iOS I just want to make some money!

[totalbeginner]

Here's the deal: I'm 14 years old, and I want to make some money so I can buy a new drumset. Just a couple thousand dollars.

So I've decided to make an iPhone app.

I think there's a huge market for simple, novel apps, such as musical instruments. Problem is, I have absolutely no idea how to code.

And to be honest, I really don't want to learn the whole process and stuff. Maybe a bit here and there, but I really just want to use some "pre-made" stuff.

My goal is to have a drumset, where each of the drums and cymbals make their respective sounds when tapped. No fancy buttons, titles, etc. I would sell it for 99 cents on the App Store (I've already purchased the whole SDK kit).

What do you guys recommend I do? I know it's not the totally right thing to do, but I just want some easy way to make the app. It can't be that hard, right? I've read a couple tutorials, and all of them weren't what I wanted to do, or were too confusing.

Thanks!

 

[ethana]

Here's the deal: I'm 14 years old, and I want to make some money so I can buy a new drumset. Just a couple thousand dollars.

So I've decided to make an iPhone app.

I think there's a huge market for simple, novel apps, such as musical instruments. Problem is, I have absolutely no idea how to code.

And to be honest, I really don't want to learn the whole process and stuff. Maybe a bit here and there, but I really just want to use some "pre-made" stuff.

My goal is to have a drumset, where each of the drums and cymbals make their respective sounds when tapped. No fancy buttons, titles, etc. I would sell it for 99 cents on the App Store (I've already purchased the whole SDK kit).

What do you guys recommend I do? I know it's not the totally right thing to do, but I just want some easy way to make the app. It can't be that hard, right? I've read a couple tutorials, and all of them weren't what I wanted to do, or were too confusing.

Thanks!

You'll have to do SOME coding, but very little.

Start with a single view application. You can just do a UIImageView with a picture of a drum set. Put custom buttons over each drum. Link each drum to a Touch Up IBAction. Each action will then play a sound using the AVAudioPlayer class. The code is probably less than 5 lines to play just a sound, and one additional line per sound. You'll have to use Interface Builder a bit though.

I could probably crank this app out in 20 minutes. It probably isn't going to make you $1000 any time soon though... at least not for a few months of being on the App Store at least.

Have you already paid the $100 it takes to get up on the App Store with a developer cert? If not, that's your first step before you do anything.

Ethan

 

[firewood]

There are already several drumsets in the App store. How are you planning to convince potential customers to buy your app instead of the competition's? If you don't, you might end up just wasting the $99 fee.

.

 

[liptonlover]

I'm sorry but the app store isn't the gold mine you think it is unless you're a huge company like gameloft, ea, or konami. Also, you have plenty of competition from established developers. Then there's the fact that you can't make a drum app worth buying without learning how to program properly. Finally, I just plain don't like your attitude, since programming is something special to me, not a way to make a quick buck. But it's your choice.

 

[totalbeginner]

You'll have to do SOME coding, but very little.

Start with a single view application. You can just do a UIImageView with a picture of a drum set. Put custom buttons over each drum. Link each drum to a Touch Up IBAction. Each action will then play a sound using the AVAudioPlayer class. The code is probably less than 5 lines to play just a sound, and one additional line per sound. You'll have to use Interface Builder a bit though.

I could probably crank this app out in 20 minutes. It probably isn't going to make you $1000 any time soon though... at least not for a few months of being on the App Store at least.

Have you already paid the $100 it takes to get up on the App Store with a developer cert? If not, that's your first step before you do anything.

Ethan

That sounds like a plan (my dad invested $100, and I promised to pay him back when I make money). The thing is, I couldn't figure out how to insert an image or sounds...would I do it in Interface Builder?

There are already several drumsets in the App store. How are you planning to convince potential customers to buy your app instead of the competition's? If you don't, you might end up just wasting the $99 fee.

.

Well, for one, I am a drummer, so I know what people want in a drum set application, rather than just a programmer who thinks they know. I know I sound kind of snobby, but it's true...I think once I make a simple drum set app, I could expand on it after having learned how to make it...for example, I could make it so you can switch to different kinds of drum sets, with various sounds, etc.

And to top things off...are you allowed to advertise apps? Because I have a relatively large Youtube fanbase who would totally buy an app made by me.

 

[oli2140]

TI have a relatively large Youtube fanbase who would totally buy an app made by me.

Let's have a link to your videos!

 

[totalbeginner]

Let's have a link to your videos!

Sure, but I'd appreciate if you could help me as well!

youtube.com/funnyz

 

[dejo]

Well, for one, I am a drummer, so I know what people want in a drum set application, rather than just a programmer who thinks they know. I know I sound kind of snobby, but it's true...I think once I make a simple drum set app, I could expand on it after having learned how to make it...for example, I could make it so you can switch to different kinds of drum sets, with various sounds, etc.

Don't want to discourage you but you will need to be realistic if you intend to make any money. You will need to find a way to differentiate yourself from all the other existing drum set apps already on the App Store, such as Drum Kit, Easy Drum, Simple Drummer, RealDrums, Drummer, etc.

And to top things off...are you allowed to advertise apps? Because I have a relatively large Youtube fanbase who would totally buy an app made by me.

Yes, you are allowed to advertise apps.

 

[firewood]

And to top things off...are you allowed to advertise apps? Because I have a relatively large Youtube fanbase who would totally buy an app made by me.

This is actually a reasonable competitive advantage. Depending on the size of your fan base, it might actually be more profitable to hire an experienced iPhone developer to build your app, instead of struggling with a possibly poor/buggy initial effort by a beginner.

.

 

[totalbeginner]

This is actually a reasonable competitive advantage. Depending on the size of your fan base, it might actually be more profitable to hire an experienced iPhone developer to build your app, instead of struggling with a possibly poor/buggy initial effort by a beginner.

.

Hmmm...I was actually considering that. One of my relatives works in the game department at Intel, he might know somebody who could code it. Does anyone here want to help me? Or know someone who could? Firstly though, how do you simply make an app with a picture and a sound it makes when you touch it?

 

[dejo]

Firstly though, how do you simply make an app with a picture and a sound it makes when you touch it?

I would start by checking out the SysSound sample app.

 

[DPA]

Could you provide a link to this sample app and any others. I'm also 14 and looking to do the same thing but incorporate my After Effects, Photoshop, Logic Studio and Final Cut Studio skills into it as well. Any idea on how hard that would be. I have been reading about Objective-C and Xcode for a few days. Here's a really good guide I found on becoming an Xcoder. Is there any good tutorials out there that anybody knows of.
BTW, I think a lot of teens have the idea to do this just not the ambition so don't be afraid because you think there's too many with the same idea out there. I'm willing to help anybody that helps me. I think I could a few cool advertisements with my video and music skills!

Thanks in advanced!
David A.

 

[dejo]

Could you provide a link to this sample app and any others.

Sample Apps
NOTE: You need to be a Registered iPhone Developer to access this.

 

[Nitromaster]

To the OP, make a flashlight/fart app and release that first
Would be start :L

(yes, I am being serious)

I'm in a similar situation to the OP (i'm currently 16) but don't really have the time to learn a proper language for a few months but I'd probaly start with extreme basics like a fart app.
I'm currently learning php/sql (slowly) so you see my situation.

 

[totalbeginner]

BTW, I think a lot of teens have the idea to do this just not the ambition so don't be afraid because you think there's too many with the same idea out there. I'm willing to help anybody that helps me. I think I could a few cool advertisements with my video and music skills!

Thanks in advanced!
David A.

Exactly!

To the OP, make a flashlight/fart app and release that first
Would be start :L

(yes, I am being serious)

I'm in a similar situation to the OP (i'm currently 16) but don't really have the time to learn a proper language for a few months but I'd probaly start with extreme basics like a fart app.
I'm currently learning php/sql (slowly) so you see my situation.

I know, I was thinking about that, and I might do it...but first I really need a kind of "template" for that kind of app. I still can't figure out how to put a picture into an app...

 

[totalbeginner]

I installed the SysSound app, and it said there was like, 20 errors or something. It didn't work!

 

[DPA]

Sample Apps
NOTE: You need to be a Registered iPhone Developer to access this.

I downloaded the sdk and I think I registered but didn't pay $100. So can I view them? How hard is it to use the iPhone feature like mic, speaker and accelerometer?

 

[DipDog3]

I have absolutely no idea how to code.

And to be honest, I really don't want to learn

What do you guys recommend I do?

Something else.

 

[dejo]

I installed the SysSound app, and it said there was like, 20 errors or something. It didn't work!

Really? Errors like what?

I downloaded the sdk and I think I registered but didn't pay $100. So can I view them?

If you downloaded the SDK then you are a Registered iPhone Developer and can view them.

 

[totalbeginner]

Really? Errors like what?

Build failed (20 errors, 1 warning)

 

[hhlee]

you should pair up with someone who might know more about programming. that way you guys can bring both the drumming expertise and the programming expertise together.

 

[dejo]

Build failed (20 errors, 1 warning)

I meant more like what are the errors specifically. Bring up the Build Results window and attach a screenshot of it here.

 

[DPA]

My dad owns a video production/web design/internet and phone service company and employs two programmers full time and at least on knows C and Objective C so I can probably ask them for help. He's more of a web designer then application programmer but he still knows C and Objective C. Would he be able to answer my questions or is iPhone Objective C programming way different then desktop programming. After reading the BecomingAnXcoder I understand programming a lot more. I'm reading it again to get the most out of it. Is there anything else that anyone suggests I read. I'm brand new at this and really want to learn programming so the basics of C and Objective C would be great. If some of these people were programming at 9 and 10 then I think I can learn at 14.

 

[totalbeginner]

Really? Errors like what?


If you downloaded the SDK then you are a Registered iPhone Developer and can view them.

Line Location Tool:0: error: couldn't create directory /Volumes/WhichWayIsUp 1/build/WhichWayIsUp.build/Debug-iphonesimulator/WhichWayIsUp.build/Objects-normal/i386: Read-only file system
Line Location Tool:0: error: couldn't create directory /Volumes/WhichWayIsUp 1/build/Debug-iphonesimulator/WhichWayIsUp.app: Read-only file system
Line Location Tool:0: error: couldn't create directory /Volumes/WhichWayIsUp 1/build/Debug-iphonesimulator/WhichWayIsUp.app/en.lproj: Read-only file system
Line Location Tool:0: error: couldn't create directory /Volumes/WhichWayIsUp 1/build/WhichWayIsUp.build/Debug-iphonesimulator/WhichWayIsUp.build/Objects-normal/i386: Read-only file system
Line Location Tool:0: error: couldn't create directory /Volumes/WhichWayIsUp 1/build/Debug-iphonesimulator/WhichWayIsUp.app: Read-only file system
Line Location Tool:0: error: couldn't create directory /Volumes/WhichWayIsUp 1/build/Debug-iphonesimulator/WhichWayIsUp.app: Read-only file system
Line Location Tool:0: error: couldn't create directory /Volumes/WhichWayIsUp 1/build/Debug-iphonesimulator/WhichWayIsUp.app: Read-only file system
Line Location Tool:0: error: couldn't create directory /Volumes/WhichWayIsUp 1/build/WhichWayIsUp.build/Debug-iphonesimulator/WhichWayIsUp.build/Objects-normal/i386: Read-only file system
Line Location Tool:0: error: couldn't create directory /Volumes/WhichWayIsUp 1/build/Debug-iphonesimulator/WhichWayIsUp.app: Read-only file system
Line Location Tool:0: error: The file “PkgInfo” does not exist.

My screenshots aren't working, I need to restart my computer, so I just copy and pasted them.

I meant more like what are the errors specifically. Bring up the Build Results window and attach a screenshot of it here.

My dad owns a video production/web design/internet and phone service company and employs two programmers full time and at least on knows C and Objective C so I can probably ask them for help. He's more of a web designer then application programmer but he still knows C and Objective C. Would he be able to answer my questions or is iPhone Objective C programming way different then desktop programming. After reading the BecomingAnXcoder I understand programming a lot more. I'm reading it again to get the most out of it. Is there anything else that anyone suggests I read. I'm brand new at this and really want to learn programming so the basics of C and Objective C would be great. If some of these people were programming at 9 and 10 then I think I can learn at 14.

No offense, but START YOUR OWN THREAD.

 

[dejo]

Line Location Tool:0: error: couldn't create directory /Volumes/WhichWayIsUp 1/build/WhichWayIsUp.build/Debug-iphonesimulator/WhichWayIsUp.build/Objects-normal/i386: Read-only file system
Line Location Tool:0: error: couldn't create directory /Volumes/WhichWayIsUp 1/build/Debug-iphonesimulator/WhichWayIsUp.app: Read-only file system
Line Location Tool:0: error: couldn't create directory /Volumes/WhichWayIsUp 1/build/Debug-iphonesimulator/WhichWayIsUp.app/en.lproj: Read-only file system
Line Location Tool:0: error: couldn't create directory /Volumes/WhichWayIsUp 1/build/WhichWayIsUp.build/Debug-iphonesimulator/WhichWayIsUp.build/Objects-normal/i386: Read-only file system
Line Location Tool:0: error: couldn't create directory /Volumes/WhichWayIsUp 1/build/Debug-iphonesimulator/WhichWayIsUp.app: Read-only file system
Line Location Tool:0: error: couldn't create directory /Volumes/WhichWayIsUp 1/build/Debug-iphonesimulator/WhichWayIsUp.app: Read-only file system
Line Location Tool:0: error: couldn't create directory /Volumes/WhichWayIsUp 1/build/Debug-iphonesimulator/WhichWayIsUp.app: Read-only file system
Line Location Tool:0: error: couldn't create directory /Volumes/WhichWayIsUp 1/build/WhichWayIsUp.build/Debug-iphonesimulator/WhichWayIsUp.build/Objects-normal/i386: Read-only file system
Line Location Tool:0: error: couldn't create directory /Volumes/WhichWayIsUp 1/build/Debug-iphonesimulator/WhichWayIsUp.app: Read-only file system
Line Location Tool:0: error: The file “PkgInfo” does not exist.

Don't try to use the project from within the disk image. Make a duplicate of it and try again.