Category: Beta

Xcode 15 Release Candidate now could be used to submit iOS 17 apps

by Danis Tazetdinov

Apple starts accepting App Store application for iOS/iPadOS 17, watchOS 10 and tvOS 17. Apps should be built with Xcode 15 Release Candidate.

Xcode 15 release is expected on September 18 together with OS releases.

Starting in April 2024, apps submitted to the App Store must be built with Xcode 15 and the iOS 17 SDK, tvOS 17 SDK, or watchOS 10 SDK (or later).

Apple Developer

Apple Developer: App Store submissions now open for the latest OS releases

Wonderlust event recap – new iPhones, Apple Watches

by Danis Tazetdinov

Apple hosted its Wonderlust special event. As expected, Apple unveiled new iPhones and Apple Watch models.

Apple Watch Series 9

New Apple Watch Series 9 gets new S9 system-on-chip with updated CPU and GPU. New screen now has brightness up to 1,000 nits. And lowest brightness is now 1 nit. S9 allows on-device Siri recognition for many use cases.

New "double tap" hand gesture (similar to previously implemented accessibility features) allows one hand responses and actions to be performed on Apple Watch.

New UWB chip will improve Apple Watch spatial awareness, allowing, for example, precise iPhone lookup with directions and distance display.

Apple Watch Ultra 2

Ultra 2 gets same S9 system-on-chip, screen is improved to have 3,000 nits maximum brightness.

iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus

iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are powered by A16 chip introduced in iPhone 14 Pro models.

iPhone 15 models now gain Dynamic Island. Charging port is now changed to USB-C with USB 2.0 data transfer speeds.

Also, iPhone 15 main camera is now similar to iPhone 14 Pro with 48MP resolution.

iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max

iPhone 15 Pro is running on A17 PRO chip. iPhone 15 Pro has titanium frame to reduce weight. Mute switch is replaced by Action button. iPhone 15 Pro Max has 5x camera with pentaprism design. USCB-C connector in iPhone 15 Pro supports USB 3.0.

Also iPhone 15 Pro could record spatial videos that will provide depth when viewing in Apple Vision Pro.

iPhone 15 Pro Max now has base model with 256GB of storage.

iCloud Storage Tiers

Apple introduces new iCloud storage tiers – 6TB and 12TB available for purchase later priced $30 and $60 respectively.

FineWoven

Apple now replaces leather accessories with new FineWoven material. This includes Apple Watch bands as well as iPhone cases.

OS Updates

Release Candidates are now available for iOS/iPadOS 17, macOS 14 Sonoma, watchOS 10 and tvOS 17. As well as iOS and iPadOS 16.7. Xcode 15 is also available as Release Candidate.

iOS/iPadOS 17, watchOS 10 and tvOS 17 are to be released on September 18. macOS 14 Sonoma will be released on September 26.

You could watch event replay on YouTube.

Apple Newsroom:

Release notes:

References:

Apple announces availability of Vision Pro App Store

by Danis Tazetdinov

Apple announces that App Store for Vision Pro will be available for developers this fall. It will include dedicated visionOS apps as well as compatible iOS and iPadOS applications.

Developers and publishes might need to check UIRequireDeviceCapabilities and verify app availability in App Store Connect.

By default, your iPad and/or iPhone apps will be published automatically on the App Store on Apple Vision Pro. Most frameworks available in iPadOS and iOS are also included in visionOS, which means nearly all iPad and iPhone apps can run on visionOS, unmodified. Customers will be able to use your apps on visionOS early next year when Apple Vision Pro becomes available.

Apple Developer

Apple Developer: Take your iPad and iPhone apps even further on Apple Vision Pro

References:

Apple shares Vision Pro developer labs experience

by Danis Tazetdinov

Apple shares developers' feedback after attending Vision Pro developer labs. Apple highlights feedback from authors of Fantastical, Widgetsmith and other applications.

visionOS: Apple Vision Pro developer labs

Apple Developer: Inside the Apple Vision Pro labs

References:

Another round of beta versions is published for iOS 17 and other platforms

by Danis Tazetdinov

Apple publishes iOS/iPadOS 17 beta 7, macOS 14 Sonoma beta 6, watchOS 10 beta 7 and tvOS 17 beta 7.

Xcode 15 beta 7 is also available for download. Apple did not update visionOS SDK or simulators yet, it stays with version visionOS 1.0 beta 2 (21N5207h) SDK.

New iOS beta suggest that mute switch might be replaced with Action button (similar to Apple Watch Ultra button) – mute switch now has haptic feedback again (with updated feel).

Beta download: Operating Systems

Release notes:

Reference: Everything New in iOS 17 Beta 7