How to Decide Whether Your Business Needs an App [INFOGRAPHIC] Does your company need a mobile app of its own? This question is something we think about a lot at Mashable, and the answer depends a lot on the kind of company and product or products in play. It also shifts based on the demographic you're targeting and the current state of the mobile landscape. One thing to consider is the cost. Developing a native app can be expensive, and it may or may not be worth it for your company. And depending on how you handle user data and users' expectations, you might be facing some legal troubles in the future. If you do decide (or if you've already decided) that building a native app is the way to go, check out our tips on how to build a mobile app, written with small and medium-sized businesses in mind.
Alternatively, you can check out our resources on native versus mobile web apps and how to make your mobile web app look and feel like a native app. This infographic comes to us from BuySellAds, an online ad sales platform. Click image to see larger version. Content-Focused iPad Apps Value Form Over Function, Study Finds | Epicenter One set of instructions for the Moleskine iPad app. A report released by the Nielsen Norman Group shows that many iPad apps are confusing users by being too subtle about the gestures needed to navigate them, and some are not sensitive enough to the accuracy limit of fingertips. The authors also found that many companies with perfectly functional websites are wasting their time making a less-functional iPad app. [partner id="arstechnica" align="right"]The authors of the report sought to determine what roadblocks a group of 16 individuals interacting with iPads they’ve owned for two months would experience during use.
The test subjects were asked to perform a variety of tasks on different apps and a few websites, including finding a story of interest they could easily get back to on The Daily, listening to the last “Science Friday” episode on NPR’s app, and looking for a birthday gift for themselves on Amazon. At the same time, users didn’t want to read instructions on how to use an app. 6 Best iPad Apps for Business Users. This post originally appeared on the American Express OPEN Forum, where Mashable regularly contributes articles about leveraging social media and technology in small business. Since the iPad was released, more than 450,000 devices have been sold. While some may decry the lack of a physical keyboard and the App Store ecosystem as reasons why the iPad can't be used for "real" business work, the truth is, the form factor is perfect for the business professional on the go who doesn't need to have a full laptop.
Pairing an iPad with cloud services is already proving to be a really powerful solution, and the iPad App Store is barely a week old! A few weeks ago I discussed some of my favorite business apps for the iPhone. These are some of the early standouts for the iPad. 1. GoodReader ($0.99) GoodReader is hands-down, the best PDF reader for the iPhone and the iPad version is even better. 2. Cultured Code's Things is easily one of the top task managers for Mac OS X. 3. 5. 6.
HOW TO: Develop a Branded iPhone App on a Budget. Trevor Ginn runs the online baby and nursery shop Hello Baby. Hello Baby’s first iPhone app, Peek-a-boo Baby Rattle, cost the company $750 and receives 3,000 downloads a week. Many leading major brands, including Audi, Zippo, Orange and Cadbury, are using branded iPhone apps as a way to reach their target audience.
It's not hard to see why when more than 3 billion apps have been downloaded, and iPhone users are generally young and affluent. A branded iPhone app is a combination of product and entertainment, but most importantly, it cannot be perceived as advertising. These days, branded apps are not just for big corporations with money to burn. Step 1: Pin Down a Useful Idea Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that your app has to be groundbreaking or fiendishly clever. The app need not be revolutionary or unique, but should be visually attractive, easy to use and serve a useful purpose. Step 2: Write Up a Spec Writing a specification document will focus your ideas. 1. Step 5: Launch It. 10 Must-Have Apps for the New iPad Owner. The iPad has finally made its international debut, meaning that thousands and thousands of new users will be enjoying Apple's latest device over the coming weeks.
With the launch of the iPad comes the international launch of the iPad App Store, making it possible for us to play Words With Friends with our friends in Australia. There are already thousands of apps available in the App Store, and with the exception of apps focused on media services like Netflix, ABC or Pandora, most are also available internationally. We've been fortunate enough to have the iPad in our screen-smudging paws for the past two months and in that time we've surveyed well over 100 apps and games for the new platform. While this list could easily be four or five times as long as it is, we wracked our brains and decided to pick ten of our favorite iPad apps for the new iPad owner. You've seen our list of ten must-have apps, now tell us your picks! 10 Beautiful and Usable iPhone and iPad Interfaces. This series is supported by Rackspace, the better way to do hosting. Learn more about Rackspace's hosting solutions here. Mobile devices like the iPhone and the iPad have been a real springboard for designers and developers.
Because we can now literally have our computers in our pockets, our favorite applications and websites and services can now come with us. However, when designing for mobile devices, it's important to focus on the size and resolution of the device's screen, as well as how the user interacts with the device. You can make a really beautiful looking application that ultimately fails because it is difficult for the user to use and isn't optimized for a touch screen.Sometimes the best way to get started thinking about application design is to look at what others have already produced. What are some of your favorite iPhone and iPad apps from a design and usability point of view?