Meet the Devs – Adepture
Welcome back to our Meet the Devs segment! In this piece we take a little time to get to know the people who really make Android what it is today and that is the app developers. In this week’s developer interview, we are talking to John Wycoff of Adepture.
Name: John Wycoff
Developer Name: Adepture
Country: United States
Website: Official website
Social Media Profile/Page: N/A
How many people on your team? 1
Apps
About your company?
Company? No company here. Just a developer making apps in his spare time.
What level of experience do you have with coding and development?
I have been coding now for 19 years which is a little more than half my life. I started back in 1996 with a friend’s broken IBM computer that I had to learn how to fix before I could even get started. Once up and running I quickly found my way to geocities and made a free website. At the time, knew so little about computers that I actually wrote down (on paper) the long html snippet given to me to add a hit counter to my website. Felt pretty silly when I figured out copy/paste.
Html turned into JavaScript, then moved my way into Visual Basic and ASP. By the age 20, I was working at SaaS based company as a developer where I rode out the dot com bust. I left the SaaS company and started working for myself, designing websites, coding various projects and working with small businesses with their marketing.
Back in 2010, I was introduced to a pet insurance company needing some help moving a development project along. It was supposed to only be a three month stint but turned into permenant employment where I am currently the Director of IT and Marketing.
What languages do you know? How and where did you learn them?
Lots of them, but to keep to the basics: C#, T-SQL, VB, Java, JavaScript, HTML, CSS and so on.
What level of experience do you have with design?
Design is huge! Far too often, websites, mobile apps and desktop applications put design to the bottom of the priority list or improperly implement it. I have always put design first. It doesn’t matter what your app does or what great problems it solves if the design is not inviting or is so complicated the average user can easily figure out how to operate it.
What apps have you made?
I have one “successful” app and that is The Daily Bible Verse. Before this app, I made two others, ElectroCosts (measures electric costs of running an appliance) and Catfish Tactics and Secret Baits. ElectroCosts was my Hello World project into the Android development world. Catfish Tactics was another test app to get some more real world experience in app development.
After the initial two apps, I wanted to make one that had some value and would get daily real world use. That is when I created the Daily Bible Verse.
How do you monetize your apps?
Right now it is 100% mobile ads. In-app purchasing looks pretty interesting but I will need to make another app for that.
Do you consider yourself successful?
Yes. I am not making an app development firm here. I wanted to make an app that would have a large user base and I did. The icing on the cake was that the Daily Bible Verse’s sole purpose was intended to create a daily connection between its users and God. Considering it does that well in excess of 40,000 times a day, yeah, I would say I was successful.
How difficult is it to make money as a developer?
It is not hard at all to make money has a developer. The easiest way by far is simply working as one either as an employee or as a consultant. Making money as an app “developer” is the easy part. The hard part is inventing an app that has enough value to get people to actually download/purchase and use it.
What can Android do to improve?
Not sure that I have enough experience with Android to where my opinion would hold much weight but they could certainly streamline the development process better and improve their “guidelines”.
Why did you choose Android? Do you develop for other platforms? What are the differences between them?
Java. I already knew JavaScript and C# with some exposure to Java. Not only that but I was (and still am) a huge fan of android. There was no contest.
What are your thoughts on iOS and Windows 8?
Meh. iOS is definitely in the future for me. It obviously has a lot of value with these apple toting hipsters running around. Windows 8, not so much. I would have to see a lot more progress in their share of the market before it becomes a possibility for me.
What do you think of the Android design guidelines?
For the most part, the Android design guidelines are great and are a very useful tool. However, in a lot of cases, they come up short or completely skip over important features.
What are your favorite apps?
Right now my favorite apps are mostly centered around managing my apps and websites such as AdSense and Analytics. Also at the top of my list right now are Hangouts, BrainWars, and Google Inbox.
What has been your experience been like working with Google?
Love/Hate. As I mentioned before I am a huge Android (and Google) fan but as I also mentioned the development process could be a little cleaner and more streamlined.
What does the future of development look like?
How far into the future are we looking? The development space is going to get more crowded with developers, languages, tools and methodologies. The devices that are created in varying sizes and resolution to more complicated it is going to get.
What tips do you have for aspiring developers?
Don’t get caught up in new tools or plug-ins unless you have a specific need for them. Keep things simple and functional above all else. Test your apps for usability. A user should be able to mindlessly navigate through your app with seamlessly flowing actions.
Keep It Simple (for the) Stupid
Developer interview wrap up
We want to thank John for chatting with us in this week’s developer interview! If you’re a developer and this looks like something you’d like to do, check out our Meet the Devs form! We look forward to hearing from you!
HTC teases a new Desire smartphone for CES 2015
HTC took to its official Weibo account earlier today to confirm it will definitely be making an appearance at CES in January together with ASUS, LG and Sony. According to the teaser image posted with the announcement, the Taiwanese company is set to unveil the latest handset in its Desire range of smartphones.
It’s unclear at present if the new Desire device will feature similar specifications to HTC’s long-rumored Hima flagship, but renowned leaker @Upleaks firmly believes that the handset, dubbed the A52, will be marketed as the company’s second-generation “selfie phone”, boasting a 13-megapixel front-facing camera on a 16GB model and a whopping 4-ultrapixel front shooter on a 32GB variant.
HTC will be holding its launch event between 5:00pm and 7:00pm on Monday, January 5.
We will be reporting live with news and first-hand experiences during the conference – so stay tuned to Talk Android for more coverage on what the Taiwanese company has in store for us.
Source: Weibo
Come comment on this article: HTC teases a new Desire smartphone for CES 2015
Amazon is offering a discount of up to 73% on SanDisk memory for one day only
To help store all the media in the world, Amazon’s Gold Box deal of the day is currently offering discounts across a number of SanDisk products, including memory cards and USB flash drives.
Here are a few highlights from today’s deal:
- SanDisk Cruzer Force CZ71 16GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive for $7.99 – down from $29.99
- SanDisk Cruzer Force CZ71 32GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive for $12.99 – down from $39.99
- SanDisk Ultra 32GB UHS-I/Class 10 Micro SDHC Memory Card for $12.99 – down from $32.99
- SanDisk Ultra 64GB UHS-I/Class 10 Micro SDXC Memory Card for $24.99 – down from $64.99
See the Amazon website for more SanDisk products that are on offer today.
Source: Amazon
Amazon is offering a discount of up to 73% on SanDisk memory for one day only
To help store all the media in the world, Amazon’s Gold Box deal of the day is currently offering discounts across a number of SanDisk products, including memory cards and USB flash drives.
Accessory of the Day: Galaxy Note 4 clear shell, $9.99
Meticulously crafted for the Galaxy Note 4, this hard-shell case is water clear and protects your valuable device with a scratch resistant design. Anti-slip coating keeps your Note in your hands and all ports are accessible with its precise fit. You can snap up this case for only $9.99 (Prime eligible).
Join Prime and get this deal with FREE two-day shipping!
Also worth checking out:
- Turtle Beach DXL1 Surround Sound Gaming Headset – $59.99
- Google Chromecast – $32.49
- Cards Against Humanity – $25.00
The post Accessory of the Day: Galaxy Note 4 clear shell, $9.99 appeared first on AndroidGuys.
iMore show 437: Stories of the year, part 2
The iMore show brings you everything you need to know about the week in iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple! On this episode Diversity, net neutrality, GamerGate, privacy and security, John Legere and T-Mobile, and more! With Serenity Caldwell, Peter Cohen, Ally Kazmucha, and Rene Ritchie
Support the iMore show: Get a free 10-day trial by visiting lynda.com/imore
Show notes
Hosts
Join us live!
The best way to enjoy the iMore show is by joining us live. Not only do you get in on all the un-edited action, including the pre- and post-show shenanigans, but you can interact with us in the chatroom and generally have more fun than the internet should allow. Same iMore time, same iMore channel every week:
- Thursdays at 11am PT, 2pm ET.
Be part of the show!
If you can’t join us live but still want to be part of the show, simply send in your comments, questions, corrections, or feedback in advance!
- Email: podcast@imore.com
- Twitter: @iMore with hashtag #askimore
- Comment: Leave one below!
Samsung to launch omnidirectional speakers at CES
We may know Samsung best for its extensive range of smartphones and tablets, but the company’s product portfolio reaches into almost every area of consumer electronics. The tech giant will be using some of its time at CES to launch two new “ring” speakers and an expanded line-up of curved soundbars.
The WAM7500 and WAM6500 are Samsung’s first omnidirectional set of speakers, which utilize a proprietary “Ring Radiator” technology to pump out audio in all directions. Samsung claims that its technology allows for a perfect balance between treble and bass. The 7500 is designed as a table-top speaker, while the 6500 comes with a handle for portability. The aesthetic design is clearly an equally big part of Samsung’s new line-up as the sound.
Samsung also intends to extend its soundbar line-up at CES, with the new 8500, 6500 and 6000 series. Samsung will then have a total of four different line-ups that match its Curved TVs of various sizes, ranging anywhere from 45 to 78 inches. The 8500 also offers three additional speakers for a broad 9.1 channel surround sound experience.
Of course, what interests us is that we can connect our smartphones and tablets, as well as smart TVs and other soundbars, directly to Samsung’s new speakers without hassle. The WAM6500 also comes with built-in batteries, making it an interesting option if you’re looking for a portable speaker to complement your mobile devices.
There hasn’t been any mention of price or availability just yet. Samsung will be revealing additional details about all of the above, and more, during next month’s CES.
Samsung to officially announce the Galaxy A7 on Jan 14
According to Korean media reports, the Samsung Galaxy A7 will launch on the 14th of January. It is said that the handset will launch in South Korea first followed by the rest of the world markets subsequently.
The Galaxy A7 and the Galaxy A5 will launch simultaneously in the region, with the latter already available in some markets. With dimensions of 150.9 x 75.9 x 6.3 mm, the Galaxy A7 is all set to be Samsung’s slimmest smartphone till date. It will feature a design similar to the Galaxy A3 and the Galaxy A5, but in a slightly larger exterior.
The handset is expected to be packing a 5.5 inch 1080p display, a 1.5 GHz octa core processor, 16GB of internal storage (expandable), 2GB of RAM, a 13-megapixel camera on the back, a 5-megapixel front camera, Android 4.4 KitKat and a 2,500 mAh battery. Expect Samsung to announce the device Stateside sometime soon as well.
Source: Ruliweb – Translated
Via: Phone Arena
Come comment on this article: Samsung to officially announce the Galaxy A7 on Jan 14
New leaked Samsung Galaxy S6 photos of fully assembled device are difficult to defend
Leaked photos should always be taken with a grain of salt, no matter who the source is – that is the nature of leaked material. So it is with that in mind that these new leaked Samsung Galaxy S6 photos are brought to our attention, one apparently displaying a fully assembled Galaxy S6 in three colour […]
The post New leaked Samsung Galaxy S6 photos of fully assembled device are difficult to defend appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Family Guy: The Quest for Stuff: Top tips, hints, and cheats you need to know!
In recently launched Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone game, Family Guy: The Quest for Stuff, you’re tasked with rebuilding Quahog after Peter and his chicken nemesis, Ernie, have destroyed it. In order to do so you’ll have to help Peter clear the town of debris and find all the other characters, including Stewie. While coins are somewhat easy to come by, clams are not — unless of course you want to shell out some serious cash. That doesn’t mean you have to though. If you’ve got a bit of patience and plan strategically, you and Peter can have Quahog thriving again in no time.
Here are our top tips and tricks to help you along the way while spending the least amount of real world cash!
AIVAnet 