iPhone Application Development Tips

Published: December 20, 2012 5 min. read
Svitla Team
By Svitla Team
Mobile Development
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iPhone application development is not that hard, with the right tools and the right software development applications making a program that would work and look great with your device would be easy. Usually, the best way to do this would be through the use of a simulator which would be used for showing the output of the source code. It is used for testing if the developed code would run smoothly with the iPhone or if there is further testing needed. The simulator would also show the actual size of the program within the device. The iPhone SDK or Software Development Kit contains one such simulator. This iPhone simulator is for Mac users only and it can be very handy when it comes to making various programs. In order to run the software, users would need to register as an iPhone developer and install the SDK.

The most important aspect when it comes to iPhones is the small screen it utilizes. In order to control the style and size of the screen, developers would often deploy a markup or an additional style sheet specifically for the iPhone. The style sheet would use a specific link element that would have a maximum width of about 480 pixels. 480 pixels are actually the maximum width provided by the iPhone for landscape orientation. Internet Explorer can be used for viewing the source code yet it often lacks support for media query. However, IE would still be able to load the style sheet which was intended for iPhone screens. Aside from IE, there are other browsers that have the same capabilities to load the programs; however choosing one which would be efficient enough for the job depends upon the developer. Also, since most programs would have different presentation configurations, most applications would differ from one browser to the next.

 

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Another thing to remember when creating applications for iPhones are orientation changes, this means that applications can be viewed in two ways. Some programs would run on portrait mode while other programs would run on landscape. Of course, there are several other developed games that utilize both of the two modes. By using the proper java script, programmers would be able to provide the right values for using window.orientation codes. Some of the values are:

  • 180 – unsupported orientation, but would enable the portrait flipped so that the home button would be seen on the top

  • 90 – landscape after the counterclockwise rotation from the portrait

  • 90 – landscape after clockwise rotation which would be from home button to the left

  • 0 – portrait orientation would be normal and the home button would be seen on its original place

Using the orientation change command module would enable the developer to tilt the device and select the positions where the controls should be seen. In order to see how the program acts when the iPhone is tilted, the SDK simulator has a hardware option which enables users to change the position of the screen. Aside from these things, orientation specific styles are also an important aspect in iPhone software development. Orientation specific styles are needed to format the content of the program depending on the orientation. In order to use any program for any specific or practical use, certain steps need to be applied on the markup. Users would essentially need to add:

  • A markup of the program including the class name and the body element of the program

  • Specific body content styles such as body.landscape are required to be added

  • Class attribute should also be specific according to type of program to be designed

Once orientation specific lines are finished, developers are also required to check the toolbars if they are to be exposed or if they should be hidden when the software is used. Once a page is loaded on the iPhone, the URL toolbar is set to be visible and once the users move down through the pages, the URL would often automatically hide itself. Hiding or showing the toolbar ultimately depends on the programmer. If the developer needs to remove the toolbar, he can use a script which changes the behavior of the iPhone. Of course, if the page is too short and unscrollable then the developers would usually add another meta element. Using the meta element would enable the developer to set the height of the viewpoint properly.

Aside from adding the meta element, round corners should also be strictly checked. Some browsers such as Safari and Firefox have the ability to show rounded elements on their screens. Since all programs would need to have rounded corners, it is neccessary to use browsers that allow round elements.

Lastly, programs that are created should have specific markups for touch events. Since iPhones are touch-screen devices, applications should have the same protocols. Some programs can be used through simple touch while others would only function through tapping. Certain mouse actions can actually be used as touch events. Most of the applied mouse actions for browsers are:

  • Touchend

  • Touchstart

  • Touchmove

  • Touchcancel

  • Targettouch

Such elements can be used for producing software applications for the device. Since they have the same settings such as in mouse events, they can work well with the iPhone.

Written by
Svitla Team
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FAQ

What tools do I need to start developing iPhone applications?

The iPhone SDK (Software Development Kit) is required so that you can use an iPhone simulator to readily see on a device how your app appears and functions. In the simulation, you will also be able to view not only the behavior but also the real size of your program on the screen area of the iPhone. To get this kit, one has to register as an iPhone developer and install it on a Mac. With these tools, making fully functional iPhones that also look good becomes much more manageable.

How should I design my app for the iPhone’s small screen?

A separate style sheet or markup made specifically for the iPhone is what developers usually apply. This stylesheet most often goes after a max width of around 480 pixels͏, which is the landscape width of the iPhone. Even IE and other browsers that do not support media queries at all can still pick up these styles specific to the iPhone͏. There will be differences in how it looks across browsers, though, so testing is necessary.

Why are orientation changes important in iPhone app development?

iPhone apps show in portrait and landscape views. Some apps and games use both ways. Use JavaScript with window. Orientation values (like 0 for regular portrait and 90 for landscape) to change layouts and controls for each way. Use styles and markup for content to be set right when the device is tilted (for example, body.landscape). The SDK simulator allows you to rotate it, too, so that you can see how the app acts.

What should developers consider about touch events and interface details?

Since iPhones are based on touch screens, applications have to work with touches and handle such events as touchstart, touchend, touchmove, touchcancel, and targettouch. They closely match mouse events in other browsers and can be used to develop a highly responsive, user-friendly interface. Other interface elements that developers should also take care of include toolbars (showing or hiding them with scripts and meta tags that change the viewport height). Other requirements involve using browsers that properly support rounded corners, such as Safari and Firefox, so the visual design looks as intended.