Apple Says That All New Apps Must Support the iPhone X Screen (9to5mac.com)

Today, Apple emailed developers to inform them that all new apps that are submitted to the App Store must support the iPhone X's Super Retina display, starting this April. What this means is that developers of new applications must ensure they accommodate the notch and go edge-to-edge on the 5.8-inch OLED screen. 9to5Mac reports: Apple has not set a deadline for when updates to existing apps must support iPhone X natively. From April, all new apps must also be built against the iOS 11 SDK. In recent years, Apple has enforced rules more aggressively when it comes to supporting the latest devices. Apple informed the news in an email today encouraging adoption of the latest iOS 11 features like Core ML, SiriKit and ARKit. Requiring compilation with the iOS 11 SDK does not necessarily mean the apps must support new features. It ensures that new app developers are using the latest Apple development tools, which helps prevent the App Store as a whole from going stale, and may encourage adoption of cutting edge features. The rules don't mean that much until Apple requires updates to also support iPhone X and the iOS 11 SDK, as updates represent the majority of the App Store. Most developers making new apps already target iPhone X as a top priority.

Comments

If you can't sell it...

[b0s0z0ku]

If you can't sell it, you can at least force developers to pretend that it's relevant.

Re:If you can't sell it...

[Carewolf]

All those developers will have to buy one to test, that will in itself tripple the sales..

Arrogant Apple As Always

[erapert]

Apple: Yeah we changed up the screen and we did a bunch of weird stuff without consulting you.
Developers: You're right, that is some weird stuff that you did there for no reason other than "look at me", but whatever, man.
Apple: And we want you to bend over backwards and change your app around to support the stuff that we implemented without asking or telling you.
Developer: Uh... wait, why did you do this in the first place? Is there a real compelling reason or...?
Apple: Because we had some artist say that he thinks it looks better this way. We might change our minds. But we might not.
Developer: Ugh. So I have to do a bunch of work for no real reason? What's your deal anyway?
Apple: No there's definitely a reason: because we have altered the deal. Now get to work, beeyotch.
Developer: (this deal is getting worse all the time...)

It's not strange at all

[SuperKendall]

Hi, actual IOS developer here?

What Apple is asking people to do is stuff they have been asking people to do since forever - to build using auto layout, or at least respecting margins the system asks for.

There are a few technical nuances there, but not many. They are just asking developers to build in a. way that respects system margins so that stuff will look OK across many devices.

In practice all the iPhone X is, is a larger bottom and top margin.

It's not a lot of work to adapt for this, unless you've been hard-coding a lot of stuff and in that case - Coding Karma has come to bite your dull metal ass.