Affective Apps recently published an interview with Kyle King from ZoomAppy, discussing how to develop a successful app. An excerpt from the interview is below and the full article can be read here.

Here are some things I think are essential to having success in the App Store based on my own observations and experiences: (1) Once you have an idea for app, find all similar apps in the App Store. Look for those that are really successful as well as those that are not. What are the differences and similarities between them? (2) Do Internet researches about these apps to find out as much information as you can. Assess their use of social media and exposure on blog sites, review sites, etc. What steps might be needed to achieve that same level of exposure? (3) Read user reviews for feedback and make sure you don’t duplicate their mistakes. Think of how your app is going to be similar and how it’s going to be different. (4) Beta test your ideas throughout the development process to get feedback. These are people that can later help create “buzz” and promote your app using social media (5) Have a good website that is search engine friendly. Make it easy for people to find your app using keywords that are relevant to your product. (6) Continuously grow your social network. Build honest and meaningful relationships with people. Get their feedback and maintain a continuous dialogue to keep those relationships going. (7) When submitting your app to the App Store, make sure you place your app in the categories that are relevant and give you the best chance for success.

Getting a high-score in a mobile game app could be your ticket to worldwide fame (of sorts) in the Guinness Book of World Records. Each game enabled with Kiip software will begin tracking its highest scorers and the best of the best will be listed in the book each year. Do you want to be known as one of the best mobile gamers in the world? Get practising!

Hands up if you've been stung by accidentally going over your data plan limit? I'm pretty sure you're not the only one! As Android doesn't have the same technology as iOS when it comes to "shrinking" data and maximizing performance, it's all too easy to exceed your monthly cap and end up having to pay a small fortune. Luckily for all us app addicts, Onavo is here. This app monitors your data use, sends notifications when you're close to the cap and even block apps from using 3G once your monthly limit has been reached. Hurrah for smaller bills!

GoToApp App Organizer enables users to organize their apps as required. Once organized, sort your apps by name or install date; change settings as required and basically make using your smartphone tidier and more efficient. Pretty handy.

Android and iPhone users can now chat with their Facebook friends on the go using the new Facebook Messenger app. It's not a huge surprise to see the app, seeing as Facebook acquired Beluga, but we're sure it will be welcomed warmly. Logging in lets you view your recent Facebook chats and messages, hold chat conversations with your friends in real time and even send photos. One feature which looks interesting is the alerts; users can choose to be alerted to each new message and also choose to delay alerts when it's not convenient to receive them. This is definitely on our wishlist!

After Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg declared that the iPad wasn't mobile enough to deserve it's own app, it looks as though such an app has been created (and released) anyway. It was accessible to users of jailbroken devices but it looks as though Facebook have cottoned on to this now and removed access. For now, have a look at this Mashable article for screenshots and an idea of what may be in store for iPad users.

KDDI R&D Laboratories in Japan have developed an experimental Android app which can read the user's brainwaves. While the user plays a 30 second game, a wireless headset measures their neural activity and pulse. Once the game is finished, graphs and other information about the brain's activity is displayed on the screen. Depending on the game chosen, the data can show focused and relaxed states and even measure the results of the user thinking about emotional issues for a short period of time. The app isn't available as yet but reports state it could potentially work as a portable lie detector. What do you think? Medical breakthrough? Technological genius? Or just a bit creepy?

How amazing is this? Griffin have created a model helicopter which, instead of being controlled by a remote control, is controlled using an iOS app. The Helo TC lets users choose between touchscreen control or "Tilt to Fly" accelerometer controls, but does require a infra-red device to be attached to your iPhone or iPad. Featuring five LED lights and coming with spare rotor blades in case of accidents, this may well be the ultimate iOS gadget!

Yahoo's new app search claims to be a fast, fun way to discover new apps. What do you think?

The coffee-table book will cost up to $650, the iPad app with the same content is just five dollars. No brainer!