AppleInsider Staff
Apple on Monday posted a note to the News and Updates section of its Developer website reminding app makers that starting Feb. 1, all new iOS 8 software submitted to the App Store must include 64-bit support.
Today's reminder is the second such notice sent out to developers ahead of Apple's planned migration to a comprehensive 64-bit App Store. The company first announced 64-bit requirements for iOS 8 in October.
In a similar note posted last month, Apple made a distinction between new titles and app updates, saying 64-bit support would be required only for first-time submissions. Along with 64-bit code, newly submitted apps also need to be built using Apple's iOS 8 software development kit.
Developers looking to update existing apps have until June 1, 2015, to build in the same 64-bit and iOS 8 SDK support.
When the iPhone 5s debuted in 2013 carrying the A7 SoC, Apple became the first company to deliver 64-bit processing capabilities in a mainstream mobile device, a feature widely dismissed as unnecessary by the industry at large. After a brief period of denial, and a glib statement from Qualcomm, chipmakers modified their mobile hardware roadmaps to adjust to Apple's aggressive rollout.
According to some accounts, the A7 "set off panic" for chipmakers, partially fueled by pressure from OEMs reluctant to fall behind the innovation curve. For example, Apple's smartphone and tablet arch rival Samsung quickly pledged 64-bit support in future devices shortly after Apple's A7 announcement.
The latest iOS 8 SDK is available through Apple's Developer Portal as part of the recently updated Xcode 6.1.1.
William Gallagher
Christine McKee
Chip Loder
Malcolm Owen
36 Comments
Good. Next up, Apple needs to ban any apps that can only be used by selling your soul—ie. having to register with an email and password. Is Cook a big advocate of IADS? I don't know. But I would prefer apps to use those if they have to rather than forcing users to set up accounts.
Good. Can't wait to see continued performance increases from my iDevices.
[quote name="TheWhiteFalcon" url="/t/184376/apple-once-again-alerts-ios-8-app-developers-to-upcoming-64-bit-requirement/0_100#post_2663508"]Good. Can't wait to see continued performance increases from my iDevices. [/quote] Not sure why you need to be so impatient. June 1st is not that far away, grasshopper.
Good.
Next up, Apple needs to ban any apps that can only be used by selling your soul—ie. having to register with an email and password.
Is Cook a big advocate of IADS? I don't know. But I would prefer apps to use those if they have to rather than forcing users to set up accounts.
What's the issue? I have a garbage account for these sort of app/newsletter signups.
iAds is not a registration replacement. It is an advertising network designed to generate revenue for app developers who do not wish to charge for their apps.
Unless Google, Apple does not generate a significant part of their company revenue from ad sales. Sure, if you're an iOS app developer and you want to use a mobile advertising platform to reimburse your development costs, Apple would like it if you chose iAds over the competition, but there's no requirement to do so.
The app registration requirement is separate, something mandated by the app developer. Remember, the app developer does not get to see the name of who clicked on an ad or not, just the aggregate clickthrough number. At this point, I believe app developers don't see the Apple IDs of the people who downloaded their apps either.
Frankly, I'd rather give an e-mail address for registration purposes instead of something like Facebook credentials. I don't use Facebook myself, so any app that requires Facebook for basic functionality is useless to me.
[quote name="mpantone" url="/t/184376/apple-once-again-alerts-ios-8-app-developers-to-upcoming-64-bit-requirement/0_100#post_2663513"][QUOTE name="Benjamin Frost" url="/t/184376/apple-once-again-alerts-ios-8-app-developers-to-upcoming-64-bit-requirement#post_2663505"] Good. Next up, Apple needs to ban any apps that can only be used by selling your soul—ie. having to register with an email and password. Is Cook a big advocate of IADS? I don't know. But I would prefer apps to use those if they have to rather than forcing users to set up accounts.[/QUOTE] What's the issue? I have a garbage account for these sort of app/newsletter signups. iAds is not a registration replacement. It is an advertising network designed to generate revenue for app developers who do not wish to charge for their apps. Unless Google, Apple does not generate a significant part of their company revenue from ad sales. Sure, if you're an iOS app developer and you want to use a mobile advertising platform to reimburse your development costs, Apple would like it if you chose iAds over the competition, but there's no requirement to do so. The app registration requirement is separate, something mandated by the app developer. Remember, the app developer does not get to see the name of who clicked on an ad or not, just the aggregate clickthrough number. At this point, I believe app developers don't see the Apple IDs of the people who downloaded their apps either. Frankly, I'd rather give an e-mail address for registration purposes instead of something like Facebook credentials. I don't use Facebook myself, so any app that requires Facebook for basic functionality is useless to me. [/quote] Oh sure. FaceBook signup is even worse.