An Ipod App Developer is a pretty specific job, however sometimes people get it confused with an ipod app designer. Now lets not rush to a quick conclusion and say that an ipod app developer cannot also be the ipod app designer. This is incorrect as this happens quite alot especially for small projects. However for larger projects it may be wiser to have the creative source separate from the technical source, but allow input during the design stages. Also please note that dependant on your type of application, whether its an action game, a text game or a luxury time saver type app, then the iphone/ipod developer will require different skill sets.

The differences between an Ipod app developer and designer

An ipod/iphone app designer

They first create a sketch or a mock up of the ipod app screen. Here they have the basic idea of how they want the app laid out. He then uses a piece of software like  ”iPhone GUI PSD” to design the screens as to how it will look when fully complete.

An Ipod/Iphone app developer

An Ipod App Developer then use a program language called Objective C to code the ipod application screens in Xcode. Xcode is the development environment for the ipod/iphone software development kit.

Making Ipod Apps Vary in difficulty

Can you imagine how to make an ipod touch app for example that only uses text to ask predifined list of quesions, and compare it to an ipod app such as Angry Birds. The amount of labour hours involved in creating these two applications is vast. Everything from graphics to the game simulation would add hundreds of hours for developing a game like angry birds, where as a simple text quiz could be programmed in a few days. If you have an idea to make ipod app then you must factor in how much labour is involved and whether or not you will be able to design and code it your self or outsource to a competent resource.

If you do not possess the skills to program and make your own ipod app idea then do not fret because in my next blog post I will advise on a few ways around this for next to nothing in costs.