Flip Media Launches its first iPhone app

Our challenge: Putting Mumbai in the palm of your hands

Wow…We did it. After months of hard work, our first iPhone application, Mumbaikar, is now available at the Apple app store. The application is an interactive map with everything and anything you need to know about Mumbai, from geotagged restaurant, blogs and store listings to events and neighborhood crime alerts.
 
This was my first experience working on mobile development. The entire three month development process was exciting and fun, but not without its challenges.
 
Learning a new Language

The first big hurdle was learning iPhone SDK. I’ve spent a long time in web framework development, so going back to Objective-C required a steep learning curve. It took longer than I expected to figure out how certain things work.

Renewed appreciation for User Experience, Design & IA

I’ll admit, it was a sometimes frustrating journey with all the back and forth. I would work for days on a prototype and at the end of the week present it to Dinesh who would say, "Imthi, it is amazing!” But after a few more days of using the app he would inevitably come back and say, “Buddy… Something is missing….” So then we would go back to the drawing board and start creating new wireframes.

20100106 wireframe process small 20100106 wireframe process small 2

Another big challenge was ensuring the iPhone app matched the website. We were simultaneously working on version 2 of mumbaikar.com. With the site’s structure changing often, I had to rewrite the REST API for iPhone to match it.

The Cycle of Development

We had to scrap the Mumbaikar app twice before making the final public version.  The first version which I worked on for a month had the basics: directory, incidents and blog listing. I personally wasn’t very satisfied with this version mainly because I had not fully mastered SDK.

20100106 mumbaikar version1 alpha1 small
 
The second version of app had an additional section for locating directory with map. In this version all the listing data was downloaded completely to the app. The major drawback was working on GPRS, it took too long to download and the app was getting slower.

20100106 mumbaikar version1 alpha2 small
 
For the third and final version, we concentrated on speed, optimized download for slow mobile Internet connection, improved threads handling, and fast access to information. We added global search, listings by category, locating by map, user generated ratings, posting, comments and usage statistics. This time around I was really satisfied with where we had gotten.

20100106 mumbaikar version1 small
 
The Final Stretch

In the final stage of development, we tested the application internally with Flip iPhone users. Once we had worked out all the kinks, the application was submitted to the Apple Store for approval. After ten days of waiting on pins and needles, it was a great feeling to see the Mumbaikar application in iTunes. Thanks to Dinesh and Navisite team for their patience and constant support throughout the development process.
 
It’s always a work in progress though and we are looking at ways to make it even better. If you have an iPhone or Ipod touch, please install the application on and give us your feedback.

App Store

 

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  • Bahrudeen February 09th, 2010 at 08:22 PM

    Hello Imthi, Its cool man; actually 7 months back i started to learn iphone SDK, due to other project i can't continue, i know u were gone crazy the time u develop this apps....Happy to say i'm your xColleague :) Keep rocking man....

  • David Sheridan January 20th, 2010 at 05:41 PM

    Hi Imthi. Nice blog and great work on the app. Being a BB user (dinosaur, I know) I'll have to borrow back my daughter's Ipod Touch she got for Christmas to have a better look. Congratulations on your first app baby. David

  • Dinesh Lalvani January 20th, 2010 at 07:58 AM

    Hey Peter, we are using balsamiq. Good for prototyping, but the app is very clumsy. The whole adobe air/flash thing is not there yet. Hopefully he will improve the app and make it more stable.

  • Peter Liu January 17th, 2010 at 01:16 PM

    nice job - look into balsamiq as a good rapid GUI design tool .... it's my little secret - but i'm giving it to you ..

  • Prashant January 14th, 2010 at 06:02 AM

    damn this looks great guys.. great work.. but i dont own a iphone so i cant really use it.. any plans for making this app on windows mobile :D ? anyways its a great affort design and a product from u guys.. mumbaikar rocks!

  • Remiz January 07th, 2010 at 07:15 AM

    Flip did it again. I am thrilled to see an iPhone application from Flip. If I got this app when I was in Mumbai, this would be the first app I have installed on my iPhone. In Kerala, I dont really need this app. But still, I installed it. It got nice UI and everything for a Mumbaikar

  • Mani Karthik January 07th, 2010 at 06:47 AM

    Big fan ! Good job ! :)

  • Iyad Tibi January 07th, 2010 at 06:19 AM

    that's one gone & more to go imthi bhai.. nice work! well done Flip!