How to Build Mobile Apps for i OS

How to Build Mobile Apps for i. OS and Android RAY PASTORE, PH. D. ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY – UNCW WWW. RAYPASTORE. COM

Developing for Apple �Becoming an Apple Developer https: //developer. apple. com/ $99 per year (but free for classroom use) Can only be made on Macs University Program � https: //developer. apple. com/programs/ios/university/ � Can share apps, publish to personal ipod/iphone/ipad with university program

Developing for Apple �Xcode – tool used to publish most apps https: //developer. apple. com/xcode/ C/C++ is the programming language used Have Mac to use Review Process – Apple reviews apps before you can publish Ease of Use � Very difficult � Experienced Programmers only

Developing for Android �Becoming an Android Developer http: //developer. android. com/index. html $25 per year (free for classroom) No need for university license, can publish apps to devices and even publish on web for free. License only needed if publishing to app store

Developing for Android �Eclipse - tool used to publish most apps http: //www. eclipse. org/ Java is the programming language used No Review Process Ease of use � Not as difficult as Apple � But programming required � Can get by with a basic understanding of programming � Would be very difficult in a K-12 classroom

How to develop on both Android and Apple? �You have several options: HTML 5 (well really just a plain old webpage) and Adobe Flash If you know either, then making the app is easy The interesting thing is that publishing on both is significantly easier than publishing on one of them (ie making a native app using the previous mentioned methods)

Developing on Both: Cross Platform Tools �HTML 5 (or Dreamweaver HTML) Use software called - Phone. Gap (Adobe owned) � http: //phonegap. com/ Dreamweaver/HTML programming Publish to apple, android, windows, blackberry Very easy to use. It allows you to publish the web page into an app Users will not know the difference between an HTML app or a regular app. Only you know how it was created! Phone. Gap is FREE!

Developing on Both: Cross Platform Tools �Adobe Flash Publish to apple android via Adobe Air. Somewhat easy to use but Flash is not free � If you do not know Flash this will be difficult

Drag and Drop options: Apple �Apple Gamesalad - http: //gamesalad. com Free to publish in i. OS but $299 for full package Works with android too just need to pay the fee Very easy to use in K-12 settings

Drag and Drop options: Android �Android MIT App Inventor - Free http: //appinventor. mit. edu Curriculum Guide: http: //teach. appinventor. mit. edu/ � Tons of great resources and tutorials for K-12 use Very easy to use and user friendly

Drag and Drop options: Other �Other tools Tons of other tools out there however these are some of the most popular Most of the other tools (not all) have a catch, such as a fee to actually publish even though free to create or have ads. � Look for more of these tools in the future but please read the fine print. They usually sound perfect until you figure out that ads will be on all of your apps.

Hardware �What are my options for testing use or classroom use? i. Pods i. Pads Android Tablets Computer simulators � You technically can do everything, even test, on a computer. No need to buy these devices for developing an app.

Overall Recommendations � The drag and drop tools are very easy to use but usually only work on one device and many are not free so read the fine print These are the best K-12 option � HTML apps are very easy to create if you can create a webpage. I publish these through phonegap and its something that is very easy in a classroom environment If you are developing webpages, this is just one more step � Native programming apps are very difficult even in college level programming classes I would not recommend students trying this unless it’s a programming class � If I had to publish apps with a K-12 class I would choose Dreamweaver or MIT App Inventor. These are both visual editors which are more fun for students to see immediate results. I personally like MIT App Inventor. Their tutorial and resources for educators are very well done.