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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 other changes that may impact our businesses.
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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 expectations for success, the non-financial benefits of being self-employed, and optimizing your life for freedom. We discuss the role of market and marketing in promoting App Store success, then close with our view of the App Store developer ecosystem and ways that new indies can give themselves the best shot of making it.
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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 what went wrong with Unread, and his plans for what comes next.
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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 second-order effects of this deal will affect even those who don’t sell to enterprise.
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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 app design can contribute to engagement and word of mouth advertising. Apps discussed in this episode include Monument Valley, Day One, Cinemagraph Pro, Threes!, Blek, and Yahoo News Digest.
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