FAQs
Categorized below are a number of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) that cover various stages and aspects of the App Development Process, from design to release and after sales service.
App Development
What devices and platforms do you create apps for?
We develop apps for all Apple computers including desktops (Mac, MacBook), mobile (iPod Touch, Phone, iPad), wearables (Watch) and Living Room (TV).
What is iOS?
iOS is the name of the Operating System software that all Apple mobile devices use. There are technical extensions for specific devices such as tvOS and WatchOS. They are typically grouped together as just "iOS".
How much does it cost to create an app?
There is no way to answer this question meaningfully until all of the project requirements are understood. The first step is to outline the devices the app is intended to run on, what device capabilities the app will access (GPS, Maps, etc.) as well as any third party interaction (Facebook, web servers, etc.). Last the number of screens and complexity of the app will greatly affect pricing of a project. Fixed-price projects are the best way to guarantee that you will know the price of the project ahead of time and we work within that budget to complete the app.
How can I pay for my project?
Whether using UpWork or direct invoicing, payments can be made using most major credit/debit cards, PayPal or direct bank transfer.
What is a "Universal App"?
A Universal App is the term used to describe an app that was designed to work with iPhone, iPod-Touch and iPad devices of various screen sizes. This is often misunderstood because all iPhone/iPod-Touch apps run on an iPad. The difference is Universal Apps display full screen on an iPad (and can even have a different layout) and don't have the borders around the edge of the screen. Universal apps screens are much clearer (sharp) and images are not distorted as they are when being upsized.
What does my app Warranty cover?
Each successfully completed project that results in an app, is warranted for a period of one-year from first release date. Apps will operate on its intended device models determined by the iOS version that was current on the Release date. Bug-fixes and unforeseen issues will be resolved so long as they are in the scope of the original project. Third-party libraries (such as Facebook, etc.) are not warranted past the Release date. The Warranty covers 1 single iOS update higher than what was current on the Release date. This includes any minor revisions release by Apple.
How long is my App covered by Warranty?
Each successfully completed project that results in an app, is warranted for a period of one-year from first release date. Release date is the date the app was submitted to App Store. If not intended for release to App Store such as B2B apps, then the date project was completed. If the project is an update, whereas there would be multiple uploads to App Store, then the Release date is the first upload to App Store for the last project of the app.
Why does my Watch app require an iPhone version also?
Watch apps are actually an extension of an iPhone app that communicates with the Watch. Therefore an iPhone app is created with Watch interoperability. The iPhone app works with or without the Watch connected, but the Watch app may not work without the iPhone app running depending on what it does.
Upwork (formerly Elance)
Why did Creative App Solutions move from Elance to Upwork?
Elance merged with O-Desk in 2014 and in 2015 renamed the merged companies UpWork. We completed the conversion in September of 2015 for new clients.
What is Upwork?
Upwork, formerly Elance-oDesk, is a global online work platform where businesses and independent professionals connect and collaborate remotely. In 2015, Elance-oDesk was rebranded as Upwork.
Do I have to use Upwork to work with Creative Apps?
No. It has specific advantages to first time developers such as escrow protection and is favorable for international users automatically handling exchange rates and such. Creative Apps has many clients that are not within the UpWork ecosystem and simply invoice them directly.
Legal Stuff
If I were to choose Creative Apps as my iOS app developer, are you prepared to sign a Non Disclosure Agreement protecting my intellectual property?
Yes, we have an industry standard Non-Disclosure Agreement that is available upon request. Send us an email requesting one and we will be happy to send one to you.
Who owns the Intellectual Property of the App?
You do. All work we conduct is deemed "work-for-hire". All of the source code we write as part of the project is yours and we retain no rights to any of it.
Can I patent my app when its done?
We aren't patent attorneys, but this excerpt is from the website LegalZoom: First and foremost, it is important to understand what constitutes a patent. The U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) has specific criteria it uses to determine eligibility for a patent. For instance, the USPTO looks closely at whether the invention (your mobile app) has ever been patented or published before. If it has, then the option to apply for a patent might end there. The USPTO suggests starting your patent search by brainstorming keywords related to the purpose, use and composition of the invention and then looking them up in the Index to the U.S. Patent Classification to find potential class/subclasses, and then determining the relevancy of the class/subclasses by using the Classification Schedule in the Manual of Classification. Patents may be searched in the USPTO Patent Full-Text and Image Database (PatFT), which includes the full text for patents issued from 1976 to the present and TIFF images for all patents from 1790 to the present. But there's more. The USPTO also looks at whether your mobile app uses any "methods or processes for producing a useful, concrete, and tangible result" previously patented, published or used. Again, if it does, there's no patent in your future - at least for that particular app.