HandyApp » iPhone

Finally, an update

Kevin — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 01:48:36 +0000

In the first sign of new life in far too long, I’ve submitted a new app to the Apple/iOS app store. Square Knot Badges is a free app with the requirements for and images of the BSA “square knot” awards. It was the final item for my WoodBadge ticket, so my “discretionary scouting time” is now available for more improvements to the Troop Badges and Pack Badges apps.

My plan is to get updates out for Pack Badges and Troop Badges in the next couple of weeks (shooting for before Christmas). These should resolve issues with iOS 5 and backups, include some content updates (such as the National Outdoor Awards and Chess and Robotics Merit Badges), and some minor functionality updates (such as date entry). Web access will probably have to wait until after Christmas.

Sorry for the long hiatus – my full-time job has been all-consuming this year (a change of position a week after my last post ate up all my free time, and then some), but I’ve got a better work time structure now.

After I get those updates out, I’ll work to catch up on the backlog of emails and comments that have been building up.

Thanks so much for your patience and support!

Pack Badges is now available for iPhone and iPad!

Kevin — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 06:03:20 +0000

My Pack Badges requirements tracking application for Cub Scouts in the Boy Scouts of America is now available in the iPhone/iPad AppStore!

Please take a look at the app and give me feedback! You can also see screenshots and more information here on my site.

(And Apple’s review process only took four days – nice!)

Made it!

Kevin — Wed, 05 May 2010 01:50:36 +0000

My iPhone development is officially no longer a money-losing hobby. I’ve earned enough on the App Store to cover my investment! (I don’t think I’ve ever been so excited to reach ZERO dollars!)

On April 28th, I also received my first payment from Apple – for sales in February and March. (As I recall, Apple gives itself six weeks after the close of the month, so it came a little faster than I expected!).

First order of business with the payment is to take my very patient wife to dinner…

I’m also working on adding two very frequently requested features to the Troop Badges application: individual requirement tracking, and tracking for multiple scouts.

Then we can start thinking about investing more – the application and up-front fee to get BSA to decide whether I can publish the Guide to Safe Scouting application again, porting Troop Badges to other platforms, fwdMail development for iPad, and other application development.

Thanks so much for your excitement about the apps! I really appreciate it…

Halfway there

Kevin — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 00:10:07 +0000

I’ve passed the halfway point in paying off my expenses incurred for iphone development ($660)!

However, that is before taxes and tithing… And I haven’t really been paid anything by Apple yet (45 days after the end of the month you hit $150). And Apple says that the daily sales reports should only be used to evaluate trends, not as financial statements of any kind…

Oh, and I’m already wondering about iPad development.

And of course, my “hourly wage” for this development is still negative…

Maybe I shouldn’t spend $500 for an iPad just yet, hmm?

Sales progress update

Kevin — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:51:45 +0000

When I first registered with the iPhone Development program, I mentioned I had invested about $1000 between developer program registration, books, Macbook, business license, etc., and that I’d give updates as I reached various milestones.

Well, I have two apps “live” in the AppStore now, and have sold about $65 over the last 5 days. So, on my original milestones list:

First app published (done)
First sale (done, with each application, the first day it was available)
First compensation from Apple (OK, this won’t happen until 45 days after the end of the month in which I reach at least $150 in accumulated sales. I expect to reach that before the end of March, so I should get my first deposit from Apple by May 15th)
Pay for the iPhone development book I bought ($25) (done)
Take my very patient wife to dinner ($50) (have reached $50, but haven’t reached the accumulated $75 including that book. Hopefully by tomorrow…)

Still anticipating the following, updated slightly:

Pay for the cost of Developer program registration ($99). For two years, now ($198)
Pay the cost of business registration and “doing business as” name registration, 2 years, now $79
Pay Wells Fargo for my business account $6/month ($72)
Pay for my iPhone ($230 – used, with a cracked screen)
Pay for my MacBook ($600 used) and larger hard drive ($60)
Be self-employed (significant, ??? sustainable income…)

Still got a ways to go.

Well, that was easy…

Kevin — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:04:51 +0000

I just got a message from Apple:

Dear HandyApp,

Your application has been approved for sale on the App Store. Pending any application availability issues, your app will be Ready for Sale and live on the App Store within 24 hours.

And it is worth noting that watching the yellow dot (waiting for approval) in iTunes Connect didn’t do me any good at all.

So, 24 hours and you’ll be able to buy the Merit Badges requirements app in the App Store!

Now on to the next project – my son’s Pinewood Derby® tonight! (Yes, Pinewood Derby® is a Registered trademark of the Boy Scouts of America.)

I’m doing it again

Kevin — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 15:40:35 +0000

After the disappointment of my first iPhone application being rejected after nearly eight months of silence, I was very disillusioned about the iPhone/AppStore development model. Why should I put myself through the development process, only to be blocked by an arbitrary, unpublished prohibition?

But I decided to give it another shot before my first year development contract runs out.

So I created another iPhone application – a Boy Scouts Merit Badge requirements application for the iPhone. It works offline, has all the requirements for all the merit badges, and is pretty a pretty handy app for a scouter, in my unbiased opinion.

So I submitted it to Apple’s iTunes Connect, and once again I am waiting.

And once again, I’m checking iTunes Connect every couple of hours, looking at a little yellow dot that means “Waiting for review”, and thinking, “Why do I put myself through this?”

We’ll see what Apple does – will they review it before my first year is up? If they don’t, will I renew my developer registration for another $99?

If they approve it, will anyone want it?

Time to check iTunes Connect again.

I should plot the frequency of checking with time since app submission. My frequency will gradually tail off from every couple of hours, to every couple of days, until eight months later I won’t have checked in months, and Apple will call up and say, “We’re not going to approve any Boy Scout apps.”

I’ve submitted my first application

Kevin — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 06:36:27 +0000

I’ve submitted my first application to the iPhone AppStore.

Note to self, and others: It will take much (*much*) longer than you think – but I did get it submitted on St. Patrick’s Day, but only because I’m in Mountain time and Apple is in Pacific. *grin*

Between issues with the code signing (had to reboot my Mac to get it to work – a problem with the Keychain Access, I believe), and prepping all the information for the submission, etc., it’s been several days since I was approved as an iPhone Developer.

My brother was giving me a hard time about the comparison with his Palm development experience: free SDK, free to create, install, and sell applications, and he’s earned a couple of thousand dollars from it.

I’m into this about $1000 already, and have just a small “entertainment” app to show for it – of course, Apple provides a great delivery mechanism in the AppStore, but it hurts to start in negative territory…

Anyway, I’ll let you know details of the application when (if?) it gets approved by Apple. Meanwhile, I’ve got two, err, three other applications I want to get built, so I’ll be busy while I’m waiting to hear back from Apple.

Wish me luck!