Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Tapping into the app market


 William Everman, a local app developer, discusses the issues of outsourcing app development.
Like many products that require labor, app development can be cheaper in foreign countries.
VIDEO: Miranda Sanchez, Runs: 1:48


In the growing mobile app market, developers are challenged to either innovate and create apps, or recreate apps that imitate and improve on existing ideas. 

Developers’ creative options are increasing as innovative technology, such as Apple’s Retina display in its iPads, push along capabilities of handheld devices. ABI Research reported that after Apple released its new iPads, the average size of Apple and Android gaming apps increased by 42 percent. 

The average increase in size and detail of apps also raises the expectations of consumers. Failed expectations have led consumers like Benny Hsu, an ‘apptrepreneur’ or entrepreneur that specializes in apps, to create apps of their own.

“I don’t really try to come up with an app idea that's never been done before,” Hsu said. “I’m always trying to improve on apps where there’s already a market.” 

Hsu began development with a photo app called Photo 365, which has earned over him over $30,000.

“There was an app similar [to Photo 365] that I had been using for two or three months… but I felt like the app could be better,“ Hsu said. ”The design was basic, there weren’t too many features and it kind of looked boring. So then I thought I could improve upon this app and make it better.” 

Creating an app that is inspired by another is one thing, but some developers take imitation to an uncanny level. 

Developer Anton Sinelnikov published games such as Plants vs. Zombie, Angry Ninja Birds and Temple Jump that were clones of the popular games already produced with only a few subtle changes such as color distortion in maps or characters, Video Game Writers reported. 

Out of all Sinelnikov’s 63 imitation apps, his app Temple Jump harmed the reputation and profits of the original app, Temple Run, by confusing consumers as to which app was the original quality game, Video Game Writers reported. Temple Jump made it to the App Store’s top paid app charts before it was removed.


“You just have to be very careful,” William Everman, a LexisNexis employee and app developer who’s been following the story said. 

Everman’s ideas also come from apps that are already created, but instead of building upon them, he builds around them. 

“[I] browse the Google Play Store and see what they don’t have and what I could possibly make,” Everman said. 

Currently, Everman is working on a fitness tools app and a tracking app that sends screenshots between two phones every ten minutes. Once they are completed, Everman plans to add them to the ocean of apps that is the Google Play Store. 

Wired reported that Apple’s App Store has over 700,000 apps available for download with Android’s Google Play Store following with over 500,000 apps. 

The increasing number in choices only makes it more difficult for developers to get their products noticed, even if they are created based on an original concept.      

“There are traditional methods like Google Ad Words, LinkedIn, Facebook Twitter, those are all fabulous tools [to promote an app],” Jim Bratton, the executive director of the University of Oklahoma’s Office of Technology Development said. “[Address] the need you’re meeting or the game you are providing to the end user. You want to get it right the first time.” 

Bratton said the market is very accessible and there is plenty of room for growth, especially with the growing size of consumers in the app market. 

According to the Neilson 2012 social media report, there are over 100,000,000 app users, an 82 percent increase from 2011. 

“If people look at the numbers of iPhone users and iPad users are going every single year, and that just means more and more customers.” Hsu said. “It’s not too late to start developing.” 


No comments:

Post a Comment