Chapter 1. What Makes a Killer iPhone App

In This Chapter

  • Figuring out what makes an insanely great iPhone application

  • Discovering the features of the iPhone that can inspire you

  • Facing the limitations you have to live with

  • Understanding Apple's expectations for iPhone applications

  • Making a plan for developing iPhone software

Faced with the complexity and the utter hopelessness of the situation, John Belushi in Animal House bellowed "Road trip!" In that movie, their plans were a no-brainer — just grab the beer and go — but for most people, preparation would be a bit more complicated. You'd need to gather all the maps, the hotel and campground brochures, the flyers and postcards that describe the places you want to visit, the most recent weather report for the areas you are traveling through, the schedule of appointments you need to keep, and your car's service records and vehicle ID, and throw all this stuff in the front seat . . .

Or just take your iPhone and the RoadTrip application (also known as the app) that this All-in-One book shows you how to create. To give you insight to the iPhone application-development process, this book describes how to develop and publish two apps: the simple and straightforward DeepThoughts, which is a meditative app that co-author Neal wrote in a frenzy one afternoon (too much caffeine that day?), and the more industrial-strength RoadTrip, which Neal developed in response to his daughter's 7,000 mile road trip.

The advantages you have with an iPhone app ...

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