Late last year (2011) I decided to spend some time and learn how to create an iPhone app. At that time I didn’t even own a Mac or iPhone. Fast forward a month or two and I saved enough to afford a macbook pro. However, I still don’t own an iPhone. Mi ipod touch works just fine for testing and troubleshooting.

Nevertheless, I started reading up on iPhone programming and the mobile app industry in general. I’m ok at programming and I know a thing or two about business. Maybe it’s time to put the two together and start something. There’s nothing wrong with dreaming.

Right?

If some 10 year-old kid can do it…then I sure can.

I wanted to start small and simple. Learn the basics and get something out into the world. If I fail then so be it, I’m just trying. I decided to create a simple Jamaican Translator that would translate English to Jamaican patois (patwa). A little harder than I thought but the idea was unique and simple.

Few months later I released a simple app. Apple thought my app was good enough for the app store and it was approved and ready for sale.

I went on to create an create free and paid version for both iPhone and Android.

The Jamaican Translator is also available for free online at jamaicanize.com.

Have a question or comment? Connect with me, @Alwain on twitter.

In the next post I will talk about the technical infrastructure that’s behind Jamaicanize.