AMChannel app

Performance and bug fixes for the first version of the Ambassadors mobile showreel app. And developing the second version, with improved graphics and better integration in the app-ecology.

The Ambassadors, an Amsterdam-based post-production studio, were already working on an iPhone app for their mobile showreel portfolio, when they invited me to help them develop and optimize it.

The Ambassadors post-produce commercials and create special effects together with their network of colourists, editors, sound engineers and animators. They wanted to have a mobile portfolio to feature their impressive showreel. For the first version of their app I just needed to fix some navigation issues and work on performance and caching.

For the second version of their app, AMChannel 2, I was asked to add several new features, improvements and enhancements to the visuals. The app needed to be optimized for the retina display. I added a splash screen to ease the waiting for updates while the app loads and further categorized their visual effects sections into VFX, 3D and grading. I also added sharing functionality by offering the user to send an email with links to the movie in their portfolio to a friend.

To inform users of new movies or articles in the app, we added push notifications. For this close collaboration with the backend of their website was needed to ensure it worked smoothly with the Apple Push Notification service. Due to stricter application registration policy (needed for these push notifications), we weren’t able to just update the old version, but had to release a new version, hence the AMChannel 2.

Neither version was updated after that, and both have since been withdrawn from the App Store.