developers | Internet Marketing Blog

Apple to give developers guidance, Adobe a chance

Not sure why Apple hasn't permitted your awesome iPad app in the App Store? Worried about developing an iPhone app using anything but Objective-C?

Rejoice. Yesterday Apple made a major, unexpected announcement: it's going to be providing official guidelines "to help developers understand how we review submitted apps" and it's also easing restrictions on the tools developers can employ when developing for the iPhone/iPad.

by Patricio Robles 10 September 2010 11:50am 2 comments

Are investors wising up about platform-specific startups?

The platforms offered by companies like Facebook, Twitter and Apple offer entrepreneurs some very compelling features. They often bring to the table built-in audiences, and, in some cases, established business models.

For reasons like these, it's no surprise that a growing number of entrepreneurs are building entire companies on top of a specific platform. And it's no surprise that investors have flocked to back them.

by Patricio Robles 08 September 2010 15:02pm 1 comment

Can an API replace business development?

If you list some of the most popular and important companies on the internet today, you'll notice that most have one thing in common: they offer an API. And, in most cases, for good reason. APIs can be a valuable asset for an internet business.

But is an API a business development asset, and over time, should it cannibalize business development?

by Patricio Robles 31 August 2010 13:52pm 2 comments

Apple iAds for developers: high cost with low returns?

Apple's new iAd mobile advertising platform offers the enticing proposition of advertising seamlessly integrated into Apple's myriad mobile applications. But according to one developer, the acquisition cost on the platform is around $15.

If other users have similar problems, this could spell trouble for Apple.

Developer David Smith of Cross Forward Consulting recently spent $1,251.75 on an iAd campaign that generated only 84 downloads. He documented his issues on the company blog. According to Smith:

by Meghan Keane 27 August 2010 02:03am 1 comment

jQuery goes mobile

With more and more individuals accessing the web through mobile devices, publishers will increasingly find that they need to offer satisfactory mobile browsing experiences to attract and retain visitors to their websites.

For publishers using the jQuery JavaScript library, that may get a little easier thanks to the jQuery Mobile Project, which was announced last week.

by Patricio Robles 18 August 2010 15:35pm 2 comments

Hackers turn iTunes into iFraud

Recently, authorities in the United States uncovered a scam in which criminals stole millions of dollars by making small charges to stolen credit cards. The average charge ranged from as little as 25 cents to no more than $9, which explains why 94% of the victims never noticed the charges.

If complaints that surfaced this past weekend are any indication, scammers with a similar model have set their sights on one of the world's most popular service for buying digital content: iTunes/the App Store.

by Patricio Robles 07 July 2010 09:40am 0 comments

Will Microsoft's cash make it competitive in mobile? Probably not

Can Microsoft still compete in the mobile arena? Windows Phone 7 might be the company's last chance, as it's unlikely that Microsoft will ever be able to catch up to Apple's iPhone and Google's Android if it doesn't make a big splash now.

But if one report is accurate, Microsoft thinks it has what it takes to compete: a really big bank account.

by Patricio Robles 21 June 2010 10:59am 1 comment

The impact of data caps on the app economy

iPhone users in the United States have an interesting relationship with their phones: by in large, most of them love their iPhones (and apps) but they don't particularly care for their carrier - AT&T.

AT&T didn't gain any love recently when it announced that it was revamping its iPhone pricing scheme and adding data caps, while 02 has announced the end of unlimited data in the UK. The new deal: lower costs for most users, but no more all-you-can-eat buffet. The goal: attract a new legion of mainstream iPhone customers but limit the profligate, network-harming usage seen with a very small number of customers.

by Patricio Robles 15 June 2010 09:01am 0 comments

Is Apple really this dumb?

Apple's rise to the top of the tech world has been marked just as much by controversy as it has by success in the mobile market. The company's desire for control has made it a target for critics, and potentially for regulators.

Apple attracted the spotlight when it implemented new rules that essentially killed Adobe's iPhone/iPad ambitions by making it clear that apps developed using Adobe's Packager for iPhone tool contained in the newest version Flash Professional would not make it into the App Store. And its dislike for Flash was made abundantly clear when the iPad was unveiled, sans Flash support.

by Patricio Robles 10 June 2010 09:07am 19 comments

Ten tips for building a successful development platform

These days it may seem like just about every company on the web is building its own development platform. Enticed by the success of platforms like those offered by Apple, Facebook, Twitter and Salesforce, more and more companies are deciding to give third party developers the ability to make their products and services better.

Yet as we have seen time and time again, building and managing a development platform can be very difficult. For that reason, companies need to be prepared and strategic if they hope to build a successful platform that can thrive long-term. Here are ten tips for doing just that.

by Patricio Robles 04 June 2010 10:40am 2 comments