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Ahheck01

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Aug 7, 2006
491
45
Hey guys, I'm looking to aggressively pursue application development. I do have limited to no application development experience (ltd. would be AP Comp Sci in highschool, and a little PHP in previous job).

I'm a quick learner, and my ideas for apps are solid. A few questions:

1) What have you found to be the best resources for learning as quickly as possible? What books should I invest in? What other tools?


2) Is there a way to see if an idea I've conceived would be rejected by the App Store prior to developing it?


3) All of the ideas I've got do not require 3G or GPS - is there any other reason why it would be more benificial to buy a 3G iphone for development over getting a used 1st Gen?

3.1) Does it have to be active on a phone plan in order to develop on it?

3.2) Do all iphone activations, including 1st gen iphone with a new activation, use the $30 policy, or can I still get the non-3G plan for $200 including 200 texts on a newly purchased used 1st gen?


4) What is the processing time to get approved as a developer, and to get an app, once submitted, approved?


Guys, thanks so much for all your help!

-Evan :apple:
 

firewood

macrumors G3
Jul 29, 2003
8,141
1,384
Silicon Valley
Check the FAQ. The sites linked point to a ton of tutorials and documentation. Try reading at least one Cocoa and/or Obj C book, there are several reviewed on Amazon.

If you don't need phone capabilities (wifi will do), then you can develop using only an iPod Touch, no phone plan needed.

Make sure it's really easy to ID yourself in your application to be a developer (use your listed phone number and legal address, own your own email domain with a public whois record pointing at you, etc.)

I've seen current app review times quoted as anywhere between 4 days and over 3 weeks, depending on the app and the phase of the moon (longer seems to mean more likely to be rejected?).
 

Ahheck01

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Aug 7, 2006
491
45
So, I'm unclear - do they send you a device to develop on for the 99 dollar fee?
 

netslacker

macrumors 6502
Jan 21, 2008
301
63
If you don't plan to use GPS or 3G then why not just get an ipod touch? You can get a used 1st gen pretty cheap on ebay or even the new 2nd gen 8gb is only 229. No contracts, no monthly service plan fees and if you decide you want out of programming you can do so easily.

I have a 1st gen phone and a 2nd gen ipod and between the two I have everything covered except the GPS. But I'm not really sure what I gain in the iPhone that isn't already present in the touch tho... other than simply one more device to test on.

I too am new to Obj-C but not new to programming. I have been programming Java for over 10 years and am proficient in a number of other languages. However, Obj-C is different enough that I am spending more time than I thought I would picking up the language. I learn by sample so the sample code is the ultimate help for me.

Good luck.
 

Ahheck01

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Aug 7, 2006
491
45
Say I could get a 1st gen iphone 8gb for 100 bucks - would it be possible to develop on it without a plan, until which point that I want to get the service?

I'm a sample guy too, but are there any great books you'd recommend?

What about a way to check if a certain idea is possible and legitimate enough to make it through to the app store?

Thanks!

-Evan
 

Niiro13

macrumors 68000
Feb 12, 2008
1,719
0
Illinois
Say I could get a 1st gen iphone 8gb for 100 bucks - would it be possible to develop on it without a plan, until which point that I want to get the service?

I'm a sample guy too, but are there any great books you'd recommend?

What about a way to check if a certain idea is possible and legitimate enough to make it through to the app store?

Thanks!

-Evan

The only books out would be for the language Objective-C and using it to program Mac Applications because the NDA on the iPhone SDK prevents publishers from putting out books.

Btw, it is not possible to develop without a plan unless you unlocked the phone due to the fact that you don't get access to anything if the phone isn't activated.

There's no way to check if an idea is legitimate. Podcaster especially thought that it was fine to submit...until Apple told them that it can't go through because it copies iTunes???

Anyway, I only had high school AP Comp experience. Yet I was able to learn really quickly, and now I am breezing along with my application.
 
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