subject: Things To Know About Iphone Developing [print this page] A Veteran's Take on iPhone Developing Whether you are an amateur or an expert, you will find this article about developing for the iPhone helpful. It seems like I can't leave the house these days without someone stopping and asking me about selling iphones. It's kind of funny, you'd never think that iphone case design was that popular, but ever since I won the Rising Star award at the Cell Phone Development National Conference, my mailbox has been absolutely slammed with people wanting to learn more. So I guess you could call me a bit of a local celebrity, on the subject, but I don't let the attention get to my head.
One of the most common questions I get is how I got started. I usually point them to an issue of Cell Phone Innovation: Volume 2 and tell them to start reading. Until you have have read every single page of Cell Phone Innovation: Volume 2 you are not ready to develop for Apple. In retrospect, getting involved these days is a much less intensive process than it was for me. Just to give you an idea, I had to figure out the basics, step on the gas, and even learn every computer language before I could even think about diving in. Now everything about iPhone cases is readily available on the internet at your leisure so you can just log on and get acquainted.
To be honest, I think the new generation of iPhone case designers aren't as good as we were because of this. You new guys have too much information, and you're always looking for the golden egg. Here are some questions I hear every single week: "-How much should I spend on books on Apple products?
-What books about iPhone cases should I be reading?
-What if I mess up when I'm just learning to develop applications for iPhone users?
And the list goes on and on."
Take it from a pro who has been around the block many times. designing iPhone cases has nothing to do with how good of a case designer you are on the first or second time through it. It's more about really just diving into the material and discovering something new each time around. When I first started learning to program, I was awful. Although they were helpful, my colleagues who introduced me to my life's work were probably filled with remorse because I simply could not stop talking about it all. It was too exciting for me. The day everything changed for me is when I STOPPED reading PC World, Apple Magazine, developer forums looking for the best iPod case ever created and started designing iPhone cases with the resources already at my disposal.
I was absolutely amazed as I watched my fear of sizing incorrectly reduced to nothing. My self-awareness peaked and I really saw the light. Sometimes I am asked if you need to have a special gift to design for Apple or if you can just pick up a book and learn about iPods. I always say that knowledge is only 35% of the uphill battle. The other 65 is just hard work on the part of the client. They really have to give it their all. And if you make a dysfunctional program, remember you could have always make one that causes the iPhone to explode, so hold your head up high and know that you're on track to become a world class Apple designer.
