• Developers name:Gerardo Siciliano
• Company Website
• Company Name:iPhoneXCoder
• Apps at the App Store:2
• Location:Italy

About Dev

Tell us a little about you, and your current company.

I’m a simple iPhone fan that decided to develop application for this Apple’s jewel. I’m a student (engineer) and I love mobile programming. And when Apple distributed his SDK, I was very happy!!!

About your background: what did you do before taking up iPhone development?

I’m a simple student at University, so I only study.

About Work

What apps have you developed so far? Tell us about your apps in brief.

So far I’ve developed two iPhone applications. First was  Interest Calculator, a finance application that calculates interests.I developed this only to test my skills about iPhone programming, and to test App Store mechanism. But in Italy and in other App Stores it became popular, and it was the top application in Finance Category for 2-3 weeks.

My second application was Real Drums, a music application that turns iPhone into professional drums. I developed this application with two objectives: to create a music application, and to create a nice entertainment  application. I included kitchen drums for these purposes. And It had right success

How do you go from idea to app? What’s the process?

I love music, and I searched for some music applications on App Store. I noted that there weren’t any applications about drums, so I decided to create one! But I wanted also a nice application to enjoy with friends, so I decided to include bongos and kitchen drums.

What is your opinion about iPhone OS 3.0? In what ways do you think the new SDK would bring change?

I installed iPhone OS 3.0 a day after it was available for download. I’m debugging it and I’m using it on my developing iPhone, but I noted that it is unstable, yet. I think that many developers will produce modem and router applications (tethering is one of the most wished things) and other network tools. Many iPhone users are waiting to upgrade their firmware, to use Copy/Cut/Paste features, and SDK 3.0 contains a new set of API, to do everything easier. So, I think there will be many surprises!

Any exciting stuff you are working on? Give our readers a hint of what to expect from you next.

Well, I have many ideas, and two projects. One is for OS 3.0, but they are drafts, and I’m debugging them. I can just tell you they will be interesting!

Do you develop for other platforms? How do you compare the iPhone development platform with other platforms?

I develop for web (Javabeans, php, etc…). I think that Objective C is a powerful language, and not more complex than Java. SDK and xCode give a good environment to developers. And I am sure any programmer can learn this language in a month, and start developing iPhone Application.

Tell us something about how users are responding to your apps. What’s the most flattering comment you have received? Or the weirdest?

I received many feedback about my applications, by mail, via website, and through App Store. Many downloads, and many emails. Some users even published  youtube videos about using RealDrums. I noted that on App Store, many customers have tendency to leave review only if they are not satisfied. And you can’t respond to negative reviews. 

I received many emails and the majority of customers appreciated my apps. And I am happy!

About the App Store

Name two iPhone apps you consider are cool, excluding the apps you’ve developed. What makes these apps stand out?

I love music, so I can say that the best music application is Ocarina! I have not doubts! And, for players, Real Football 2009! It is a very nice game!

Any message to your fellow developers?

App Store is a very good market, where there is space for everyone! But I wish to give some suggestions, to have success:

1) Pay attention to graphic interfaces. There are good apps that does succeed because of faulty interfaces

2) Debug applications.

3) Give support to customers. Support website is the best interface to comunicate with our customers.

4) Give frequent and complete updates to your customers.

Thanks Gerardo Siciliano for your time