Xcode and Multiple Scheme

It looks complicated at first but I'd definitely recommend setting this up if you have any variables in your app that require different environment variables.

It looks complicated at first but I'd definitely recommend setting this up if you have any variables in your app that require different environment variables.

Understanding Configurations and Schemes

Before we proceed, though, it is important to understand Xcode’s Configuration and Schemeconcepts as this technique relies quite heavily on them.

A Configuration defines the set of compiler settings that will to be used. By default, Xcode creates two configurations for you (Debug and Release) when you create a new iOS project. Most of the settings are the same but there are a bunch of settings that vary between a Debug build and aRelease build.

http://www.blackdogfoundry.com/blog/migrating-ios-app-through-multiple-environments/

STYLEAID App

I recently built the app for Style Aid whilst working for Gatecrasher Advertising. A mobile game of Pass The Parcel was played on the event night (27th of July 2012), where 15 electronic parcels will were passed around the room and won at random. Users who had downloaded the app and then register. Push Notifications using UrbanAirship were sent as each parcel was sent around.

Guests at STYLEAID had the opportunity to have their very own red carpet moment. Photographs were taken and uploaded into a CMS and then users could share on facebook or twitter.

I used .NET MVC to handle the requests from the app in a REST methodology  and a simple windows service was created to change update who had the parcel and to send the push notifications.

More info about the event can be found at the West Yahoo website http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/video/watch/30111603/21086646/

Appirater github Fork

I forked appirater yesterday and have made a pull request to the master repo.It was a simple change but I believe a very important one. I've always added the appirater code to all the apps I've submitted to the app store. Its kind of annoying for the user but the fact of the matter is to get downloads you need app reviews and the simplest way of getting app reviews is asking. After doing my usual research of asking a few people about the usual dialog message as seen below

They said they usually only rate if the app is bad! So whilst appirater does a good job of waiting a few days and a number of opens. People might still not like the app but have no choice and use it anyway (just checkout the Facebook app reviews), these are the people you want giving you feedback and want to keep them well away from the app store rating your app. So instead we present them with this message

And if they say yes I have issues bring up a the Mail Composer Controller

Its not perfect but until something awesome like http://majortom.bonobolabs.com/ is available it will have to do!

Betts Mag App Launch in the Apple App Store

UPDATE: I'll be submitting an updated 1.1 version this afternoon which really polishes the app so be sure to lookout for that. The iPhone companion app uses String™ Augmented Reality which was really easy to work with, and I'm hoping that I'll be able to develop a few more apps using it. In the Betts Spring 2011 catalog which is currently instores you'll see the Betts Mag App iPhone app is featured. Here you can scan the icons inside the printed mag and unlock extra app features.

Also there are about 8 rich media shoe products where you can see 3 Ways to Wear and touch to spin 360 view spin of the products.

The iPad app allows you to browse the Spring Summer Catalog.