Short question list about building apps (URGENT!) - Design, Prototyping, UI, Graphics

So let me start off by saying that I'm not sure if this is posted in the right section. I posted a thread like this a few hours before, but a mod told me to post it in App Development. He didn't tell me where in this section. If it is in the wrong one is it possible to move instead the thread instead of closing?
Anyway, my name is Gazi and I’m an 18 year old student (economics) in the Netherlands.
I’m working on a business plan for a schoolproject. We’ve got to write a business plan of a product we want to launch. After brainstorming for a couple of days I got the idea to launch a mobile application for students at our school.
For my business plan I need 2 people to answers some questions of mine, so I can get more information about the financial and technical feasibility. I would really appreciate it if you would take the time to answer a couple of questions for me. I was actually going to ask these questions to an app builder from the Netherlands, but he just called me telling me he doesn’t have any time anymore, and I need to finish this asap because the business plan needs to be finished this Friday.
It would probably not even take 10 min to answer these questions and I would really really appreciate it if you guys could help me out.
I will first give some general information about the idea of the application I have in mind:
I want to call this app ‘’App2Date’’. The purpose of App2Date will be to make it easier for students to study. It’s the solution for problems which many students are coping with. App2Date will have functions such as:
- The ability for teachers to let students know when they will not be at school, or are too late (for example, because of traffic). Many students of our school have got to travel around 1hr til they’re at school. It sucks to hear the teachers not there after having traveled for over an hour at 7AM.
- Giving push notifications of important messages on ELO (ELO is our ‘’electronical study environment’’ which is accessible via internet right now. We can see announcements teachers have published, and have access to study material such as powerpoints and word doc.s
These functions are the 2 functions we definitely want to use in the app. IF it is possible (technically and financially) there are some other features we would like to use:
- Push notifications from Osiris (Osiris is the online database with our results  accessible via internet atm)
- Having access to your timetable
I understand you can not give precise answers at some questions (for example the financial ones), that’s okay’. I don’t need precise answers. I just want to have an idea of what amount of money I should think, would it cost more than 1000$, more than 10.000$, or just 200$, etc.
Questions:
Orientation
- For how long have you been building apps?
- Do you operate in some kind of category apps (games, social media, etc.)?
- Do you make applications for your own, or do you mostly make applications for companies who ask you to?
Costs (general)
- What’s the average price for building an application?
o One off costs
o Fixed costs
o Other costs?
- Is it much more expensive to build an app that is connected with the internet?
- Which criteria are most important for the price of building an applications?
App2Date in general
- What is your first impression of App2Date?
- Do you think there is a market for App2Date?
o Why?
- How long do you think it will take to build an application such as App2Date?
Technical
- Is it possible to make so many different external systems work together in 1 mobile app?
- Is this possible by linking the app to these external systems, or would it mean you’d have to build different systems within the app itself?
- Is there a function of which you think it would be impossible to make it work?
- If you would have to make a top 3 of the functions you think that would take least effort to build in the app, what would your top 3 be like?
Choose from:
 Notifications from teachers who are late
 Notifications from announcements from ELO
 Online database with your results
 Timetable
 Ability to check if there are any classrooms free (this can now only be seen by the schools system)
Financial
- What do you think it would cost to build App2Date with the functions I would definitely want to use? (notifications from announcements on ELO + notifications from teachers)?
- Which functions would cost the most (and about how much? $1000, $100? Etc.)
- If you would have to make a top 3 of the functions you think that would financially be feasible the best, what would your top 3 be like?
Choose from:
 Notifications from teachers who are late
 Notifications from announcements from ELO
 Online database with your results
 Timetable
 Ability to check if there are any classrooms free (this can now only be seen by the schools system)
- Could you tell me, for each function, what you think it would cost (about how much?)
- How do YOU think it would be the best to make money out of this?
Again, I would really appreciate it if you could answer these questions to me. You’d be my lifesaver. Also I didn't know if this was the right place to post this thread, so apologies if this is in the wrong section.
Thanks in advance

Related

[DEV] [REQ] C++, rewrite existing code

First I would like to thank the whole forum (with few exceptions that I'd like to not mention here) for the past 2,5 years, which have been very educating for me regarding Windows Mobile as a system. During that whole time I have searched for the perfect simple-to-use, lightweight app for storing and retrieving a grocery list, yet unfortunately I have had to come to the conclusion that it does not exist to this date. There are some existing apps but these are either not simple to use or do not accomplish the simple task at all, or they are too heavy (requiring additionally the .NET framework to be installed for example, etc.).
The idea for the simple software is that one has a changeable groups and items of groceries, from which they can select the already saved ones needed at that shopping day (e.g. during a discussion with girlfriend), and later when in shop they can just check the ones they have already put into basket. I would like to see the person who will argue that it does not easily beat archaic mode of storing information, a.k.a. paper and pen.
I have found an app which, with some relatively small amount of effort can be rewritten to accomplish that task, this software is iContact AE. As far as I understand, there is judicially no problem using the source code from iContact AE as long as following the license restrictions (correct me please if I am wrong). Why AE? Just a selection based on the fact that AE has the most appealing interface and most settings. Of course, this could be a point of discussion, but so far it seems like the best choice.
CAB - http://icontactae.codeplex.com/releases/view/28951
Source - http://icontactae.codeplex.com/SourceControl/list/changesets
I created a possible, chronological tasklist in order to get from iContact AE to the shopping app, whatever it will be called (name suggestions also welcome in due time). Also, I already have a pretty clear vision about
Discuss the usability and feasibility of the selected software / it's source code and it's alternatives (as far as I remember there was the original iContact and some other derivate version).
[*]Create, discuss and review static prototypes of the interface (basically screenshots of each view).
[*]List the requirements to be implemented (or removed).
[*]Code in / remove code according the list from previous task.
[*]Create skin and graphics.
[*]Clean up rest of code, remove unnecessary parts of it (to make it more light).
[*]Test and review changes.
I can either take lead, perform or participate actively in the tasks that are listed green. I only need a competent C++ coder who can help and thinks this is a great idea.
The changes needed to the existing source code do not seem to be much at first glance, but of course as I cannot code in C++, I could be wrong. I just looked at the parts of code where to change the tabs and queries to storage files.
So there, got it off my chest. Any C++ gurus missing a simple, convenient grocery app?
OK, I will put this in another way. I will personally contribute $50 (via PayPal or if EU country, via transfer) to the coder - provided that the end result is according to the requirements, which we will agree forehand. If anyone wants to join in with contribution, You are more than welcome.
aiiro said:
OK, I will put this in another way. I will personally contribute $50 (via PayPal or if EU country, via transfer) to the coder - provided that the end result is according to the requirements, which we will agree forehand. If anyone wants to join in with contribution, You are more than welcome.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If I had money I to would offer some.
It's no wunder WinMo is falling behind no one wants to create apps even when offered a straight cash deal.
Amen to that. I was actually reading this and took a good hour of researching to see just how hard it might be and how time-consuming it might be. I would have loved to take this on...but alas, It would split me way too much. I am already working on my FFP_LS Pro 2.5 Improvements (Major Major improvements...I am practically re-writing the app), I am starting work on a game I plan to release (Its a rather popular game I have yet to find for WIndows Mobile), and I already volunteered to work on the Boggle Clone for WinMo ... so I am already pretty split as it is. heh...if I find free time, and nobody has taken this on, I will probably come back and make this my next project
Sorry though...I do hope some developer comes around to assist!
Thanks for Your support. I thought that I don't need to subscribe to my own threads in order to get a notification if a new post is made, but I was wrong. I certainly didn't get one for Your post. So, sorry for the late reply. I will subscribe to my own thread now

Vote for Feature Suggestions

No doubt many of you are now aware of the Feature Suggestions forum that Microsoft has set up, presumably for Windows Phone 8 / Apollo. I was thinking that maybe we should put in combined efforts to upvote some suggestions that haven't gained a whole lot of traction, or to collaborate to introduce new ones. My idea here is not to vote on the popular suggestions, as they are likely to be seen by normal visitors and are likely to be noticed by Microsoft. This is about pushing the less popular but nonetheless good suggestions to the top.
http://windowsphone.uservoice.com/forums/101801-feature-suggestions
So - what features do you want that haven't received many votes / are not there at all? Do you have a suggestion on there that could do with some votes? Please include a link to the suggestion so we can easily vote.
Some of the more important things linked for you to vote on.:
Greatly improved battery life
Non-tap turn-by-turn voice navigation
Cloud backup of saved game progress
Device backup for sms/mms, apps, data, emails, settings
Screenshot support
"Flick-away" app closing in multi-task mode
Separate volume control for ringtone and media
OTA official updates
Notifications center or bar
we can be heard
over at the official forum where microsoft is listening, i've submitted a number of requests. bluetooth file transfer and screenshop support are top subjects at the moment, however a homebrew screenshot app just came out
http://windowsphone.uservoice.com/forums/101801-feature-suggestions
noelitaux said:
over at the official forum where microsoft is listening, i've submitted a number of requests. bluetooth file transfer and screenshop support are top subjects at the moment, however a homebrew screenshot app just came out
http://windowsphone.uservoice.com/forums/101801-feature-suggestions
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hope they're listening. It would be cool if they implemented the most voted requests.
I believe Microsoft is listening. Would be great if they started implementing the top ones for Tango - many requests seem pretty minute, and are really just a matter of Microsoft DOING it. Would be absolutely killer in terms of usage and publicity if they include the Top 100 or something (why not? Mango purported had 500 features).
Applications Sub-menu
Ok this is one i have been thiking about since i now have over 150 applications on my phone.
http://windowsphone.uservoice.com/f...ation-sub-menu-swipe-left-on-menu-i?ref=title
Enable sub-menus that can be swiped left to open third page of applications in that sub menu
MartyLK said:
Some of the more important things linked for you to vote on.:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Will probably consider the ones that aren't in the Top 60. Those are the ones which could be lost in the mix and need our votes, the Top 60 are the first three pages and I would think that most people would have the patience to go through them.
Greatly improved battery life
Non-tap turn-by-turn voice navigation
I guess you could argue that battery life improvements will be in the mix regardless - it should be a generic goal at this stage. Note that the Mango devices actually do have much better battery life due to a more efficient processor. And I would say notification centre is currently being supported in this form:
http://windowsphone.uservoice.com/f...om-home-screen-should-show-list-of-?ref=title
I voted and I still want to send/receive audio/video through mms. I have a lot more phone#s than I have email addresses in my contacts.
I don't mind syncing to pc for update. I'd rather not have to use the storage on the phone for a backup. It might be a good option but I wouldn't want to have to solely rely on it.
I think Microsoft should not avoid basic functionality with the mindset of "no one really uses it". Likewise, Nokia should have kept the FFC for the Lumia 800.
I've put up two suggestions - really, ideas I see as fundamental.
"Speed dial" on new tabs
Third-party integration for hubs

[App][plugin] in-app feedback for Windows 8 apps

I am working on a web service and thought it might be of interest to Windows 8 app developers out there, who might find the service useful and could even help testing it and offer advice on how to improve.
The product (codename Myelin, currently in alpha) brings powerful user feedback tools directly into your mobile apps. With just a couple of lines of code, you can integrate functionality that not only allows users to send comments directly to the dev, but also to track any replies and provide additional follow-up after the first submission. No private information (such as email address or account name) is ever shared, and no registration is required. It just works directly from the app.
Coming in the future are even more exciting features that make meaningful communication between the dev and the end user simpler and faster.
On the backend we have a feedback management portal that allows to monitor incoming feedback efficiently and manage any required follow-up in a bugtracking-like approach (think support tickets).
We have recently rolled out a client (== app plugin) for Windows 8 HTML apps, and would welcome devs willing to take it for a spin and give us feedback. BTW, XAML support is coming in the future; if you'd be interested, let me know and this work may move further up the priority list. XAML version for C#\VB Win8 apps is also available.
The service is currently free while it's in active development. While there are plans to eventually take it commercial, we will in any event be very accomodating to our early adopters.
You can read more at https://www.tfp0.com/s/windows8. If you're interested in learning more, reply here, PM, or just go ahead and sign up over at the website (we have plenty of spots available) to see what we have going there.
Below is a collage of various screens that the plugin introduces in the form of settings flyouts.
<= clickable
Since I've seen some offline interest in a XAML-based version, I wanted to note here that we did in fact roll out a version of the plugin for XAML.
In addition, both versions (HTML and XAML) are now available through NuGet as Timefork.DyneinXaml and Timefork.DyneinHtml .

[Q] First Timer - App Advice Needed

PREMISE
see mockup attachment. fyi, some minor details are left out to protect the premise.
the purpose of the app is to create a countdown clock. and we intend to have different sponsors.
FRONT-END REQUIREMENTS
when the clock expires, it will have beep and vibrate.
to make money, when someone brings up the app on their phone, they would see a coupon from a sponsor company. and upon the launch screen, if the person likes the coupon, they can request to have it e-mailed to them. there's two options to have at this point. a) the app sends me (the app business owner) an e-mail confirming that this individual has requested this coupon. and I'll e-mail it to them whenever I get a chance [but this could get messy if there is a ton of users] b) the app somehow automatically send an e-mail right then and there to the individual [this could be a Day 2 project].
regardless of whether or not the visitor has requested the coupon e-mailed to them, when they click the "ENTER APP" button, they should be transferred to the APP SCREEN.
BACK-END REQUIREMENTS
a. we will NOT store any customer data or e-mails or anything else. we will simply generate a one-time e-mail to that address and that's it.
b. we would like to track a) how many downloads so we can tell potential sponsors b) how often people use the app and how long it's open on their phone for.
c. needs to work on android, IOS and windows phones. we do not care about tablets or computers. smart phones users will be 99% of our audience.
d. we need some sort of back-end or web interface where I can enter in new sponsor names, logos and coupons.
QUESTIONS
1. I'm not going to learn to build this myself. i have no knowledge of how to build one and don't have the time to learn. i plan to hire an overseas freelancer through odesk.com. what program should I ask they use to build this? I've heard terms like swift, xcode, ruby on rails, twitter bootstrap, etc… ideally, is there one go-to popular program that creates a cross-platform compatible app? my fear is that if I have to drop a programmer in the middle of the project and pick up another, will the new person be able to pickup where the last guy left off?
2. how would I go about changing the coupons? and changing the sponsor banner ads? would there need to be some sort of web interface? would I need to purchase a website and hosting account and have some functionality built there? is there some dashboard somewhere else?
3. how big scale a project is this? roughly how many hours should this take a COMPETENT app developer? seems to me like one of the most basic apps you could build but what do I know.
4. at what point does an app get submitted to google play? apple store? windows whatever they have? or do I even need those entities or could I just let people somehow download it from a website? if so, what would I be missing out by not getting it listed under those marketplaces?
5. anything else I have not thought about that I should be aware of?
please advise. thanks in advance!!!
sixrfan said:
PREMISE
see mockup attachment. fyi, some minor details are left out to protect the premise.
the purpose of the app is to create a countdown clock. and we intend to have different sponsors.
FRONT-END REQUIREMENTS
when the clock expires, it will have beep and vibrate.
to make money, when someone brings up the app on their phone, they would see a coupon from a sponsor company. and upon the launch screen, if the person likes the coupon, they can request to have it e-mailed to them. there's two options to have at this point. a) the app sends me (the app business owner) an e-mail confirming that this individual has requested this coupon. and I'll e-mail it to them whenever I get a chance [but this could get messy if there is a ton of users] b) the app somehow automatically send an e-mail right then and there to the individual [this could be a Day 2 project].
regardless of whether or not the visitor has requested the coupon e-mailed to them, when they click the "ENTER APP" button, they should be transferred to the APP SCREEN.
BACK-END REQUIREMENTS
a. we will NOT store any customer data or e-mails or anything else. we will simply generate a one-time e-mail to that address and that's it.
b. we would like to track a) how many downloads so we can tell potential sponsors b) how often people use the app and how long it's open on their phone for.
c. needs to work on android, IOS and windows phones. we do not care about tablets or computers. smart phones users will be 99% of our audience.
d. we need some sort of back-end or web interface where I can enter in new sponsor names, logos and coupons.
QUESTIONS
1. I'm not going to learn to build this myself. i have no knowledge of how to build one and don't have the time to learn. i plan to hire an overseas freelancer through odesk.com. what program should I ask they use to build this? I've heard terms like swift, xcode, ruby on rails, twitter bootstrap, etc… ideally, is there one go-to popular program that creates a cross-platform compatible app? my fear is that if I have to drop a programmer in the middle of the project and pick up another, will the new person be able to pickup where the last guy left off?
2. how would I go about changing the coupons? and changing the sponsor banner ads? would there need to be some sort of web interface? would I need to purchase a website and hosting account and have some functionality built there? is there some dashboard somewhere else?
3. how big scale a project is this? roughly how many hours should this take a COMPETENT app developer? seems to me like one of the most basic apps you could build but what do I know.
4. at what point does an app get submitted to google play? apple store? windows whatever they have? or do I even need those entities or could I just let people somehow download it from a website? if so, what would I be missing out by not getting it listed under those marketplaces?
5. anything else I have not thought about that I should be aware of?
please advise. thanks in advance!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi i have read your long query,The app which you described and checking out the mockups seems to be pretty less complicated and i will give you some answers for it.
1) The best thing to do is make an app in popular cross platform frameworks better use html5 frameworks such a sencha touch,jquery mobile etc with phonegap. Look for developers in this category.
2)Changing the banner ads and coupons is simple.Just host that in your server,app will load those ads and banners whens it loads for the first time ,we can refresh the content later by periodic service calls
3) its a small scale project .Just building the app alone will take atmost 30 hours including creating for 3 platforms and excluding testing.
4) its always better to upload the apps their respecttive stores.Apple wont allow apps to sideload fro other sources.For getting listed on those stores you need to get developer licenses 100$ for apple store,25$ for google play store etc
5)Just be aware that the app should work on all ost of the devices ,gives timely updates etc
also you can track the number of downloads from the respective stores,also you can include some analaytic sdk like flurry etc to get the details like "how often people use the app and how long it's open on their phone for".
i am an Cross platform app developer.If you are interested we can talk in Pm. hope i helped

Help needed with app development - please!

Hello,
I am trying to get an app made for a product that I am trying to prototype, and am having a seriously hard time with it. I am looking for some help on this as I have been scammed twice by people doing a really convincing job of being a developer that turned out not to be. Luckily it wasn't much money. I would really appreciate some guidance or development help. There's a case of premium beer in it for you. :good:
What I am trying to do:
I need an app that will allow a user on their mobile phone to video call in to the product that I am prototyping. The product will be built-in in the user's home, and have a built-in android tablet running it. The android tablet will be connected to the house wifi and controlling a IOIO board, which then will turn relays on and off as required.
In app features:
2x on/off sliders that will maintain the relay in the position selected
1x momentary push button that will operate a servo motor to 90deg and return to starting position
1x momentary timed push button - when the button is pushed, it turns a motor and counts how many seconds, then saves the number.
1x momentary push button - resets "Saved Value"
1x push button - Saves "Saved Value".
1x scheduled timer - the user would preset at what time and how many times a day a function would occur. This would cause a motor to spin for the amount of seconds predetermined by the "Saved Value".
I would really appreciate the help of a good person/programmer. It doesn't seem overly complicated with what I am trying to do, but getting this done has proven to be a huge challenge for me. Most of the coding can be cut and pasted off of open source stuff, but I have no clue when it comes to programming and am incapable of programming this myself. The app doesn't have to be publicly published and only has to support the 1 mobile app connecting to the product app.
Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing from you.
Please email me at prophetconcepts @ Gmail .com
Help needed with app development
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Every position requires marginally extraordinary aptitude and experience assessments. Any designer you're thinking about must have coordinate experience building applications. Search for skill in the stages you anticipate supporting. An iOS application requires an engineer with Objective C and Xcode information. An Android application, then again, needs a designer who knows Java and Eclipse or Android Studio.
Finishing up Note
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Step by step instructions to Find the Right People for Your App Development Team
Contracting for an application group isn't too not quite the same as procuring as a rule. Swing first to the general population you know and their systems for experienced contacts and referrals. These associations will permit you to increase more prominent bits of knowledge on an individual's expert identity and unwavering quality past their experience.
Check out Brainyapps they can help you with all of the programming!

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