Apple’s first quarter earnings statement has made industry pundits displaying varying degrees of shock and amazement. With US$46 billion in revenue, the astonishment is palpable, and even though the figures appear magical and unbelievable, there is sound logic and concerted effort that lies at the root of these figures.

While the naysayers will say that Apple has always been lucky with its devices and also with its iPhone apps and iPad apps and everything else that has come out from its stable, the truth is far different. Let’s take a look at some hard facts. These facts are essentially the real store behind how Apple scored over its competitors in the first quarter of 2012 and scored big.

Big Push on the R&D Front

Want to know what was Apple’s three months expenditure on R&D? It was a mammoth $758 million. To put this figure into perspective, Apple’s R&D expenditure is enough to finance three Avatar productions. Back in 2011, Apple sent $575 million on R&D and this was by all counts spent on the iPhone 4S, iPad 2, the latest MacBook Air, iCloud, iOS 5 and the OS X Lion and others. For the first quarter of 2012, Apple pumped in $183 million more into its R&D efforts as compared to its R&D expenditure for the whole of 2011. This in itself is significant. What this means is that that the guys at Apple are making innovation their driving force.

Lucrative Business of iTunes

There was a time when industry watchers suspected that the various iTunes related retail services offered by Apple just about broke even. In the just released figures, Apple has generated revenue of more than $2billion from its iTunes store. What this means is that no longer is iTunes just a platform that allows Apple to empower the sales of its hardware. It is a force in its own right and is making a very effective contribution to the company’s revenue kitty.

Peripherals Also Generated Revenue

The peripherals sold by Apple did their bit to spur its revenue figures. Apple sold $766 million worth of peripherals the past quarter. If one is to count the Apple TV as a peripheral, then it made a large contribution to the revenue figures with 1.4 million units sold. Apple calls the Apple TV its hobby, but even its hobby makes up a fifth of its peripheral sales.

The Latest iOS made a Difference

The last holiday season, spread across three months, Apple sold an amazing 62 million iOS devices, including iPhones, iPads and iPod touches. They all had one thing in common – the fact that they were running the latest iOS release. This is a really important factoid as this means that the user will be guaranteed iOS updates over several years. The last quarter also reflected a major change in market perception. Everyone thought the Android OS was leagues ahead of the iOS in terms of market penetration, but with more iPhones sold than all Android handsets put together, this thought has gone for a toss.

No doubt, the fact that the Android OS is found on many devices means it does have an edge over the iOS, but the figures tell their own story and can be an omen of a difficult time ahead for Android. Let’s wait and watch.

To Conclude

There is absolutely no doubt that Apple and its products are riding a popular wave. The sales of iPhone and iPad have picked up dramatically and it has a lot of cash. So, it really is one of the few big companies in the world that can claim to be in extremely robust health. Every company faces ups and down, but this company is experiencing a big high. It’s not just riding the wave but is on its crest. Things look good and with a culture of innovation already well entrenched in the business philosophy of Apple, don’t be surprised if your keep seeing such revenue figures from Apple in the future as well.

Rumors are just that – Rumors. You don’t necessarily have to put stock in them. But, when the rumors are about the iPad 3, then it does have people sitting up and taking notice. Since, the time the iPad 2 made its appearance on the market, rumors of the next iPad have been doing the rounds. To date nothing has been confirmed as to when it will arrive, its features and what it could look like. With the kind of buzz already being generated about the iPad 3 amongst laymen and iPad developers alike, you will be forgiven for thinking that it’s going to launch tomorrow.

So, let’s take a look at some of the rumors surrounding this device.

Just Minor Upgrades in the Looks Department

What? Well, yes that’s the word on the street. There are reports that the iPad 3 will look just like, you guessed it right, the iPad 2. No major changes to its exteriors, but and this is big but, it might just be a teeny weeny thicker by around 1mm. What’s more, expect the camera on the top left camera to be a little larger as compared to the iPad 2. Here, it might just take its cue from the iPhone 4S. Also, the market is buzzing with another related rumor, which is that Apple is going to improve the screen resolution of the iPad 3 and there is all possibility of it becoming double dpi. What this means is that there are all chances of the iPad 3 look will just be an exercise in cosmetics. Let’s just wait and watch.

The Weather Acting Against its Launch

Now, there has been no official release date announced by Apple for the iPad 3. But, the rumor is that inclement weather has delayed the launch of the next iPad. Don’t know what I am talking about? Think back to the floods in Thailand. This weather, it seems has led to problems with the supply chain in Asia, but again this is just a rumor and there are analysts who also believe that everything is right on track and there is going to be no delay in the launch.

In memory of Steve Jobs

Yes, Steve Jobs might still have a part to play when it comes to releasing the iPad 3. Industry watchers believe that one of the dates that you can expect this device to be launched is February 24th, on Steve Jobs’s birthday. Also, one can also take a look at the launch of the iPad 2 that happened in March 2011, and can expect the iPad 3 to be launched in the same month or thereabouts.  But, all said and done, there can be nothing better than unveiling the iPad 3 on the great man’s birthday right. Again, let’s just wait and see.

What about Siri?

Yes, what about it. Is the hot new feature from the Apple stables going to get better on the iPad 3? Well, chances are that Siri Dictation might be added to the iPad. But as is the case with all rumors surrounding the iPad, one will only have to wait for the iPad 3 to come out to see which features are in and which were just a figment of imagination.

Cheaper iPad model

This rumor can be called the fervent wish for everybody who wishes Apple priced their products cheaper. There is a rumor, that along with the iPad 3, a cheaper model will be released. This will be in direct competition with Kindle Fire. But Apple and affordability don’t walk hand in hand. So, let’s see whether the rumor will be dispelled or come true.

So, here they are; rumors about the iPad 3 that might or might not be true. At the cost of sounding repetitive, all we can do is wait and watch.
 

There are myths and then they are myths. You might find it impossible to believe, but there are some well-entrenched myths surrounding something as practical and technical as iPhone and iPad app development. Yes, there are plenty of myths surrounding the development of iPhone and iPad apps and, quite a number of developers believe these myths until the day when they realize that their apps are going nowhere because of their belief in these myths.

It’s important to debunk these myths in order to ensure successful development of iPad and iPhone apps.

Myth: The iOS platform is extremely easy to grasp

Truth: It needs time to understand the nuances of iOS development

The first rule of software/application development is that nothing comes easy. When it comes to the iOS, there are plenty of things that you must learn and understand in order to incorporate this learning and understanding into your iPhone and iPad app. You need to develop a comprehensive understanding of iOS SDK, iOS Human Interface Guidelines, and the Development of Universal Applications on this platform. If you aren’t able to develop a strong, theoretical and practical, understanding of all facets of the iOS platform, there is very little chance that the iOS app development is going to succeed.

Myth: You Don’t Need to Test your iPhone or iPad Apps

Truth: Comprehensive Testing is a crucial part of iOS development process

As an iOS application developer you need to begin testing by using Xcode’s graphical debugger; or developers can also collect the requisite performance information using the Instruments’ timeline view. These optimization tools help developers address any performance issues that the app is suffering from. Developers will also need to test their apps on the iPhone and iPad to ensure that they are functioning smoothly on the device itself. More importantly, developers need to ensure that the app also runs well on air, meaning when the device is connected to Wi-Fi.

Myth: Whatever the Nature of the App, it’s going To Be Successful

Truth: Popularity needs to be earned by Delivering Highly Efficient Apps

This myth sounds a little more amazing, then all other myths surrounding iPhone and iPad application development. There are developers who actually believe that as long as their app is selected on the iTunes store, it will become popular. No doubt, the fact that the application has been accepted by the iTunes store means it has met the various parameters determined Apple for app selection, but that doesn’t mean that it has met the parameters of the users. It is the target users who finally decide whether the app becomes popular or not because they are the ones who are going to download it and not Apple. So, you must ensure that your app is able to meet the needs and requirements of the target users and is able to engage their attention because it appeals to them in some way or the other.

There is a good chance that you might read these myths and say to yourself that do not in any way sound practical and a developer will think twice before believing such myths. But the fact of the matter is that they do believe them and therein lies the genesis of a poorly performing app. This app might just be accepted into the iTunes stores, but is unable to make any impression on the minds of its target users.
 

Facebook addicts have finally got the highly anticipated Facebook app for their iPad. This long delayed app has been unveiled and is up for grabs on Apple’s iTunes store. So, is this app really all that it was cracked up to be?

Let’s take a look.

Firstly, the app looks like Facebook. Like it was going to look any different! But, there is no doubt that it is able to use the features and functionalities of the iPad extremely well to suit its core needs and requirements. There is slickness to this app that users are going to find very attractive and the high resolution display on the iPad, goes a long way in enhancing this slickness. On the left hand of the screen, you will find a navigation menu that earns points for its smoothness and using this navigation menu, you can go through the various features of Facebook, including Message, News Feed, and also access your Groups.

Essentially, this app seeks to give its users a great mobile experience and offers features like check-ins, but it does offer desktop friendly features as well, such as chat etc.  One can see that the idea is to offer Facebook users a complete experience through their iPads.

Apart from all the regular features that one would expect to find on a Facebook iPad app, there is a new feature that is made available to the user. This feature is a testimonial to the major strides made in iPad application development. So what is the feature? It is ‘App Discovery’.

The way it works is like this – A user is browsing Facebook and sees that his friend has just posted on his News Feed using a particular app. If you have that particular app already installed on your iPad, then you will be able to directly switch over to that app, with a tap. But, if that app has not been installed on your iPad, then Facebook, will deep link you to the iTunes store from where you can download the app.

And what’s more, in the absence of a native app, the Facebook app will direct the user to its HTML 5 version. Brilliant isn’t it! Now why is this being made into such a big deal? Well, it has thrown open the doors for the kind of iPad app development that allows apps to be built, which can conveniently tap into the viral channels of Facebook.

With the huge number of Facebook aficionados out there, the quality of the Facebook app doesn’t really matter, as whatever the quality it is still going to be a highly downloaded app. But, the point is that it is a really good app, which means it has the potential of becoming one of the most highly downloaded iPad apps ever.
 

The iOS is one of the most technologically advanced mobile operating systems and gives developers the necessary tools to ensure that users are offered the very best of features, custom built to suit their needs and requirements.

But, the various tools and functionalities that are part of the iOS landscape need to be used with care to ensure that the features developed enhance the user experience of their apps.

Firstly, let’s talk about what iCloud storage allows users to do. iCloud allows users to store content in the form of documents, photos, music etc. which can be accessed from their Apple devices. By incorporating it in an app, iPad app developers will ensure that they will be able to store, access and present information, quickly and conveniently without the need for explicit synchronization.

Now, let’s take a look at the best practices of iPad app development that can help iPad app development experts leverage its potential to the maximum.

User Account needs to be respected

When it comes to iPad application development, when developers design and develop an iPad app and want to integrate iCloud storage into it, they must remember that the user is going to pay for their iCloud storage account. It’s not free. So, developers must ensure that the iCloud storage is not used for storing information or app resources that can be easily regenerated. It should only be used to store user created content. The app needs to be structured in such a way that that the app content mustn’t use a lot of the user’s iCloud accounts space.

Guarantee that in Absence of iCloud Storage App doesn’t go Haywire

iPad app developers shouldn’t structure their app functionality around the iCloud to such an extent that the app starts behaving unreasonably, if it’s unavailable. There are plenty of situations wherein the iCloud might become unavailable, for e.g. when the user logs off his/her account, enters the airplane mode or for that matter when users turn of the iCloud usage for the particular app that they are using. In such cases, the app functionality shouldn’t get affected in any way or form. The iPad app development must be undertaken accordingly.

Ensure Users are able to store all content in iCloud

An app that keeps asking users to choose the documents to store in their iCloud account is never appreciated by users. A user wants all the content that they think is important to be accessible through iCloud. But, if the app keeps asking its users to make a choice vis-à-vis the content that they would like to store on the iCloud, it’s going to lead to an inappropriate user experience because such an app is going to make file management extremely difficult.

These three best practices will help set the stage for better incorporation of iCloud storage in your app. Giving due importance to them during iPad app development, will definitely lead to the development of iPad apps that make optimum use of iCloud Storage.