Apple ’s iOS 4 , released this preceding week , may bluster 100 new characteristic for goal - users . But it ’s the features most users do n’t see that could terminate up having the more lasting effect on how they expend their mobile devices .
That ’s because in addition to boasting such consumer - favorable additions likeFolders , multitasking , andMail enhancements , iOS 4 also promises around 1500 genus Apis aimed at developer . Software maker will be able-bodied to use those genus Apis to improve the apps you know and love as well as deliver whole new offering to the App Store .
So are developers as impressed with iOS 4 ’s genus Apis as other users seem to be with the OS ’s front - facing features ? The developersMacworldspoke to seem just as mad about iOS 4 as end - users are .
“ There ’s a lot of really great stuff in iOS 4 that makes developing for it an even nicer experience than on the Mac , ” say Justin Williams , crew chief ofSecond Gear Software .
Praise from Williams is particularly interesting — the developer sold his apps in October 2009 and got out of the iPhone business . Williams cited the App Store ’s “ bureaucratism and infrastructure that surrounds it , ” as his elemental gripe .
But a portion has commute in the past year , Williams toldMacworld , and he ’s not just talking about the shiny new iOS 4 . Apple has turn the iPad and “ show improvement ” in both App Store policy and the review physical process . “ It ’s obvious that this is the guidance Apple wants to take things , ” Williams say , “ and I do n’t desire to be that guy five years from now still building Classic software program . ”
Brent Simmons , developer of NetNewsWire forNewsGator , tell he ’s “ quite felicitous ” with iOS 4 . Like most developer , he is already working on updating NetNewsWire ’s artwork for the iPhone 4 ’s high - resolve Retina Display . Greg Scown , Colorado - founder ofSmileOnMyMacwhich makes TextExpander for iPhone , is “ thrilled with the increased quantity of the Cocoa and Foundation fabric available to iOS developers . ”
Across all of the developer thatMacworldspoke with , it ’s percipient that multitasking features like fast app switch and task completion topped their wish lists for iOS 4 . They in the main seem quite glad to get this access to functionality that user have been call for practically since the App Store debuted in 2008 , though it is n’t as all-embracing as some developer wanted .
“ I was hoping for some kind of backcloth updating of networked data like Twitter or Instapaper , ” Williams said . “ A new notification system would have been nice too . I suppose they have to keep open something for iOS 5 . ”
Besides not go far enough with multitasking , some developers intend Apple go too far in other areas . “ I think iAds is a place Apple did n’t need to go , ” Paul Kafasis , CEO ofRogue Amoeba , toldMacworld . “ I ’ll be interested to see if it works out for them , and for software makers . Perhaps it will be beneficial to nearly everyone . If it flames out , however , I would not be atrociously surprised . ”
William Shipley , chief executive monster ofDelicious Monster , also reiterated a lasting grief of many developer : “ [ Apple ] needs to pull down the performing field in the App Store by not freakishly rejecting apps whose functionality they disagree with . ” A late case : Apple ’s purge of whatchamacallit - style apps , in which the ship’s company removed app that have user overlay sticky notes , weather , euphony ascendancy , and other functions on top of a photo . Apple ’s developer agreement did n’t control any ban against contraption apps , and Apple had OK’d update to the apps before without any ailment .
As far as the threat that Android may baffle to the iPhone , the developer thatMacworldspoke with did n’t seem too concerned . Of course , some welcome Google ’s mobile OS and the competitor it increasingly bring to Apple ’s doorsill . However , they were n’t too concerned in porting their wares to Android . “ I do n’t need to write in Java and I do n’t require to attempt to support such a diverse array of twist , ” Simmons said via due east - mail .
Williams is in the same gravy holder , though he gave a Nexus One Android phone a trial as his lonesome phone for a week anddocumented the experience . While Android pique his curiosity as a user , he does n’t seem interested in break software for it .
Overall , then , it seems developer like what they see with iOS 4 and iPhone 4 . They ’re emotional about the new iOS 4 features they can build into their apps , they ’re itching to look into out Apple ’s latest feat of industrial design , but they ’re also thankful that Android is here to keep Apple on its toe . After all , someonehas to do it .
