given the pretty simplistic idea would it be possible to do this myself - I have a reasonable knowledge of computers but no programming experience.

Thanks,

Mark.

S0litaire

The main android development site is http://developer.android.com

This is where you get all the basic bit's and bobs like the SDK (software development kit) refrence goudes and a few simple tutorials (e.g. "hello world" app)

Or you could try out Google Apps Inventor site
It's a graphical modular software building software. sounds scary but it's an easy drag-n-drop programming environment for andriod phones
it's aimed more at expets who want rapid prototyping of applications without messy code, but beginners should find it easy to use...

But like most things....
it's :-
01% inspiration
39% perspiration
and
60% reading through boring Software development reference manuals...

paddyrg

Yes, try Google App Inventor and see if you can get yoursef to working prototype stage to see the level of interest.

Personally, though, I'd create a 'my maps' google map with all the points on, then your 'app' is just a link to that map, let Google's back-end do the heavy lifting for free ;-)

OK_Sauce

...and most importantly, don't discuss your apps ideas in too much detail on a public open forum!:D

..you just never know who's watching...:cool:

JJ_Egan

The idead is very basic and based around the google maps - just pinpointing places on the maps and navigation eg locating the nearest chip shop to where you are - I have all the addresses that will be on there.

Go to the Android market first and check out all the apps that do exactly what you are trying to invent .
Might be none or hundreds and be aware that most Android apps are free.

jje

RobTang

budeman wrote: »

The idead is very basic and based around the google maps - just pinpointing places on the maps and navigation eg locating the nearest chip shop to where you are - I have all the addresses that will be on there.

While Id hate to rain on your parade, Google maps itself already does this.

budeman

Thanks for all the replies - will check out the Google apps inventor and see how I get on - what about for the iphone though? Would this be a case of biting the bullet and asking someone to do it for me?

I have checked and there is nothing else that shows the data I have currently so hopefully I will get there first - may create a 'my maps' first and see how this works out. Will keep you updated when I get it launched!!

Thanks again,

Mark.

Lokolo

iPhone is difficult. You need to know flash or "mac" C language.

To publish an app on iPhone you need to pay $99 developer fee.

Android is $25. Android is also based around Java or you can see their free thing.

budeman

Lokolo wrote: »

iPhone is difficult. You need to know flash or "mac" C language.

To publish an app on iPhone you need to pay $99 developer fee.

Android is $25. Android is also based around Java or you can see their free thing.

So best to go with a developer and see how much they would charge?

Any recommendations on who or best to just search google?

paddyrg

Seriously, you likely can't afford 'proper' software development - you're talking thousands of quids if it takes more than a few days work, and you'll never see that back from the appstore after fees etc. There are already plenty of free 'restaurant finder' apps, so if you're just doing chip shops, just for the UK, I don't think your market will be huge.

thescouselander

I've recently been learning how to develop for Android and I have to say, despite having a fair bit of experience programming 10 years ago, I found the android developer site hard going.

The problem is that it assumes you have a knowledge of Java. If you look at the "hello world" starter app you'll soon get it working but you wont really understand why - the developer site doesn't help much either.

In the end I went out and bought two books - one on Java and another on Android development. Now at least I'm making some progress - really its not that difficult but a good text book or two will help a lot. These are the two I bought although I'm sure there are many other good books around:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sams-Teach-Yourself-Hours-Yourself/dp/0672330768/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1296321809&sr=1-1


http://www.amazon.co.uk/Yourself-Android-Application-Development-Yourself/dp/0321673352/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1296321849&sr=1-1