Hello to everyone from Vancouver, Canada. I must have burnt hours and hours looking for the right platform to develop iOS/Android apps, with having to learn Objective C. I'm hoping that BuzzTouch is finally a tool that works for me...so far, from what I've seen, I really like it. I'm hoping to develop my first app as basically one that showcases who I am and what I do. A few newbie questions: - I'd like to add an RSS feed from my Blog, so is there an RSS plugin or is that only in the paid subscription? I'd like to build at least 1 app before committing to the yearly subscription (which I'm happy to do if all looks good). I'd like to add the following types of screens to the app: Profile screen (hopefully via HTML5 and be able to update without having to recompile/resubmit the app), RSS feed screen from my blog, Contact Me screen (with info on different ways to contact me, eg eMail, Website, LinkedIn profile URL, etc), Map screen (showing my location). - is there anything like "themes" as we'll as plugins? i.e. to create different "looks" for your apps, just like in WordPress for Websites? - is there a guide (.pdf) that walks you through the process of submitting your app to iOS and Android app stores? Maybe they're on here, and I just haven't looked hard enough :-) - by the way, when watching the intro videos, they showed how updating a menu name changes inside the app without having to download/recompile the app. Does this mean that the app needs to communicate with the BuzzTouch servers every time it's opened or used? Can the app be used without being online? Sorry for all my questions in this intro, but I thought I'd throw them out there as I'd like to start creating my app now...like as of yesterday! :-) LOL Thanks! Steve

Welcome Steve! -Unfortunately there is not an RSS plugin right now available, however I believe one is coming soon. -You should be able to have everything you want on a contact screen. -In terms of themes, there's nothing really like that. You can decide whether you want buttons or a list style or also if you want your app to have a tabbed layout if that helps. -If you click on the "How To's" tab at the top, there are great lesson including how to submit your app. -The nice thing about Buzztouch is that you do not need to recompile your app everytime you make a change (unless its something in your code on Xcode for example). If you do, then your users would need to be able to connect to the internet while using the app, but the app can be used without being online. Obviously, if you aren't using it online, you can't access an RSS feed, webpage, etc. Hope that info helps and welcome again, David

Thanks David. I'll take a look at the "How To's". I guess 1 possibility to get around the RSS feed plugin not being there might be some HTML5 code? Will have to research some more. Again, thanks.

If you're doing iPhone only, there is an RSS plugin at Buzztouchmods.com, but it doesn't work with Android AFAIK. Of course, the bummer with that is, it's self hosted only. So if you're not a member, it isn't available to you. Echoing shak77, there is one coming soon in the plugin market. Welcome! Hope you find everything you need! And if you don't, Ask! Cheers! -- Smug

Thanks smug :-)

Welcome Steve! An Android approach for rss I use, until a bt plugin gets released, is to use tiggzi.com, an html5 app builder. With their free plan you can keep recycling a single project for your needs. The resulting project can be hosted online or in the 'assets' folder of your Android project in eclipse and opened with a bt 'customURL' plugin. Sounds a bit involved, but it's super simple once you've done one.

Hmmm...thanks raveyd...it does sound complicated. But, big question: will it also work with iOS? I'm an Apple guy (iPhone4, iPad3).

@BuzzingSteve Welcome to Buzztouch.com! We are here to help if you need anything. Tony Buzztouch.com

@BuzzingSteve, yes, it would work with iOS, the output is just a regular url. I don't think Apple will like it though, they like to see native features in apps. For iOS the bt plugin would be the way to go.

Ok, thanks...I guess after playing with iBuildApp, I'd like to compare with BuzzTouch which seems more flexible but also need a bit more hand-holding :-) By the way, I can't seem to get into viewing any of the learning. When I go to https://www.buzztouch.com/account/btu.php it says I need to take the BuzzTouch learning essentials first, but where is that? :-) Can someone send me a link to that? Thanks

Can't compare them Steve. I'm no bt evangelist, I use other platforms too, but bt is easily up there with the big money app builders. I think the learning essentials is this one: "buzztouch Learning Path" at the url you posted above.

Welcome Steve! Glad to have you part of the community. Your hopes are all good ones, and ones that I hope to see as part of Buzztouch in the future. In the mean time, dream up the app you want to see, take a stab at the tutorials, and ask questions as you come up with them. The best part of Buzztouch is the community loves to help each other out! :)

welcome dude !ay

Hello Steve! Welcome to buzztouch! Don't hesitate to shout if you need any help, have any other questions, or just want to bounce something off anybody. We're all here to help each other out! By the way, Vancouver rocks! I love that city! Mark

Thanks everyone! What a great group of people :-) By the way, I finally figured out how to get to "buzztouch Learning Path"...the problem is you have to click on "0% Complete"...as a suggestion, the whole box titled "buzztouch Learning Path" should be clickable...I tried clicking almost everywhere except on "0% Complete" :-)

Welcome Steve! This is a site for beginners and Advanced user alike. You can play with the code and make new plugins when you feel more at ease. Cheers -Nick

Hi BuzzingSteve, Welcome to BT. It's loaded with good materials for app development. Wishing you a great time here.

Thanks gooddoorway :-) I'll pile up my questions as I start designing/building my 1st app :-) One question, though, for anyone who's built any apps for the Apple App Store: - are they ok, with apps that are basically self promotional, e.g. I want to create an app that basically has a couple of screens about who I am, what I've done, how to to contact me, and a feed from my blog. Would this be an issue for Apple? Thanks! Steve

The main thing that gets people rejected these days is the app lacking in functionality. If Apple thinks you could have done this by making a mobile friendly web page then they'll likely reject it. Add some user interaction to increase your chances of approval