Apple releases iAd Producer 2.1

Among the various enhancements, the two standout features of iAd Producer 2.1 brings support for the third-generation iPad and offers Twitter integration for a more social iAd experience.

From the release notes:

This update contains various improvements and fixes that:

• Provide improved load and save performance for iAd projects

• Improve the performance of exported ad units

• Facilitate better pre-load behavior for assets in exported ad units

• Allow ad upload and testing with iOS devices connected via USB

• Reduce device memory usage for image views

• Enable use of image sprites

• Provide support for on-device debugging

• Enable Twitter integration in iAd content

• Simplify visualization of animations by providing an onion-skinning view

• Expand the types of assets that can be imported and managed in the asset library to include common document types

• Support the new media object in iAd JS

• Provide support for integration of WebGL assets in iAd content

• Extend device support to include The New iPad

iAd Producer includes:

• A single-window interface for viewing and editing ad layouts and settings.

• Project templates with pre-built ad structure including banners, splash pages, and menus.

• An extensive library of page layouts, controls, and interactive elements.

• Sophisticated object animation tools with precise control over event timing and object properties.

• The ability to create custom, reusable elements for use in iAd advertising.

• Advanced JavaScript code editing and debugging.

• iAd simulation for Mac and iOS devices.

Apple recently raised iAd developer revenue to 70 percent, up from 60 percent. The bump is reportedly meant to compensate for lower ad rates, which started at $1 million when the solution first debuted in 2010. iAd has seen dwindling interest and Apple lowered the minimum price of entry to $500,000 mere months after launch. Last July saw another decrease to $300,000 and the current minimum stands at $100,000.

The iPhone maker is looking to stoke the flames and released version 2.0 in November 2011, which brought animation tools and code-editing improvements to the platform.