My first app in the Apple iTunes App Store
by Martin Schultz · 07/20/2008 (7:47 am) · 8 comments
Hi,
just wanted to tell about my little adventure getting my first little native iPhone app published in the app store. Here's the iTunes link.
On july 11th I was one of the lucky guys getting a brand new iPhone 3G and was playing since then with it a bit. Soon enough after testing I found out that the phone has some very nice countdown timers which I need everyday as I'm a die hard tea drinker, but also quickly noticed that it requires every day a few taps on the phone to get the timer starting when brewing my tea.
You might guess it, the idea was born that I need a specific tea timer app for my own needs to start the brewing counter with only one tap. :-) Well, surely not a big killer app, but hey, it challenged me and I wanted to learn how to learn how to do it since the iPhone version of Unity (my everyday 3d middleware) is not available yet.
Ok, idea was there, but no experience with Objective-C and used XCode only a few times. Started then on the first day in the morning to get me teached the basics of objective-c and had the idea to have the basic workflow for the app (the countdown thing) running until the first day's evening. Well, I archieved that somehow and had a basic counter working after the first day, with ugly look, but working. I set myself the target for the next day to make the UI looking good and get the app itself somewhat "finished".
I really fought the first hours of the second day with how the controls work in objective-c if you do them programatically instead of using the GUI builder, but with reading most of the tutorials that are served with the SDK I got it somehow working after the second day and had a all features implemented.
On the third day I was testing the app on the device and found some slight bugs that the prefrerred countdown time was not restored correctly from the preferences. Fixed those bugs then and begun to package the app for the app store. Oh, I should note that it took me 5 (!) hours to find a bug (which was none) why the fanfare sound (played when countdown is at zero) was not played back on the device, but on the simulator. I searched and debugged like an idiot to find out after 5 hours that I accidentially switched the "mute" knob on the iphone itself so that it plays only the vibra alarm, but not any physical sound. Damn I felt like an idiot afterwards... :-) But if you ever debug on the iPhone and get no sound out of it, check the button on the left phone side if it indicates with a red little dot that the sound is globally turned off. Might save you hours then.
On the fourth day I submitted the app then early morning to Apple and waited then impatiently to see how long it takes to get the app online. Well, surprisingly the app was launched the same day shortly before midnight. Phew, my first app online in iTunes - cool thing. Yes, sure, I know it's nothing big and lots of people even say in the comments that this timer is already built in, but it was mainly built for me and to get experience for later, when Unity iPhone is out. But believe it or not - a few hours after launch of the app I already got first mails from people telling my they like the app very much and didn't understand why it took so long before anybody wrote a tea timer. Well, seems those people are the same die-hard tea drinkers like me - also wanting to start they countdown timer with one tap and not needing 5 or more taps until the original iPhone timer is started. They also asked for more features already, like custom times for fruit tea, black tea and and and. The pitty is now, I have no clue if or how many apps I sold. Apple's app store does not tell anymore how much you sold, you only get the monthly financial reports, but of course as my app is brandnew, I will get my first financial review firsttime by the end of this month. Let's see what comes out! :-)
All in all it was a very nice adventure into Objective-C, the iPhone SDK and how to get apps published in the App Store.
Martin
P.S. Oh, forgot, of course, here is a screenshot of my Tea Timer app:
just wanted to tell about my little adventure getting my first little native iPhone app published in the app store. Here's the iTunes link.
On july 11th I was one of the lucky guys getting a brand new iPhone 3G and was playing since then with it a bit. Soon enough after testing I found out that the phone has some very nice countdown timers which I need everyday as I'm a die hard tea drinker, but also quickly noticed that it requires every day a few taps on the phone to get the timer starting when brewing my tea.
You might guess it, the idea was born that I need a specific tea timer app for my own needs to start the brewing counter with only one tap. :-) Well, surely not a big killer app, but hey, it challenged me and I wanted to learn how to learn how to do it since the iPhone version of Unity (my everyday 3d middleware) is not available yet.
Ok, idea was there, but no experience with Objective-C and used XCode only a few times. Started then on the first day in the morning to get me teached the basics of objective-c and had the idea to have the basic workflow for the app (the countdown thing) running until the first day's evening. Well, I archieved that somehow and had a basic counter working after the first day, with ugly look, but working. I set myself the target for the next day to make the UI looking good and get the app itself somewhat "finished".
I really fought the first hours of the second day with how the controls work in objective-c if you do them programatically instead of using the GUI builder, but with reading most of the tutorials that are served with the SDK I got it somehow working after the second day and had a all features implemented.
On the third day I was testing the app on the device and found some slight bugs that the prefrerred countdown time was not restored correctly from the preferences. Fixed those bugs then and begun to package the app for the app store. Oh, I should note that it took me 5 (!) hours to find a bug (which was none) why the fanfare sound (played when countdown is at zero) was not played back on the device, but on the simulator. I searched and debugged like an idiot to find out after 5 hours that I accidentially switched the "mute" knob on the iphone itself so that it plays only the vibra alarm, but not any physical sound. Damn I felt like an idiot afterwards... :-) But if you ever debug on the iPhone and get no sound out of it, check the button on the left phone side if it indicates with a red little dot that the sound is globally turned off. Might save you hours then.
On the fourth day I submitted the app then early morning to Apple and waited then impatiently to see how long it takes to get the app online. Well, surprisingly the app was launched the same day shortly before midnight. Phew, my first app online in iTunes - cool thing. Yes, sure, I know it's nothing big and lots of people even say in the comments that this timer is already built in, but it was mainly built for me and to get experience for later, when Unity iPhone is out. But believe it or not - a few hours after launch of the app I already got first mails from people telling my they like the app very much and didn't understand why it took so long before anybody wrote a tea timer. Well, seems those people are the same die-hard tea drinkers like me - also wanting to start they countdown timer with one tap and not needing 5 or more taps until the original iPhone timer is started. They also asked for more features already, like custom times for fruit tea, black tea and and and. The pitty is now, I have no clue if or how many apps I sold. Apple's app store does not tell anymore how much you sold, you only get the monthly financial reports, but of course as my app is brandnew, I will get my first financial review firsttime by the end of this month. Let's see what comes out! :-)
All in all it was a very nice adventure into Objective-C, the iPhone SDK and how to get apps published in the App Store.
Martin
P.S. Oh, forgot, of course, here is a screenshot of my Tea Timer app:
#2
Nice job Martin.
07/20/2008 (12:29 pm)
I like drinking tea myself, but I'm not sure I will buy an iPhone, only for the timer! ;)Nice job Martin.
#3
07/21/2008 (12:03 am)
I got one myself and am looking into doing some apps and games. BTW have you used Shazam ... that's an amazing app. I think it's quite possibly the coolest program ever written.
#4
@Jeremy: Yes, have Shazam of course on the phone, super aweome app. There is more like that meanwhile, where you can also sing into the phone and it tells you what song it is. Amazing stuff in there! :-)
07/21/2008 (1:41 am)
Thanks for the comments. @Jeremy: Yes, have Shazam of course on the phone, super aweome app. There is more like that meanwhile, where you can also sing into the phone and it tells you what song it is. Amazing stuff in there! :-)
#5
Sadly, the timer will be of little use to myself, not only do I not have an iPhone, but we have one of those instant boil kettles. Noisy, but when you get boiling water in your cup within a couple of seconds you have to make allowances ;)
Read about a voip app for the iPhone that ran over wifi (think it was Skype) but the phones needed unlocking before it could be run. Which makes me wonder, how flexible is the iPhone SDK?
07/21/2008 (4:39 am)
The Tea Timer is running on the T-Mobile network, it amused me anyway ;) you should add "buddy" support to it, a totally pointless addition that indicates when your "buddies" are making Tea ;) Unless they're in the same building, then it's not pointless if it features a "ask them to make me one too" button.Sadly, the timer will be of little use to myself, not only do I not have an iPhone, but we have one of those instant boil kettles. Noisy, but when you get boiling water in your cup within a couple of seconds you have to make allowances ;)
Read about a voip app for the iPhone that ran over wifi (think it was Skype) but the phones needed unlocking before it could be run. Which makes me wonder, how flexible is the iPhone SDK?
#6
07/21/2008 (8:11 am)
Saw this on the Unity forums this morning! Very cool! 
#7
I have an iPod touch and have been so impressed with the Apps that I haven't been able to resist poking around a bit with the iPhone SDK (in a completely non-official capacity). Very cool stuff! I've been really impressed by its OpenGL ES capabilities =).
07/21/2008 (1:29 pm)
Very cool =)I have an iPod touch and have been so impressed with the Apps that I haven't been able to resist poking around a bit with the iPhone SDK (in a completely non-official capacity). Very cool stuff! I've been really impressed by its OpenGL ES capabilities =).
#8
Seriously speaking I drink tea all day morning to night, I think I'd wear out your App if I had one.
All kidding aside,.. very happy for you Martin ! :-)
Anytime is tea time for me.. headed to refill now..
Best wishes to you =)
07/21/2008 (4:38 pm)
Im a die-hard Tea drinker too, do not have an iPhone or anything Apple related.Seriously speaking I drink tea all day morning to night, I think I'd wear out your App if I had one.
All kidding aside,.. very happy for you Martin ! :-)
Anytime is tea time for me.. headed to refill now..
Best wishes to you =)
Torque Owner Mike Rowley
Mike Rowley
Great going and I hope it sells millions.