Before we jump into the world of iPhone apps, I'd just like to help you understand the terminology that I will be using in future posts. So in this first chapter I will be defining key words and explaining the two main development approaches which many iPhone app creators use on a daily basis.
The Two Apps
There are two types of apps that I will be referring to: Web apps and Native apps.
So what is a Web App?
A web app is basically a website that is specifically created for the iPhone. An example is a travel agents brochure site or an online car insurance calculator. The main characteristic is that the user interface (the platform which all users see and use) is built with standard technologies; it is available through a URL (which may be public or private) which is optimised specifically for the iPhone.
What is a Native App?
On the other hand, native apps are software packages that are installed on the iPhone with access to the iPhone's hardware, such as speakers or a microphone. These are usefully built with Objective-C, something I will explain in a future post so stay tuned! The distinctive characteristic of a native app is it's availability in the iTunes App Store - a store many people use and love, including me.
Advantages and Disadvantages
There are many applications which all have different requirements. Understanding the pros and cons of a method will help you to make the right decision about which approach you would like to use to make iPhone apps.
Native app development advantages:
- You are able to access all the hardware of the iPhone
- You can use the Interface Builder and the Cocoa Touch Framework as your development platform
- Credit card owners are targeted directly
Native app development disadvantages:
- You need to pay money to become a developer
- Objective-C must be used for development
- You must use a Mac
- Development can be slow, including the testing stage
Web app development advantages:
- You can use any of your already existing authoring tools
- You aren't limited to the Mac OS
- Your app will run on any web browser
- Bugs can be fixed easily and quickly
- Development can be fast
Web app development disadvantages:
- You can't access the iPhone's hardware
- It can be difficult to include sophisticated effects
Stay tuned for future posts about how you can build iPhone apps and how you can market them to make money.
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