04/29, 10:32am
New OS expected to be evolutionary upgrade
The next major upgrade of OS X, v10.9, will concentrate on "power-user" features while bringing in more concepts from iOS, say sources for 9to5Mac. In the former category, several improvements to Finder are expected, such as tagging and tabbed browsing. Fullscreen apps should finally remain open on secondary monitors, and Safari is expected to get a new version with a new backend, improving performance and efficiency.
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12/17, 2:24pm
Apple is now seeding a fourth beta of iOS 6.1 to developers. Any major changes are so far unknown, beyond a standard Apple claim of "bug fixes and improvements." Typically, Apple introduces minor features or redesigns with each beta of an iOS upgrade. The download beta is available over-the-air through earlier betas of iOS 6.1, or via Apple's iOS developer portal.
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11/12, 2:14pm
Numerous different versions of 6.1 seed available
Apple is seeding a second beta of iOS 6.1 to developers. The release follows just two weeks after the first beta, and is available in numerous different editions covering all versions of the iPad, iPad 2, and iPad mini, plus the iPhone 3GS, 4, 4S, and 5, and fourth- and fifth-generation iPod touches. Launching in parallel is an updated version of the Apple TV firmware, and Xcode 4.6 Developer Preview 2.
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11/01, 3:51pm
iOS 6.1 features yet to be exposed
In the wake of the public launch of iOS 6.0.1, Apple has also released the first betas of iOS 6.1 and Xcode 4.6 to developers. While the Xcode release is likely meant to support iOS 6.1, it's not clear what most of the changes in the latter include.
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09/20, 1:00am
IDE now has Retina support, auto layout, more
Along with a slew of software updates for OS X and iOS, updates for supporting applications on both platforms and firmware updates for the latest models of MacBook, Apple has also taken Xcode 4.5 out of beta. The integrated development environment (IDE) for OS X Lion and Mountain Lion (10.7.x and 10.8.x) is free to registered Apple Developer Connection (ADC) members, and despite running on Intel Macs only can create programs that are both PowerPC and Intel compatible. The new version offers Auto Layout for both OS X and iOS, an OpenGL debugger and more.
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09/12, 5:21pm
Developers invited to submit iOS 6 apps to App Store
Apple is now seeding a gold master of iOS 6 to developers. A gold master represents the final version of a piece of software, in this case the firmware that will ship on upcoming deliveries of the iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. Members of the public who already have compatible iOS devices will be able to get the update through iTunes and iCloud starting September 19th.
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08/07, 4:03pm
Differences so far hidden
(Updated with change info) Apple has released Xcode 4.4.1, a new version of the company's development suite for Mac and iOS apps. The exact content of the update is a mystery, as Apple only comments that it "runs on both OS X Lion and OS X Mountain Lion." The download is 1.46GB, and requires OS X 10.7.4 or later.
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07/25, 1:56pm
Xcode gets Retina support, upgraded language features
Continuing a spree of software updates, Apple has also posted new versions of Xcode and Remote Desktop for the Mac, and iTunes U for iOS devices. Xcode 4.4 incorporates upgrades such as Retina display support, new C++ and Objective-C features, and the ability to commit individually-selected changes during source control. By default, the software includes the latest SDKs for OS X Mountain Lion and iOS 5.1.
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07/09, 6:31pm
Lion 10.7.5 update also available for testing
The finishing touches are being applied to the next major release of OS X, dubbed Mountain Lion or 10.8. Developers have alerted MacNN to a Golden Master (GM) seed being pushed out through the OS X Dev Center. The GM seed is for both the client version as well as Server, which features a significant re-arranging of its main features. The company also has a first seed of Lion 10.7.5 and a GM of Xcode 4.4 available.
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05/01, 9:47pm
Mountain Lion adds 'do not disturb' feature
Earlier today, Apple posted a new developer build of OS X Lion 10.7.4 for both Client and Server editions, coming just one week after the previous update. In addition, the company has updated the last Developer Preview 3 of OS X 10.8, Mountain Lion, and also posted Developer Preview 4 of Xcode 4.4 for developers. The Mountain Lion update is notable for a new "Do Not Disturb" mode in the built-in Notifications Center, which may portend a similar feature in a future iOS version.
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04/19, 12:05am
Both offer significant new features
Hot on the heels of the day's earlier release of OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion (Developer Preview 3), Apple has released a new beta of the forthcoming Safari 5.2 as well as a preview of programming tool Xcode 4.4, reports AppleInsider. Both updates bring noticeable new features to the programs, but both are only for developers and require an Apple Developer account to access. Safari gains SVG filters and other improvements, while Xcode now supports 3D documents.
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02/18, 12:10pm
Apple developer guide helps platform newcomers
Apple on Friday quietly posted a Getting Started guide for new iOS developers. The overview is intended as a top-level look and goes with basics such as setting up Xcode, understanding what types of code are needed, and more abstract issues such as design guidelines and App Store submission.
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02/16, 4:05pm
Safari to merge search, address bars
Apple is seeding betas of Safari 5.2 and Xcode 4.4 to developers, reports say. The new version of Safari notably merges the search and address bars, imitating Google's Chrome browser. It also highlights the domain portion of a URL in the address bar, and uses a new Reader icon.
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12/12, 2:20pm
iOS 5.1 beta 2 hits dev center
Apple on Mondahy posted iOS 5.1 beta 2 to the Developer Center. Along with cleaning up the release, 5.1 now gives an option of deleting photos from the Photo Stream and seeing those changes propagate elsewhere. Photos have to have been taken with an iOS 5.1 device, however, and they will only automatically vanish on other iOS 5.1 hardware.
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11/28, 7:30pm
iOS 5.1 beta reaches developers for first time
Apple gave developers their first taste of significant post-5.0 updates with the first betas of iOS 5.1 and Xcode 4.3. The iOS update upgrades voice dictation on "supported devices," although it's presumed this still means just the iPhone 4S for now. So far, only programming interface changes are known to have come through the update, mostly those affecting peer-to-peer interfaces in DNS calls.
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10/12, 6:15pm
Flood of iCloud and iOS 5 updates
Continuing a day-long flood of software updates, Apple has released Aperture 3.2 and Xcode 4.2. As expected, the Aperture patch concentrates on compatibility with iCloud and iOS 5. Some other small enhancements have been made though, such as pinch-to-zoom automatically activating Zoom mode, and automatic launch in fullscreen mode if that was in use when the program was last quit. The Import window has gained an option to delete photos from iPhones and iPads after the images have been copied over.
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09/23, 12:00pm
May be testbed for future A-series chip
The most recent source code for Clang -- the default compiler in Xcode -- now shows support for a quad-core Marvell processor, the ARM-based Armada XP, according to Ars Technica. The chip is notably built for low-powered cloud computing tasks. Support can only be enabled when an "open source" flag is left undefined, something believed to imply that only Apple's own Clang binaries can compile for the XP.
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09/06, 8:35pm
NVIDIA chief hints at Windows 8's Jupiter platform
NVIDIA chief Jen-Hsun Huang in an interview Tuesday hinted at Windows 8 possibly supporting Windows Phone apps. They would require ARM chips, but he was confident apps written in the mobile OS would work with the new desktop OS' tile interface. He didn't say to CNET how much of this was based on deeper knowledge.
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08/31, 6:55pm
Beta 7 hits for OS 5 iTunes 10.5, Xcode 4.2
Apple at its Developer Center has posted iOS 5 beta 7 as well as corresponding iTunes 10.5 and Xcode 4.2 beta releases. The iOS update includes the expected bug fixes and improvements. Most of the changes aren't visible to users, although it limits how frequently an app can talk to iCloud in a short timespan.
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08/19, 1:55pm
iOS 5 beta 6, iTunes 10.5 beta 6, Xcode 4.2 ship
On cue, Apple has posted to the Developer Center new test versions of iOS, iTunes, and Xcode. iOS 5 beta 6 primarily tackles bug fixes such as the ability to cope with syncing files changed outside of an app and fixes to Game Center and GameKit. Some bugs continue to remain, such as some iCloud storage commands.
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07/22, 5:05pm
iOS 5 beta 4 goes live
Apple finished the week by giving its developer channel beta 4 of iOS 5. The update has few details but is the company's first ever update beyond its walls to come as an over-the-air update, not a manual install. The delivery may be a clue to a wind-down of testing as the company checks to make sure that updates can go live on a larger scale.
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07/20, 3:45pm
Makes Lion mandatory
Shortly after Xcode 4 went missing from the Mac App Store, Apple has replaced it with an updated suite, Xcode 4.1. The software is used to develop apps for OS X and iOS, and in its new incarnation includes SDKs for both OS X Lion and iOS 4.3. It has also been made free, with the catch that the suite requires Lion to run.
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07/20, 10:30am
Likely to be replaced with 4.1
Although OS X Lion is now available on the Mac App Store, Xcode 4 has temporarily gone missing, browsing shows. As of this writing the software isn't even discoverable through search. The suite is the primary tool for development of OS X and iOS apps.
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07/11, 2:20pm
Joined by third Xcode 4.2 preview
Apple is now seeding the third betas of iOS 5 and iTunes 10.5, reports indicate. The latter is required to sync with devices running iOS 5 beta 3, which can include the iPad 1 and 2, the iPhone 3GS and 4 (GSM/CDMA), and the third- and fourth-generation iPod touch. A new iOS 5 release is also available for Apple TVs.
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06/24, 9:30pm
Enables wireless syncing for devices
[Updated with additional details] The second private beta of iOS 5 has been released by Apple on their iOS developer website along with a second beta of iTunes 10.5, needed to test the major new feature in the iOS beta: wireless syncing. The company also released a second beta of AppleTV 2.0 software, and a second developer preview of XCode 4.2, AppleInsider reports.
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06/06, 8:45pm
Devices using iOS 5 cannot be reverted back
As part of a slew of new developer software to accompany today's introduction of iOS 5, Apple has issued a warning that once installed, devices running the iOS 5 beta can only be upgraded to later betas and the final version, and cannot be downgraded back to earlier versions, according to a report from AppleInsider. The company has also issued a beta for iTunes 10.5, expected to accompany the release of Lion, a new developer preview of XCode 4.2, and Apple TV 2 software, which will improve Airplay support with iPad 2s.
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04/29, 3:25pm
Lion update makes minor changes
Apple is now seeding two important software updates to developers. The first is a new build of Mac OS X Lion, identified as 11A444d. Although the file measures approximately 1.22GB, the code is not marked under a "Preview 3" header, implying that it is instead a third build of Preview 2. No details of changes or additions have been listed by Apple.
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04/14, 5:15pm
Xcode update needed for iOS 4.3.2
Two more software updates have been released by Apple, most importantly Xcode 4.0.2. The update is essential for iOS developers, as it adds compatibility with the new iOS 4.3.2 firmware. It also incorporates an assortment of bugfixes, for example addressing mapping models in Core Data, OpenGL ES apps in iOS Simulator, and LLVM compiler 2.0.
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03/14, 11:35am
Technique works with Xcode 3, 4
Re-enabling experimental multi-touch gestures in the final iOS 4.3 firmware is a comparatively simple process, users point out. The beta firmware implemented special four- and five-finger gestures for the iPad which allowed people to jump to the homescreen, bring up the task switcher or swipe between apps. Even before the v4.3 gold master was introduced, however, it was known that the extra commands would not be enabled in public code by default.
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03/14, 9:45am
May be disappointed with inconsistent interfaces
Apple is working on an official magazine template to be included in a future version of Xcode, a rumor claims. Much of Mac and iOS development is governed by Apple's Human Interface Guidelines, which attempt to dictate standard appearance and behavior for software. To encourage and simplify their adoption, some templates are by default bundled with Xcode.
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03/09, 4:00pm
No Mac Developer membership required
After an extended production period, Apple has at last released the finished version of Xcode 4. The software is Apple's central tool for developers, capable of programming both Mac and iOS titles. Some upgrades over earlier releases include a new, mostly single-window interface, Fix-it auto-correction, full support for C++ in the LLVM compiler and integration of Interface Builder into the Xcode IDE.
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03/04, 12:30pm
Hold on final software unexplained
In parallel with the release of the iOS 4.3 gold master, Apple is also seeding a second Xcode 4 GM, developers say. The software is identified as build 4A304a, and accessible by registered Mac or iOS coders. People beta-testing Mac OS X Lion must install a separate set of tools.
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02/04, 12:25pm
Dev tool only requires Mac OS X 10.6.6
Apple has taken the unusual step of reseeding the gold master of Xcode 4, people with access to the development tool say. Rather than fixing any bugs however, the new software simply includes updated documentation, no longer insisting that Mac OS X Lion is required. In reality, Xcode 4 only requires a computer running Mac OS X 10.6.6 or later.
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02/03, 3:15pm
Build quickly pulled from developer site
Apple appears to be nearing the launch date for its Xcode 4 suite of developer utilities, as the company briefly slipped the golden master. The build was posted by Apple earlier today, according to a Twitter post from developer Michael Jurewitz, though the company later pulled the release and switched back to the previous preview.
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02/01, 3:40pm
Quick release schedule continues
Apple has released a third beta of iOS 4.3 via the iOS Dev Center. As anticipated, the new code is listed as build 8F5166b. Developers can download a bundle of Xcode 3.2.6 and the new SDK, as well as separate firmware distributions for the iPad, the iPhone 4 and 3GS, and the third- and fourth-generation iPod touch.
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01/19, 4:40pm
Four-, five-fingered gestures not in final OS
Apple has posted a second beta of iOS 4.3 for developers by way of the iOS Dev Center. Any new features and code references are so far undiscovered, but the release is accompanied by matching versions of Xcode and the Apple TV firmware. Still missing is support for running v4.3 on the iPhone 3G or second-gen iPod touch, suggesting that Apple is indeed leaving v4.2.1 as the last iOS update for the devices.
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01/10, 7:15pm
Adds in-app performance measuring and analysis
The sixth developer preview of the upcoming Xcode 4 was posted to Apple's Mac and iOS developer support sites today,bringing a new command-line tool, called "iprofiler," for measuring app performance. The new version, which was last updated in November, also adds a new framework for in-app performance evaluation, and includes many enhancements and bug fixes from the previous version.
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11/12, 9:55pm
New features, enhancements included
Apple today posted Build 4A225 of its forthcoming XCode 4, now shaping up as a significant upgrade for developers. This fifth preview version brings a number of new features, including independent and assistant editor panes with their own histories, independent and "tearable" tabs, new configurable alerts and more. The new preview build also enhances tab behavior, general preferences and editor views, among other changes.
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10/14, 11:00pm
Developer tool still in beta testing
Apple has released Xcode 4 preview 4 to developers for continued beta testing ahead of the official release. The programming utility features a new single-window interface, with an iTunes-style navigation bar for search functions and other list. The top offers a Jump Bar, allowing users to quickly switch between different levels.
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09/09, 9:30am
Apple opens up iOS limits following Adobe scrutiny
Apple today made a rare about-face in policy today and reversed its ban on third-party development tools for iOS 4. The company said it was now "relaxing all restrictions" on what was allowed and would let developers write iPad and iPhone apps with Adobe's Flash CS5 or other kits beyond Xcode. The only limit is that the finished apps can't download any code of their own, it said.
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09/02, 6:55pm
Download available for Mac and iPhone devs
Apple has released a third preview of Xcode 4, the latest set of developer tools for Mac OS and iOS platforms. Version 4 transitions to a single-winder interface, combining a navigation toolbar, which offers search and list content, with a Jump Bar that can be used to quickly switch between various levels.
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08/26, 2:35pm
Qualcomm job hints at possible CDMA iPhone team
A discovery today suggests Qualcomm has quietly begun hiring for what could be a deeper commitment to a CDMA iPhone. A position for an iPhone Developer Guru would come onboard to "develop the most challenging product of your life." AppleInsider's finding has requirements that center primarily around iOS development, such as Xcode.
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07/23, 12:55pm
Implements single-window interface, new aids
Having just released Preview 2 to developers, Apple is also providing further public details on upcoming changes to Xcode 4. The programming tool is most notably switching to a single-window interface, merging several older ones together. On the left is an iTunes-style navigation bar, combining search and lists of material such as project files and debugging data. At the top is the Jump Bar, which speeds up switching between different levels of content.
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07/22, 10:30pm
Developer suite completely rewritten
Apple has released a second preview of the upcoming Xcode 4 suite to developers. Version 4 is said to be completely overhauled for Mac and iOS, with a variety of new features and improvements. The update combines functionality from Xcode and Interface Builder into a single utility.
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07/12, 10:00am
Google hopes for simple Android development
Google started off the week by launching a beta of App Inventor for Android to attract developers to its platform. The tool uses MIT's Open Blocks to construct apps visually, placing interface elements and linking them to events. No coding is needed, and the system is simple enough that Google expects that high school students could create apps of their own.
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06/12, 11:30am
FTC to check ban on iPhone cross-compile tools
The Federal Trade Commission is formally launching an investigation into Apple's ban on cross-compiling tools for making iOS apps, sources leaked out on Saturday. Following negotiation with the Department of Justice, the FTC will determine whether or not Apple is being anti-competitive by preventing Adobe Flash CS5 and other tools from creating native iPad, iPhone and iPod touch apps. When the investigation would start wasn't known.
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05/27, 2:10pm
Wild rumor of Ballmer at WWDC triggers talk
Microsoft today denied that Steve Ballmer would present at Apple's WWDC. It follows a questionable rumor that Microsoft's Steve Ballmer would make a presentation at the conference in roughly two weeks. Global Equities Research analyst Trip Chowdhry believed the Microsoft CEO was penciled in for seven minutes of time at the keynote and would talk about a new version of Visual Studio 2010 that would produce iPad, iPhone and Mac apps.
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05/05, 2:10pm
Adobe says won't ignore HTML5 for Flash
Adobe isn't going to avoid HTML5 development to drive Flash, company CTO Kevin Lynch said in a brief talk today. He argued that Adobe didn't see the universal standard as a threat and would make "great" tools to produce for HTML5. Whether that would involve Flash-to-HTML5 conversion, a more advanced Dreamweaver or other tools wasn't part of the discussion.
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04/27, 7:20pm
Works with HTML, Java to produce apps
MacNN has reviewed NimbleKit, a framework for Xcode that allows users to write simple apps for Apple handhelds without having to work in Objective C. It uses tools like HTML, JavaScript and CSS, including a JavaScript API that bridges between a user's code and the iPhone OS. This allows the creation of native iPhone controls with a JavaScript function call.
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04/16, 1:00pm
Wired says it can use Flash CS5 despite Apple
Wired today insisted that its magazine app for tablets will still reach the iPad despite being built using Adobe's Flash-to-iPhone tool. Publisher Conde Nast said it was working with Adobe to develop the reader with the middleware but was adamant that it would still pass Apple's iPhone 4.0 guidelines, which explicitly ban cross-compiling software like the Flash CS5 component.
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