how to create an ibeacon app in minutes with locly

Locly is a self-service platform for creating professional, media-rich app content that can be linked to your iBeacon devices

The app content we’re going to create has 6 places that will be connected to 4 Locly iBeacon devices

about the app

this is the card cover

this is the place avatar

You can login to Locly either online (www.locly.com) or via the iPad and iPhone app, which is free to download from the App Store.

login to locly to begin

First you setup your devices on the Locly system. Just click on ‘Beacons’ at the top-left of the screen. Select the type of beacon and enter the major and minor numbers. Repeat this for all your beacons.

setup your iBeacon devices

Next click on ‘Templates’ and select the ‘Famous Artists’ template. This automatically creates a project with 5 places and 3 beacons.

create your content

Click on ‘Yes’ to automatically configure your beacons and then select 3 of the beacons you just setup from the dropdown list.

link your beacons

Click on ‘Create Place’ and give your place a name. Then add an avatar for the place and click on ‘Create Card’

let’s create another place….

There are 10 templates to choose from. For this card we’re going to select the ‘Simple’ card type for an image and some text.

…and create a card for that place

Upload a cover for that card and enter some text. Then upload some images. You can also upload video, audio and widget files.

add some content for that card

At the top of the page click on ‘Preview’. This will bring up the Locly Simulator. You can see how your card will look in the various devices.

preview your card

Go back to the ‘place’ screen and select a beacon from the dropdown menu.

assign the place to a beacon

Open the Locly app and login to your account. You will see a list of your projects so tap on the ‘Famous Artists’ project to preview. You can long-press on a card to edit it, and add new places and cards too.

preview your card content on your device

Don’t forget to switch them on! They are already connected to your project places so you just need to put them in situ.

switch on your beacons

Place the beacons where you want them. Put them as high as you can, above 6 foot if possible, so that people don’t block the signal.

place your beacons

Now you just need to walk past your beacons to test your content. The card for the nearest beacon will always be placed at the top.

test with your device

If you want your content to de displayed in an app that has your logo and colours then click on ‘Organisation’ and then ‘App Builder’.

Select ‘Create Application’.

create your own custom app

Watch the video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/J3aMLwsA1OU