Let's say you have an idea for a killer iPhone app. Where do you begin? Head First iPhone Development will help you get your first application up and running in no time. You'll quickly learn to use iPhone SDK tools, including Interface Builder and Xcode, and master Objective-C programming principles that will make your app stand out. It's a complete learning experience for creating eye-catching, top-selling iPhone applications.

• Put Objective-C core concepts to work, including message passing, protocols, properties, and memory management

• Take advantage of iPhone patterns such as datasources and delegates

• Preview your applications in the iPhone Simulator

• Build complicated interactions that utilize multiple views, data entry/editing, and iPhone rotation

• Work with iPhone's camera, GPS, and accelerometer

• Create interactive, entertaining games

• Optimize, test, and distribute your application

We think your time is too valuable to waste struggling with new concepts. Using the latest research in cognitive science and learning theory to craft a multi-sensory learning experience, Head First iPhone Development provides a visually-rich format designed for the way your brain works, not a text-heavy approach that puts you to sleep.

Amazon.com® Reader Reviews (Ranked by Helpfulness)

Average Amazon.com® Rating:  Based on 3 Ratings

If you're a total newbie.... - 2009-11-15
Reviewer Rating:
If you're a total iPhone development newbie like I am, you might get lost with the "instructions" in this book. I've worked up to page 67 and now I'm pretty much lost. The authors explain how the code works, but you don't always know exactly where to type in the code using the instructions. On page 68, for example, the code that you need to add to the project is not shown in context with existing code. I guess the developers reasoned that if you can't figure it out, then then this book is probably not for you.

I'm sure that those with the some prior experience with Objective-C or those who are taking a class in this subject will probably be able to tackle this book.

I've successfully used a couple of Head First books in the past, but the instructions in this one are not always clear. I've downloaded the book's code from the publisher's website, so I'll use that some to maybe fill in the gaps.

If you're new to iPhone development and programming in general, then first search for and work through some free online video tutorials on beginning iPhone development before spending your money on this book. If don't do that, you'll be frustrated.

Too bad there's no discussion/tech support group for this book. It would be helpful for newbies.

Finally, a suggestion to editors of the Head First books (if they're reading this), please use some type of icon in your books to indicate specific instructions in the text of the book. It's great that the authors explain the why and purpose of doing certain things, but there should be an indication on the page for specific instructions that readers are to carry out. In this book, for example, you know some instructions are coming up when the authors write: "Let's focus on the database protocol methods first.".. But it would be great if there were an icon that indicated that a particular page(s) has specific instructions.

Oh well, back to the book. I'll see if I can figure it out.

Great Book, fun read! - 2009-11-11
Reviewer Rating:
I bought this book with Beginning Iphone 3 Development. I have yet to touch the Iphone 3 book, I have tried but the Head First book keeps me coming back. The Head First books are so much more fun than most books. I love the hand written notes all over the pages. These notes have arrows pointing right to the IDE or source code they are talking about. This book moves very fast, I was half way through it in a few days, doing all labs as well.

Make sure you read the notes and pay close attention to the Q&A sections. I would even go to the end of the chapter and read those first. There were a few times I added interfaces on my own or did something I thought the example may be missing, only to read later in the Q&A why I didn't need to do it.

Good emphasis on getting the app to the store, covers debugging using Xcode early on.

I don't know Objective-C, I come from a Java background but that hasn't held me back at all using this book. If your goal was to learn Objective C I would use a reference book in conjunction with this book.

I did get stuck a couple of times on one of the examples, I used their source code from their website and compared it to mine and found my issues.

I wanted a book that would get me from point 0 to up and running fast and I think I chose the right book for that!

One of two books that excel at teaching the beginning iPhone app developer - 2009-11-08
Reviewer Rating:
This is the book you want if you want to build applications for the iPhone, you are an experienced programmer, and if you do not already know Objective C. The only book as good as or better than this one is Beginning iPhone 3 Development: Exploring the iPhone SDK. The first two-thirds of that book guides you through iPhone OS programming in general, concentrating on the display. Later chapters cover more advanced topics. What that book has in detail though, it somewhat lacks in perspective. In other words - it fails to step back and give you the big picture. This head first book excels in the big picture as well as the details.

This head first book covers everything you need to know just as long as programming is not something that is new to you. In particular, object-oriented concepts should be familiar to you as well as programming in a procedural language such as C. The book takes it from there. If you have used the head-first series of books before then you know what you are in for. The book uses cartoons, crossword puzzles, Q&A sessions, fake interviews with devices and programs, and strange looking photographs to make your brain remember what it sees. The book is not a reference book on Objective C, and honestly, if you are going to go far with iPhone application development, then you probably should have a conventional book on that very topic after you finish this book and all of its exercises.

This book also gets you going by building an iPhone app in the first chapter. It will also do odd things that make you think about a design, such as leading you down the wrong path in the design cycle so that you remember the right path. For that very reason it is important to go through this book from beginning to end and do all of the exercises. You won't get the most out of it if you do not. Highly recommended if you are teaching yourself this subject.

The table of contents is not yet listed for this book, so I show that next:

getting started
iPhone app patterns
objective-c for the iPhone
multiple views
plists and modal views
saving, editing, and sorting data
tab bars and core data
migrating and optimizing with core data
camera, map kit, and core location
leftovers
preparing an app for distribution

None of these chapter names will probably mean that much to you until you finish the book. Highly recommended for the experienced programmer who is a novice at writing iPhone applications.

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