With the daily onslaught of incredible apps launching across app stores daily, it’s easy to become a little immune to quality apps when you see them. To help cut through the clutter and shine a much deserved spotlight on a few apps you should keep an eye on in 2012, I’ve rounded up the best ones for you.

1 – Bizzabo for iPhone and Android

Networking doesn’t only occur online. In fact, some of the best networking is done face to face at conferences and events. That being said, it’s not always easy to know what everyone does or who you should be talking to. That’s where Bizzabo comes in. Mentioned on businessinsider.com by Ben Lang as one of Israel’s 15 Growing Israeli Startups to Watch, Bizzabo is a networking app for events and conferences which has already launched In Israel and is expected to launch in the US in 2012.

To share a little more insight, Bizzabo has worked in about 60 conferences and has succeeded in creating more than 1500 new LinkedIn connections as well as hundreds of new Twitter followers among event attendees.

2 – Playup for iPhone

With the Superbowl being right around the corner, and the Olympic games later this year, Playup is an app that’s sure to see some serious waves. Playup is a social network for sports events where friends and fans can cheer, rivals can heckle, or the couch athletes can just get down to talking match strategy. According to stats on AppAnnie, Playup is maintaining a ranking of 3^rd spot in the sports category on the US app store.

3 – Onavo for iPhone and Android

iPhone owners, if you’re planning on doing any traveling this year, don’t leave home without Onavo installed on your device. You’ll thank me later. The app compresses your mobile data by up to 80% which in turn saves you big bucks while on the go. Having recently secured a $10 Million series B funding round, the company will continue to expand its product line, offering and reach.

4 – Vodio for iPad

Straight out of the gate, Vodio for iPad received very positive reviews by the web’s leading app reviewers, including TheNextWeb, TechCrunch, iPhoneLife and has most recently been featured App of the Day by Apple in Canada.

Vodio allows it’s users to create personalized video channels, mixed with a dash of social integration. Additionally, Vodio lets you share videos through your social networks, so your friends can enjoy it too. (Disclosure, Vodio is an AppsMarketing.mobi client.)

5 – Pinterest

With the mega growth of this visual social network, we’re bound to see more and more of its users reach for their smartphone to share random moments of inspiration. Of course, the Pinterest app lets you do much more than follow other likeminded pinners (I think that’s what you call them). The Pinterest iPhone app lets you touch up your pictures in a very unique way they call TouchUp, bringing a fresh change to the filters and effect type photography apps.

In all fairness, this post could have just as easily been about 20 hot apps you should keep your eye on through 2012, but for the sake of your time I wanted to share the ones that most caught my attention.

At the end of the day, the best apps are the ones that help you best manage your day, have a little fun or learn something new. Know of such an app? Share it with us in the comments or reach out to us via Twitter @W3i and @OrenTodoros

Before they can read or write, babies are already picking up iPhones and iPads, bringing a whole new meaning to the words early adopter.

For some, the thought of letting toddlers anywhere near or even play with a Smartphone may be unthinkable, but the fact is that more and more toddlers are turning techie whether their parents like it or not. Snapdragons, a Nursery in Britain, realized that if you can’t beat them, join them. They introduced the use iPads to teach pre-school children letters, numbers, shapes and colors.

A recent PBS survey about how kids and parents interact with the iPad revealed that 70 percent of parents reported allowing their children to use their iPad. Each iPad, on average, contained eight apps specifically downloaded for their kids. Furthermore, 40 percent of the parents surveyed said their children played on the iPad at least once a day, but their children’s daily iPad “playing” wasn’t only for entertainment apps. A full 90 percent of parents said that “educational value” was the most important criteria when choosing an app for their kids

As it stands, there are litteraly thousands of apps targeted specifically to babies and toddlers, from interactive games that name body parts to animal sounds and nursery rhymes. Watching tiny fingers flick through photos and objects on Smartphones is now the norm.

Toy maker Fisher Price isn’t going to miss out on this new trend and recently released a new “apptivity” case for the iPhone and iPod touch, framed by a colourful rattle, which allows babies to play while promising protection from “dribbles, drool and unwanted call-making.”

Cashing In On The Toddler Craze

Fisher Price isn’t the only toy maker who’s jumped into the mobile app arena. There’s an increasing trend of toy / app hybrids heading for a toddler near you. HappiTaps for example,  turns your iPhone or iPod Touch into a cheerful bear’s face. Slip it inside this plush holder; and voila, you have a square-headed rattle that you can clip to your belt or stroller.

Woogie is a five-legged, plush smartphone holder that can work with an iPhone device or Android phone, and makes no effort to block the home button.

All Things in Moderation

Like it or not, kids are growing up with an iPad within arms reach. While some parents are divided in letting their children play with apps or dispute it’s educational value, most experts agree that a careful balance is needed if your toddler is to get a head start in the modern day technological race.

“It’s really important that children have a variety of tools to learn from. Technology gadgets can be one of those tools, but they shouldn’t dominate, especially when we’re talking about very young children,” Cheryl Rode, a clinical psychologist at the San Diego Center for Children shared with ihacked.ca.

Toddlers learn through repetition, color recognition and interaction, and the iPad’s interactive design reinforces each of these aspects of learning.

Parents, I’m turning it back over to you. Do you let your little ones explore and experience apps or do you keep your iDevices as far away from them as possible? I’d love to know what you think. Share your comments below or reach out to us via Twitter @W3i and @OrenTodoros and let me know.

On March 14, 2011, Microsoft released Internet Explorer 9 (IE9). The look and feel changed with the information bar moving to the bottom of the browser and the search bar being integrated into the address bar. But overall, the change in user functionality is what affected add-ons the most. This change also created a very different experience for the user in terms of what they have to do to use add-ons after they install them.

IE9 asks for the user’s consent to enable newly installed add-ons, instead of automatically enabling them from the start:

IE9 Asks for User Consent to Enable Add-ons

When the user clicks Enable, they are shown this screen:

User Must Now Enable Add-Ons

This could lessen the chance of the user actually being able to use the add-on that they installed. They may click Don’t enable or they may just X out of the message completely because they don’t understand what it is or they are annoyed by the messaging.

IE9 also gives the user information on what is slowing down their browser and messages them on a regular basis asking them to speed up their browser by disabling add-ons:

Users Asked to Disable Add-Ons to Speed Up Startup

When the user clicks Disable add-ons, they are shown this screen:

Screen Shown to User When They Click Disable Add-ons

If the add-ons the user has installed and enabled total a load time of more than .2 seconds, the add-ons will show up on this list and the user may choose to disable them. This new functionality helps speed up the user’s browser, but it can also cause the user to want to uninstall all add-ons listed whether or not they really contribute to slowing down their browser.

On November 8, 2011, Mozilla released Firefox 8 (FF8).   This new version adds a new confirmation prompt for add-ons.  This prompt is different depending on whether or not the add-on is installed via an XPI or an EXE.

When an add-on is installed via an XPI, FF8 displays a modal dialog box with an Install Now button:

Modal Dialog Box with an Install Now Button

The user has to click Install Now to enable the add-on(s).  If they click cancel, the add-on(s) will not be enabled for use.

When an add-on is installed via an EXE, FF8 opens a new tab with a checkbox confirmation screen:

Add-on Installed via EXE, FF8 Opens Checkbox Confirmation Screen

By default, the checkbox is not checked, so the user has to check the box next to Allow this installation and then click Continue to be able to use the add-on.  If the user doesn’t check the box and clicks Continue, the add-on will not be enabled.

With the changes these new browser versions bring, it seems that the ultimate goal is speed. Each browser wants to be the fastest. These changes can be seen as both positive and negative for users.  As a positive, users may have a faster browser and not have to wait as long for load times.  As a negative, they have to take additional steps to “enable” add-ons that they have already agreed to install and in some cases, they have agreed multiple times through certain processes that confirm the user is installing what they want to install.

These changes can also be seen as both negative and somewhat positive for add-on developers. As a negative, these changes make it harder for an add-on developer because users have to take additional steps to be able to actually interact with their add-ons.  As a positive, with survival becoming harder and harder for add-ons, it encourages developers to make sure their add-on has a fast load time and it creates enough value so the user will want to take the necessary steps to enable the add-on for use.  However, even with those changes, it doesn’t ensure that the user will “enable” their add-on.  Another alternative for add-on developers might be exploring the options of building out a desktop version of the add-on so the application isn’t affected by any of these changes.

Overall, sometimes change is good and sometimes it’s not so good.  As things change though, we have to roll with those changes and allow ourselves to make the best of them.  We will just have to wait and see what comes next! Do you have any tactics to deal with browser changes?  If so, add them to the comments.

Nicole Virnig, Account Development Manager, W3i, LLC
Nicole focuses on growing W3i business relationships, making sure the  client has what they need to make them successful. If they aren’t  happy, she isn’t happy.

I recently gave a talk to a group of marketing specialists from large corporate firms. After my talk, one of the attendees approached me and said: “I enjoyed your talk, it all sounds so exciting, but can you please tell me what exactly an app is?” Talk about a reality check.

In the ultra fast paced world of connected devices, one of the words that’s thrown around more than any other is the term “app”. So for those amongst you who are still trying to figure it out, an app typically refers to software used on a smartphone or mobile device such as the Android, iPhone, BlackBerry or iPad, as in “mobile app”. Similarly the phrase “web app” or “online app” is also used in a business setting as an abbreviation for “Web application” or “online application”. It’s a piece of software that helps you get things done, receive updates, or enjoy a little leisure time.

Now that we have that figured out, let’s fast forward to how apps are evolving almost as quickly as they appeared.

Apps, The Next Evolution

Mobile apps extend the reach and productivity of your business, but even “mobile” devices are rapidly changing shape. Take for example the I’mWatch – A sleek, thin and ergonomic watch that’s powered by the Android OS. The watch is a phone, web, music, radio, organizer, photo and video player. This new level of portability delivers new use cases for apps, as we currently know them.

“The effects of the mobile industry are making a huge impact in retail right now. Companies are looking at innovative ways to bring in new customers, deliver their messaging and maximize sales through the use of branded apps,” shares Ariel Haroush CEO of I Display, Part of the Outform Group. “The key is to deliver mobile content throughout the retail shopping experience via smart digital retail signage.” Expect to see Android OS based point of sale devices sprouting up in a fashion boutique near you.

Samsung, Sony, Toshiba and other TV Manufactures have already started launching their line of app enabled TVs. These “Smart TVs” can connect to the web through ethernet or wireless connection.  This connectivity allows the user to perform many of the functions on their television that could normally only be done on a computer or mobile device. Samsung has already gone the extra mile by launching their own dedicated App Store for TVs.

“The support for Samsung Apps – from content providers to developer partners and consumers around the world – has been tremendous,” said Eric Anderson, Vice President of Content and Product Solutions, Samsung Electronics America, Inc. “As we look ahead, Samsung sees the opportunity to expand not only the breadth and depth of apps, but also how users interact with them, making it easy to discover and enjoy content across multiple devices in the home.”

In conclusion – Get ready to re-learn everything you know about apps. The trends creeping up right around the corner are about to deliver the reality to the sci-fi we’ve been dreaming of. Developers who aren’t seriously considering the opportunities of these connected devices will be missing out.

Turning it back over to you – How do you see the evolution of apps progressing? Let us know in the comments or reach out to us on Twitter @W3i and @OrenTodoros

I’ve posted in great detail about alternative marketing methods to increase exposure for your mobile apps. With this post, I want to discuss hard facts and the actual costs developers can expect associated with acquiring loyal app users.

A recent report by Fiksu shares a little more light on the issue. The Fiksu Cost per Loyal User Index increased by 34 cents from $1.20 in July to $1.54 in August and up to $1.64 in September. Fiksu’s research also recorded a 30 percent decline in organic iPhone app downloads during August. Organic downloads can be categorized as people who actively search and download apps from the App Store without seeing an ad first.

The Current App Download Landscape

Since taking a nosedive, developers utilizing incentivized installs have turned to more traditional distribution methods such as CPC (Cost per Click).  In fact, developers are spending 20-30% of total app revenue they generate on trying to acquire new users through various advertising and marketing initiatives. Gartner expects total app revenue to be $50 billion by 2014, and as a result, is forecasting a $15-20 billion spend on app advertising.

That being said, Peter Farago, VP of marketing at Flurry, a mobile ad metrics and advertising company, in a recent interview suggested that ads sold on a cost-per-click basis are not nearly as effective as other means of customer acquisition.

Find Your Niche and Leverage It

Paper Hat Press, a developer of children’s book apps, used mobile email sign-ups to gauge consumers’ interest. Paper Hat Press quadrupled its email marketing database by connecting with consumers on Android and iPhone applications. Specifically, the company found that 94 percent of moms ages 18-44 in the United States download games and entertainment apps on their smartphone. Similarly, 90 percent of U.S. moms aged 45 and over download games and entertainment apps.

“Adding mobile signup ads to our marketing mix has allowed us to reach women, especially busy moms interested in our personalized children’s books on top mobile devices.” recently shared Manish Naik, CEO, Paper Hat Press.

Additional findings of Paper Hat Press‘s survey include:

• 61 percent of mobile apps users age 18-34 click/tap on mobile ads by accident more often than on purpose.
• Almost two-thirds of mobile app users selected ads that contain coupons, deals or newsletters as their preferred in-app mobile ad type.

Share your thoughts in the comments below or reach out to us on Twitter @W3i and @OrenTodoros

HTML5:Everyone’s either talking about it, writing about or experiencing it. But who’s really using it and how?

With this post, that’s exactly what I wanted to determine.  The result as you’ll find out, is that HTML5 is at the brink of creating a shift in the way we discover, interact and share the content we love, but still has a long way to go.

HTML5-Changing the Way We Live?

In a nutshell, HTML5 is the natural evolution of HTML, the backbone of all things web. HTML4, the previous iteration of the language, debuted in 1997 and was updated, tweaked and revamped to keep up with all the changes in the web and mobile, not to mention users.

One of the biggest pro’s of HTML5 for developers is the freedom to deploy once and have their app available everywhere. From a consumers’ viewpoint, buying something once with the freedom to use it on multiple platforms is a major plus.

The HTML5 standard supports video, offline reading, touch and gestures – all functions that, until recently, were available for mobile devices on native apps. That being said, when it comes to mobile apps, native development currently wins out over HTML5, especially when trying to deliver apps that take advantage of some of the smartphone’s advanced functionality such as access to the camera.

The HTML5 Mobile App Store Landscape

Currently, the simplest way to distribute HTML5 apps is via the web, which end-users can then connect to via a hyperlink to their mobile device. This, of course, eliminates the need to go through Apple’s lengthy and somewhat confusing approval process. Alternatively, there are HTML5 app stores cropping up that are ready to make an impact in this new market. Very much like the app store, third party developers can list and sell their HTML5 mobile app modules and components in the stores, usually with the usual 70-30 revenue split.

Appcelerator just announced their new marketplace at the company’s Codestrong Developer Conference. The HTML5 app store includes mobile app modules, templates, design elements, cloud extensions and other components for the Appcelerator developer community to use.

OpenAppMkt, launched in 2010, is a web app that can be accessed from openappmkt.com. Installing it is super simple if you’ve ever added an item to you device’s home screen. You can browse through it like you would the App Store or Android market. Most of the apps are free, however, like with most good things in life, the best things cost a little money.

Openspacestore, which was recently launched at TechCrunch Disrupt, recognizes the type of website–gaming, entertainment, news, travel or other and notifies the user in real-time that new apps are available for download. A perfect example of this is a visitor going to TMZ.com and being notified of the top gaming and entertainment apps such as DailyHoroscope and Angry Birds. Another example is visitors going to CNN.com and being alerted of of CNN’s free app web app, as well as other breaking headline apps like NYTimes, Fox News, Good Morning America and others.

 In Conclusion - Future updates to HTML5 (or will it be HTML6?) will surely deliver the freedom to access the mobile devices’ advanced functionality such as storage, in-app notifications, camera access, use of the GPS and so on.  The truth is that most of this is already achievable by utilizing services such as PhoneGap. At the end of the day, it all comes down  to one thing; great apps deliver a rich, user-friendly experience, regardless of what technology is implemented.

How do you see HTML5 evolving? Share your thoughts in the comments or reach out to us via Twitter @W3i and @OrenTodoros.

Oren Todoros, Consultant, W3i, LLC
Oren has more than 9 years experience in online marketing and is now specializing in app marketing.

The app industry is proving to be a rapidly expanding playground for app developers and end-users alike. With new development tools constantly on the rise and no lack of innovation in sight, I thought it would be a good time to look a short distance ahead at what the next wave of app trends may actually be.

1 – New Categories

Due to the highly sophisticated awareness capacity of mobile devices, we’re bound to see advances in categories such as augmented reality, user generated content and location based apps. App users are already adapting to these new features by utilizing them for anything from receiving coupons to finding out more about attendees at events. Now it’s just a matter of time until the app stores create categories for these evolving niches.

2 – Monetization Apps

Not surprisingly younger users are much more receptive to ads in mobile apps. According to a recent Nielsen report, 58 percent said that they “always” or “sometimes look at ads.” Men are much more receptive to mobile ads than women. In addition, mobile users prefer to view mobile ads within an app rather than via search results. However, those who viewed a mobile ad most often use a search engine to find out more information. Only eight-percent purchased the advertised product/service immediately. One important note to keep in mind is that as our consumption of mobile content grows, ad-based apps may become more transparent. Developers will ultimately have to resort to more creative ways to monetize their apps.

3 – Mobile Web Apps

Web apps are making a big impact. In fact, many of them can be just as good as native apps. Content publishers such as FT.com have recently gone the route creating an HTML5 app. The two main reasons for publishers to prefer HTML5 is due to eliminating the sometimes lengthy review process and rolling out on to multiple platforms at once. HTML5 ensures that end-users are always on the latest version of the web-app. Web-app stores such as OpenAppMkt.com are already setting up shop and paving the way for more web-apps to come.

4 – Better Camera Apps

Instagram, Hipstamatic and PicPlz are just a few of the apps that have set the pace for how taking mobile images impact our everyday lives. Going forward, there’s no doubt that the way we capture and share precious moments will radically change. An interesting observation is that the iPhone 4 camera is one of the top 5 preferred cameras in the Flickr community.

The funny thing is that as this trend progresses, we’re seeing more and more of a backwards effect, where retro and vintage filters are coming into play.  Go figure.

5 – Apps as Work Tools

The lifestyle impact of the iPad 2 is unquestionable. End-users are just now starting to understand how to work productively with tablet devices. There is still plenty of room to dominate the tablet industry with productivity tools.

From essential accessories such as external keyboards and video adapters, to better presentation apps and cloud document sharing, we’re sure to see the tablet based productivity niche go way up.

Turning it back to you – What are your app predictions for the near future? And what would you most like to see become a reality? Share your thoughts in the comments below or reach out to us on Twitter @W3i

Oren Todoros, CEO of AppsMarketing.mobi
Oren  is an advisor in the mobile app industry, working with W3i as well as the CEO of AppsMarketing.mobi which works with independent developers and large scale development firms.

As a marketer, when the user has completed the call to action and installed your product you may pat yourself on the back for “one more satisfied customer,” add another tally mark to your total, and move on to the next acquisition. But, getting the user in the door is only half the battle.  There are many weapons a marketer can add to their arsenal to engage and monetize the user after the install; a good thank you page is one of them.

Since the thank you page pops immediately following the installation of your software, or in the e-commerce world, immediately after a purchase, it becomes a means of messaging the user and engaging them with your brand one last time while they are still in the downloading or purchasing mindset. The thank you page allows you to:

• Thank the user and let them know they are valued
• Reinforce that the user made a good choice when they selected your brand
• Reestablish your commitment to quality and online safety
• Provide instruction or direction to make user engagement a more positive experience

In addition to establishing messaging that positively reassures the user, the thank you page can also be used for monetization because it provides real estate for cross-selling your other inventory.  Further, partnering with an advertiser(s) to promote their sponsored content can supply yet another means of reengaging and monetizing the user while they are in download or purchase mode.

When trying to find ways to maximize every install, don’t forget about the value of a good thank you page.  Partners who work with W3i receive the benefits of years of software download marketing and optimization expertise, including thank you page solutions. If you would like to partner with W3i, please contact us today.

Randi Kucala, Account Development Manager, W3i, LLC
A proponent for business partner and user satisfaction, Randi endeavors to make every interaction with W3i a positive one. She specializes in copy writing and on-page SEO.

If you read just about any mobile centric website or blog, you’re bound to come across tons of “How To” tips on generating exposure for your app. Heck, I’ve even written a few myself. With this post, I felt it was equally important to look at the flip side of doing things right and give you a taste of what happens when it all goes terribly wrong.

If you’re not careful, you might find yourself fumbling through the playing field, and the last thing you want to do during game time is drop the ball.

To avoid a few of the most common mistakes new app developers make, I’ve rounded up a checlist of what NOT to do.

Not Planning Ahead

Far too many app developers who receive the sacred “Your App Has Been Approved” email from Apple immediately feel a rush of excitement which in most cases is followed by the “OK what now!?” phase. Avoid putting yourself in this position. It will only stress you into making poor marketing decisions. Prior to your app’s launch, you should already have a detailed game plan in place. A few of the questions you should ask yourself as you prepare your marketing plan are:

• Who will you be reaching out to?
• Who are the leading bloggers in your app’s niche?
• What do you want to highlight about your app?
• Does your app have a video demo you can leverage for extra visibility?
• What are your download expectations?
• What are your short and long term goals?
• How many downloads do you need to break even?

Failing to run thorough QA (Quality Assurance)

Your app has one opportunity to make the right impression. Buggy apps lead to bad reviews, which in turn keeps other potential users away. App testing is an essential part of an app’s life cycle, there’s no reason to leave the testing up to your end users. So what should you be on the look-out for when it comes to testing your app prior to launch? The answer is anything that threatens the value of your app such as: bugs, lack of output quality, lag time, crashes, lack of support on various OS versions and so on.

Over Promise – Under Deliver

Over promising and under delivering is a surefire way to lose credibility and that is one thing that is incredibly hard to win back.  We’ve all been in situations where we thought; “couldn’t they have put a little extra effort in it?” Avoid over promising and under delivering like the plague. On the contrary, if you can over-deliver and give more than is expected you can expect to become much more successful. There’s a fatal gap between intentions and actions you don’t want your app to fall into. I can also sum up this issue with factoring in user experience. Winning apps deliver quality user experience.

Avoid user feedback

The one thing that users like more than a good app is telling others about them. The same goes for bad apps and bad user experience. Social media channels are where it’s happening in terms of users sharing feedback. If you aren’t searching Google blog search, Twitter search, LinkedIn, Facebook and Forums to find out what your users are saying about your app, you’re missing out on a world of knowledge. This is especially true if you’re planning on releasing future updates for you app which has been proven to help maintain the lifetime value of your app. The feedback your end users will supply is priceless.

Guessing Your App’s Price Point

Every day I receive emails like this:

I’ve got my first iPhone app coming out next month. I was thinking $0.99. Would it be advantageous to start higher so I have some room to come down later?

Assuming that your app will sell like hotcakes at the minimal $0.99 price point is not a strategy. By failing to have a solid monetization strategy means you’re potentially leaving money on the table. Free is a compelling price point, especially if your app will monetize via in-app purchases. A rule of thumb to remember is that, it’s always easier to go down than up.

Which leads us to - It Takes Time To Get It Right!

I’ll be the first to admit, it’s not always easy getting things right the first time around. Between the development processes, the graphical work, the content and marketing strategy, launching your first app can feel like a balancing act. If you’re planning to launch a big budget app on your first go around, you might want to test the waters first with a low budget test app. That being said, don’t be afraid to take some well calculated risks along the way.

Now that you’ve read through our top 5 ways to fumble your app’s marketing launch, let’s hear it from you. What have you done considerably wrong through the process of launching your own apps? Share your stories in the comments or reach out to us via Twitter @W3i.

One of the easiest things app developers can do to help themselves out in the App Store is spend a little time considering SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and how it can impact an apps ease of discovery. We’ve written in the past about App Store SEO Tips and thought  it was relevant to revisit the topic and put together a deck for your convenience.