The current iteration of the operating system of Apple is here finally. Developers have had access to iOS 8 since June of this year, thus they could explore new features, test the application and check out what has changed. iOS 8 includes more than 4,000 new APIs that enable one to add amazing new capabilities and features to the applications. Deeper iOS integration means extending the reach of the application functionality and content.
It is a work in progress with important features on the way. It adds the much needed features to core apps such as Safari, Mail and further makes notifications more interactive.
The following are the five features of the new iOS 8 that developers should know and learn.
1. Adaptive UI or User Interface. Apple wants to change the thinking of programmers about completely designing programs. The iPhone firm no longer wants people to think of specific screen modes. Instead, they want to target general sizes and allow them to flow out to various orientations and appropriate devices. This could mean that soon Auto Layout may be the only, or at least most way for designing applications for Apple products.
2. Swift a new development language created by Apple in-house. It was introduced during the World Wide Developer's conference. It is designed to be simpler to use compared to Objective-C, while still being compatible with the language. The firm hopes for an easy to use language that would encourage more developers to build on version 8.
3. Context sensitivity. The users of iOS devices today are increasingly needing smarter devices. This includes night and day modes for apps that adjust their brightness based on the time. Moreover, uses may notice that more applications want to access the location data of the phone. This is already becoming a bigger thing. However, as version 8 makes it an easier feature for programmers, it will become even more popular. The new capacities of the latest version allows for context sensitivity with regards to motion as well. New or converted apps could potentially deliver various displays to users walking than those who are driving.
4. Notification Center. It is going to play a much bigger role with apps in the current version. More programmers may want to take advantage of the ability to display new types of notifications from various programs. There are even some developers referring to one type of new notification, which is called 'Today Extensions' as widgets as they bring some of the functionality of an app outside the application proper.
5. Extended functionality. In the latest release, the iPhone maker made it also easier to add API functionality to programs in general. APIs enable programmers to add new functions to their apps without reinventing the wheel. Nonetheless, testing the new apps has been challenging, so far since developers are only able to see how they would appear using the new software, and not the hardware. Testing how the APIs work on the current phones would be a little less frustrating.
It is a work in progress with important features on the way. It adds the much needed features to core apps such as Safari, Mail and further makes notifications more interactive.
The following are the five features of the new iOS 8 that developers should know and learn.
1. Adaptive UI or User Interface. Apple wants to change the thinking of programmers about completely designing programs. The iPhone firm no longer wants people to think of specific screen modes. Instead, they want to target general sizes and allow them to flow out to various orientations and appropriate devices. This could mean that soon Auto Layout may be the only, or at least most way for designing applications for Apple products.
2. Swift a new development language created by Apple in-house. It was introduced during the World Wide Developer's conference. It is designed to be simpler to use compared to Objective-C, while still being compatible with the language. The firm hopes for an easy to use language that would encourage more developers to build on version 8.
3. Context sensitivity. The users of iOS devices today are increasingly needing smarter devices. This includes night and day modes for apps that adjust their brightness based on the time. Moreover, uses may notice that more applications want to access the location data of the phone. This is already becoming a bigger thing. However, as version 8 makes it an easier feature for programmers, it will become even more popular. The new capacities of the latest version allows for context sensitivity with regards to motion as well. New or converted apps could potentially deliver various displays to users walking than those who are driving.
4. Notification Center. It is going to play a much bigger role with apps in the current version. More programmers may want to take advantage of the ability to display new types of notifications from various programs. There are even some developers referring to one type of new notification, which is called 'Today Extensions' as widgets as they bring some of the functionality of an app outside the application proper.
5. Extended functionality. In the latest release, the iPhone maker made it also easier to add API functionality to programs in general. APIs enable programmers to add new functions to their apps without reinventing the wheel. Nonetheless, testing the new apps has been challenging, so far since developers are only able to see how they would appear using the new software, and not the hardware. Testing how the APIs work on the current phones would be a little less frustrating.