With the recent release of the Amazon App Store, Amazon has brought one new feature that no App Store has even tried to implement yet… a live preview of an app before you buy!

The thing with buying all of these apps is that most of the time, you really don’t know what you’re getting in the long run. You buy an app based upon the reviews, most of the time, and determine whether you like it yourself or not.

We’ve been living with this same App Store features over and over again. Now with what Amazon just did, this is going to leave quite a bit of competition for Apple’s iOS App Store.

Essentially, what Amazon did was create a live simulator (that apparently runs on Ubuntu – more below), and make it so that anyone can try an app right from their browser!

Clicking the “Test drive now” button launches a copy of this app on Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2), a web service that provides on-demand compute capacity in the cloud for developers. When you click on the simulated phone using your mouse, we send those inputs over the Internet to the app running on Amazon EC2 — just like your mobile device would send a finger tap to the app. Our servers then send the video and audio output from the app back to your computer. All this happens in real time, allowing you to explore the features of the app as if it were running on your mobile device. – Source: Amazon’s Test Drive Now section

We’ve all heard of the powerful EC2, but using it for something like this is brilliant! So basically, it’s VNC for testing apps! I’m hoping Amazon’s servers will be able to handle this. We’ve seen how Amazon’s servers can handle the toughest of traffic, so all should be well!

How about some fancy photos? As you can see, it behaves just like a real Android phone! And apparently it’s running 2.2.1 on the Ubuntu kernel! Got to love open source software!

So what do you think about Amazon’s implementation? Quite honestly, I think they did an amazing job! Now let’s see Apple try to do something like this! They do have the data center for it!

It’s beginning to look alot like Christmas and Electronic Arts is showing it with their price cuts in the App Store. Now the price cuts are mostly toward their iPhone/iPod Touch apps, due to not having many iPad apps out yet…which is rather sad because the iPad has been out for almost a year. Now I know you are dying to know which apps got the price drop so here ya’ are!

iPhone Prices

Tetris – 99¢

Scrabble – 99¢

Battle Field: Bad Company 2 – 99¢

Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit – 99¢

The Sims 3 – 99¢

Madden NFL 11 – 99¢

NBA Elite 11 – 99¢

Monopoly – 99¢

Monolopy Here & Now: The World Edition – 99¢

The Game of Life – 99¢

Tiger Woods PGA Tour – 99¢

Pictureka! – 99¢

Need For Speed: Under Cover – 99¢

FIFA 11 – 99¢

The Sims 3 Ambitions – 99¢

Spores Origin – 99¢

Need For Speed: Shift – 99¢

Battleship – 99¢

Skate It – 99¢

Yahtzee Adventures – 99¢

RISK: The Official Game – 99¢

Trivial Pursuit – 99¢

The Simpsons Arcade – 99¢

High Caliber Hunting – 99¢

SimCity Deluxe – 99¢

Clue – 99¢

Reckless Racing – 99¢

Mirrors Edge – 99¢

Boggle – 99¢

Cause Of Death: Can You Catch The Killer? – 99¢

Surviving High School – 99¢

Dragon’s Lair – 99¢

FIFA 10 – 99¢

Command & Conquer: Red Alert – 99¢

Sodoku – 99¢

MMA – 99¢

Snood – 99¢

Connect 4 – 99¢

Spore Creatures – 99¢

Wolfenstein RPG – 99¢

Littlest Pet Shop – 99¢

Jewel Quest Mysteries – 99¢

Star Trek – 99¢

Lite-Brite – 99¢

Heroes Lore III – 99¢

Mystery Mania – 99¢

R Type – 99¢

Lemonade Tycoon – 99¢

Mass Effect Galaxy – 99¢

Anytime Pool – 99¢

American Idol: The Game –  99¢

Pandemonium - 99¢

Zombies & Me – 99¢

iPad Prices

Scrabble – 99¢

Need For Speed: Hot Pursuits – 99¢

SimCity Deluxe – 99¢

Madden NFL 11 – 99¢

Tetris – 99¢

Need For Speed – 99¢

Pictureka! – 99¢

Snood – 99¢

Mirrors Edge – 99¢

Reckless Racing – 99¢

Yahtzee – 99¢

Command & Conquer: Red Alert – 99¢

Boggle – 99¢

Monopoly – 99¢

Clue: Secrets & Spies – 99¢

Tweetie has such a great design that everyone will like it. When I was looking to a Twitter application for my iPod touch, I was really saying to myself, “why pay for a Twitter application?” With Tweetie, why not pay for it? Tweetie is the best Twitter application in my mind; I wish that someday, Twitters web interface will mimic the one of Tweeties.

And because of Tweetie being #6 in the top paid apps, Twitter was able to sort out a deal with Atebits, or Loren Brichter who’s the head guy of who made Tweetie. I really have to say that Tweetie is one stunning application. There’s nothing else like it, and there’s no other way to describe how it preforms unless if you try it for yourself.

So enough with how great Tweetie is and let’s move on to the important part! Because of Tweetie being on of the best Twitter applications, Twitter made an agreement with Atebits. Twitter is now taking the same system of Tweetie, and renaming it Twitter for iPhone, which will be the first official Twitter application! This is one major acheivement for Tweetie, and I can see it coming so much further. I’m just hoping they do change the wonderful graphics, if anything, make ‘em better!

Now, you might be thinking, because this is going to be an official application, will it cost more? Actually, it’ll cost a lot less than it is now. Tweetie currently sells for $2.99 in the App Store today. How much do you think it’ll cost you? Yes, that’s right, it’ll be FREE! One of the best Twitter applications in the world for the iPhone is going to be free!

So some of my major questions about this change.

1) Will Twitter for iPhone (Tweetie) become ad-supported? If so, could we buy it to disable the ads? I’m just hoping that if they do decide to add in ads, will they be Fusion Ads. I gotta say, they are pretty slick and appealing ads.

2) What will happen with the features? I would love to see the same interface, but even better. I’m really hoping that it will be better.

3) Will we be forced to follow @Twitter if we use this application? I already am, but it is a good question to ask.

4) Will it take more advantages because now it is the main Twitter iPhone application?

6) Are you going to release push notifications? I’ve been using the paid version of Echofon for this, but I would love it to be controlled by Tweetie!

5) And lastly, what will happen with the other Twitter apps? I really hope it won’t make them fall in the dust.

Lots of things to think about. But for what I know for sure, Tweetie is in good hands. And from what they’ve said in the Twitter blog post, Loren Brichter will become an important member to the Twitter mobile team.

Overall, I cannot wait to see what Twitter and Loren will do! Bring on Twitter for iPhone!

Image borrowed from Apple's campaign "AppStore turns 1"

DISCLAIMER: Before I begin, I’d like to point out that I haven’t had a bestselling app (on iTunes) yet and like many of the developers out there, I’m still working on my first hit (that’s the spirit!). I only have two iPhone/iPod games to date (please check ‘em out at Kuyi Mobile!) and I’m hoping to release my third before my first fiscal year on this new venture ends.

Given the number of apps on iTunes AppStore right now, the greatest hurdle for any developer is getting to the top 100 and even harder is sustaining a sweet spot for an app. Developers have probably tried everything to get their apps noticed–from “peggling” to giving it away for FREE for a day but only a handful have become successful. To be honest, its awfully hard to find the trend on the AppStore nowadays. As someone who have been closely observing the AppStore for the past year, I now believe that almost any kind of app can be a bestseller regardless if Apple features you or not (although it helps if they do). If you look at the top 100 bestselling apps, you’ll find a combination of short 3-5 minute apps and high profile titles which range from $0.99 to $9.99. What I’ve noticed however, is that apps can “possibly” be categorized into 2 major types: (1) those that amuse and entertain for a short period of time, hilarious and something that one can show off to friends and can easily be spread by word of mouth (whew! what a run-on sentence!); AND (2) apps that will stay on the user’s device for a long time like productivity enhancements, utilities, and games with high replayability. The first type can go up and down the charts rapidly and has less chance of sustaining a spot within the bestselling list while the latter slowly goes up the charts and eventually stabilizes at a given spot within the top 100. Question now is, how do you achieve this? I’ve narrowed down a couple of common denominators which I will definitely follow on my upcoming release and I hope will also aid you on your next app project.

1. Unique twist or idea. This one should always be at the top of your priority list. Instead of copying an app and creating another version, expand on it and find ways to make a better variant. Incorporate your own ideas and plan well.

2. Well polished app. No matter if its a parody, a quick game or a hilarious gimmick, always ensure quality. Quality on presentation, implementation and execution. This also gives you a huge chance of getting featured by Apple.

3. Lasting impression. Whether its an app or a game, include features that will stick and appeal to your end-users. Wow your customers the first time your app is run. Design your app in such a way that users will remember the “experience”.

4. Catchy app icons. Notice how you can easily identify how any of the bestselling apps work just by looking at its icon?

5. User-friendliness. Users hate complicated apps. Just like websites, the first few minutes (or even seconds) of running your app is critical and will determine if its worth the purchase or not.

6. Staying power. Staying power on the user’s device and staying power on the charts. Be prepared with a plan prior to release. Updating the app regularly seemed to work for most developers while others choose to work on their apps for months and focus on a feature-packed and solid release.

7. Talk to your end-users. Be appreciative of feedbacks whether positive or negative. Be on the look-out for great suggestions and continuously improve your product. Build a community around your app or your business.

8. Check out these apps and use them as reference. Doodle Jump, Zombieville, Fieldrunners, iBeer (yes!), Koi Pond, Solitaire, Skee-ball, The Moron Test, Paper Toss, Tweetie 2, Bejeweled 2 and Canabalt. I’m pretty sure there are more but these are the ones I can remember off the top of my head. Download a couple of these apps and see why each one is on the top of their game.

There you go! I’d be glad to hear any suggestions or ideas you can add! And if any of the points above aid you in a way, please don’t forget to give me a copy of your bestseller.

Image above borrowed from Apple.

Let’s face it folks, releasing an app on Apple’s AppStore is like dropping a needle in a haystack. There are well over 100,000 apps available and our chances of getting noticed gets smaller by the day. I was lucky enough to have my first game (Card Drop) featured by Apple under iTunes’ New and Noteworthy section. Sales soared for a week but gradually slowed down weeks after the feature. My second game (SOW), although much more unique than the first wasn’t that lucky. It went down the new releases list with the rest of the pack and didn’t get the attention I was rooting for. So what now? I’m here to tell (and convince) you that there’s light at the end of the tunnel…if you’re willing to work on it (stay positive guys!). Well, my sales aren’t what you can call successful yet but at least I don’t get a day with ZERO sales anymore (I used to!). Below are some tips and tricks I learned the hard way and wanted to share it with you.

Work on your website and product pages. Your app or company website will be your first chance to make a sales pitch (and a huge impression) so be sure that its interesting, concise, userfriendly, and catchy. Don’t let your readers think, serve them what they need to know, get to the point, give them access to BUY and TRY buttons, screenshots, videos, etc.

Start with the small review sites. Dropped Toucharcade a note and you were ignored? Work your way up by starting with the small fishes. Game review sites like Toucharcade, Appgamer.net and Pocketgamer.co.uk only feature groundbreaking titles that set the bar high or push the device to its limits. If you don’t have such a game, your chances are low so its best to go to several small review sites instead.

Know your app’s crowd. Know your niche market. And go there. For example, my second game (SOW) involved planting and business simulation so I joined several forums about simulation, planting, green revolution and let them know about my app and how it “may” benefit them. iPhone and iPod users are everywhere!

Let them experience your app. Capture a video of your game and showcase the best features. Post it on YouTube and send it along with your press release. Another way to allow users to experience your app is to create a “Lite” or “Free” version for players to download and try. The “Free” version may not have the same features as the full version but it can be enough to entice the player to purchase a copy.

Join communities on the web. Toucharcade’s forums is one of the busiest so why not mention your new app there? It wouldn’t hurt to post a small blurb about your app, a few screenshots and allow other people to post comments and feedback about it. Forums are a great way to start building a community around your app or company or any product in general.

Create a small promotion. Does your app earn you a little more than $10 per week? If so, start a small gimmick–say, give a $10 iTunes Gift Card every week to your fans and subscribers. That’s what I did for Kuyi Mobile and from a twitter following of 50+, my followers went up to around 600+ after a few weeks and still growing. It allowed me to spread the word about my games, the company and it also gave me a chance to give back to the iPhone gaming community and talk to people who have enjoyed and played my games.

Harness the power of social networking. Embrace Twitter. Embrace Facebook. These may sound odd but don’t underestimate the power of inbound marketing. Handle your support via Twitter and let others listen to what you have to say! Start discussions on Facebook and get enough fans who can help you spread the word about your apps!

Get professional help. If you can generate enough funds to afford someone who can market your game and create your press release or allow you to post ads on popular websites, don’t be afraid to go that route. After all, you gotta spend money in order to make money, right? But, always remember to back it up by having enough reviews or testimonials about your app.

There you go. The tips above are based on my personal experiences and of course, assumes that you have a quality app that’s ready for the big league. The AppStore is not a goldmine(as I learned the hard way) but it could work for you given the right cards. Don’t waste your cards, use them wisely and you’ll be on your way to achieving your goals. Good luck!

Apple will unveil their latest creationg on January 27--watch out for it!

As a Mac/iPhone developer for almost a year now, I’ve not only become accustomed to the technical aspects involved, but the “business side” of the industry as well. The iPhone market has grown from a mere hundred thousand users to over 20 million (or probably more if you include iPod Touch users) and over 100,000 apps are being sold in iTunes converting to about 2 billion downloads to date. However, being in the business of “selling” (and not just “creating”) games, small developers like me do my own marketing and muscle my way to get the word out about my new products–which is not a walk in the park. Apple has provided several tools to aid small developers in this aspect but like any other platform, it also has its own fair share of issues and shortcomings. Now that Apple is getting ready to announce yet another breakthrough this coming January 27, I hope they also take time to sit down and consider some of the points below.

1. Promo codes should work anywhere in the world. As a newbie in the industry, promo codes are my aces in order for me to get the word out about my new apps. I hand out these codes to reviewers and let them write articles about my products. However, these promo codes can only be used on the US AppStore. How about the iPhone and iPod Touch users in other regions like Asia?

2. Promo codes for in-app items. Since Apple introduced the ability for apps to sell items w/in their interface, more and more apps are getting released for FREE but rely mostly on in-app item selling. In-app items are a great way to monetize apps but it will be hard to get an app reviewed because there are NO promo codes for in-app items. Reviewers are either forced to purchase in-app items themselves in order to finish their articles OR developers are forced to provide reviewers the funds to purchase in-app items for their own games.

3. Gift apps. Notice how you can purchase a track or movie from iTunes and give it as a gift to someone else? I hope Apple allows apps to be purchased and given away as gifts too. This’ll definitely increase app sales and provide a viral means for developers to spread the word about their products. After all, players who loved my app will most probably be willing to give a another copy to a family member or a close friend.

4. Faster approval process. I have to give it to Apple–last December, I submitted my 2nd game (SOW) and it was approved in 5 days! I’m not sure if its just the Holiday season but I hope Apple continues to improve and streamline their approval process. A lot of developers have been complaining about this matter and Apple seems to be inconsistent with their approval dates.

5. Reduce monthly sales quota. For small developers like me who sell roughly about several hundred dollars worth of games per month, it would be great if Apple will lower their monthly sales quota for sending royalties. I must admit that their current quota is a little higher and will be hard to reach given the tough competition in the AppStore right now. C’mon Apple, be more lenient!

6. Open competition. While I haven’t experienced this yet, I’ve heard a couple of horror stories from developers about their apps being pulled out of the AppStore without even a single word why. Here’s another story I found over at Gear Diary which will explain this issue better. Open competition is always healthy and more beneficial to end-users.