1. What is the typical structure of a map2app mobile travel guide? 
2. I want to create a travel guide, but where do I start from?
   
3. Can my categories have sub-categories? Can my app have a category that contains categories within it (macro-category)?
   
4. Can I create an app in multiple languages?
   
5. Can I add an RSS feed to my guide?
   
6. What is the difference between publishing an app as an Author or as a Publisher?
   
7. Can I test my app before publishing it?
   
8. Can I update my app?
   
9. Can I send push notification to my users?
   
10. Can I re-publish my app?
    
11. Can I create more than one app?
    
12. Why do I need a Google or Yahoo account to sign in to the platform?
    
13. Are the apps made with map2app native apps?
    
14. What is the right size for each graphic element (images, icons etc.)?
    
15. Only travel guides? What else can I do with your platform?
    
16. How long does it take to have my app published on the Stores?
    

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is the typical structure of a map2app mobile travel guide?

Each of our apps appears as a list of Categories (ex: bar - restaurants - monuments - etc.) and every Category can contain three different types of content:

• Places: have a position on the map
• Events: have a position on the map and a starting/ending date
• Stories: don't have a position on the map

A category is just a container and is identified by a name and an icon.

Content can include text fields, map coordinates(for places), a starting and ending date (for events), pictures, audio and video.

I want to create a travel guide, but where do I start from?

The first step is to access the App Creator at http://cms.map2app.com.

Once you are in the Content Management System (CMS), start by defining your own categories in the left column. This will be the first list that your users will see. You will find a few demo categories already in place, but feel free to delete them if you do not need them, and begin creating your own (use the "Add Category" button). Don’t worry about the icons—you can add them later.

Once you have your categories all set, select the first one and start adding content to it using the "Add" button.

In order to upload and manage your media (icons, pictures, audio and video) go to the "Media section" on the top right of the page.

Also at the top right of the page is the “App” section. This section lets you set colors and backgrounds for your app, provide a description for distributors and consumers, and then publish.

Can my categories have sub-categories? Can my app have a category that contains categories within it (macro-category)?

Categories can be bundled and put into what we like to call macro-categories. These macro-categories can sometimes serve to enhance user-experience. For instance, you can have a macro category labeled “food” or “food adventures”, and several subcategories labeled “Italian Food”, “Mongolian Cuisine”, “Sushi Joints”, and whatever else you decide to put on there.

Although the Map2app interface does not currently allow you to create macro-categories, our team can create them for you personally.

All we will need to make this happen is a pyramid structure of how you want your guide to be arranged or a list of your desired macro-categories. Right before you go to publish, contact us and we will make the guide fit your vision.

Can I create an app in multiple languages?

Sure you can! This is one of the coolest features of map2app. We suggest creating your app in english first. Once you are done with it, press the little button "add language" on the bottom left of the page and chose which language you want to add, which fields you want to copy from the existing language (ex: the telephone number) and which fields you want to automatically translate. We use Google Translator APIs and, while they are generally pretty reliable, we strongly recommend you check your translations before publishing your app.

IMPORTANT: If your first language is not english than make sure setting your default language is the first thing you do.

Can I add an RSS feed to my guide?

Yes you can! Just create a new category and in the "New Category Box" select the RSS radio button and paste the link to your RSS feed. Next, press "Save" and wait for few seconds. The RSS items will now appear as category items. You will not be able to modify them as with usual items, and each item will inherit the will be displayed with the icon used for its respective category.

What is the difference between publishing an app as an Author or as a Publisher?

An Author can create and distribute an app for free. Map2app will publish it and sell it at a minumum price of 0.99$ on the main App Stores. The app will contain references to Map2app's website as well as to the author's blog or website. Revenues will be shared in equal part between Map2app and the author. Map2app will pay an author when reaching the threshold of 100$. This means that - since both Apple and Android keep 30% of the total income - an author will be paid after 289 downloads (100$ / (0.99$ - 30%)/2  = 289).

A Publisher on the other hand will pay a fee for publishing their app, but they can decide how to distribute it, free or paid. Moreover no Map2app reference will appear in the app. The publishing cost can easily be calculated through our Price Calculator and it depends on 3 parameters:

1. the number of items in the app (number of items = number of places + items + events)
2. the number of languages in which the app will be published
3. the number of platforms for which the app will be published (platforms available: iPhone, Android, J2ME)

Can I test my app before publishing it?

Absolutely!

You can test your app for all of the supported platforms. Go to the Apps Section by pressing the "App" button on the top right, fill in the info, select the colors and finally go to the test section.

Now chose the platform that you want to test your app for and press the corresponding button. You need to have a device supporting that platform in order to test your app with it. It will take a few minutes to build your app—even half an hour for bigger apps! But no need to worry…We will send you an email with all the instructions once your app is ready. Testing your app will be super simple. You don't need to be a programmer, or even a geek. Here’s how it works

• Android: you will receive an email with the link for installing the app. Open the email from your Android device, press the link and then the "install" button that will appear. It is that simple. IMPORTANT TO NOTE: Testing the app before publishing is often a real life-saver! Publishing the test app, however, may cause stress, and take a few minutes off of the end of your life. For this reason, the app that you will download will be exactly the same as the app that you will publish, BUT it will expire in 7 days, so do not publish it or you will have many angry users knocking at your door!
• iPhone: This is a little more tricky but still very easy. Unfortunately Apple does not allow you to install an app that does not come from the Apple Store. For this reason you need to download a special app from the Apple Store, called AppViewer, that allows you to view your app. Once your app is ready for testing you will receive an email with a code. Insert the code in AppViewer and you are done!
• J2ME: the same of Android, read above.

Can I update my app?

Yes. Map2app has been designed to allow you to update your content anytime. You can add, remove or modify both items and categories. When you perform one of these actions your users will be notified through a pop up and will be asked if they want to download the updates.

Map2app also lets you keep in touch with your users and notify them with updates and new content.

Can I send push notification to my users?

No you cannot do this yet. This is one feature that we might add in the future. If you think that it would be a valuable one for your business please drop us an email at  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and let us know how we can help you.

Can I re-publish my app?

Yes you can re-publish your app. This could be a good idea after your app has been published for a while, above all if you’ve updated many items and categories. You do not have to re-publish it, but if you don’t, every new user that downloads the app will need to also download all of the updates that you published after the first publication. If you published your app as a Publisher, you will only pay 10% of the original publishing cost to update.

Can I create more than one app?

At this time Map2app allows you to create just one app. In few months you will be able to manage as many apps as you want within your account but at this time you will need to create a new account for every app that you want to distribute.

Why do I need a Google or Yahoo account to sign in to the platform?

We use OpenID one of the most secure authentication systems in the world. It provides users with a safe and fast way to authenticate for a website. The advantages of this are that you do not need to remember a new user name and password to access Map2app.

Are the apps made with map2app native apps?

Absolutely yes! We developed (and maintain) three native, flexible and modular clients, one for each platform. Our apps are real apps, no html5 wrappers or shortcuts have been used. This guarantees best performance and improved speed thus providing an excellent user experience.

What is the right size for each graphic element (images, icons etc.)?

We suggest the following dimensions:

	W	H	Resolution	File type
icon	W = 160 px	H = 160 px	72 dpi	.png
images	W ≥ 1280 px	H ≥ 768 px	72 dpi	.png / .jpg
app icon	W = 1024 px	H = 1024 px	72 dpi	.png
banner	W ≥ 960	no costraints	72 dpi	.png / .jpg
splashscreen	W ≥ 960	H ≥ 1280	72 dpi	.png / .jpg

These dimensions cover the whole range of devices, up until iPad 2.

Our servers will scale the images to the optimal size for each category of devices.

As of today, all graphical elements are scaled in order to be compatible with the following devices:

• iphone 3G / 3Gs
• iphone 4G
• iPad 2
• android low density
• android medium
• android high density
• android x high density
• j2me small
• j2me medium
• j2me big

Only travel guides? What else can I do with your platform?

We love travelling and we love maps, but this does not mean that you can produce only tourist guides! Maptoapp is a very flexible tool that allows you to create different kinds of applications with full support for text audio, video and images. For example you can create a Catalogue, a Calendar of Events, a News Readers, a List of Recepies, a Guitar Course... Contact us and tell us your need, we will be happy to realize the perfect web application for you.

How long does it take to have my app published on the Stores?

We can publish your apps on three different Stores and each one has a different publishing time, depending on their reviewing process:

• App Store: 7 - 15 days 
• Android Market: 2 days
• GetJar: 7 days

Apple takes so long because they manually review every single app before it goes on the Store.