iPhone Game Development - Chris Craft [7]
The SDK itself is broken into four major layers:
Cocoa Touch. Contains the tools necessary to create rich event-driven user interfaces without diving into the details of the lower levels.
Media. When stock user interfaces are not enough, you can use the media layer to create the best multimedia experience available on a mobile device today.
Core Services. This layer grants you access to iPhone OS services such as file access, data types, Bonjour services, network sockets, and more.
Core OS. At the lowest layer of access in the group, you can manage the memory system, create threads, access the file system, connect to the network, and more. Leverage this layer in situations where the other layers do not meet your needs.
Introducing the iPhone Developer Program
Because you bought this book, we know you are interested in developing game applications for the iPhone. If you are not familiar with the iPhone Developer Program, then it's time to get acquainted.
Joining the iPhone Developer Program gives you access to the technical resources in the iPhone Development Center. This includes getting access to the SDK, developer tools, getting-started videos, documentation, sample code, and more. Once you have joined, you'll have access to the tools necessary for developing, debugging, and distributing your applications for the iPhone and iPod touch.
Tip
If you are curious about iPhone development but not ready to spend the money, you can sign up for free as a registered iPhone developer. As a registered iPhone developer you will have access to documentation and videos. If you have an intel-based Mac at your disposal, you can download and install the iPhone SDK, which includes the Xcode IDE, iPhone Simulator, and a suite of additional tools. With these tools you can try your hand at developing applications and running them in the Simulator. Register at http://developer.apple.com/iphone/program/start/register/.
The cost of getting started
To get started in iPhone development, you are going to have some unavoidable expenses. You will need to sign up for the iPhone Developer Program, which costs $99 at the time of this writing. You will want to implement your native iPhone applications using Xcode, which will only run on a Mac, so if you do not have a Mac to develop on, you will need to get one. If you do need to purchase a Mac, consider signing up for an Apple Developer Connection Membership at http://developerapplecom/products. This gives you access to many resources and developer discounts. At the time of this writing, the standard membership costs $499; however, if you use the membership discount to purchase a MacBook Pro, it more than pays for itself. If you are just looking to spend as little as possible, you can get a Mac mini for around $599, depending on where you buy it.
Finally, if you don't already have one, you'll need to get an iPhone or an iPod touch to test your applications on. The iPhone SDK does come with a Simulator; however, it is just that—a simulator, not an emulator. To get a true and accurate experience, you must deploy your application to a physical device. With a new mobile plan and a two-year contract, you can purchase an iPhone 3G for $99. The iPhone 3GS will cost at least $199 with a two-year contract. Alternatively, you can purchase an iPod touch for around $220.
Decide what to buy based on the needs of your application. Most game application needs will be met by the iPod touch, especially the second generation, which now includes speakers. Look at the features you want to include in your application and make sure the device you are looking to buy supports those features. For instance, if you need