The dilemma of Form-R for iOS developers in Pakistan

Posted by BA on Jun 3, 2013 in App Store, Apple, iPhone, iPhone Apps, Mobile Apps, Mobile Development, Mobile Games | 0 comments

If you are an iOS developer based in Pakistan and use your iTunes connect account for selling paid apps, you must have seen this email from apple. From now onwards you have to fill this Form R and submit it every month to receive your payments. Every month, you heard it right EVERY MONTH.

Why Form R?

Actually it has something to do with State Bank of Pakistan or some similar authority not letting the payments directly land to the developers’ account. Barclays bank is Apple’s partner bank in the country and they distribute payments to all developers every month. To process these payments now, Barclays bank needs a filled Form R from all developers every month. Big pain?

How to fill Form-R?

While I was freaking out about it, this still doesn’t seem to be that bad at all. Here is the process you have to follow:

1. Log in to your iTunes Connect account and note your payment amount and payment date. You have to send this Form R within 2 weeks of this payment date.
2. Get hold of a copy of Form R. If you have not received it from Apple, you can download Form R from www.basitali.com/downloads/docs/PKFormR.pdf
3. Print form R and print it out.
4. Provide following addresses in “Sender” field on Form R

– Apple Inc., 1 Infinite Loop, Cupertino, CA 95014
– iTunes S.a.r.l, 31-33 rue Sainte Zithe, Luxembourg L-273, Luxembourg

5. Mention the amount you can see in iTunes Connect’s Payment section (done in step 1).
6. In the end provide your name, address, telephone number and email address in the beneficiary section. Make sure you include all this information so that Barclays bank can process your payment.
7. Sign the form
8. Put this form R in an envelop and Courier this to following address:
– Barclays Bank PLC, Pakistan, 13 – C, College Road, F- 7 Markaz, Islamabad
Hint: If you are being lazy and don’t wanna go drop it at a courier outlet, you can call Call Courier Service at 111-786-227 and they’ll come and pick the letter from you

What is Form R?

As the title says, Form R is a declaration of foreign remittance receipt above Rs. 10,000 for purpose other than Export and family maintenance. Well, while it says Rs. 10,000 on the title, Apple tells us to make sure to fill the form for whatever amount is coming in. Moreover, while I could put iTunes payment under software export, the banks are actually going to differ with my opinion here. And I also like the year 1947 on the title of the form

I’m sure this is going to work out and if you follow this process every month, you’ll be receiving your payments on time every month. Please do share your experience with me whether you succeed or you have any issues. Drop me a line on @basitj.

Duddoo aur Dhobi – First step in the right direction

Posted by BA on Feb 22, 2013 in Apple, iPad, iPhone, iPhone Apps, Mobile, Mobile Apps, Mobile Games, Pakistan | 0 comments

Like any other parent having a young child, my worries are beginning to rise as my son has  access to media, music, cartoons, games, entertainment and education that is either in a foreign language or it’s localized in an incorrect way. While it is great to access English, Spanish and French content, there has been a big gap when we talk about Urdu content, especially in interactive education, games, cartoons, stories and edu-tainment apps. No I do not like my son watching Hindi content, that is not Urdu beware. There have been several serious efforts like ToffeeTV to fill the gap but we need to speed up the efforts now.

Speedometer – released for iOS

Posted by BA on Dec 9, 2012 in Apple, GPS, iPhone, iPhone Apps, Mobile | 0 comments

We at Eccentrica Technologies have just released Speedometer app for iPhone and iPad. This GPS based Speedometer app lets you keep an eye on your speed whether you are in a car, a bus, a train, a boat, riding a bike, running on foot or even skiing downhill. The app shows an analog and digital speed of the device you’re carrying. You can also turn on a speed alarm to avoid traffic tickets and the iPhone can fit in your dashboard for replacing your old boring speedometer.

The app takes just a few moments to lock the GPS and you’re ready to go. Download this app today for iTunes store now.

Download link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/the-speedometer/id582606409?mt=8

How did your site look in 1997?

Posted by BA on Jan 6, 2012 in Apple, Google, Internet, Microsoft | 0 comments

I just came across this amazing web archive. If you had a website several years ago or you want to see how your favorite websites looked like a decade back, this is your best bet. I just dug up and found the face of my websites and it was really great to visit so many websites back in time. For example, this is how the Google logo looked like back in 1998/1999.

And this is how Apple’s website looked like in 1997.

What’s kept me busy at gaming?

Posted by BA on Oct 25, 2011 in Android Apps, Android Market, Apple, iPhone Apps, Mobile Apps, Mobile Games | 0 comments

I know this is a weird post with an older game but this is what has kept me busy for quite some time now. It’s Gameloft’s Modern Combat 2 – Black Pegasus. Sounds crazy but I’ve spent hours and hours of online play after I completed the rich single player story. Awesome game with amazing game play and guess what I did after playing this? I was about to upgrade my desktop PC (i3 processor and an Nvidia 8800 GT), I dropped the idea of upgrading it and sold the poor desktop as well. I’ve truly gone mobile-gaming now

You can get a copy for yourself on Android as well as on iPhone if you are interested. Every dollar spent is worth it, guaranteed!

Still not convinced? Watch the video trailer here:

Is it Microsoft vs Apple all over again? HP Pulls the plug on Web-OS.

Posted by BA on Aug 19, 2011 in Apple, Google, Microsoft | 0 comments

The news is spreading fast that HP is discontinuing the Web-OS device operations. While this news needs more detailed analysis and we have a long way to go but we are left with lesser number of players when it comes to operating system for the hand-held devices. Google, Apple, RIM and Microsoft are the four major operating system developers. While RIM and Google are no naive souls, I can’t rule out the possibility of a Microsoft vs Apple battle again a few years down the road if these two can eliminate Google and RIM from the race. With Microsoft’s strategic alliance with Nokia and Apple’s discontinued success story gives rise to the support for this possible traditional rivalry coming to the Smartphone and Tablet’s world soon.

Choosing a tablet? – BlackBerry Playbook and iPad web rendering comparison

Posted by BA on Feb 25, 2011 in Apple, Internet, iPad, Playbook, Tablet Apps | 0 comments

This video demonstrate the use of flash and rich content rendering on RIM’s upcoming BlackBerry Playbook and compares it to the iPad’s Safari browser. If you are looking forward to buy a new tablet, Playbook is definitely one of the alternate option for you. The video also gives a clear idea of the size of the two tablets. If you are looking for a smaller alternative of iPad, Playbook or the Samsung Galaxy tab are the options to look at.

Here is the video:

My BlackBerry is not working

Posted by BA on Dec 22, 2010 in Apple, BlackBerry | 0 comments

Time for some humor, should I say some tech-humor