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UPDATE 18th Aug 2009:

Finally fastboot problem of perfected SPL is taken care of. We were able to flash new ROM on our android. Google Maps, Android Market, Gmail, Quickoffice, youtube etc are available.

We also tested our application Aw’ Shugs, need some tweaking.

Following links were extremely useful.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=548218
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=4335330#post4335330
How to create GoldCard

All credit goes to xda-developers guys.
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We bought HTC Magic India’s first and only android phone hoping to test our applications but it has been a total let down. Complete waste of money.
- Cannot root it. SAPPHIRE PVT 32A SHIP S-ON H, HBOOT-1.33.0010 (SAPP10000) CPLD-12 which cannot be rooted.
- There is no android market
- There are no applications by default for eg google maps.

All you get is an expensive touch phone with normal features and no useful app.

We called at least 30 dealers before purchasing and none of us any idea what is android market and whether handsets will have it or not. Only response was buy it to find it. I contacted HTC support asking them how to install google maps, they gave me long instructions on how to use android market to install google maps Anyway, it took 3-4 emails and then they realized this handset does not have android market with no immediate plans to release it.

If you are planning to buy HTC magic (India) for development, don’t.

Images after upgrade:

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We tried several tools and methods for user interface designing of iPhone applications. We now use a combination of these tools and our choice depends on what best suits the product as well as the customer. The key point is communicating the design clearly to both the customer and developers.

Before going into details, let me just list the iPhone design and mockup (wireframe) tools/methods in no particular order:

1. Use Interface Builder (Mac only)
2. Use Balsamiq mockup tool (Mac, windows, linux) – http://www.balsamiq.com (http://www.balsamiq.com/blog/2009/03/01/iphone-controls-new-icons-and-much-more/)
3. Use Omnigraffle (Mac only) and import an iPhone stencil – (http://www.omnigroup.com/applications/omnigraffle/download/ and http://www.graffletopia.com/search/iphone)
4. Use paper and a stencil- http://www.designcommission.com/shop/iphone-stencil-kit/
5. Use a pre-printed sketch paper – http://labs.boulevart.be/index.php/2008/06/05/sketch-paper-for-the-mobile-designer/
6. Use photoshop and the iPhone PSD – http://www.teehanlax.com/blog/?p=1628
7. Use Adobe Fireworks – http://blogs.adobe.com/fireworks/2008/08/iphone_gui_as_adobe_fireworks.html and http://www.building43.com/videos/2009/06/23/mockup-iphone-app-adobe-fireworks/
8. Although not there yet, you can try http://iphonemockup.lkmc.ch/
9. Use the stencil kit from Yahoo! which is available in a variety of formats – http://developer.yahoo.com/ypatterns/wireframes/
10. Use the sketchbook available at http://www.mobilesketchbook.com/

Some bonus stuff

• For some great tips on designing iPhone apps, you can read http://www.mobileorchard.com/7-iphone-ui-user-interface-design-resources/
• A PSD for creating iPhone line icons http://www.keepthewebweird.com/iphone-icon-psd-template/
• Icons for tabbar and toolbar http://www.glyphish.com/ and http://eddit.com/shop/iphone_ui_icon_set/

Lazy as I am, I decided to write details about each iPhone UI design tool later, so till then please use the list above and explore them.

If I missed your favorite tool, please let me know in comments and I will gladly add it here.

After 10 days in review, Aw’ Shugs Free is now available on the iPhone App Store. The update to the paid version is still under review.

The only difference between the free and paid versions is that the paid version allows users to catch shugs anywhere and not just limited to a range around their current location.

Enjoy!!