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To make it easy to build apps with AT&T API, we just added the AT&T OAuth API Plug-in. The plug-in sets up the OAuth 2 authentication by returning an access token which then can be used to invoke any other AT&T API.

To import the plug-in, select Create New > From Plug-in > ATT OAuth API:

Once the plug-in is imported, open ATT_Settings file:

and set the client_it, client_secret, and scope. The client_id, and client_secret will be available once you register an app at http://developer.att.com. The scope value depends on the API you are going to use. For example, if you the Location API, it will be TL. Refer to docs for the correct scope for each API.

Here is an example of a registered app with three scopes (in red):

One more thing that needs to be set is the OAuth 2 redirect (or callback URL) in app settings

For the callback URL to work correctly, also do the following in the Test window (upper right):

1. Uncheck Open in mobile frame
2. Make the app pulbic

When running the app and you are not signed in into AT&T, you will see this page:

when signed in, you will see the access token:

The access token is also stored into local storage so you can use it to invoke other AT&T APIs.

Learn how to add and send in app messages from your number with new AT&T In App Messaging API Plug-in.

Best Buy Products API and Sample App plug-in provides a simple, REST-based interface for entire product catalog – past and present. This includes pricing, availability, specifications, descriptions, and images for over a million current and historical products.

Adding the plug-in to your app

To add the Best Buy Products API and Sample App plug-in, from Appery.io builder, select Create New > From Plug-in. Open Shopping, then select Best Buy Products API and Sample App:

Click Import selected plug-ins. The plug-in will be imported and you will see all its files in the Project view:

Before you run the app, we need to enter the Best Buy API key. Open Services/BestBuy_Settings file and enter your API key:

If you don’t have an API key, get it from Best Buy.

You should also go to Project/App settings, set the Start Page to BestBuy_Category_List, set the theme to BestBuy_Theme and check the Render all pages in one HTML file checkbox.

Running the sample app

You can now launch the app by clicking the Test button (in the upper right corner).

The starting page of app contains the list of categories as shown below:

Click any category button. The list of the products from the category opens on the Products page:

Click any product to get the product details. The page renders the image preview to the item and the available attributes as shown below:

You can also perform a search by entering a query in the text input at the top and pressing the search button.

REST API services used in the plug-in

Now that we’ve seen how this sample app works, let’s dig deeper to see how the Best Buy Products API is exposed in Appery.io platform.

The following REST services are used for getting information from Best Buy Products API:

BestBuy_GetProductsService service is used for getting the list of required products. REST service Settings display the URL, and other settings:

The {searchQuery} will be set when the app is running, based on user input.

Request tab shows the request parameters defined in the service:

Response parameters are automatically created after doing a service test (in Test tab):

Response parameter:

All other services are set in the same way.

Once a service is added to the page, it is then mapped to the page (request and response):

How the plug-in works

Aetna GoodRx API and Sample App plug-in can be instantly added to any new or existing app. Aetna GoodRx is offering RESTful services that help to find the lowest retail cash price as offered by a national chain pharmacy for a given pharmaceutical. In addition, user will receive a URL for each result that will navigate to the page in the GoodRx mobile web experience that will display the pharmacy that is offering that price, and even find the closest branch to on their current location.

The ready-to-run app makes it super easy to start using the API. To add Aetna GoodRx plug-in:

1. From Appery.io builder, select Create New -> From Plug-in
2. Open Healthcare, then select Aetna GoodRx API and Sample App

After importing the plugin, set the default page to GoodRx_SearchPage, set the theme to GoodRx_Theme and check the Render all pages in one HTML file checkbox.

Using GoodRx API requires an API key which you can get from http://developer.carepass.com. To enter the API key, open Services/Aetna_GoodRx_Settings file:

Once the API key is set, click the Test button (upper right corner) to launch the app in the browser. The start page looks like this:

The page contains the search attributes for drugs as follows:

• Drug Name (open text field, required if National Drug Code Directory identifier field is empty)
  • For example: lipitor
• Drug form (drop-down, optional).
  • Possible values:
    • Tablet
    • Capsule
    • Injectable
    • Liquid
• Dosage in mg (optional, requires digits)
  • For example: 10
• Quantity (optional, requires digits)
  • For example: 30
• Manufacturer Type (drop-down, optional)
  • Possible values:
    • Brand
    • Generic
• National Drug Code Directory identifier (open text field, required if Drug Name is empty)

To test the app, you should enter some search parameters. For example, let’s enter “lipitor” in the “Drug Name” field. If you click the Search button then, you’ll see the screen with the search results:

If you click the Go to website button, you will be redirected to GoodRx desktop website or mobile website (if you launch the app on a mobile device).

The page shows information about the drug as well as information where it can be purchased.

Inside the plug-in

Now that we’ve seen how this sample app works, let’s dig deeper to see how the GoodRx API is exposed on the Appery.io platform.

GoodRx_LowPriceSearch service

GoodRx_LowPriceSearch is used for getting the list of the lower prices of the requested drugs. The URL and the main settings of the service as shown below:

If you open the Request tab, you’ll see that only the apikey parameter is defined here. The reason for this is that the service can receive different sets of parameters, so all the other required parameters are added dynamically in Javascript Helper.search() function before service invocation.

The response parameters are displayed under the Response tab:

GoodRx_Settings service

This service holds the API key. It is used in GoodRx_LowPriceSearch service.

Try our new tutorials:

• Building a simple ToDo app with Appery.io Backend Services
• Building a search app with Appery.io Backend Services

Guest Post by Ambika Pajjuri from KidSenz

Hello fellow Appery.io developers.  I am founder of KidSenz, a company that delivers news videos and blogs in a kid safe environment, and wanted to share my experience with Appery.io

I was looking for a product that let me bring my app to life fast and in the most cost effective way. Instead of learning native programming languages and environments, I wanted to use HTML5. The idea was to build a Beta product as soon as possible to help figure out what works and doesn’t so we could pivot and iterate fast, before launching into production.

I tried a few tools including Sencha, Brightcove and Appery.io that enable the use of HTML5 for mobile app development.  As a novice to mobile apps, I found Appery.io to be the easiest and most user friendly development environment.

The features I found very useful include:

• Appery.io drag and drop, re-size, element nesting capabilities and built-in defaults  significantly reduced the learning curve so I could focus on the business problem.
• I didn’t have to deal with the CSS since it was generated.  This enabled me to focus on creating a good app rather than the code behind the scenes.
• Appery.io provides out of the box support to attach to various backend options such as SendGrid, Twilio, Parse, AT&T, and Singly via REST API – this is in addition to support for their own database.
• Support for custom Javascripting and HTML that makes it easy to add functions when out of the box support does not exist.
• Automated generation of the iOS/Andriod/Windows apps to get them to the app-store/marketplace with Phonegap
• Easy to use test and demo environment
• Access to the native capabilities via Phonegap – I have not used this capability so far.
• Cloud based development and backup

The KidSenz app I created delivers a number of educational videos in various categories along with associated blogs and a simple quiz (more details when we launch since we are currently in Beta trials).

Working with Appery.io has been a great experience.  The documentation has been good with plenty of examples. What I like best is the availability of examples to work with various backends. Last but not the least, support from Appery.io has been outstanding. They respond quickly to issues and helped ease qualms about working with a cloud based system.

Windows 8 Support

Appery.io new HTML5 app builder has been the default builder for the past couple of weeks and we continue to update it with new features. One such feature is new Windows 8 support. In addition to jQuery Mobile/PhoneGap apps, you can now build Windows 8 apps with native support such as Snap View, Search Charm, Share Charm, and Live Tile.

To create a new Windows 8 app, click the “More create options” link from the Apps page and then select Windows 8 App as the app type. Try our Windows 8 app tutorial.

jQuery Mobile 1.2

We also upgraded to a much better jQuery Mobile version 1.2.

PhoneGap 2.2

We also upgraded PhoneGap to version 2.2. This means Appery.io cloud build has also been upgraded to PhoneGap 1.2.

If you use Appery.io Mobile App Tester for Android – go and grab an update so it also uses the latest PhoneGap version.

Push Notifications

A long requested feature – Push Notifications feature has been added to Appery.io Backend Services.

Want to try it? Try our new Push tutorial.

New Tutorial: Building a ToDo App with Appery.io Backend Services

Build this app and learn how the app builder is fully integrated with backend services.

TechCrunch coverage of Appery.io new Windows 8 support: http://techcrunch.com/2012/12/14/cross-platform-drag-and-drop-app-maker-tiggzi-launches-windows-8-support/

The latest Appery.io mobile app platform allows you to build Windows 8 apps for tablets and desktops with native Windows 8 support. This support includes special Windows 8 capabilities such as Snap View, Search Charm, Share Charm, and Live Tile! Join our webinar to learn how build Windows 8 apps with Appery.io.

When: Thursday, December 13, 11am Pacific Time
Register: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/611432329.

You might have noticed this but since Tuesday, November 13 when you create a new project, it opens in our new HTML5/JavaScript builder.

Our new HTML5/JavaScript builder:

We are just a few weeks from official GA and want to get as much feedback as possible from you.

Any projects created before November 13, will continue to open in the old builder (Flash). You are probably wondering what’s going to happen to your old projects? At some point very soon they will be converted and will start opening in the new builder.

We are also in the process of launching a new docs site at http://docs.appery.io.

Lastly, if you really still want to create a project in the old builder (although we don’t recommend it at this point), click on Create more options link.