Thus for every man, woman, and child, you may see 25 to 50 apps made specifically for them. And for every company, you may see thousands of apps developed. Expect to see jobs and companies emerge from app development including jobs in design, programming, marketing, events, conferences, books, and many more.

If you were around for the birth of the internet you might remember how we believed that in order for companies to compete into the future, they needed to have a web site. An online presence was an essential means for companies to keep current. App development could have the same effect on business. The mobile environment is still an untapped market where in the next five years it is estimated to experience unbelievable growth.

The app market will be $17.5 billion and there will be 1 million apps by 2012 according to GetJar. We’ve only scratched the surface with the 300,000 apps that are available for the iPhone. It’s a mere pittance of what could be. The explosion of apps has a lot of possibilities.

Nick Nebelsky is President of Ideation at Intense Media, an idea development company. He is a certified Apple Developer and specializes in creating software apps and media for mobile devices such as the Apple iPhone and iPad. Nick’s background is in both electronic and traditional media, with a heavy emphasis on graphics. You can email him with story ideas at this address.

Best books on the market

If you decide to go at it yourself and learn Objective-C, then I strongly recommend SAMS’s “Teach Yourself ” iPhone Application Development in 24 hours,” by John Ray and Sean Johnson. It’s extremely easy to follow and each chapter is devoted to teaching you progressively more difficult and cool projects. Of course with 24 hours in a day, there are a total of 24 chapters or projects that you will build. Each project comes with all the necessary files. What I like most about this book, is that it takes you through the process step by step. They even help you take the necessary steps of becoming an Apple iPhone developer as well as assisting you with creating a Development Provisioning File. The latter identifies the developer who may install an application, an ID for the application being developed, and the “unique devie identifiers” for each iPhone that will run the application. It’s one of the few books on the market that actually gives you exercises in the book to do and then test the projects as you read along. Each chapter has helpful commentary and is extremely well-written. Even the novice will find the text readable and he/she will gain confidence with each subsequent chapter. I felt extremely confident after the thirteenth chapter in writing my own apps. The examples are illustrated in four color and each chapter’s exercises are available to download for free at the Sams website. Although the book retails at $33, I’ve seen it offered for as low as $24 and I believe Amazon also offers an ebook at around $16. The publisher (Sams) has a slew of titles now associated with the “…in 24 hours” series of books.  I believe it’s their way of competing with the “Dummy” series of books.

Speaking of which, the next book I recommend is by Neil Goldstein, “iPhone Application Development for Dummies.” It’s a good book with illustrations in black and white. The “Dummy” series is known for being well-written and easy for novices. Though all of the other books in this article aside from the one from SAMS, states that you’re better off if you have an Objective-C primer.

“The iPhone Developer’s Cookbook” by Erica Sadun came highly recommended. However, it’s one of the more difficult to grasp. The author is thorough and very technically inclined. However, I haven’t picked it up in quite some time.

Another book to check out is O’Reilly’s, “Head First iPhone Development” by Dan and Tracey Pilone. It’s written and illustrated in a fun and engaging way with retro photographs, jokes, and silly commentary. It’s called a “Brain-Friendly” book. It boasts that if you learn it through pictures, you’ll understand it better.

I also recommend the instructional learning site offered by Lynda.com. At $25/month, it’s quite reasonable as you have access to instructional videos of all of their software titles. The only shortfall for the site when it comes to iPhone application writing, is that they currently only offer one course. The instructor is thorough and interesting enough to listen to.

Apple provides gobs and gobs of resources to help you along the way as well as free samples of code that you can modify and use in your own apps. There are other ways you can create apps if you don’t want to learn Objective-C. That seems to be the biggest complaint that I’ve heard from novice programmers. Even seasoned programmers that haven’t worked with Objective-C have told me they would rather not learn it. I’ll talk more about the other ways you can get your app out there to sell in Part Two of this article.

Nick Nebelsky is President of Ideation at Intense Media, an idea development company. He is a certified Apple Developer and specializes in creating software apps and media for mobile devices such as the Apple iPhone and iPad. Nick’s background is in both electronic and traditional media, with a heavy emphasis on graphics. You can email him with story ideas at nick@intensemedia.com.

variations in smart phones

In these hard economic times, jobs are hard to come by. Even someone with excellent job experience can have a hard time finding a job that pays the bills. But if you look at recent sales figures for mobile phones and other mobile devices, you know that companies such as Apple, Google, and Research in Motion are doing quiet well, but unfortunately, these companies are located elsewhere. So what does that mean for companies doing business in Arizona? According to a recent article by Krista Milne, Phoenix Career Coach Examiner, job growth for marketing and advertising professionals are expected to increase by 18%!

App Development Growing

Of the 225,00+ programs available for the iPhone, and the 35,000+ that are available for the Google Droid, there are several apps that are created right here in Phoenix. It’s clear that there is an excitement out there in the Phoenix mobile community. When I became an Apple developer, I knew that I needed to get more involved with the tech community. I was looking for groups where I could get advice, share ideas and make new friends. I immediately joined three groups. Gangplank based in Chandler, AZ, The Phoenix Mobile Technology Group, and The Phoenix iPhone Developer Group both of which meet at The University of Advancing Technology (UAT) in Tempe.

The Phoenix Mobile Technology group is made up of 60+ programmers and designers who are interested in learning more about building apps. It was interesting to see the diversity of the group. Of the 24 people that were there, only three were interested in building apps for the iPhone. Most of the members were programmers or mobile enthusiasts who wanted to get in on the “gold rush” of app development. If you’d like more information about joining the group, just click on the link above.

The next advertising wave

Ad agencies have a unique opportunity to add a whole new segment to their arsenals. More and more companies will be looking to place ads on Google’s Admob and Apple’s iAd. It’s a whole new area that is untapped for creative ad development. And with the numbers of mobile phones out there, I’m sure there will be a high demand for new content and advertising work. Local Phoenix-based companies should be starting to think about how they can get a piece of the ad dollars that will be spent in the next few years.

The growth in the mobile media sector will create new jobs in advertising creative and sales, programming, and content development. The other good news about this is that with more and more entrepreneurs going their own way, there will be job vacancies to fill.

So I ask the Phoenix community, what are you doing to learn more about mobile media? Are you prepared to launch new products? Are you building new advertising for your customer base? It’s an exciting time for designers as well as programmers. As a member of both communities, I’m looking at ways to excel at both. There’s a “gold rush” mentatlity where people feel that this is their best chance to get in on an early adoption of a new technology, just like it was when the internet first came on to the scene.

I welcome your comments below!

When I first heard about Gangplank, I thought it was a bunch of software guys who sat around and talked about programming. What I found, when I dug a little deeper, is free office space where creative entrepreneurs are welcomed to collaborate about their ideas without the barriers found in traditional business. Their first sentence from their Manifesto says it all, “We are a group of connected individuals and small businesses creating an economy of innovation and creativity in the Valley.” It doesn’t stop there. They stress their core values which include the importance of collaboration, participation, boldness, and friendship.

“Gangplank is a ShowUp-acracy,” says Chris Conrey who is in charge of “Humans to Geek Relations” at Gangplank Headquarters. He told me recently via email, “to just come down and show up and see where I fit in.” The great thing about Gangplank is that you show up with your laptop, plug it in, and connect to the free wi-fi! I like to think of it as my new office space. On any given day, there may be 20-50 people there. Gangplank is home to several full-time companies: some of which are Integrum, Forty, Forty Labs, and HeatSync labs. HeatSync Labs is an Arizona nonprofit workshop which empowers engineers and artists to create and invent while promoting interest in expanding the limits of technology beyond its intended use. They host public meetings every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month at Gangplank in Chandler. You’ll also find plenty of collaboration between members, a couple of start-ups, conference rooms that are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. A podcast studio where you can learn all about podcasting your own shows and great seminars that help you get all the information you’ll need on how to finance and start-up your start-up.

If you’re thinking about joining in the fun, visit their website (www.gangplankhq.com) and you can read all about how this fantastic local resource that’s assisting anyone who wishes to learn and share in an innovative forum. GangPlank’s Headquarters is located at 325 E. Elliot Street, Suite #34, Chandler, AZ. Just show up! I did!

Nick Nebelsky is President of Ideation at Intense Media, an idea development company. He is a certified Apple Developer and specializes in creating software apps and media for mobile devices such as the Apple iPhone and iPad. Nick’s background is in both electronic and traditional media, with a heavy emphasis on graphics. You can email him with story ideas at nick@intensemedia.com.

Gangplank's logo

It’s obvious Apple is trying to protect itself from Google and AdMob. Apple CEO Steve Jobs said at the D8 conference last week that Apple wouldn’t be allowing analytics firms such as Flurry to gather app data. Apparently Flurry was able to gather early data on the iPad before its launch. The new rules now limit companies to sharing data only if it’s for the purpose of servicing the app, and only with Apple’s consent.

It might be that Apple is barring companies like AdMob because their information gathering could give Google an advantage as it competes with Apple in operating systems. It may also raise anti-competitive concerns for Apple, who is reportedly getting more attention from federal regulators.

This would severely hurt some affected mobile advertising companies who rely on getting back data from their ads to see how effective they’ve been. AdMob CEO Omar Hamoui recently wrote on his blog,
“These advertising related terms both target companies with competitive mobile technologies (such as Google), as well as any company whose primary business is not serving mobile ads. This change threatens to decrease – or even eliminate – revenue that helps to support tens of thousands of developers. The terms hurt both large and small developers by severely limiting their choice of how best to make money. And because advertising funds a huge number of free and low cost apps, these terms are bad for consumers as well.”

Nick Nebelsky is President of Ideation at Intense Media, an idea development company. He is a certified Apple Developer and specializes in creating software apps and media for mobile devices such as the Apple iPhone and iPad. Nick’s background is in both electronic and traditional media, with a heavy emphasis on graphics. You can email him with story ideas at nick@intensemedia.com.

I have to believe though that the economy is turning around. I live in Scottsdale, Arizona where there seems to be a lot of spending. I believe that there are places and companies that are doing extremely well if not better in this economy. Companies like the Apollo group that own the University of Phoenix and other online communities. These businesses are booming. People realize that the only way to get ahead is through education. We need to be stronger, and smarter to compete in this changing world economy. We have to think differently. And we have to cope with all of these changes.

I have a friend who lives in Las Vegas. Do you know he has never owned a computer until now. He has never had an email until now. We grew up together and he’s in his mid 40s. He told me once, “Why should I get one, if I want to talk to someone, I call them up on the phone.” I am not sure why he decided to finally get a computer but my point is that we as a nation, have to act quickly and move fast to move our economy along.

Personally, I have always been one that goes with the flow and usually I have the latest and greatest toy or at least I know what they are. But it took me a long time to get a new phone. I opted for the new iPhone and I LOVE IT! I can’t believe my last phone was a rotary cell phone. Do you know how long it takes to dial a radio station with one of those???? All kidding aside, it’s nice to be so connected again. And Apple for whom I own stock is one of those companies that is and should be a model for every company out there. They are true visionaries who don’t rest on their laurels. They’re constantly observing and creating new products. There was a time a few years back where some thought Apple was a joke and didn’t think they would make it. But look at them now!

We have to create new companies that look at life like Apple does; companies that push the envelope. Companies that think postitive about the future WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE for us all. We as individuals need to stay positive and think progressively towards our futures. And sometimes that might mean doing something that scares us! Change can be terribly scary to some. But we have to look at all areas of our lives and see where we can improve and how we can make better citizens and still have fun and still make a difference.

The Sedona Devil Chicken CD Cover Artwork

At 47, I’m considered the last age of the Boomer Generation and my brother Alex  at 62 is on the front lines. We’re both embracing the “Social Media” frenzy not just because we have to but it’s fun. We’ve always embraced technology and both of us have very different businesses. My brother lives and works as an appraiser in Sedona, AZ. And to combat the slow economy, he has started AEN Productions (an audio radio theater company). To get the word out, he knew that he wanted to reach more than locals and tourists but he wasn’t sure how. That’s where I come in and Intense Media. My background is in graphic arts (advertising and media). I’ve had past experience in screenwriting, greeting card writing and design, and knowledge with Facebook and Myspace. These were new things to Alex. So how was he going to get the word out?

Both of us have looked hard at the state of the economy and have decided that we both are very talented individuals and together we could be very strong. So we joined forces and produced an audio book on CD. It’s in the genre of “Radio Theater,” which is like the old radio programs of the 1940s and 50s (the Green Hornet and the Lone Ranger). Alex came up with a wild interpretation of a famous fish movie and created the Sedona Devil Chicken. It’s the story of a 9 foot chicken/dinosaur that terrorizes Sedona, AZ. He was responsible for writing the script, casting the voice actors, directing, editing, and composing some of the music and sound effects. It’s a fabulous creation that’s fun for the whole family. My job is to do the backend: marketing, helping with production, package and collateral design, and distribution.

I developed a program I like to call our five fingered approach: Radio, Television, Magazine, Newspaper, and Web 2.0. I built a matrix of companies to whom we felt we would appeal to. Not everyone on our list was a candidate, but we wanted to saturate the media the best we could. By the way, we’re in the midst of building that list at this moment. We decided that since I had a strong marketing background, that I would be in charge of the media launch but we would wait until the product actually arrived. 

We realized right away that in order to make this work, we were going to have to embrace the “Social Media” sites to get the word out! I’ve always had a MySpace and Facebook, page but by thrusting myself into the mix of other social media sites, not only did I find more information and avenues to market, I found that i enjoyed the process. Now we both have sites relating to our current work and we’re both embracing the network of Social Media sites. This blog is a component of Web 2.0 and Social Media as it’s known today. Boomers have to embrace this technology in order to move forward. The pulse of America can be found on these sites, and it’s a great way to guage what others think. What I think is particularly interesting is that at first my brother wanted me to do all of the marketing and content generation, but as he learned more about the technology and saw how simple it is to get a twitter account and a blog, he’s taking a more involved approach. It’s new in every sense of the word, yet it’s pretty much all the same things we’ve been doing for years. We’re just telling more people!

Let’s say you have a small company and business is tight. There are many out there like you so don’t feel that bad. However, you know that if you don’t get some business in the doors, you’ll probably have to shut down. So what are you going to do? You need to impress upon others your value. The value of doing business with you and your “CONFIDENCE” that you portray to others will win you new business. People want to do business with companies that are going to be around. It’s your mission to walk the walk, and talk the talk. That’s what’s going to drive this economy forward. Feel the fear and do it anyway. We are America and America has faced adversity in a plethora of ways. It’s in our blood to continue, to fight, and to succeed. We will not back down. We will keep going and succeed!

Intense Media is a Social Media Company that helps smaller publishers make a name for themselves by cultivating a marketing presence utilizing social media sites. We help set up fan-based pages on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, YouTube, Flikr, Friendster, WordPress, LinkedIn, and many more. We will also help with design, packaging, traditional marketing, advertising, content creation, copywriting, web, film, audio, and copyrights and trademark assistance. We’re a full-service marketing company. We want to help every body make a name for themselves and we believe we can attain greatness by sharing quotes, and stories, and antedotes on how we can make a difference. I know we can do it.