Design
Developments, developments and yet more developments
With the launch of iOS 8 and especially the commotion created by the new iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus terminals and the Apple Watch, there are a lot of new developments around, which are already being showcased at the App Store. With the new 4.7″ and 5.5″ screen sizes, developers need to implement new screenshots, and for example, for the largest size the “split-screen” concept has been introduced, which is something that had already been used for iPads given their size. The new sizes for app icons, splash screens, spotlight search icons and webclip-icons (for websites) need to be taken into account for all new developments.
What is more, the “flattern” design concept, which appeared in iOS7, has been ported to the iTunes Connect website. The look of iTunes Connect has been completely revamped, although it is missing a responsive/adaptive design. Check out the use of AngularJS (a Google product) as the development framework:
New login panel
login
Wellcome screen:
Dashboard
List of applications:
Apps
Detail of application:
App
New features
TestFlight Beta Testing
Apple’s recent purchase of Testflight, a product by the company Burstly, was a hint as to the direction in which Apple was heading. Integration has been staged as a controlled pre-release environment, allowing testing units to be selected prior to release. As of now it is possible to manage App versions (the versions of apps released to the general public) as well as “Prerelease” versions.
The Prerelease concept means that it is possible to install our app in a closed environment and for a limited time. The requirements for setting up and using a prerelease version are as follows:
– Install Application Loader 2.9.1
– Beta testers’ devices using iOS 8 or above.
Characteristics
The fact that there is an integrated testing environment is a definite improvement in product testing and is something that iOS developers have hankered after, especially for initial submissions to customers. There are apps that coordinate the test environment for multiple platforms, see HockeyApp and also feature error control, statistics and user feedback. This new service cannot compete with the centralization of multiplatform projects, but it will certainly make the developer’s life easier when it comes to testing or sending free iOS versions.
Characteristics of prerelease version:
– Versions are available for 30 days.
– New versions can be uploaded to continue testing.
– Testers are notified automatically via the Testflight App.
– The testing mode can be withdrawn any time.
– Available for terminals with iOS 8.
¿How to add the prerelease version?
First you need a provisioning profile associated with a distribution profile and to create an “archive” from XCode:
Distribution File
Export the application from the Organizer window and save it: “Save for iOS App Store Deployment”.
Save ipa
Your app is now ready to upload via the Application Loader. Enter the system and get ready to upload by hitting the “Deliver App” button.
Application Loader
Application Loader Login
Application Loader Login 2
Find the .ipa created previously with the Organizer and wait for the file to upload. An operations log is recorded by Application Loader, to view it click on the “Activity…” button.
Logs
Submitting Application Loader
How to include beta testers
This video provides a detailed explanation on how to enable the testing environment and to associate testers with an app with prerelease. The concept is to add users and associate them with the prerelease version, to do this:
- Prepare the version as internal testing:
Testers
- Enable Testflight in the app:
Internal Testers TestFlight
Internal Testers
- User must be given privileges to become “Internal Testers”:
Active Internal Testers
Internal Testers TestFlight List
- Return to the app and add the new Internal Tester to your prerelease version:
confirm
list of testers
Once these steps have been correctly carried out, beta testers should install the Testflight app from the App Store on their terminal.
App Bundles
This new feature lets you create a bundle of 10 apps by the same developer so that all the apps can be installed at the same time.
App Previews
It is now possible to include a video to show the full potential of the app. This feature, which is well known to Android developers, is now also available for iOS. The Apple developers’ web page explains how to make these videos and offers guidelines to ensure that they are a success.
- The 15 to 30-second video should fit the Apple 4 + scale (no violence, no adult content…)
- Video capture with Mac OSX Yosemite and a real phone.
- Avoid zooms and maintain the aspect ratio.
- Video capture can be done with Final Cut Pro X
View in App Store
Alberto Muñoz
My life is mobile, think in mobile, go everywhere with my mobile and most of the times call with my mobile.
