SarioDev: Keeping up with updates

You can never build the perfect app nor complete in one release. If you do, you most likely missed your window of opportunity by now and it would only take one user to change your "complete product". It is very important to listen to your users and take their feedback on board.

With SarioDev apps I've been trying hard to keep updating the app, which I've many ideas for, but by listening to my users I have a bit of guidance on prioritizing what to update first.

My general strategy is to have a list of ideas to implement, based on 2 metrics: Value of update and Difficulty to implement. These are my 2 key factors as I am the only developer I must keep these 2 factors in balance. What changes the value of the update is value for the user, and value for future development.
Value for the user is first determined by what value it will add to myself, as the first user (all my apps I use personally) then based on feedback of users I know, and then I look at the feedback of all users. Depending on how frequent a request may be and which layer the request is from helps me determine the value. After I can filter these by the difficulty to implement. It's a pretty simple process.

Share how you manage your apps and updates. Or if you want to know more feel free to contact me as well!

Speaking of updates here's the latest from SarioDev - 10Up Number Puzzle Game v1.4 for Android!
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=sariodev.puzzle10up.app
The 10Up community is building and I'm really excited about where I can take this app.

Happy Easter All!

10Up - Could This Be The Next Big Puzzle App?

With the rise and fall of apps, both big and small everyone starts to wonder what is the next big app? This year alone in 2014 we have had the likes of Flappy Birds and 2048 among all the big corporations but these cases are the ones that make many think about this next big app. Although there are many great apps being published daily, which of these will captivate the app user world?

Well, the wait may be over. There is a new app on the block.

It's available on Android - and it's FREE.
The game is called 10Up. It's a number puzzle game that was conceived from a popular game played on Sydney's Cityrail trains where you join 4 numbers (which is the ID of the train carriage/car) to make 10. Sounds simple enough? Well this is only one key factor in all good games and it doesn't end there.

Another key factor is to make it simple to play, but at the same time challenging enough to keep someone engaged and hopefully playing again. There is a points system to this game, where the closer to 10 you get, the more points you get. When you do get a 10, you get a 10Up. This gives you point boosts based on your streak. You must get as many 10Ups as possible before time runs out!

The app looks beautiful with a very simple UI with animations. The game is very addictive and there is an easy mode available to help you learn the game. It is designed to be suitable for children and can be used as an educational app. You can beat your score and share your results too. The developer is also updating the app constantly and quick to respond to user feedback.

With all these factors, it's no wonder that 10Up could be your next app and that of many others and it's free! So why wait any longer? Download 10Up right now - I'll provide you the link:
10Up Number Puzzle Game

And then post your high score! Mine is 620 points. Can you beat it?

A Browser that will make you productive in 2014! (New Concept)

Productivity just got easier. We've all used many tools that track and time our tasks to help our productivity, but the one flaw is that for it to truly be useful you need to set them up first to match you. 

So here's a new concept for you to consider, start with one area, say you open a link in a browser - you easily get stuck reading a comments section or article. Now you are presented with an option to limit your session to say, 5 minutes. Now you won't do this all the time but if at least once a day you limit one of your procrastination sessions to 5 minutes (instead of getting stuck for 20) you train yourself to be conscious about this time spent. Which is the first step. 
Enter this solution: IN 5 Browser.

It's an alternative browser (not a replacement) that has a timer in your face and kills your session after so you don't procrastinate!
-No history, no favorites, no tabs, no cache, no going back and wasting time. After 5 minutes (You have options for a few other time ranges), you simply get a "GG. Back to Work" message.
Try it for yourself. Once a day for just one week- stick to your intention of getting back to work "IN 5" and see the results!
It's a fast, lightweight browser, designed specifically for procrastinators to get in, read content, get out - and back to work!
Free Version:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=sariodev.in5.app
Paid Version:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=sariodev.in5pro.app

Test Share Feature for IN 5

I just fought procrastination with @IN5Browser! 5 pages in 2 mins #IN5 #SarioDev

IN 5: One App Developers Journey

If you have been following this blog, or my Facebook page, or anything related with me for that matter you will know that I have been developing an App and pursuing to make multiple apps for Android, Windows and Apple.

I've been posting little updates here but I've decided to put up a little more detail about my progress, milestones and failures on this blog to do 2 things. The first is to help anyone going through or thinking about doing something like this. The second? Well that's for my sanity. I am taking on this endeavor while having my priority on my work as a control systems engineer and of course my wedding that is less than 1 year away now!

Allow me now to list all the milestones and achievements in order.

January 28:  - Project IN 5 had begun (previously titled Just 5 Minutes)
February 4: - Facebook Page Created
February 5: - New Logo Design
February 9: - Promo graphics made
February 17: - Version 0.6.6 was being worked on

February 28: - Initial Release. version 1.0 was officially available in the Play Store
Get app here

March 1: - First Meme posted to page
March 2: - Downloads reach 10+
March 3: - Developer Home Page updated. Andrewsario.com
-SarioDev Logo created
March 4: - IN 5 gets into Top New Free apps in the Productivity Category (14th)
-Facebook Advertising being tested with small campaigns
March 5: - App video recording being taken
- AndroidApps, androidtapp + more review companys contacted. No opportunity available for 2 months+
-SarioDev Business Plan started
March 6: - Adbuddiz integrated to app
March 9: - Release 1.1 update made available
March 12: - First article write up by Ausdroid
March 13: - Demo trailer released. Watch here
- Downloads reach 50+
March 15: - First Downloads from U.S.A.
- IN 5 title changed to IN 5 Browser and descriptions updated
- Translations for descriptions included (China, Japan, South Korea, Germany, French, Arabic,                       Filipino and more)
- IN 5 ranks in the top productivity apps in Australia (537th)
March 16: - Signed up with App Annie
- IN 5 ranks in top productivity apps in Australia (535th)
- Developer progress and update post on blog


Summary
As can be seen, development took approximately 1 month. The App has been in the Play Store for 2 weeks now with 1 update, 1 app review (and 10 times as many rejections) has reached 50+ downloads and ranks 535th for productivity apps in Australia.

Growth has been steady but definitely a lot slower than what is desirable. Considering this is my first stint I am pleased with the results but nowhere near satisfied. It will take lots of motivation and hardwork to make this into something profitable. At this stage my revenue is $0.

Next Steps
Release Update 1.2 will address a particular bug that has affected users, social integration with facebook, twitter and instagram options, session stats for number of pages viewed, and finally some options for time alternatives other than 5 minutes (perhaps 1, 3 and 5 minutes will be available). I'll probably take suggestions on that on the Facebook Page.

Then the premium or pro version of the app will be the focus and will mainly remove the advertisements but give even more time options for users to choose from.

A marketing push will be aimed to coincide with release 1.2 and IN 5 Browser Pro.

This milestone will mark the second app on the store and from this point I will begin thinking about the next app and also beginning work in the Apple world.

Next Update
Hopefully, in the next major update I will have some revenue to report and perhaps some other successes or failures that can be useful to others.

Adding Adbuddiz library in Android Studio

SarioDev, 2014

The Adbuddiz support page gives you 5 steps to add their SDK and start serving Ads in your app. Link here: http://publishers.adbuddiz.com/portal/support/java

There is a slight variation in step 2 (Add jar to your app) for developers using Android Studio. 

In Android Studio first you add AdBuddiz-2.0.1.jar to the libs folder and then instead of Project properties you open Project Structure

Then select the Dependencies Tab, press the green plus sign to add a File dependency. 

Select the jar file you just added and you're done. Move on to step 3 as normal.

IN 5: my first Android App in the Play Store!

Here is the link for my app IN 5.
It's a timed browser for procrastinators. After 5 minutes your Web session is killed, no history, no getting distracted for a couple more minutes. Try it out today! It's free!

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=sariodev.in5.app