So who is this guy anyway?
Developer for 30+ years
Started on punch cards with 1s and 0s
Numerous languages, OSes
Software projects primarily for Education
and Broadcast markets
M.S. Computer Science, Cal Poly - audio,
graphics, software engineering emphases
12 years teaching core college computer
science at Cuesta/Cal Poly, taught literally
thousands of people to program
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Mobile in Education
Taught Mobile Device Programming
Spring Semester 2010 at Cuesta
iPhone emphasis
○ One of the first iPhone college courses
Mobile Device Programming returns in
Spring 2011
Android emphasis
○ One of the few Android courses in existence
Two course sequence starts in Fall 2011
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Mobile Development
Developed location-based apps for
Cuesta College in Summer 2010
Simultaneous release for iOS and Android
Mobile, location-aware, campus guide
GPS, email, phone, and web integration
1st iPhone app developed by a California
Community College
1st known Android app in the nation by a
community college
Additional contract apps in development
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Oh yeah I do other stuff too
25 years of Broadcast Media Experience
Primarily radio, some TV
Combination of management and on-air
(“talent”) work
12 years managing programming and
marketing at radio stations in a highly-
competitive (i.e. before de-reg) 24-7
environment in large media markets
Co-founder of Cuesta TV project, broadcasts
Cuesta content online and on cable
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We’ll assume that…
We’ll talk mobile development in
general, focusing on iOS and Android
We’re looking at it from a business
perspective
As a marketing arm
As a source of revenue
As a means of partnership/community
Cuz it’s cool and the (our) kids dig it
We may occasionally wake the obvious
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So what is an app?
It’s a focused program custom designed
to run a specific platform
Relatively small in scope
Native to the platform, and looks it
Fully leverages the device
Fast and efficient
Utilizes connectivity but is not necessarily
dependent on it
Limited by what the platform supports
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What can an app do for me?
Engage your customer
It’s always with them, so connect with them
○ Build passion within your community
Inform them – give them a leg up
Provide a purchase avenue
Help them do what they want/need to do
Provide strong partnership opportunities
Cross-promotion with business partners
Event-oriented apps
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Why would I get myself…
…into this?
Yes, it’s custom software, but on a more
manageable scale
○ Very feasible to have an app done by an
experienced mobile developer/team in weeks
depending on the scope, bells, whistles
○ Easy to iterate – updates go live in about a
week (iOS) or instantaneously (Android)
○ Distribution (and billing, hosting, copy
protection, etc.) is handled by the platform
Will not take 103s of years and 106s of $
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Iterative Development
Flexibility in how much how soon
Waves of releases, or one big bang?
Update process is seamless for the user
Single-feature updates are not a bother
Easy to update supporting info
Encourages experimentation and evolution
Makes it manageable
Can ship at reasonable junctures
Fewer things to stop the show
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What to do, or not
Keep it simple, stay focused
Screen size is limited – don’t try to cram
○ We can always pull up more info
Don’t overwhelm with choices
○ It’s personal and the app is the user’s focus of
that moment, so make it easy if not fun
Consider likely behavior
○ Allow for customization/history
Using your app
Using the Settings app
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Optimize the user experience
Keep your friends close, keep your data
closer
Look for static (unchanging) data that can be
part of the app
○ Less dependence on connectivity
Depending on the amount of info, you can
consider embedding smaller media items
(photos, short audio/video) in the app for
maximum responsiveness
Be resource-aware (esp. battery)
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Can I get there from here?
Location, location, location
Where are they now…but also, where can
they find you?
Are you close?
How accurate do you need to be?
○ A fixed location, or finding within a location?
Ensure you are opt-in on using their
location, especially when sharing with others
○ Opt-in %s are low, especially with older (29+)
demographics***
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***http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/30/technology/30location.
html?_r=1&scp=6&sq=location%20technology&st=Search 13
Encourage communication
Hotlinks
Phone
Web
Text
Social
Custom messaging
Push notifications – opt-in, no cost,
exclusive
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What’s your financial model?
Is the App the product?
Selling the app may require a cut to go to
the store/market-keeper
Free app with a subscription model - you
deal with customer directly, keep the
revenue and keep it flowing
Is the app meant to support your primary
products?
App serves as a means stay in touch with
the customer and market the product(s)
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Other forms of revenue
In-App Ads
Those you’ve sold (incl. couponing)
Partnership agreements
Third-party through platform owner
In-App Purchase
Remember anything third-party will cost
you a piece (is it worth the sale?)
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So now what?
You can’t ignore either one
They are two:
Very different constituencies
Distinct user interfaces
Platform strategies
App distribution philosophies
Different development environments
But…just 3% of iOS developers develop
for Android as well***
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***http://blog.appstorehq.com/post/760323632/ios-
vs-android-over-1-000-developers-including-some 19
Thanks!
• Randy Scovil
• CIS (Computer Science)
• Cuesta College
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