On June 22, 2020, started the first streaming Apple developer conference. As usual, during the week they were revealing the new opportunities offer by their operating system update and that affect all their devices: iPhone, iPad, Mac, Watch and Apple TV.
Numerous media have covered this world event as every year, so we already know the features presented. But do you know how can we take advantage of these functionalities? Can we affect us in a negative way? This post is not another list of what Apple has presented at WWDC 2020, here we will talk about the secrets behind all this wave of new features and that must be taken into account from now on if we want to update the app development for iOS14.
1.- More power for app developers
We already know that before uploading an application to the App Store it must go through a review process, and Apple is famous for being fussy. The novelty in this regard is that, from this summer, developers will have a mechanism to claim against the established rule. In addition, but fixing in already published apps will not delay their update except for those related to legal issues. If your mobile application has in-app purchases, you will be interested to know that Apple implements a system demanded by application developers to know when users request and receive a refund for an in-app purchase.
2.- Application clips, can app development be affected?
Clip apps were one of Apple’s star announcements at WWDC this year. At first glance, they all seem like all advantages, and this is how Apple presents it on its page: easy to open to complete a simple application task (such as renting a skateboard or paying in a parking lot) and easy to discover because you can access them from Safari, Maps , Messages, app clip tags like NFC and new codes codes. This report is presented as the culmination of the process of establishing user authentication through Signing with Apple and Apple Pay payment.
In theory, it promises to overcome the barrier of use of new mobile apps because it allows access to a part of an application without having to download it. But here comes the problem, although it has been presented as a means of facilitating access to new applications, it may imply the undesired consequence of that apps never being installed because it is no longer necessary to receive the service.
3.- Beware of new privacy policies.
Everyone knows that Apple wants to distance itself from competitors with a policy of minimal interference in the personal sphere of its users. This new operating system therefore includes privacy advances what we talk about in this post. It should be noted, because it must be taken into account in the development of applications for iOS that Apple must be informed of the privacy practices that the collected data must include and the user is tracked between companies. In addition, in some cases it is mandatory to allow access to the application through the technology provided by Apple, as we already commented in this post on Login with Apple.
4.- Take advantage of “Search”.
Apple now includes support for finding third-party products and accessories with the network accessories program Search. Therefore, applications that are based on a location device can be exploited by connecting their hardware with the Search application.
5.- API for Widgets.
This is another of the most commented news among users because they allow you to customize the screen of Apple devices more similar to how it is traditionally organized on Android. Apple makes WidgetKit and the new widget API for SwiftUI available to developers for use on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS.
6.- Does your application have Augmented Reality?
Apple ARKit 4 beta on iPadOS is now available for developers with a new depth API, which allows a new way to access depth-specific information collected by the LiDAR scanner on iPad Pro. Anchor Location leverages higher resolution data in Apple Maps to locate AR experiences at a specific point in the world in your iPhone and iPad applications, and face tracking support extends to all devices with Apple Neural Engine and a front camera.
7.- New resources for Machine Learning
Core ML makes it easy to create code in applications with Machine Learning. Now during the app development process we can add pre-built machine learning features via API with Core ML or Create ML. It also allows you to convert models from other training libraries using Core ML Converters or downloading directly from Core ML models.
8.- Think of CarPlay
App developers now have access to a variety of tools and templates that allow them to provide a smarter and safer way to use the iPhone in the car – for example, for third-party parking, electric vehicle charging, and food delivery apps. App developers who have upgraded their audio, messaging, or VoIP apps to work on CarPlay have even more tools to customize their experiences. Audio, messaging, or VoIP apps are also improved by providing new tools that allow you to display lists of conversations or past contacts, and audio applications can display album art within lists for easier access to content.
9.- Also the AirPods?
Yes, we can also take advantage of this Apple accessory for our app. Motion API provides developers access to guidance, user acceleration, and turnover rates for AirPods Pro, making it ideal for developing fitness apps or games.
Even though the implementation of iOS14 is not planned for the general public until autumn as usual, the Mobivery team is ready to start the app maintenance necessary to escale the apps to this new update of the operating system.
