iPhone Game Development - Chris Craft [140]
Instruments. Instruments is an application for dynamically tracing and profiling iPhone application code. It includes the following useful templates: activity monitors, CPU sampler, file activity, leaks, object allocations, and UI recorder.
FIGURE 10.7
Xcode integrated development environment
Development Provisioning Assistant
You can use the Development Provisioning Assistant (Figure 10.8) to create and install a Provisioning Profile and iPhone Development Certificate needed to build and install applications you're developing for iPhone and iPod touch devices.
FIGURE 10.8
Development Provisioning Assistant
There is a lot of work that must be done to configure your development machines and your development devices so they can work together and allow you to deploy applications you are developing. The Development Provisioning Assistant can do all of the manual steps for you and remove the chore from the process.
Note
You can find out more about the Development Provisioning Assistant and download it at http://developer.apple.com/iphone/manage/overview/index.action.
Apple Bug Reporter
Apple provides developers with a tool they can use to submit bug reports and enhancement requests. Developers can then track submitted bugs and enhancements using the Apple Bug Reporter, shown in Figure 10.9. If you do find a bug and it is a problem for you, you can even request a workaround using a technical support incident.
FIGURE 10.9
Apple Bug Reporter
It's great knowing that if you encounter an issue while developing for the iPhone, Apple is there to support you. But what's really great is knowing that if you have an idea for an improvement to the iPhone, you can submit an enhancement request, and just maybe your idea will be a part of the next iPhone.
iPhone 3GS features
Recently Apple released the iPhone 3GS (Figure 10.10), and along with it a new iPhone OS 3.0 and iPhone SDK that allow developers to fully take advantage of this device's new capabilities. Here's an introduction to what has been added and what is new:
FIGURE 10.10
iPhone 3GS
Accessibility. iPhone 3GS offers accessibility features to assist users who are visually or hearing impaired. These features include the VoiceOver screen reader, a Zoom feature, White on Black display options, Mono Audio, and more.
Compass. Combine a GPS with an accelerometer and now a digital compass and you have the ultimate mobile navigation tool that fits right in your pocket.
Open GL ES 2.0. Open GL ES 2.0 allows applications the ability to feature richer visuals and smoother game play performance. One of the biggest differences between Open GL ES 1.0 and Open GL ES 2.0 is that the latest version includes more advanced shader support.
Video recording. Now you can enjoy the same power and flexibility that the iPhone brings to photos with video. You can record, edit, and share video right on the device.
iPhone OS 3.0 features
The new iPhone OS 3.0 (Figure 10.11) brings a lot of new features and functionality. Not only is their support for new hardware found on the iPhone 3GS, but many of the new iPhone OS 3.0 capabilities work on all devices, including devices before the iPhone 3GS.
FIGURE 10.11
iPhone OS 3.0
Make sure to always keep up with new OS features so your apps can take full advantage of new opportunities:
Automatic Wi-Fi login. Device automatically logs in to any Wi-Fi hotspot that it has seen before.
Cut, copy, and paste. You can now cut, copy, and paste text from any application. And you can even copy and paste images from Safari.
Find My iPhone. If you lose your phone you can now track its location via Find My iPhone.
Internet tethering. Your laptop can now access your device's Internet connection through either Bluetooth or USB.
iTunes Store account. The on-device App Store now allows users to log in to iTunes with different accounts.
Landscape keyboard. Need more room to type? More applications support the landscape keyboard feature, including Mail,