Speed tweaks, new iPad support, more

Apple's iAd Producer has been quietly updated to version 2.1, which addresses a number of minor improvements such as support for the latest iPad and faster loading, saving and exporting of projects. The marquee feature, however, is iAd integration with Twitter -- allowing iAd designers to integrate Twitter directly into the ad. Also integrated into v2.1 is the use of WebGL assets in iAd content, and an expansion of types of assets that are allowed.

The integration of Twitter into iAd continues to demonstrate the strong working relationship Apple has with Twitter. Twitter integration into the OS was first launched in iOS 5, and Apple plans to add the feature to this summer's Mac OS X release, Mountain Lion (10.8).

While Twitter integration is entirely optional for the user, those who incorporate their login information into iOS 5 can then tweet directly from any app that supports it, from Safari and Photos to The New York Times and many other apps. Users can opt to receive notifications from Twitter in apps, and can even "direct message" (private tweet) a contact in their address book.

In addition, iAd Producer 2.1 has optimized the performance of exported ad units, now allows ad upload and testing with iOS devices connected by USB, enables use of image sprites, provides support for on-device debugging, now provides an onion-skinning view for visualizing animations, supports the new media object in iAd JS, and reduces device memory usage for image views. The new version also allows more types of assets to be imported and managed in the asset library, including most common document types.

Though iAd Producer is free to download, it does require an Apple Developer Connection account. Developers can obtain the new version through Software Update or from the iAd Producer sign-in page.

by MacNN Staff