New to creating mobile applications? Consider starting small with a mobile Web app.

1. Consider Starting Small
11/29/2012 1

2. Who am I?
Andrew Smith
appMobi Developer Evangelist
Web Development
@profMobi

3. Mission:
To unify the technologies used in delivering web and mobile apps,
simplifying the process of development and resulting in a new class
of creative and compelling native mobile apps and interactive ads.
Strategy:
Offer a cloud-based, white-label platform that opens up the world of
cross-device native mobile app creation to web developers, using
familiar languages and tools:
HTML and JavaScript
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4. As a company,
appMobi endeavors
to be a leader in appMobi do?
What does
HTML5 mobile
technologies

5. What is a Web app?
• Written as a Web site
• Uses latest Web technologies such
as HTML5, JavaScript, and CSS3
• It is served from a Web server
• Cached so it runs offline as well
• Users may link from home screen
• May be updated over the Web
http://www.apple.com/webapps

6. Native vs. Web
Native Mobile App Mobile Web App
• Written for a particular OS • Written for the Web
• Available from device • Available on the Web
appstore • Runs in mobile browser
• Runs as its own application • Only Web-enabled features
• More available features • Less responsive
• More responsive • Easier to test and develop
• Harder to test and develop

7. Consider Starting Small
• How do new developers get started?
• Why not start small?
• What comes after the proof of
concept?

8. How do new developers get started?
• Answer these questions
• Use these design tips
• Line up your resources

9. Answer these questions
What platforms and devices
will the app run on?
• Caller ID APIs available in
Android, not in iOS
• iOS has less device
fragmentation for a more
stable experience
• iOS users spend more
• Android is geared more
toward technical types

10. Answer these questions
What is the scope of the application?
• Big apps with lots of information may require specialized UI
• Smaller apps may be able to be build as a “hybrid” app
• Games require more processing power
• Features like geolocation uses more battery

11. Answer these questions
Who are the customers for
the app?
• Enterprise
• Consumer
• Student
• Professional

12. Answer these questions
Will the app update regularly?
• Update through the appropriate appstore
• Update “over the air” using the Internet

13. Answer these questions
What does the application do?
• Geolocation
• Gaming
• Accelerometer
• Internet access
• In-app purchasing
• Push messaging
• Camera features
• Digital wallet

14. Use these design tips
Create wireframes to lay out screen flows before writing code

15. Use these design tips
Try to design your user interface early, but stay flexible in case
of changes to the application

16. Use these design tips
Some inspiration for UI/UX may be found in unrelated apps

17. Use these design tips
Don’t try to squeeze too much into a small space, instead “bite
size” the information that will be seen on mobile

18. Use these design tips
Save as much space on UI elements as possible

19. Use these design tips
If it requires instructions, the app isn't going to work

20. Use these design tips
Keep the device(s) you are designing for in mind

21. Use these design tips
Know your users and your brand

22. Use these design tips
Watch out for devilish details
• Does the application rely on
the Internet?
• Is the application
responsive?
• Does the UI feel intuitive?
• Can users crash the app?

23. Line up your resources
The cost of a mobile app is like buying a car

24. Line up your resources
Finding good developers can
be challenging particularly for
apps written in native code
such as Java or Objective C

25. Line up your resources

26. Why not start small?
Get started with a mobile web app
• Easier to find developers
• Many native features available
• Easier to tweak the app
• It could run offline after downloading
a cache manifest

27. Easier to find developers
There are only about 50,000
iOS developers in the world

28. Easier to find developers
There are only about 20,000
Android developers in the
world

29. Easier to find developers
Only a few thousand developers do both

30. Easier to find developers
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31. Easier to find developers
A web designer can build a mobile Web app

32. Many native features available
• Geolocation
• Touch Events
• Accelerometer
• HTML5 Canvas Tag
• HTML5 Audio Tag
• HTML5 Video Tag
• Local Storage Object

33. Easier to tweak
Web applications can be built in phases

34. Easier to tweak
A proof of concept built in phases allows you to keep the scope
of the project under control

35. Easier to tweak
Use application analytics to find out from actual users what is
good and bad about your app

36. Easier to tweak
Anyone can test with any mobile device

37. Easier to tweak
Distribute changes over the Web using your existing server

38. Run it offline
The app still looks great even without a data connection

39. What comes after the proof of concept?
Once you have your first taste of
development, expand your scope
• Use the work for a larger
project later
• Options for a full application
• Consider all targeted platforms

40. Use the work for a larger project later
If you have need of a mobile Web presence that matches your
app, much of the code is already written

41. Use the work for a larger project later
Consider using the Web app code in one of many Web app
marketplaces on the Internet

42. Use the work for a larger project later
Assets, layouts, and flow may be incorporated into a final app

43. Use the work for a larger project later
Use the proof of concept as a sample to aid in testing

44. Options for a full application
Native mobile apps are written in the programming language
of the platform

45. Options for a full application
Hybrid applications use Web technologies to drive UI within a
native application that can access more device features

46. Options for a full application
A hybrid application is essentially a full-screen Web browser
control immediately loaded by a native application

47. Options for a full application
All hybrid applications are coded in Web technologies and
wrapped with a generic native shell.

48. Options for a full application
A hybrid application can
access advanced native
features through a JavaScript
bridge object

49. Options for a full application
Perhaps a mobile Web app turns out to be all you need

50. Consider all targeted platforms
• Web technology solutions
can work on more
platforms
• Native apps are more
responsive
• There are a variety of
screen sizes to design for

51. Thanks!
Find out where here I’ll be next:
@profMobi

52. Consider Starting Small
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