For anyone thinking about creating an iPhone app but wondering where to begin, I think the best thing you can do is just sit down and take a shot at thinking through its most basic functionality. I have always been a big fan of whiteboards and as of late the huge Post It Easel Pads but these are impossible if you travel a lot and are of limited use when trying to collaborate over long distances. The answer for me has been to use Balsamiq, a tool that allows you to quickly create mock-ups of both websites and iPhone apps. With Balsamiq I can work through the mechanics of how an app should work, and visually see the flow from action to action.
I think mock-up tools like Balsamiq are even more useful than making great specs and writing out usage scenario examples. Not only does it help you better develop your idea but it also gives you the ability to share your ideas with other people instantly. For example, if you are thinking about outsourcing development or are talking to other team members, Balsamiq will let you share your quickly thrown together mock-ups and convey clearly what you want to do. And by visually demonstrating the flow of how you might want your app to work, not only will other people have a better idea of what you are looking for, but so will you.
Oftentimes we think that conceptually working through an idea is painful, much the same way writing or preparing a speech can be. But sometimes having the right tools can make it that much easier to throw things together. Give it a try, you might surprise yourself!
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