Smartphone+Application+Development

= Smartphone Application Development = toc As smartphones continue to evolve, and with the development of tablets, the use of apps to gather information has rapidly increased. Unlike previous times, when the only access to the Internet via a cellular phone was through a mobile browser, organizations and institutions can now choose to provide access to their products or information in a way that is uniquely suited to the smartphone or tablet in question. Application development can be done by anyone with access to a computer and some basic programs, making it relatively easy to create and disseminate to the smartphone and tablet population. There are two major platforms for which application is most relevant. Apple’s iOS software and Android based platforms. These different platforms can make development of an application more cumbersome, as it is in the best interest of the developer to reach as many members of the population as possible, without compromising quality. Additionally, it can be more difficult to develop an app for the iOS software, as Apple’s standards prevent developers from quickly throwing something together and making it available on the system. By contrast, the Android Market is much more open, providing a greater opportunity to disseminate an application to users of Android powered phones.

Apple's iOS Software
Apple has strict standards for application development, and has therefore created a large library of information on how best to develop an application for its software. The basic library is available without registration. Users can access the information for free to get assistance in the basic development of an application to be released to the iOS software via the App Store. The iOS developer library provides a step-by-step instruction on developing an application using the software Xcode along with various articles on technical specifications and help sections for developers struggling to complete the application. Apps can be tested during the creation process through the use of a mobile emulator. Some of the application development tools are only available if the user registers as a developer, including the App Store Review Guidelines. Higher Learning institutions have the option to register for free, individuals and other organizations memberships to the developer program begin at $99 per year. In addition to the iOS software, Apple has started a Mac App Store that distributes applications developed for the computer, rather than a mobile device. Developers wanting to create applications for the Mac as well as iOS devices will need to join a separate developer program for an additional fee.

Android Powered Devices
Android powered devices currently span both smartphones and tablet devices. Unlike Apple’s much more controlled requirements and software development rules, Android is open source. This open source position has allowed the Android Market to compete well with Apple’s App Store. The App Inventor softwarecreated to help in the creation of Android apps takes advantage of the open source nature of the Android software and goes one step further, creating an interface that anyone, not just developers, can use. This can make developing applications for Android more appealing to people and organizations who do not have a programmer or developer on hand with the time to create an application. Unfortunately, it can lead to apps of much lower quality than those found on the iOS systems. This can make developing applications for Android more appealing to people and organizations who do not have a programmer or developer on hand with the time to create an application. Unfortunately, it can lead to apps of much lower quality than those found on the iOS systems. These issues of quality have led to the development of a separate app store for the Android devices. Amazon has created its own Amazon Appstore for use on its new Kindle Fire device in order to exercise some quality control over the apps available for its new device. Though the open source nature of the Android platform is appealing to those frustrated by the Apple requirements, it is important to ensure that applications developed for the platform are checked for quality, particularly if hoping to use the same or similar app on iOS, due to Apple’s stricter requirements. The video below is a tutorial on how to create an Android Application, from the Android Developers on YouTube. media type="youtube" key="I6ObTqIiYfE" height="315" width="420" align="center"