Apple Unveils New Tools and Technologies for Better App Development
- Updates
- June 11, 2021
Apple has come up with its all-new set of tools and technologies exclusively designed for developers. This new launch is all set to help iOS app developers build high-quality apps more easily and make more intriguing app experiences as well.
According to Susan Prescott, Apple’s Vice President of Worldwide Developer Relations, the exclusive set of tools added to Xcode Cloud, an extensive range of new APIs and constant innovation in the Swift Programming Language are going to reach and attract more users and make Apple’s platforms stronger than before.
Let’s have a brief introduction to the latest tools and technologies launched by Apple!
Swift
Swift, the strong and spontaneous programming language, incorporates in-built concurrency support for developers for easier code writing. The correspondence features will help developers write secure and quick codes with fewer mistakes and reap complete benefits of the strong multi-core silicon across Apple gadgets.
Moreover, The SwiftUI will enhance in-app accessibility features, list views, multicolumn tables, search experiences, etc. In other words, SwiftUI has remodeled UI building by making it simpler to create finest looking applications with least code.
Swift Playgrounds is a perfect option for learning code directly on iPad or Mac. Swift Playgrounds 4 is going to be launched later this year, which will help users make an app’s visual design with SwiftUI. Users can directly open and edit app projects in Xcode or Swift Playgrounds and finally can develop an app and submit it straight to the App Store from iPads.
Xcode Cloud
Particularly designed for Apple developers, Xcode Cloud is an all-new continuous integration and delivery cloud service. Built into Xcode 13, Xcode Cloud offers a fast and simple way for app developers to build and test high-quality iOS apps even more efficiently. It can create applications automatically in the cloud for allowing Macs of developers for other jobs.
Parallel testing in the cloud implies that developers can examine every present Apple gadget’s simulated version and then deploy the app development for internal testing or deliver it to external beta testers via TestFlight for immediate feedback.
App Store
Now you can find more apps and games on the App Store featuring events like live-streamed experiences, movie premieres, live competitions, and more. You can discover these in editorial selections, customized recommendations, and on product pages of apps. This highly increases the reach of developers’ events, which helps developers connect with new users, reconnect with past users, and keep present users informed.
Apple is launching new product page tools that provide developers new ways to connect with users in the App Store and better flexibility. Custom Product Pages allow developers to display various app features for various users, whereas Product Page Optimization provides them the capacity of examining various screenshots, app icons, and preview videos.
The privacy-friendly, feature-rich analytics in App Store Connect lets developers see what their users prefer the most and help them make a perfect decision for their product pages.
Also, Apple is unveiling up-to-date instructions that incorporate assistance for the increasing category of applications that provide creator content experiences. The code of conduct of developers increases for keeping App Store a genuine marketplace for users and developers, incorporating updated instructions around developers’ identity needs, extra client complaints, and review and rating manipulation.
Moreover, there are choices for developers for appealing an application rejection on regards to bias and the choice of reporting an app in case they believe that the app has a safety or trust concern or can violate the App Store Review Guidelines.
Games and Graphics
New tools and APIs in macOS, iPadOS, and iOS will assist game developers to build the next-gen games and offer a unique experience to all users. An all-new Metal texture compression tool supports every trendy and optimized format for Apple Silicon, making it simpler for developers to create high-end games for every Apple platform.
Moreover, a newly added Virtual Game Controller on iPad and iPhone offers a simple technique for optimizing games that develop in Game Controller assistance.
Augmented Reality
Apple comprises the largest AR platform in the world with more than 1 billion AR-powered gadgets enabled by ARKit. This framework enables developers to build AR experiences easily. Now, Apple has launched RealityKit 2 Object Capture that will allow developers to build 3D, high-quality, photo-realistic models of the world using the shots of iPhone, iPad, and DSLR.
AR Quick Look is utilized for viewing the models in Xcode or Reality Composer for creating AR applications effectively. Using new APIs in RealityKit 2, now developers can also make more complex and realistic AR experiences with better audio, visual, and animation control, incorporating dynamic shaders and custom render passes.
Other Developer APIs and Tools
Apple has also unveiled some additional APIs and tools for developers to boost their app experiences and empower them for building completely new features. Take a look at the list of those tools and APIs:
1. SharePlay
SharePlay helps famous applications like Twitch, TikTok, Paramount+, MasterClass, Hulu, HBO Max, ESPN+, and Disney Plus create all-new shared experiences for Mac, iPad, and iPhone users.
2. Xcode 13
Xcode 13 includes new strong features of team development that can perfectly work with Xcode Cloud and also with GitLab, BitBucket, and GitHub collaboration features.
3. Messaging Apps
Messaging apps like We Chat and Slack can presently share user status in conversations. Applications like Uber Eats can get Siri to declare all incoming messages and new notification APIs allow communication and high-priority notifications from applications like Zomato and Chase Mobile for approaching a Focus or Do Not Disturb.
4. Third-Party Video Calling Apps
These applications can reap the benefits of the most recent FaceTime improvements, incorporating Portrait mode, Wide Spectrum Audio, and Voice Isolation.
5. Apple Watch Developers
Apple Watch Developers such as Qardio, Pandora, Breakpoint Studio, and so forth are presently building new app experiences that provide a more intense customization level and are more reactive to their users’ ambiance.
6. New Camera APIs
These enable greater fused pictures and include the capacity of capturing 1080pixel video and high-quality still images in a similar session.
7. StoreKit 2
This makes sure the safety of in-app purchases for consumers. Currently, it boasts new APIs for managing subscriber status and product entitlements and testing support in both the Apple sandbox environment and Xcode.
8. TestFlight
This helps Mac developers test in-app buys and other amazing Mac application features.
9. Third-Party Navigation Apps
These applications can presently display a map view in the instrument cluster display of a vehicle and an all-new CarPlay simulator for Mac highly boosts the testing efficacy.
10. Extensions in Safari
Now, web developers incorporating Honey and Grammarly are creating extensions in Safari that can be accessed across Mac, iPad, and iPhone. Moreover, developers can build strong, new extensions in the Mal application.
11. ShazamKit
This allows developers to merge audio identification technology straight from Shazam into their applications, helping in matching music to the large song catalog of Shazam and every previously recorded audio for customizations.
12. Spatial Audio
Now Apple can deliver the theatre-like experience with spatial audio and put sounds all around for bringing music content to life. Also, Physical Spatialization Engine makes it seamless for game developers to execute true-to-life audio throughout all Apple platforms.
When Will Be These All-New Tools and APIs Available?
Developer betas for WatchOS 8, macOS Monterey, tvOS 15, iPadOS 15, and iOS 15 are already available to Apple Developer Program members at developer.apple.com.
Xcode Cloud is now available as a limited free beta, with more availability this year, and is going to be accessible to every developer in the upcoming year.
