IphoneSdk
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What was GameStore? Looks like sample code
Earlier today, Kelly posted about GameStore, a new Apple app that appeared on the App Store right before the New Year and was pulled several minutes ago. I forked over my dollar and downloaded a copy to see what the app was all about. It turns out, that there wasn't a lot of there there, and what there was looked an awful lot like...sample code. Specifically, sample code that demonstrates how to perform in-app purchases. The application's identifier was com.apple.iphonesdk.GameStore. Compare this with com.apple.Cards, the identifier for Apple's Cards app. "iphonesdk" hints that the application was meant for developer audiences, i.e. users of the iOS Software Development Kit. Next, I looked at the contents of the application bundle. Therein I found numerous listings for consumable and non-consumable items. These included things like "Awesome Sword" and "Consumable Bullets" as well as the less descriptive "sku.gamestore.nonconsumable.item1." All the classes in the app consisted of such generic elements as "MyProduct," "StoreEngine" and "ProductInfoViewController." Basically, it looked like sample code. Adding to this hypothesis is the tab called "PaymentQ." The queue is of deep interest to developers and absolutely of no interest to end-users. So how did this app end up on the App Store? I have an hypothesis. As I point out in my developer cookbook, although you can easily add IAP features to applications that are already for sale on App Store, you cannot fully develop and test your in-application purchasing for new apps without submitting your application to iTunes. What developers do is upload a working skeleton application to iTunes Connect. You do this with the full understanding that you'll be replacing or, for tutorials, rejecting your binary at some point in the future. Once uploaded, you can test your IAPs, and make sure all your purchasing processes work. Looks like the app was submitted in order to provide a live testbed and may have gotten approved inadvertently. After consulting with the TUAW team, our take on this is "likely sample code accidentally deployed to App Store" by Apple and then quickly pulled once people took notice. TUAW reached out directly to the developer we suspect was behind the app upload before it got pulled.
iPhone OS 4.0 SDK Beta 4 available for download
Apple is now 4 for 4. Or at least Beta 4 for iPhone OS 4.0. They have just posted the latest and greatest iPhone OS 4.0 beta. As with previous beta releases, this new beta update provides firmware for each of the supported devices (namely the iPhone 3GS, the iPhone 3G, and the 2nd and 3rd generation iPod touch). Because of the ongoing NDA, the details of this release remain behind a wall of confidentiality. You'll need to visit the developer site and check out the specifications for yourself. Apple will be releasing 4.0 into the general iPhone population this summer. An iPad version will debut in the fall. Apple's servers get slammed whenever a new SDK is released. You may want to wait a few hours if you encounter any problems connecting to the developer site.
iPhone OS 4 beta 4 drops in
If you like living on the brutal, life-altering bleeding edge the same way we do, odds are you've got iPhone OS 4 beta 3 installed on that 3GS of yours -- assuming you have an iPhone 3GS, naturally. That also means that you'll likely be interested to hear that beta 4 is now out and ready for you to download, install, and not brick your phone if everything goes according to plan, just as long as you've got access to an Apple iPhone Developer Program account. Go forth, intrepid readers -- and do report back on your exploits, won't you? [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
When Steve says "No" we hear "Maybe." Here's why.
In a recent TUAW post, I wondered whether a closed Mac system might be in Apple's future in addition to the standard Mac offerings. Despite the existence of Apple TV, some are dubious. After all, Steve Jobs said no (or, more accurately "nope") to a correspondent who recently asked about a Mac App store under a far more universally closed system than the scenario floated yesterday. Jobs has said "no" (and "nope") before. Sure, we at TUAW love Uncle Steve, but when Jobs says "no," we're not always sure that he really, really means it. The following list includes TUAW's 6 top Steve Jobs "no way" moments. Each of these transformed into "yes way" actions some time after Apple's denial. It's not as if Apple doesn't mean "no" when it says "no." It's just that like any other corporation, Apple often moves in unexpected directions based on consumer pressure. And sometimes Pinocchio's nose grows a teeny tiny bit.
iPhone OS 4 unlocks 720p video capture, further solidifying iPhone HD?
Last time on let's-speculate-about-Apple-products, the New iPhone rumor mill dug up dirt on video chat and a 5 megapixel camera. Now, it appears there might be one more reason to call it the iPhone HD. MacRumors reports that the iPhone SDK 4 beta includes the value "AVCaptureSessionPreset1280x720," leading some to believe Cupertino's next phone will record video in 720p. Mind you, the iPhone 3GS was technically already capable of that feat, so this might not have anything to do with a new handset, but honestly, at this point the iPhone's camera wouldn't be competitive recording in a smaller format anyhow.
iPhone OS 4.0 SDK Beta 3 available for download
Apple just posted its latest iPhone OS 4.0 beta. As with previous beta releases, this new beta update provides firmware for each of the supported devices (namely the iPhone 3GS, the iPhone 3G, and the 2nd and 3rd generation iPod touch). As usual, the details of this release remain behind the NDA wall, so you'll need to visit the developer site and check them out yourself. Apple will be releasing 4.0 into the general iPhone population this summer. An iPad version will debut in the fall. Apple's servers get slammed whenever a new SDK is released. You may want to wait a few hours if you encounter any problems connecting to the developer site. UPDATE: Apple has pulled the beta for now. This has happened before and generally indicates some problem with the build (despite paranoia about leaked features). Please let us know when Beta 3 returns. UPDATE 2: The beta is available for download once again. The beta returned around 9:30 PM (Pacific Time). Given that the beta was only pulled for less than one day, and judging from comments made by developers who managed to grab the beta this morning, chances are the reason for the beta being pulled may have been due to installation location problems. Now that the download is back, we'll find out soon enough.
iPhone OS 4.0 SDK Beta 2 available for download
Good news on the iPhone OS 4.0 SDK front. Apple has just posted a brand new beta, ready for you to download. The new beta comes complete with firmware for each of the supported devices (namely the iPhone 3GS, the iPhone 3G, and the 2nd and 3rd generation iPod touch). As usual, the details of this release remain behind the NDA wall, so you'll need to scoot on over and check them out yourself. Apple will be releasing 4.0 into the general iPhone population this summer. An iPad version will debut in the fall. The servers typically get slammed whenever a new SDK is released, so you may want to wait a few hours if you encounter any problems connecting to the developer site. Good luck and happy developing! Update: Minor bug in the OS 4.0 beta 2 firmware discovered. Workaround: Take screen shots via Xcode.
Steve Jobs responds directly to developer over new iPhone SDK rules, cites blog for explanation
Plenty ink has already been spilled about the new restrictions in clause 3.3.1 of the new iPhone SDK terms of use. The new wording disallows developers to use third party, cross platform development tools (like Flash CS5) to build their apps, and plenty of folks (like Adobe) are angered by it. Now it seems Steve Jobs has chimed in as well. Developer Greg Slepak reached out to Steve, citing the large outpouring of negativity on the topic, including a post by John Gruber of Daring Fireball, who Greg calls Apple's "biggest fan." Steve apparently responded, citing a newer post by Gruber that explains Apple's theoretical reasoning for locking down the platform like this. Steve called the post "very insightful." When Greg replied, raising some very legitimate defense that highly popular, important apps like Mozilla Firefox are built with cross platform frameworks, Steve Jobs had a slightly less terse response: We've been there before, and intermediate layers between the platform and the developer ultimately produces sub-standard apps and hinders the progress of the platform. On Greg's blog he breaks down some of Gruber's claims and makes a pretty compelling case for third party toolkits -- important examples of which can be found all over the Mac and Windows landscape. We get the feeling his impassioned pleas, and the oft-bandied threat of developer migration, will fall on deaf ears at Apple as always, but at least he helps shape this debate somewhat, which will no doubt rage on for months and years to come. Check out the full conversation between Greg and Steve, including Greg's final response, after the break.
iPhone Dev conference exclusive promo code for TUAW readers
The Pearson Education's Voices That Matter Conference series will be holding their second iPhone Developers Conference on April 24-25 in Seattle. Leading authors and experts (including our very own Erica Sadun) will converge for two days to share their knowledge about developing for the iPhone OS. Development for all iPhone OS devices -- iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad -- will be covered and with the release of the iPhone OS 4 SDK yesterday, you can bet there'll be a lot to learn. Conference registration includes admission to all education and networking sessions, continental breakfast, lunch and breaks, a conference guide, and access to speakers' slides. The price of the conference is normally $695, but Pearson Education has been good enough to offer a $150 discount to TUAW readers. To take advantage of the discount, go to the conference registration page and use the code PHNTUAW. Have a great time and let us know how it goes!
iPhone SDK 4 beta now available for download
Got your iPhone developer credentials handy? Then you'll want to head straight on over to the iPhone Dev Center, where you can now download the iPhone SDK 4 beta and get a taste of what everyone else will see this summer (or fall). And don't worry too much if you're not among the lucky iPhone devs, we've got you covered on all the details of iPhone OS 4 right here.
iPhone SDK 3.2 goes gold, seeded to paying dev program members
Us freeloaders still have a bit of a wait left, it seems, but paying members of Apple's iPhone Developer Program (which now services iPad devs, too) now have access to the Gold Master seed of the iPhone SDK for OS 3.2. This is a pretty big deal since it's the very first version of the operating system to support the iPad, of course -- and seeing how the first volley of iPads hits retail this weekend, it couldn't come at a better time. Let us know if you find anything wild in this new build, and we'll do the same, alright? [Thanks, Kory H.]
iPad support for hardware Dvorak keyboards in latest SDK beta
A few months ago Macworld asked where's the iPad's Dvorak keyboard? Well, in the iPhone SDK 3.2 Beta 5, which was released on Tuesday, there's support for hardware Dvorak keyboards in the OS; however, still no sign of a soft keyboard layout for Dvorak fans. A source sent us the above screen shot from the iPad simulator, showing Dvorak layouts as a hardware choice -- and if you've seen a Bluetooth Dvorak keyboard lately, let us know. This setting would presumably allow you to use a standard keyboard with the Dvorak layout, however, and apply stickers to the keys if needed. Apple's official tech specs for the iPad still only list keyboard support for the following: English (U.S.), English (UK), French (France, Canada), German, Japanese (QWERTY), Dutch, Flemish, Spanish, Italian, Simplified Chinese (Handwriting and Pinyin), Russian. As Wikipedia states, on a Dvorak keyboard, the letters and frequently-occurring punctuation are organized the letters and frequently-occurring punctuation "so that the cumulative distance traveled by the 10 fingers when touch-typing typical English text is closer to the minimum than when touch-typing that same text via the dominant QWERTY layout. This reduction in distance traveled was originally purported to permit faster rates of typing, but in later years is also purported to reduce repetitive-strain injuries, including carpal tunnel syndrome." The Dvorak keyboard was patented in 1936 by August Dvorak. [Update: In the original post I used the explanation of a Dvorak keyboard from Wikipedia. While I did originally link directly to the Wikipedia article in the paragraph, I failed to explicitly state or use quotations that I had done so. I apologize for any confusion that this caused and thank the readers who pointed my error out. The error was mine and mine alone.]
iPhone SDK 3.2 showing first hints of multitasking for third-party apps?
Naturally, we need to first disclaim this noise by saying that rumors of third-party multitasking capability in the iPhone are as old as the iPhone SDK itself. That said, it's hard to ignore a new reference to a "multitasking dialog box" buried deep within the iPhone SDK 3.2 beta that -- while not new to beta 4 specifically -- we're told didn't exist in 3.1.3. Now, the wildest possible speculation would have us believing that this is the very first by-product of a new multitasking system for developers that's being developed for the platform, presumably destined for an appearance in OS 4.0 when it's introduced along with new hardware this summer -- but it's just as likely that Apple will continue to keep the iPhone's multitasking capability to itself, a function it uses liberally among the phone and music apps, just to name a couple. For what it's worth, AppleInsider is citing a tipster claiming that Apple's got a "full-on solution" to multitasking that would properly address its main concern -- battery life issues -- for release this year, so maybe we'll be able to chuck those awful push notifications before we know it. Now if you'll excuse us, we'll be over here in the corner running a few dozen apps on our Pre Plus.
iPad SDK 3.2 beta 4 squashes rumors of a camera, but adds new gesture controls
There's only about a month to go before Apple drops the iPad on the world, and it looks like all those theories about a last-minute camera addition were just fond fanboy wishes -- iPhone SDK 3.2 beta 4 just came out, and in addition to stripping out several video-call related icons, we've been told the docs contain this little tidbit about that Camera tab: Launching the Photos application under the iPad Simulator will initially show three tabs: Photos, Albums, and Camera. The Camera tab represents photos available via the Camera Connection Kit for iPad, and is not relevant for the Simulator. The Camera tab will disappear after a few seconds. So much for that, then. In the meantime, we also have some good news -- 9to5 Mac did some digging and found some files indicating that Apple's opening up some new gestures to app developers, namely the long tap currently used to pop up the copy / paste menu and the triple-tap used to flip the display on and off when using VoiceOver. It's a small consolation, to be sure, but at least the iPad, will, um, be a great game machine, right? [Thanks, Anonymous]
iPhone SDK 3.2 beta 4 drops in
Suspense! Drama! Surprises! Unrealistic expectations! It's always a veritable roller coaster of emotions whenever Apple gets around to cutting a new SDK build -- and without a doubt, iPhone SDK 3.2 beta 4 is no exception. We don't yet have a good read on what's new here, so if you're a member of Apple's $99 dev program and happen to get it downloaded and installed, let us know if you find anything awesome, like an iPhone 4 or iPad 2. Or, you know, anything else. Have fun!
iPhone SDK 3.2 moves on to beta round 3
As we march toward the inevitability of a post-iPad world, so marches the development of iPhone SDK 3.2 -- and this time, we're on to beta 3. There's no word yet on what's changed, but unless you're a registered (and paid) member of Apple's iPhone Developer Program, it doesn't much matter to you seeing how you can't get in on the download. Keep us abreast of the trials, tribulations, highs, and lows of your downloads and installs, won't you? Update: TUAW now reports that beta 3's been pulled, but it's not yet clear why. We'll fill you in more as we find out. Update 2: iPadInsider reports that a Photos app has been added to the emulator, and there's a Camera tab in it -- possibly corroborating evidence that there'll be a camera in some version of the iPad, but more likely a tool for the camera connection kit. Update 3: MacRumors has a couple more interesting details. Looks like there's a couple of lines in the code that suggest a front-facing camera (as often rumored), zoom, and camera flash is in the cards. Additionally, there's iPad-sized "Accept" and "Decline" buttons with video camera-related iconography. We know what you're thinking, but we still wouldn't advise getting your hopes up anytime soon. It's not good for your heart, y'know. Update 3: ...and it's back up. Thanks, everyone!
iPhone SDK 3.2 beta 2 busts loose
You've got to be one of the cool kids that shelled out a Benjamin to get into the iPhone Developer Program to get access, but if you're already a card-carrying member, it looks like you've now got a green light to download beta 2 of the iPhone SDK for OS 3.2. We don't know what's new, changed, or removed, but presumably, most of the updates would center around the sundry changes Apple has made to support the iPad in the latest version of its mobile platform -- so drop us a line and let us know what you find, alright?
SDK devsugar: Re-signing applications
TUAW's devsugar series helps introduce developers to tools and tricks that they might not yet be familiar with. Today's tip centers on signing already-compiled and already-signed applications with a new custom signature. A while back, I posted about a way to sign already-compiled applications with your personal credentials in order to better allow developer-to-developer distribution. By re-signing an application, it allows you to install it on any of the devices you have registered to your account at Apple without having to go through the fuss and bother of normal ad-hoc distribution. In addition, it makes it easier to develop applications on a contractor's machines, to ship them to a client, and then have them signed and shipped to App Store using the client's identity. A basic command-line solution is as follows. It calls codesign (found in /usr/bin) to sign the application, using the default keychain item that matches "iPhone Developer". It's a handy script, especially for informal beta distributions. #! /bin/bash export CODESIGN_ALLOCATE=/Developer/Platforms/iPhoneOS.platform/Developer/usr/bin/codesign_allocate codesign -f -s "iPhone Developer" $1 There are, however, several problems with this approach. First, it assumes you only want to sign with development (typically "Debug build") credentials. That's not going to work if you need to re-sign for distribution. (Solution? Change iPhone Developer to iPhone Distribution). Second, it assumes you only have one developer or distribution profile in your keychain. (Solution? Change iPhone Developer, for example, to iPhone Developer: Company Name to exactly match just one keychain entry.) Third, it assumes the person doing the re-signing knows how to use a command line. For that, the solution is a little more complicated. Recently, this topic came up on a developer e-mail list that I moderate: how do you make it easier for a non-technical client to re-sign an application, normally for distribution. As a solution, I put forth the proposal that one could embed the above shell script behavior into an AppleScript droplet. After consulting with a few colleagues, and gathering their requirements, I decided to give the project a try. I built an AppleScript application that signs any application dropped onto it. You can find a working copy of the application at my website. App Signer iterates through any apps dropped onto it, checks to ensure whether each file (or bundle, really) ends with an ".app" extension, and then attempts to sign those files using /usr/bin/codesign. Users can choose to sign with Developer credentials, Distribution credentials, or select Other to open a prompt and enter text for keychain disambiguation. (See the screen shot at the top of this post for an example of the disambiguation dialog.) The application displays results for each application, one at a time. Please note the following caveats: I make no attempt to guarantee that the app dropped onto this utility is actually an iPhone app (rather than, say a Macintosh application). When working with on-device keychains, the identity used to sign the application has to match the application id set forth in the Info.plist file for the application, otherwise keychain access will fail. This is a free application. It is offered under the BSD license. Use it at your own risk. Credit always appreciated. The open source github repository for App Signer can be found here. To create the application, open the AppleScript source in Script Editor and choose File > Save As > File Format: Application.
Xcode 101: Installing the 3.2 SDK alongside the 3.1.1 SDK
Are you doing production work and beta work at the same time? Need to install more than one SDK at once? If you've downloaded the 3.1.3 SDK and need to install it on the same system as the 3.2 beta SDK, you'll want to use the Xcode installer's destination chooser. When given the option of where to install, click on the Developer folder to reveal the pop-up shown here to the right. To create a new folder/location choose "Other..." and use the standard file browser to create and select that location. I personally use a named folder for all beta installs. My 3.2 beta is located in /Developer32 and I used the standard /Developer path for my 3.1.3 SDK update. Both SDKs coexist in peace with each other, although I did have to assign separate key macros (I'm a Quickeys addict) for normal Xcode and Interface Builder (in /Developer/Applications) and the beta versions of the same (in /Developer32/Applications for me). Having both SDKs available and separate will help you make sure you can test and code in both environments quickly and easily.
iPhone 3.1.3 SDK now available
Time to update your iPhone SDK to 3.1.3! It's a required update, otherwise Xcode will not recognize or work with your 3.1.3 device. Head on over to the iPhone dev center (developer credentials needed to log in) to download the latest version. As always, the iPhone SDK includes Xcode, the iPhone simulator, and other tools for developing applications for iPhone and iPod touch. If you want to develop for the iPad, you'll need to join the $99/year developer program and download the 3.2 SDK instead.
