Apps Per Day

Questions & Answers

1. Are there other ways to learn how to design iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad apps?
   Certainly, there are several ways – reading books about iOS app design and Objective-C, listening to podcasts about app design, and signing up for a different workshop are all available options. So carefully check out some of these other options that are out there if you wish, and find the best match for your interests, abilities, budget, and timeframe.
   
2. Could I teach myself how to design apps?
   I did — it took me about 8 months. But I chose that way mainly because the classes that I found were prohibitively expensive for what I wanted to spend, focused more on Objective-C programming than overall app design, and often took more than one day to complete. I have deliberately designed this workshop to be more affordable, focus on web standards, and require less than one full work day of your time.
3. Will these workshops teach me how to design any kind of app that I want?
   No, one day of workshops cannot possibly do this. There are way too many types of apps and mobile platforms to cover in just one day. So Two Apps Per Day focuses on the top two mobile platforms: mobile web and iOS.
4. But I want to design a super-awesome video game. Should I come to Two Apps Per Day?
   Not if you expect to learn that skill here. But if you want to learn about mobile user experience and navigation, how to become an Apple Developer, use Xcode, design native iOS interfaces, build useful mobile sites and iOS apps using web standards, test sites and apps in the iPhone Simulator, and use iTunes Connect for distributing or selling an iOS app in the App Store, this course will teach you all of that – and give you the foundation and confidence you will need to eventually design more advanced mobile web sites and applications.
5. The workshop price is a good deal. Are there additional costs to designing iOS apps?
   The additional costs depend on what you already have, what you want to design, and whether you want to distrbute your apps in iTunes.
   
   First, a Mac is currently needed to design for iOS devices. (and highly recommended for the workshop, as it is hands-on) So if you do not yet own a Mac, you will need to purchase one (or borrow one from a good friend or coworker).
   
   Additionally, there are third-party (and open source) code frameworks and app tools that vary in cost from free to several hundred dollars. I favor the free and cheap over the expensive, and focus my workshop accordingly.
   
   Finally, to become an Apple Developer, test apps on devices, and distribute apps in iTunes costs $100 per year. But it’s free to download Apple’s iOS SDK, design your own apps, and test them in the Simulator before taking this step. I have earned my investment back several times over.
6. These workshops sound great, but it’s frustrating to attend a workshop, get all excited about trying what I learned, and have it not work when I try it on my own later.
   I know — I happen to hate that about a lot of workshops. You get all excited during the workshop… and then you try it at home or at work, and it doesn’t work. Which is why I'm not only walking you through these processes step-by-step, I am also giving you the code — all of the code — for two complete mobile solutions during the course of the workshops. And some of this code is from my apps that are now selling in the iTunes App Store, code that I will teach you to modify for your own apps. Or your clients’.
7. So I’m guaranteed to be able to make my own app after the workshop, sell it in iTunes, and quit my job?
   Easy, hot shot — if you doze off at the wrong time, you could still mess this up. But like I said, I will carefully walk through each process step-by-step, share all of the required code for two mobile solutions, and try to answer all of the questions that we have time for. The rest is up to you.
8. So if I stay awake the whole time and follow all of your directions, this will be easy?
   Even if you follow all of my directions, there could be a few set-backs or frustrating moments. It can still be a bit challenging, and the tools involved can still be a little finicky from time to time. My promise is that this workshop will make the entire process immensely easier for you than it was for me… but you still might encounter a few small bumps along the way as you perfect the techniques that you learn here.
9. Modifying your code sounds like it could be tricky – can I really learn how to do that?
   Yes, you can. Because the core modifications to use the code that I share are made in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. So if you design web sites and are familiar with web standards, you will be able to use my techniques and confidently be able to modify the code you are given and design your own mobile sites and apps.
10. Seriously?
    Yes — seriously. Just check out the apps that I’ve designed (iTunes link), and realize that I have done exactly the same thing. At the moment, all of the apps I am selling in iTunes use the same two sets of code frameworks that I will be sharing with you, and each new app is modified in the same way that I will be showing you. All I need in each case is new content, new interface and style requirements, and boom — I make the necessary changes, test, submit, and another app is done.
11. That’s amazing! Can you also make pigs fly?
    Hey, this isn’t magic — it’s just using web standards, discipline, and replicating processes that work the first time to make something else that is similar. Making pigs fly is another workshop…