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New App Suggestions Wanted...

M

macfreek57

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jan 1, 2002
379
0
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Hi all,

I'm a programmer in my third year of Computer Science at Louisiana State University. I've also been working part-time for a local software company (we do mostly database-driven websites for state agencies, all in asp and asp.net).
My real passion is to develop for the Mac platform. Once I get a degree and some experience under my belt, I hope to work for one of the Mac development firms or maybe even start my own.
For the time being, I'd like to start developing for the iPhone/iPod Touch. I've been reading through some books on Cocoa development and messing around with the OS X & Cocoa Touch APIs in XCode for a while, and I'd like to get some real experience developing an app. That's where you come in.
I need some ideas. I've come up with a few, but most of those ideas have been developed into apps already and put on the App Store. So any ideas for an app that you'd like to see? What's missing from the store that you think should be there? Any suggestions welcome.
Now just to let you know, I am relatively new to Cocoa development. As a programmer, I'm capable of putting out some of the more complex apps, but for my first attempt, I would like to keep it relatively simple (I'm hoping to have it releasable within 2 months). So anything along the lines of "you should port Wii Sports to the iPhone!" or "Final Cut Pro would be nice" is not all that helpful for the time being. I'm thinking something more in line with the apps that sell for free to 2.99¢.

Thanks for anything you can give me. Hopefully I can fill a hole in the App Store's line-up (if there are any).
 
nickspohn

nickspohn

macrumors 68040
Jun 9, 2007
3,592
0
Well, it wouldn't be right if someone gave you a suggestion, and you made it, and then you charged for it and made a profit while the person that suggested it gets nothing.
 
M

macfreek57

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jan 1, 2002
379
0
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Fair enough...

nickspohn said:
Well, it wouldn't be right if someone gave you a suggestion, and you made it, and then you charged for it and made a profit while the person that suggested it gets nothing.
Click to expand...

I wasn't planning on charging for it. I don't think what I'll develop will be worth much (or at least at this point, I'm not willing to commit the time required to make it worth charging for). But, if it turns out better than I thought and I decide to charge for it and I'm able to make money off of it, I promise I'll be sure to thank whoever gave the idea (monetary-wise).
Again, I don't think my first app will be worth charging for -- I was mostly hoping to give non-developers the opportunity to get an app they feel is missing from the store.

Thanks
 
MacToddB

MacToddB

macrumors 6502a
Aug 21, 2007
926
0
Rochester, NY
Well, as a developer, I'd love an app that could do one or more of the following:

Screenscrape iTunes to tell me when my position changed (100sounds is currently #9 in Entertainment and #70 OVERALL), or when my average reviews change (by .5 or 1 star in either direction) or a (specified number of) new review's posted, etc.

I'd also like to know when the sales figures are posted since it can vary by several hours. (itts.apple.com). I'm using the cool opensource app AppSales that shows trends but it'd be nice to have an alert.

I'd also like a video player that COULD LOOP video. Unless someone knows of such a thing. I'd like to play short videos at tradeshows.
 
M

macfreek57

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jan 1, 2002
379
0
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
MacToddB said:
Well, as a developer, I'd love an app that could do one or more of the following:

Screenscrape iTunes to tell me when my position changed (100sounds is currently #9 in Entertainment and #70 OVERALL), or when my average reviews change (by .5 or 1 star in either direction) or a (specified number of) new review's posted, etc.

I'd also like to know when the sales figures are posted since it can vary by several hours. (itts.apple.com). I'm using the cool opensource app AppSales that shows trends but it'd be nice to have an alert.

I'd also like a video player that COULD LOOP video. Unless someone knows of such a thing. I'd like to play short videos at tradeshows.
Click to expand...

The App tracker sounds like a good idea, albeit a little out of my scope for the time being (it seems like the sort of app that would need to be exhaustive in its stat reporting and also would need to work more-or-less flawlessly for it to be of much use).
The video looper, however, would be very achievable. I might look into it.
 
MacToddB

MacToddB

macrumors 6502a
Aug 21, 2007
926
0
Rochester, NY
macfreek57 said:
The App tracker sounds like a good idea, albeit a little out of my scope for the time being (it seems like the sort of app that would need to be exhaustive in its stat reporting and also would need to work more-or-less flawlessly for it to be of much use).
The video looper, however, would be very achievable. I might look into it.
Click to expand...

great. and you do NOT owe me anything if you sell it!

I just want to be customer #1 !!!
 
M

macfreek57

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jan 1, 2002
379
0
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
icedmocha said:
Port an existing game? Montezumas revenge, miner 2049er...
Click to expand...

Porting a game is a bit more complex than it might seem. At least it's too much of a task for me to take one under the current circumstances. I'm really looking for something that will take less time, which ideally means an app whose interface can be made up with the standard interface controls provided by the SDK.
Thanks for the suggestion, though!
 
bobfitz14

bobfitz14

macrumors 65816
Oct 14, 2008
1,265
2
Massachusetts
i think there should be a MacRumors (mainly forums-based, but whole site in general as well??) App. but i don't know if that would have to be made by MacRumor's Moderators or if you could get consent from them to create it.

oh, and it should be made so you can log in obviously so you can post replies or post new threads and whatnot. i kind of felt the need to mention that because on the Youtube App (though standard on the iPhone/Touch) doesn't allow you to log in. argh!
 
akacaj

akacaj

macrumors regular
Dec 21, 2008
227
0
NY
Make a Call GOD app, have the user press 1 to speak english. para srvicia espanol....2. Then play some church music while they are on hold. Then finally they get an indian person on the phone. (with indian accent) Hello, Thank you for calling God. My name is Brian. Are you calling regarding an existing case....
 
D

detz

macrumors 65816
Jun 29, 2007
1,051
0
Do something you want...I've found that works the best not only for yourself but often if you want it so do others. My iOwn app I created for myself in about two weeks, I fiancee told me to post it up because everyone I showed loved it so I did. :) Everyone loves it. The two websites I run are the same thing, I built them to satisfy a itch I had and others find them useful too.
 
laserfox

laserfox

macrumors 6502
Jan 21, 2008
296
0
new york
I want a proper google docs editing app. Something where I can download and upload google docs to edit on the go. I know it may be out of your control, but I just had to express this wish!
 
D

deadsouls

macrumors regular
Dec 4, 2008
203
2
nickspohn said:
Well, it wouldn't be right if someone gave you a suggestion, and you made it, and then you charged for it and made a profit while the person that suggested it gets nothing.
Click to expand...

why in the hell wouldn't it be right? thats ludicrous.
 
kas23

kas23

macrumors 603
Oct 28, 2007
5,629
288
I would want an app that can hold and edit MS Word apps and then email them. That would be cool. Open Office Mobile??? I just want it to recognize doc files and Google Docs doesn't do this.

And any other idea I can come up with, I'll let you know. I couldn't care less if you made money off of it as I am not a developer and would NEVER make the app myself. So, you deserve the profit if you make it.
 
C

cc82793

macrumors newbie
Nov 28, 2008
12
0
My little cousins were playing one of those claw-machine games online. It wasn't where a webcam is set up and you actually try to win stuff out of a real machine, it was a cartoon and you just had to move the claw and pick up the most toys you could in as little time.

This could be fun on an iPhone. Like have different levels, where Level 1 has big toys and a big claw, and then as you go up the levels, the claw gets smaller, toys get harder to grasp.

With great graphics, this could be fun.
 
I

iunnohead

macrumors regular
May 10, 2008
103
1
You could make a Chinese Checkers app. I haven't seen any in the App Store and it seems like a good idea.
 
hobbbz

hobbbz

macrumors 6502a
Mar 8, 2005
605
4
MacToddB said:
Well, as a developer, I'd love an app that could do one or more of the following:

Screenscrape iTunes to tell me when my position changed (100sounds is currently #9 in Entertainment and #70 OVERALL), or when my average reviews change (by .5 or 1 star in either direction) or a (specified number of) new review's posted, etc.

I'd also like to know when the sales figures are posted since it can vary by several hours. (itts.apple.com). I'm using the cool opensource app AppSales that shows trends but it'd be nice to have an alert.

I'd also like a video player that COULD LOOP video. Unless someone knows of such a thing. I'd like to play short videos at tradeshows.
Click to expand...


http://ctl.du.edu/staff/josephlabrecque/vidloop/ Adobe AIR cross platform
 
M

macfreek57

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jan 1, 2002
379
0
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Keep 'em coming...

Thanks for all the ideas guys!
I can't wait to get started on something. There have been some good suggestions -- I'll be evaluating them over the next few weeks as I prepare to choose a project and get down to it. I'm not quite ready to start yet, as I have to wait till next week when I'll be getting a new iMac (here's hoping they update them Tuesday). My current machine is only a G4 which keeps me from being able to compile and debug iPhone apps. I've mostly been messing around with the SDK on a friend's computer.
I'd like to keep track of the development here on Macrumors forums as it seems that it could serve as a good insight into the process. I'll be sure to keep you all updated.
Thanks again for the input and keep 'em coming!
 
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