Apple introduces iOS 8 SDK with more than 4,000 new APIs

News Wireless Global 2 JUN 2014
Apple introduces iOS 8 SDK with more than 4,000 new APIs

Apple has released its iOS 8 SDK, its largest developer release to date with more than 4,000 new APIs. iOS 8 allows developers to further customise the user experience with extensibility features like Notification Centre widgets and third-party keyboards, and introduces frameworks such as HealthKit and HomeKit. iOS 8 also includes Metal, a new graphics technology that enhances the performance of the A7 chip and Swift, a new programming language. 

iOS 8's HealthKit APIs provide the ability for health and fitness apps to communicate with each other. With the user's permission, each application can use specific information from other apps to provide more comprehensive management of health and fitness. HomeKit provides a common protocol, secure pairing and the ability to control individual or groups of devices throughout the house, including integration with Siri. 

Developers can further customise the user experience with iOS extensions, including new sharing options, custom photo filters, custom actions and document APIs. Developers can now add their own widgets into Notification Centre, and third-party keyboards offer additional layouts and input methods. 

The introduction of Metal on iOS 8 provides new graphics technology that maximises performance on the A7 chip. The software provides a ten times improvement in draw call speed and enables game providers to bring console-class 3D games to mobile devices. For casual games, iOS 8 now features SceneKit, making it easy to create 3D games, along with major enhancements to SpriteKit, including field forces, per-pixel physics and inverse kinematics. 

Swift is a new programming language for iOS and OS X. Designed for Cocoa and Cocoa Touch, Swift combines compiled languages with popular scripting languages, eliminates entire categories of common programming errors and coexists with Objective-C  code, enabling developers to integrate Swift with existing apps. Xcode Playgrounds make writing Swift code interactive by instantly displaying the output of Swift code. 

In addition iOS 8 includes Touch ID APIs, enabling developers to securely authenticate users within apps, protect logins and user data and unlock keychain items, PhotoKit, new Camera APIs, CloudKit and new App Store features for developers like app previews and app bundles. 

The iOS 8 beta software and SDK are immediately available for iOS Developer Programme members at developer.apple.com. In the fall, iOS 8 will be available as a free software update for iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5s, iPod touch 5th generation, iPad 2, iPad with Retina display, iPad Air, iPad mini and iPad mini with Retina display.

Categories:

Mobile

Companies:

Apple

Regions:

Global

Tags:

Launch, IT - applications, Consumer devices, Enterprise, Handsets

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