Wednesday, March 26, 2014

How To Market Your IPhone App With A Wacked-out Teaser Video!

You've come up with the perfect idea for an iPhone app.  Yeah, right - you and 33 million other enthusiasts.
 photo iphone_apps2_zps53fd42a9.jpg
Ah, but you are different.  You've raised some funds on Kickstarter.com and you've shaken down a few of your favorite relatives.  With that  money, you've hired yourself an iPhone App Developer and you app is so close to fruition that you can almost taste it.
That means you will soon have to market your app.  Uh-oh.
No worries, I am here to give you some one-of-a kind app video marketing tips that you can take to the bank.  If you can make a video that is creative enough, put it on YouTube , then get it shared through places social media channels like, Buzzfeed, Digg and Reddit ... you should get plenty of downloads for your app.
Tips to make a creative teaser video
Act crazy.  The last thing you want to do is to sit in front of the camera and talk.  If you can pull it off, get into a medieval costume and sing like a minstrel.  Or get into caveman attire and ugh your way through demonstrating your app.
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What you do should of course depend on the app itself, but some common elements that are good to work in as best you can would be outlandish costumes, music and possibly slightly crazy singing of funny lyrics, acting and jumping around, props, other folks in costume.  Using a green screen, you can edit the video to be doing all this in mid-air or under the sea or deep inside a cavern.
Interview random people.  Got a demo?  Take it to the streets.  Bring along a filmer friend to capture your moments of triumph in the streets.  Who can you interview?
  • Try a hobo.  Seriously, anything unexpected. 
  • Hit up strangers in the bus or train. 
  • Ask shoppers in the dairy aisle. 
  • Pull up beside a marathon runner - what a great video clip as the runner is trying figure out why this guy with an iPhone is trying to show him an app while he's running. 
  • Approach someone at the cinema - while a movie is playing.  And when someone says, "Shhh!", take that as a queue to demonstrate the app to them. Sure, they'll never let you in again, but you'll have some great footage.
  • Ask a foreign tourist who can't speak English. 
You could have a lot of fun creating a video that keeps people watching.  Just make sure that along the way, you have enough clips of what your app does, how much fun it is, and how useful it is.
Play the straight man. What you could also do is explain the virtues of your app - from the iPhone app development process right through to how people get to zap their enemies or call up the ghosts of their great grandparents or whatever your app does.  You could do this in total deadpan while clowns surround you and try to distract you.  Or while movers come and remove all your furniture and replace it with a totally different furniture.
If you record against a green screen, there is no end to what could be going on in the background.  Perhaps a murder.  Perhaps a war.  Perhaps somebody gagging from a horrid smell.
The specifics should depend on exactly what your app does.
Fundamentals of a creative video
Whatever approach you take, there are a few fundamentals to remember.  You want good quality clips, so please use an iPhone 5.  An iPhone 2 or 3 or 4 just won't give you the same quality image.
Make sure you enunciate when you speak.  All the filming is useless, if all we hear you say is, "...aun wee huff ih aln iln hiss..."
In most cases for something wild and crazy, you and a friend can shoot the footage.  There might be some situations where you might be better off with a professional videographer.
For editing, however, get a pro.  You want someone who can put together your somewhat unconventional footage in a way that pulls viewers through and leads them to go download the app. A professional video editor can also handle music and other sound effects, maybe even add voiceover narration if needed.
So get crazy.  Be creative. Create a teaser video for your app that nobody will forget and everybody will share.  If you've managed to explain your app amidst the craziness - and explain the amazing benefits of the app! - you should be on the road to the download fast lane.
Melody Spikes has been an iPhone fan since her first iPhone 2.  "I take it everywhere, I live and breathe my iPhone," she has been overheard to say.

Where To Buy Designer iPhone Cases?




Chocolate case
With each individual in possession of their own personal devices, they can be treated with care in the form of custom phone cases from reputed service providers who have engineered an innovative powerful print technology to cater to the needs of consumers. Provider with the largest range of cases for Smartphone, iPhones and other devices in India are the first online site selling these accessories on custom cases. With Micron Transmat Thermal Technology – MT3 the image which combines various leading printing process in grafting designs on the surface of the case, that does not peel off or get erased. Individuals can give their phone a personalized touch by creating an image which may be dear to your heart providing opportunities to live those moments on glancing on these images on these amazing custom cases. Since they are thermal printed, the images printed are permanently embedded on the case never to disappear.

After deciding on a case for the device it is essential to choose a case which would be appropriate for your device in possession, after which designer mobile cases, could be checked from the various templates that are made available to the user at the site. This could be of one’s choice followed by photos and added with personalized text. The providers are equipped with a wide variety of choices to choose from wherein their designs are hundred percent original besides being exclusive and will not be available at any other store anywhere. These designs have been created with the individual in mind which is all together unique and long lasting.

Mobile Cases comes with peerless print quality with brilliant lasting finish which can enhance the look of your personal device. To get further advantage on the purchase of their product, users could also opt on the opportunities of discounted coupons made available at the site and benefit from the same. Testimonials from existing users have given great insight on their products which speaks for itself on their quality and performance. Great products offered at attracting price enabling users to add color, image with a combination of class, style and a personal touch.

Apple and ReSound’s New Hearing Aid

Resound
Apple together with Danish hearing aid company, GN ReSound has announced a new hearing aid which would be compatible with the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. Named LiNX, the device can sync wirelessly with Apple’s latest mobile devices taking advantage of the accessibility options of iOS 7 for hearing impaired. The LiNX functions like a hybrid of hearing aids with stereo Bluetooth headphones. It also has the capabilities of streaming phone calls, Face Time chats, movies, music, turn by turn navigation or any other audio directly to a small earpiece and when the hearing aids are not pulling in audio from any tablet or Smartphone, the same works like normal, picking up conversation and the surrounding sounds. Being an Apple products, it is packed with plenty of bells and whistles and a feature called Live Listen turns an iOS device into a microphone.

Streaming Directly from Smartphone’s Mic to the Ears 

When a person is in an environment which would be loud, or a busy meeting or a noisy car and would like to focus on single voice cutting down on the background noise, they can get a stream directly from the Smartphone’s microphone in to their ears. Apple and the device maker are hoping that it will encourage people with hearing problem in getting help with their hearing aids. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorder, more than 36 million people in the US have some sort of hearing loss though few of them who really need a hearing aid actually have them.

Control Device Setting Directly from the Phone 

With the help of GPS, one can save custom settings for any location, a movie etc and get pop up notification on the mobile device asking whether the user would like to switch every time they return to that spot. Most of the advanced current hearing aids tend to draw unwanted attention when people reach out to change the settings and for most of the hearing impaired people, the best advantage of Apple’s hearing aids will help to control the device settings directly from the phone. Wearers can now make adjustments as they can check email or even watch a video with Apple integration. Basic setting such as volume and battery life, are directly built into the operating system of the iOS 7. Apple’s hearing aids are specialized medical devices and one will not find them on the shelves of local Apple store since customers should get their hearing tested and fitted for the devices by an audiologist.

Hearing Aids with System’s Accessibility Features 

With Apple’s added support for the new technology when the iOS7 was released, this seems to be the first hearing aids to really work with many system’s accessibility features. Due to the specialized technology, no third party hearing aid maker can come and create devices which work with iOS 7 without partnering with Apple. Executive of ReSound has not disclosed anything regarding developing hearing aids for Android devices or any other platforms. ReSound has worked for a long time on this new technology and the entry of the hearing aids would be welcomed by many hearing impaired people. Do come back to Macmyth for latest Apple news and information.

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Content Management Systems: The Pros and the Cons


What is a CMS?

A content management system (CMS) is a user platformwhich allows one to easily edit and maintain the content on their website including pictures, videos, text, and blog posts. Some popular examples of CMS platforms are WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal. Web designers and developers work together to create themes and integrate them into the system to make updates an effortless process for you. These are generally customized to cater to your individual needs.
The benefits of a CMS
There are numerous advantages to a content management system including SEO, ease of use, and many more.
A Back-End
A content management system produces a powerful back-end for your business to manage. Without one, you’d be stuck editing documents you don’t understand with some word editing program you have. A back-end eliminates the confusion, code, and uploading process and lets you focuson the things you need: the content.
Search Engine Optimization
How you rank in the popular search engines is very important to your website’s traffic and sales. Generally speaking, a website powered by a content management system is known to rank higher. Additionally, there are optional plug-ins (or add-ons) that can be installed that increases your SEO by giving you the ability type in details such as keywords and website descriptions. Another option to consider is addingplug-ins that can closely advise you on your SEO efforts and provide additional support in this area.
Easy to Use
Generally, content management systems are simple to learn and continuously use. All it takes is a few lessons of training and you will become an expert on the basics. Once you have, you can fluently and effortlessly manage everything on your website.
May cost less over time
Having control over the content on your site means that you do not have to engage your web designer to update the site for you. If you require regular updates on content or products, then a CMS may prove to be the most cost effective option for you.
The disadvantages of a CMS
Like every great thing, content management systems do have some down-sides. These disadvantages should be taken into great consideration when it comes to your website management.
It’s costly
Compared to a static website, a CMS driven website will generally set you back more. If you are limited by a budget, you might need to weigh up the difference in cost in building a static or a CMS driven site.
Updates
Content management systems require maintenance and updates to ensure the security and integrity of the website. However although these are recommended annually, they are not compulsory.
Time-Consuming
A CMS will require additional build time. So if you have a business or product launch date, this may affect the type of website you can build in time.
So, The Verdict?
The answer really lies within your individual business needs. Are you building an ecommerce site where you will regularly update products. Or do you have a cake business which requires regular image updates of your latest design?
If you still need help on this topic, we at JTBStudios would be glad to assist you further in your website needs. We offer affordable yet effective solutions to innovate your online business identity.

Sunday, March 23, 2014

Apple’s iOS 7.1 Cures Motion Sickness


iOS 7.1
Every problem comes with a solution and Apple has been doing well when faced with situations which may be a cause for complaint to the users. The problems faced by many iPhone users with the release of the iOS 7 was that some of the new animations on the platform ended in making them feel motion sick. While movement sickness normally is a type of sickness which could be reserved for long car or truck journeys or boat trips, users of iOS 7, introduced on Apple iPhone and iPad, complained of dizziness and actual physical health problems on searching at their screens. Latest updates now reveal that with the release of the iOS 7 there is more to set this issue right and for the best. This has been done by revamping in reducing the motion control option in the form of iOS 7.1 which has done more to fix this issue than any other latest updates so far. It is stated that 7.1 has refined this feature to the point where it could put an end to all instances of motion sickness of iPhone users.

Cause of Complaint, Zooming Effect and Heavy Screen motion Animation 
 
These symptoms have probably been caused by Apple’s heavy use of the screen motion animations as well as zooming effect in the operating system’s interface usage where the main cause of complaint lies in the parallax. This effect was used in order to create a perception of depth on the home screen of the iPhone where icons, `wallpaper and alerts could shift slightly as the phone was moved’, according to Apple’s website. Though there is a `reduce motion’, button available to switch parallax off, users complained losing the zooming effect which was replaced with a cross fade whenever the option was enabled. To disable parallax individually without losing the zooming effect, users could click on the preview of the current wallpaper and choose new wallpaper seeing the `perspective zoom to off mode, tech which is similar to a pill for motion sickness.

Improved Features in iOS 7.1
 
According to The Guardian’s Craig Grannell, he states that `with iOS 7.1 Apple would be thrashing out further the details and with reduce motion active, the app switcher which previously had retained a lurching zoom and slide when opened and closed, is now tamed with the same cross fade effect folder use, with the weather’s parallax background eliminated. In messages, the whole scrolling area moves as one instead of each message playfully sliding around as if on ice and has the potential to trigger motion vertigo and sickness. Besides eliminating motion sickness, the new feature in iOS 7.1 also features a new slide to power off button which will slowly dim the display of the Smartphone as one moves it from left to right changing to the phone interface with an easier way to improve in calendar navigation, add new contacts, improve accessibility to passcode settings, new contrast options to enable the user in reducing transparency, darken colors or reduce white point as well as new setting in managing Car display feature which is in the pipeline. Do come back for more updates at Macmyth for refreshing Apple information.