Frequently Asked Questions
Is this app design course for me?
The course has been designed to be fun and easy to learn and assumes no technical knowledge whatsoever. It has been written by a leading app designer, Chris Stevens, who has personally shipped over half-a-million apps, including the smash-hit Alice for the iPad. As the course progresses, we introduce more technical detail – but don't worry, we won't freak you out. We understand that building your first app can be an exciting challenge, so the course follows a practical path. If the idea of programming doesn't excite you, that's no problem: We'll explain how to work together with a programmer. By the end of the course you should be perfectly positioned to build and go to market with your first app.
How long do I have access to the course?
You will have 24/7 access to all learning materials for 12 months from the time you register on our site.
What format is the course material delivered in?
All our services are delivered online here. The App Design course is accessed from your personal myEwB account which is made available to you on purchase. The course materials are delivered through beautifully illustrated PDFs, interactive and practical exercises and instructive videos. This holistic, time-efficient, and manageable learning system is designed to give you the skills you need to develop the App you want.
What software/hardware does the course require?
The course text documents and videos for the EwB App Design course can be followed using free software that most computers will have had installed during the course of everyday internet usage. If this free software is not installed then our step by step guides to installation in our help section will easily address this. Any other software required throughout the course is free and the relevant links are given. The means to try apps on a phone/tablet (either with Androis or iOS operating systems) will be useful for some of the practice exercises.
How much time does it take to complete the courses?
It takes the average user 15 - 20 hours to complete the course. Of course this varies and those 15 - 20 hours might be completed in a single week or over a matter of months.
Can I print any of the course material for my own use or to read offline?
Yes, all our written material is available to read offline through PDF downloads. You are not, however, permitted to distribute this material as per our Terms and Conditions.
Is there a certificate?
Yes, a certificate of completion is issued once you have completed all 18 course units. This certificate can be used for Continued Professional Development (CPD) in IT purposes.
What topics do you cover?
Check out our course syllabus.
Is your payment system secure?
Yes. We use PayPal, the world’s best-known, safest online payment system.
Is there any additional support?
Our written guides, videos and exercises have been very carefully put together. At times there might be something that we have either missed or that you in particular are stuck on, in which case, drop us an email at support.apps.en@excelwithbusiness.com.
Can I get a discount for bulk business purchases?
If you wish to purchase EwB App Design courses in bulk we can offer a discount, please send all order requests to support.apps.en@excelwithbusiness.com.
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Before I put my app on Google Play or the Apple App Store, I would like to test it on my computer. I have both Android SDK and Apple Xcode installed. How would I go about doing this?
You would generally test the app on an actual device, not the computer. But if you did want to test the app using a software simulator, you would simply double click the project file your programmer supplies and then compile the app. Check with your programmer on how to test the app – there may be special instructions and, in the case of installing on an actual device, you may need to 'provision' the device. Again, this is something your programmer can help you with and there are many different ways to deploy an app to a test device. Your programmer can guide you through the process, or you can consult the documentation for the SDK you're using.
If I would like to test my app on my Android Device/iPhone/iPad. How would i go about doing this, without uploading it to Google Play or the Apple App Store?
Both Apple and Google allow developers to test their apps on real-world devices without using an app store. There are many different ways to install an app on an iOS and Android devices, and your programmer will have his/her own preference for doing this. If you're working alone, the simplest way is to 'build and run' the app on a 'provisioned' device. Authorising devices can potentially be a complex procedure if you are unfamiliar with the process. Either consult the documentation for the SDK, or ask your programmer to talk you through it.
I have checked through your app course but I can't figure out what software tools are used to create the apps. Are there any development tools that need licensing?
The tool used to create iOS (iPhone and iPad) apps is Apple's Xcode. The tool used to create Android apps is the Android SDK. Both software packages are free to use, but you will need to OK a license agreement (as with all software) and pay a small subscription fee to Apple or Google if you want to publish your apps in their official online stores.
How will I get the app published? As far as I know, you need to subscribe to Apple's App Store and possibly also Google Play.
Yes, there is a small subscription fee to pay to become an official developer for either platform, and also a revenue cut. In our experience, this is a pretty good deal, since you get most of your sales and paperwork taken care of automatically by Apple or Google.
Are there any costs for continuing development during year two and so forth?
Yes, the ongoing costs include the yearly subscription fee you pay to Apple or Google, and the cost of maintaining compatibility with new devices (cheap for iOS, potentially expensive for Android).
I wanted to find out if I require an iPad, iPhone or Android phone to get the most out of the course?
No, there is no requirement for actual hardware. The software referenced in the course is free to download, and you can test your app in the software simulator.
Is there a course you offer that allow apps to be developed on a PC then deployed to smart phones – if that’s even possible?
You can develop Android apps on a PC, but Xcode – the software used to program iOS apps – is Mac-only.
Are Blackberry or Facebook apps covered in the course?
No, we focus on building for the iPhone and Android markets, by far the largest.
