10 useful tips for developing apps

The market for mobile applications and their use is growing rapidly. There is still a lot of potential here. Nevertheless, many people are not aware of which areas need to be considered. This article describes 10 tips for developing apps.

Many founders and entrepreneurs are interested in creating mobile apps. Not without reason, because the market for mobile applications and their use is growing rapidly. There is still a lot of potential here. Nevertheless, many people are not aware of which areas need to be considered. This article describes 10 tips for developing apps.

1. The concept

In the opinion of many, the concept is the most important part in the creation of a mobile application. Without a thorough elaboration of a concept, the subsequent steps make little sense. Questions like:

  • Who is the user?
  • What does the customer really need?
  • How do we create high added value?
  • What do we have to do to keep the app on the smartphone and not delete it?

As part of the concept, it is advisable to write a specification sheet. This can be done together with an experienced developer or an agency. It also makes sense to involve potential users from the outset.

Some agencies generate interactive PDFs before programming, on which the buttons and screens are already visible. The user is given the opportunity to see the application before it is finished and can therefore provide valuable feedback even before programming has started.

2. Mobile versus native

Not in all cases you need a native app based on Android or iOS. If no device-specific functionalities are required, browser-based applications based on HTML5 can also be used.

The big advantage is that once developed, they run on all devices. This reduces the development costs enormously, because Native operating systems have to be programmed separately for each one.

For online magazines, for example, HTML5 already provides the ability to use the touch and storage functionality of smartphones and tablets. However, if you need functionalities that use a lot of processor capacity or the motion sensor (called gyroscope), you should use native operating systems like Android or iOS, because they are better adapted to these functionalities.

In terms of costs, programming for mobile browser solutions is much cheaper. However, long-term thinking is needed here. Questions to ask yourself in this context:

– Will users be satisfied with the limited functionality of HTML5 or other browser-oriented solutions?
– Will functionality be needed in the future that is not covered by HTML5 or similar solutions?
– Is the application to be developed very computationally intensive and does it require many hardware components?
– Does it make sense to calculate higher costs but to have long-term investment security?

3. Less is more

The screens on mobile devices are small, so it often makes sense to concentrate on the essentials. The flirting app Tinder, for example, which connects flirting partners in the simplest way, proves that it can also be successful with reduced functionalities.

Whether a reduction makes sense, however, should be considered individually. In an online shop, this could even lead to a competitive disadvantage; higher functionality can help to stand out from the competition.

4. Plan for the long term

Usually, the full application is not created immediately, but a first prototype. Advantage: The app can only be expanded after receiving the first customer feedback. This approach has the advantage that long-term planning and expansion is possible at any time.

5. Usability and performance

Every application should be easy to use for the user. Therefore, enough time should be allowed for the design of the user interface.

There are usability experts who can design such an easy handling before the whole thing goes into development. The potential user group can also provide important feedback in advance, which can be used to make further improvements to the workflow (also known as paper app testing).

Another important point: Nowadays, users demand applications on their mobile phones that are easy on memory and batteries.

6. Press and marketing

The marketing sector is underestimated. With so many different applications, it is no longer sufficient to have only the best programming. It also needs a good marketing concept.

One way to generate a lot of attention with relatively little effort is to work with the press. There is currently a lot of interest in reporting on the latest mobile applications. This can be used in marketing.

In order to get the necessary attention, it is particularly important to contact the journalists close to the industry. Every PR campaign should also be planned for the long term and carried out by experienced staff. Press work should be a top priority!

An exciting press release can also arouse further interest. A suitable PR kit covers the following areas:

  • Name of the app
  • Distinguishing features of the application
  • Link to the website
  • Link to the App Store page
  • Screenshots of the main functionalities
  • If possible an explanatory video
  • Sales pitch or short description
  • The press release, if available, should be added after the short description in the email.
  • Free activation code so that the journalist can use and evaluate the app in advance
  • Contact details
  • Links to the social media sites

Other exciting areas in marketing: App Store Optimization (the optimization of keywords in the App Stores to positively influence the ranking), online banner advertising, Google AdWords, blogging & social media, contact and cooperation with the platform operators Google and Apple.

7. Monetization

In addition to providing a new and groundbreaking user experience (user experience), the topic of monetization is also in the foreground for every founder. There are various approaches for this. The most important are briefly described below:

  • Payment apps: The application can only be downloaded against a prepayment. However, this is only worthwhile if the application offers very strong added value and is tailored to a specific customer segment.
  • Free applications: The goal with this form is to achieve as many downloads as possible. From time to time, users will see advertisements. The operator receives a small amount for each click on this advertisement.
  • In-App Purchase: This is currently the best way to monetize mobile applications. The user can buy additional functionalities or levels in games. The initial program is usually provided free of charge. This increases the chances that the user will make the in-app purchases if he likes the program.

8. Legal

For larger projects it makes sense to seek legal advice and to have this contract reviewed with third parties. Many programmers only give the rights to the application, but not to the source code. This can lead to high follow-up costs. Therefore one should inform oneself in advance to the legal topics exactly.

Appropriate advice can be found with lawyers specialising in IT law. They have the necessary knowledge from the areas of copyright law, trademark law, contract law and many others to provide the future operator with competent information.

9. Testing

The rating in the various stores is significantly influenced by the error-free functioning of the application. Therefore, the app should be tested in advance by various groups.

10. App Life-cycle

Programming the application is just one of many tasks. Areas such as marketing, maintenance and the further expansion of programming are further very important components. The various sub-areas should be taken into account as early as the design phase.

Best Online Casino Apps 2018

There are several ways to play casino on the go and mobile. The most popular method is to use the browser of the mobile phone or tablet. No software is loaded onto the device, but they remain directly in the browser. This has advantages, but can also lead to disadvantages, as the browser is much more unstable than a software or app.

What is an online casino app?

This is software specifically programmed for mobile phones or tablets. This means that it does not work on a normal computer and the appropriate software must be used for your specific operating system. This software is also not freely available but only available at the Apple Store (IOS), Google Play Store (Android) or Windows Store (Windows Mobile). Where was the free internet then? Hmn, they just want to offer all proprietary solutions to bind you, dear readers, more to the respective operating system…

Which casino app should I use?

  • Check which operating system your phone or tablet has
    If you do not want to download an app or software..
  • If you have now chosen either a free app or a real money app, select your casino and app bonus from the list. Most of the time the apps are always free to install and play, if you want to play for real money, you need to top up your account – just like in Desktop Casino.
  • You will be redirected to the appropriate store (Apple Store, Google Play or Windows Store) where you can install your free app on your mobile device.
  • One advantage is certainly that all these apps are always tested for compatibility and functionality on your particular mobile phone or tablet by the operator of the online shop in addition to our tests regarding the seriousness and trustworthiness of the casino itself. This means no viruses or other things that could burden your end device.

The best casino app

In principle, all of our recommended casinos are absolutely trustworthy and the software is fully functional. Please make sure that all your casino games that are available on the desktop version are also available on the app version. It is certainly the most popular slot machines. Especially popular are the 888Casino App, the bwin Casino App (mainly for live sports betting), the stargames Casino App (yes, yes, play Book of Ra on your mobile….), the Euro Casino App, Eurogrand Casino App and last but not least our sunmaker Casino App with the NetEnt online games. The Betsson app won the 2014 Best Sports App award, while LeoVegas won the Best Casino App award, both have NetEnt games.

Does my phone or tablet have Android, IOS or Windows Mobile?

Actually, the website that you reach by clicking on our link should automatically recognize the operating system of your device. You will be redirected to the Apple Store, Google Play Store or Windows Mobile Store to download the app. If not, you can check the brand of your mobile device below and find the corresponding software platform provider and your slot machine app in the matrix.

But don’t worry. If your favorite casino does not offer an app to download, you can simply play the mobile casino in your browser. This can often be an advantage because the app version is slimmed down at some vendors and does not offer absolutely all slot machines.

Especially for Windows Mobile users the app market is unfortunately somewhat limited, because IOS and Android already hold more than 90% market share worldwide, but slightly on the upswing compared to the two other operating systems. However, if the market forecasts of the various institutes are correct, Windows Mobile is still unlikely to reach more than single-digit percentage points. Therefore, it is quite possible that some online casinos only offer the app for Android and IOS.

Are the casino apps free?

With few exceptions, the “Freemium” model does not exist for real casino apps. “Freemium” means – and Farmville freaks will be able to tell you a lot – that you can install a basic version of the app software for free and then pay for it at higher levels, or if you want to use other existing premium features. On Facebook Free Apps, there are also free slot machines that are free to play, but if you lose all of your coins or potatoes, you will have to purchase them again for a fee. The apps we list here are all real money playable, although you can also download a free version to test the application before you deposit. The question is also whether the app casinos are for real money or play money. Many providers, such as Stargames, approach the play money variant, especially to make it easier to be listed in the respective App Stores (see Apple, which causes some problems for real money apps.

And what does the future of casino apps look like?

Unfortunately, we are not the oracle of Delphi. However, the new Html5 standard is actually trend-setting. This means that a website or application can be displayed and used across devices. So actually what we expect from the open Internet. Does anyone actually feel like downloading proprietary apps all the time? We actually want the same product, no matter if we buy an iPhone or an Android phone. It also prevents the development of new games, when every creative developer has to make 3 versions for every app platform and then also for every mobile phone model. Apps certainly have advantages in terms of stability and loading time, but we are advocates of the free market and would prefer open standards.

Where can I find the right Casino App Store for my device?

If you have found the manufacturer of your mobile device in our table or know it anyway, you need to go to the right store for the apps. In our top casino app list, simply click on the link of the casino and you will be taken to a page where you will receive instructions for downloading. If you are looking for a casino other than those we have tested, there are the following App Stores:

  • Google Play for mobile phones and tablets with Abdroid operating system
  • iTunes from Apple for iOS devices
  • Windows Phone Store for all devices running Windows Mobile software

Software as an editor – will we soon find new bestsellers for publishers?

Osnabrück. Today is World Book Day. In Germany, this day has established itself as a nationwide reading festival. But what do Germans actually prefer to read? An answer to this question promises a software for predicting book success.

This was probably the most expensive mistake in literary history: about a dozen British publishing houses had rejected the manuscript for the first Harry Potter volume by Scottish author J.K. Rowling before Bloomsbury finally took pity.

The no-sayers lost billions in profits. The seven books on the sorcerer’s apprentice of the 21st century have sold more than 450 million copies to date. The authoress and former welfare recipient Rowling accumulated an estimated 589 million euros in assets.

Happy coincidence

Rowling owes the fact that her first book ever found a publisher to a happy coincidence: the head of Bloomsbury had taken home the first chapter of her manuscript and had given it to his then eight-year-old daughter to read. She persuaded her father to give “Harry Potter” a chance.

According to the Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels, around three million manuscripts are also received annually by German publishers. At the same time, more and more proofreading jobs are being saved. It is inevitable that many of our manuscripts are only superficially checked or in the worst case even sent back unread.

“Lisa” doesn’t judge

The cultural and media scientist Gesa Schöning and the programmer Ralf Winkler have now developed software to prevent bestselling manuscripts from being included. Its program, called “Qualifiction”, is based on data from around 20,000 bestsellers and non-bestsellers from past years and is constantly learning new things. The data are subjected to various analyses that are intended to help publishers, editors and authors make decisions.

“Qualification” consists of two parts: First there is the “Lisa” feature, which, according to Winkler in an interview with our editorial staff, is “purely descriptive and does not carry out any evaluation”. “Lisa” screens and analyzes new texts within the shortest time according to different aspects. In the context of the style analysis, for example, users learn how complex or simple the language of the work is.

The sentiment analysis, which identifies different moods, provides information about the tension curve, among other things. As Winkler explains, the sentimentvalue of almost all fiction works is very often in the slightly negative range. “This is because there should always be a basic tension in every good novel to avoid boredom,” says the expert. The value ranges between the extremes -1 for “devastated” and +1 for “sky-high cheering”. Descriptions of interpersonal and non-verbal communication should also be well received by the reader.

Variety of themes of a work

The software also focuses on the variety of topics in a work: “It is very bad, for example, if the author tries to deal with very many topics simultaneously in a book, and all of them are equally important,” says Winkler.

The second part of the software is called “Bestseller -DNA and determines the probability of success of a manuscript within a few seconds. To do this, he scans it for patterns and codes that make up a customer. If you want to know more about it, you will also receive an indication of the recommended circulation.

A similar procedure has already been successfully tested at Stanford University: In their book “The Bestseller Code”, editor Jodie Archer and English professor Matthew Jockers describe how the analysis program, fed with 5000 novels, calculates the probability that a work will be on the New York Times bestseller list. The hit rate is said to have been 80 percent.

Winkler does not share concerns that the software could help publishers publish only mainstream titles and that creative authors and titles might fall by the wayside. On the contrary: the IT expert believes that the use of “qualification” even increases the chances that “works that are off the mainstream or by lesser-known authors will even be viewed in publishing houses”.

By quickly screening a text with “Lisa”, editors could, for example, become aware of an extraordinary thematic cocktail that they would otherwise probably have missed. “Novelty can also be a success criterion,” says Winkler.

A lot of thrillers

In the meantime there are many thrillers that nobody wants to read anymore, because they are basically copies. “If there are thousands of comparative works from one work, all of which have not been successful, the machine learns that, of course, and draws its conclusions from them.

Qualifiction” is causing a sensation in the book industry: “We are currently selling the software to the first publishers,” says Winkler. Its further development is also supported by an EU programme and the Federal Ministry of Economics.

When Joanne K. Rowling submitted the manuscript for her first crime novel “Der Ruf des Kuckucks” under a pseudonym in 2015, several publishers reacted with cancellations. Among them were some who had already rejected the first Harry Potter volume almost two decades earlier. This might not have happened with the “Bestseller DNA” software.