Importance of new technologies in iOS development
In this modern world, everything has changed into a technological form. So far human has invented many new ideas still more to come. Hunting for technology is an endless journey day-to-day new ideas incoming into the development and technology sector. In this article, some new technologies/development features and their usefulness for iOS development are briefly mentioned here.
Mobile apps invention did a major change to the technology sector. In your routine life, you have some kind of experience in mobile apps and their usage/advantages over websites. Mobile applications are faster, users can personalize their contents, mobile apps offer online and offline access, mobile apps can use device OS features, helps to improve productivity, and cost reductions are some examples of benefits of using mobile apps. Therefore, by reading this blog you will get a brief idea about what are new technologies can help to improve your iOS mobile apps and their importance.
Newly arrived development features for iOS development
1. Swift UI
SwiftUI is a UI framework which will help to customize/design your UI for all kind of apple platforms such as iOS, macOS, tvOS, and iPadOS. From XCode 11 onwards this framework is included in your UI design. There is no longer a need to run the app to check the UI changes, SwiftUI provides the live rendering canvas to check the UI in different IOS devices. SwiftUI canvas not only supports code-wise live rendering you can drag and drop some UI components that we usually do for our storyboard-based design.
Swift UI provides views, controllers, and layout structures for your app’s UI. Through event handlers, you can recognize the actions from your apps. You can integrate the SwiftUI view objects from the UIKit, AppKit, and WatchKit to get the different platform-specific functionalities. There is more you can do with SwiftUI let’s take a look at the advantages of using SwiftUI for iOS development.
Key benefits of SwiftUI
- Easy to learn and the code base is clean and simple
- SwiftUI no longer needs an interface builder since it’s replaced by the canvas
- Live rendering in the canvas for your UI changes there is no need to run the app to check the UI changes.
- There are no any AutoLayout constraint issues because SwiftUI introduces HStack VStack, ZStack, etc… for your layout design.
- There are no more storyboard-related conflicts when two developers working on the same storyboard. Since it’s replaced by the SwiftUI reusable, manageable codes.
As a result, these are some benefits of using SwiftUI. There are some drawbacks as well when going to use the SwiftUI.
Drawbacks of SwiftUI
- There are no view hierarchy previews since it’s using canvas preview.
- SwiftUI is a new framework therefore, resolving complicated issues via the answers from stack overflow/others is a bit difficult.
- SwiftUI started supporting from IOS 13 onwards and the developer must use XCode 11 older OS version users no longer get your app.
For more details about SwiftUI please follow the official apple documentation.
2. App Clips
App clips were introduced for IOS 14 by apple, here you will get a brief idea of app clips and actually what are app clips. App clip is a small part of the app which helps to make a certain task easier. App clips are designed to appear as soon as possible to full fill the specified task easier. For example, if you want to order a coffee quickly the app clip will appear on your screen to perform the particular task.
It’s faster than you downloading the app from the app store / searching the app on your device. So it’s one of the best to make the app accessible easier. If an app contains an app clip means you can interact with them via app clip codes, NFC tags, QR codes by scanning them with your device’s camera you will get the app clip popup bottom of your screen. App clips are available from iOS 14.3 onwards.
Since it was recently introduced, therefore, we don’t have many apps got app clips. It depends on the developer whether the app is going to have an app clip or not.
The above image will show you examples of app clips how they look on your device. App clips are developed in the same XCode project where you are dealing with your main project. Let take a look at some benefits of having app clips.
Benefits of app clips
- App clips are one of the best ways to get user interaction to your app.
- Providing pre-demo of your app’s small part without installing the app.
- Much faster to finish a specific task.
- App clips support apple pay so theirs is no need of asking for credit card info when you are having an app clip.
This is just a brief idea about what is app clip for more reading about app clips please follow up the apple’s documentation about app clips.
3. Watch Kit
WatchKit is one of apple’s framework which helps to build hybrid apps for the Apple Watch. Your apple watch contains only the UI such as storyboards, assets catalogs. It doesn’t execute any of your code instead your iPhone contains all of the code sources and it executes the actions as an extension to the Apple Watch. It’s wireless communication between your iPhone and Apple Watch.
Previously WatchKitcatalog using WatchKitinterface elements which were written in Objective-C entirely. But now the with the help of watchOS 7 and SwiftUI you can create awesome interfaces. Mainly apple provides easy access to information right on the user’s wrist. XCode 12 and SwiftUI make watchOS app development much easier and quicker than before. With the help of SwiftUI canvas, you can check different watch interfaces while you are making changes.
watchOS now support MapKit, SceneKit, SpriteKit, HomeKit, AVKit therefore, by the use of SwiftUI you can create awesome watchOS apps. There two types of WatchOS app one is the WatchKit app another one is the WatchKit app extension. For the development, both are needed to create the WatchOS app you can’t use one without another.
WatchKit app — WatchKit app is responsible for displaying the UI, this is the place where you going to store your storyboards / SwiftUI interfaces.
WatchKit app extension — WatchKitapp extension is responsible for everything that is done programmatically. This is the place where your classes, controllers reside.
As showing in the above image in XCode you create your WatchOS apps. This is a brief idea about WatchKit usage for development. For more reading please follow up the official developer documentation.
4. WidgetKit
Apple introduced widget support for IOS 14 at WWDC 2020. After this announcement our home screen is included with customizable widgets, it’s a small piece of your app content. Now they are smarter, faster and more useful, and easily accessible on our devices. By the use of SwiftUI, you can create some awesome widgets of your app content to display on the home screen.
A widget will include three main components such as configuration, timeline provider, and content closure.
Configurations — It’s a widget configuration with display name, description, backgrounds, and network handlers.
A timeline provider — Timeline provider is a timestamp supplier for the entries when the widget kit displays the widget.
Content closure — This will returns a view to display the timeline entries.
The above image shows the structure of the widget kit configuration. Widgets are for SwiftUI only therefore, when creating a new project we need to make sure the app is using SwiftUI as an interface builder. Widgets are the part of the app which displays the select information on the home screen. Therefore users no need to open the app to find out the specific content.
For example, if you are using a music app and it got some specific widget that is showing the favorite songs section as a widget so by the use of that widget you can easily access the favorite songs without going to the app and search for the content. There are several ways that we can use this widget for our daily app to make it more useful and make it easily accessible.
Benefits of having WidgetKit in your app
- Easily accessible no need to open the app
- Useful up to date information at your home screen
- User retentions — using widgets may increase the user visit to your app
There are more benefits than the motioned one using the WidgetKit. According to your app, you need to decide whether this app is going to have a widget or not if we include the widget is it usable or not. It is recently introduced and not popular like SwiftUI but the usage and befits are more useful to include this in iOS apps.
5. Mac Catalyst
At WWDC 2019 apple announced the catalyst to developers. Catalyst allows you to use most of your UIKit, code source to compile and run the app natively in macOS. Simply we can say when you write an app iPad target using UIKit can be cross-compiled to run on macOS. This is a new experience of your app which is going to run on a different platform (macOS), currently, the catalyst support is only available for iPad apps.
Simply you can enable your build for mac by following the steps.
- Select your project target in XCode navigate to the general tab
- Under deployment info you will find the targe and devices as well as there is Mac support also will be there (Note — It’s available only available for macOS 10.15 onwards).
- Enable the mac device support for your target
- Same settings for your frameworks as well enable the mac support for your added formwork in the targets section.
- In the frameworks and embedded content section under general select the option macOS + iOS
As a result, this is the basic setup of your iPad app to support mac catalyst. When you planning to create a mac version of your app means automatically you will get some basic macOS feature as s support such as,
- Tool bar support
- Keyboard, trackpad, keyboard navigations
- Split views
- Color picker
- File browser
Which are some example supports. Your iPad apps behavior in their platform is different. The same app which is transformed to mac catalyst behavior is different because of the platform. When you transform your iOS app to support mac catalyst means your need consider some important factors such as app structure and navigation, user interaction. Because iOS and macOS apps are not similar behavior each platform got its unique way of presenting the visuals for user interaction.
You may need to spend some time changing your iOS app’s structure and navigation to incorporate it with mac catalyst. User interaction wise the gestures may vary when comparing with macOS. In your iPad simply you will tap the button but in mac, you have left or right-click likewise the gesture are a bit different.
Hope you got a brief idea about mac catalyst you can find the development level tutorials and all about mac catalyst for more reading please follow up with official documentation.
6. Siri shortcuts
In 2016 Apple has announced a Siri kit for IOS development with some limited features such as messaging, payments, workouts. But now Siri kit has improved with new features such as Siri shortcuts. These shortcuts are predictions, Siri will learn your app and it will give suggestions for your daily task.
For example, just imagine a particular iOS app is used to book consultants, in this case usually, we can use our app to perform the task manually. What if the task performed from the lock screen by using “Siri voice assistant” / “Siri suggestions” means? yes, it is possible now with the help of Siri shortcuts. Even more, you can add features such as customization to book the consultant with time, book a preferable consultant from the lock screen, etc.
Along with the iOS 14 update, Sirikit getting more efficient design wise its compact design which comes like a notification. The new design focuses only on the most essential information and minimizing the interruption. In iOS 13 you may have needed to jump into the shortcut to perform a particular task but in iOS 14 shortcuts will run seamlessly in the background and it will prompt if the shortcut needs your input. Likewise there more updates in Siri and shortcuts.
Key benefits of Siri shortcuts
- Reduce your time for a particular task to be performed
- More user interactive
- Can perform the task from the lock screen without opening the app
- Additional customizations for preferable tasks to be performed
Likewise, there are a lot of advantages are there. Different apps have some kind of unique features as a routine task like your daily alarm. For this kind of needs, these shortcuts can be implemented as an additional feature for user-friendliness, save time for the particular task.
7. Core ML / Machine Learning
In 2017 Apple announced the Core ML known as the machine learning framework. This machine learning framework feature is used by our daily iOS devices as a routine app/activity. For example Camera, Siri is one of the best examples of machine learning. By the use of the “Core ML framework,” we can develop more intelligent apps for our daily needs. Recently Apple has announced the improved Core ML SDK for IOS devices to integrate vast variations of machine learning model types into our apps.
Why we should use Core ML / Machine Learning frameworks for our apps?
Now apple’s Core ML framework is much efficient with more capabilities such as it is faster, batch prediction, size reduction of pre-trained / trained models. Likewise, this Core ML contains new development capabilities. As well as this feature will help to develop intelligent apps with minimum code.
What kind of apps can be implemented using Core ML / Machine Learning framework?
If you want to create an intelligent app means first you should have a clear idea about the app. Where we going to use the feature and in this case really it’s useful or not for the app. But we can implement the feature at any time in the app as an additional feature.
For example in our daily lives, we are using google maps for navigation, it requires a network connection. What will happen if a particular app can show navigation, road marks while you are interacting through your camera means without the help of google maps? What if the supermarket products details can be accessed through your mobile phone camera. By using your smart app to identify the details about the products.
Imagine that you are using a particular medical app for your medical needs. Just imagine rather than searching for the medical needs, how do you feel when you are talking to the consultant regarding your medical problems its a more natural process. Likewise, why the medical app can’t have voice recognition for your medical needs and also it can provide some suggestions as a real-time conversation.
Likewise, we can implement this feature in any kind of apps. It can be a medical app, map navigation app, an app for supermarket products, etc. As a result, including the Core ML framework will make your app smarter.
After the release of iOS 14 core ml is getting more efficient likewise functionality, flexibility, and security. Now apple introduced Model Deployment which is you can ship updates to your ML models without updating your app. There is a new improved Core ML model viewer available in XCode. Your model data contains any sensitive information means now you can encrypt them in the XCode not like before that you could easily extract the “.mlmodel”. Now CoreML will automatically decrypt and load them in your app’s memory.
Key benefits of Core ML / Machine Learning framework
- Data privacy
- Offline activity (no need any network calls)
- Nearly real time result
There are more benefits of using Core ML for our app than the mentioned examples for more reading please follow this official documentation.
8. Augmented Reality (AR) / ARKit
ARKit was introduced in iOS 11, augmented reality is one of the biggest trends nowadays not only for IOS development. Several sectors have been using this AR for their product-related activities. This is the place where your imagination becomes alive through AR. This is visualizing the things in your live view through your device camera.
For example, if you are seeking sunglass from a website or mobile app means what if you can view the product via AR and check the visual designs and all. That’s where AR become one of the best part of the product. Users can visualize their preferred product and see it via AR which a live 3D or 2D view throughout your device camera.
Likewise, if there is any food-related product/app (food ordering apps) and you want to visualize the food and get to know actually how it looks like if you don’t have an idea of that food means. You can visualize the food via AR. So there are several examples where we can use AR for our daily activities.
Recently at WWDC 2020, Apple announced the ARKit 4 with some all-new features. Which may help to improve the app more efficiently. The following are he some example of new features of ARKit 4
- Location anchors
- Depth API
- Improved object placement
- Face Tracking
- Video Materials
Location anchors — This will allow you to place the virtual content about anchors in the real world. By setting the geographic coordinates in the apple map you can visualize the places something like a point of interest to an AR experience outdoor.
Depth API — This will provide access to visualize the things to access valuable environment depth data. This will enable superior occlusion handling in the environment.
Improved Object Placement — In ARKit 3 with the help of Raycasting API, you can place the virtual objects on the real-world surface. Now with ARkit 4 and Lidar sensor (new model iPhone got this sensor ex: iPhone 12 series), this process is more accurate and quicker.
Face Tracking — This will detect and track faces the font camera which will allow you to create an AR experience to tour face such as placing masks on your face/applying filters to your face etc. it was working only with devices with true depth camera now with ARKit 4 support its extended to devices without this camera. (requires at least an A12 bionic processor to run this).
Video Materials — This will allow you to use the videos as a texture source and audio source. Textures that change over time simulate 3D objects and bring images to life. For example, a glowing effect on a virtual object can be done with the help of video materials.
As a result these are the some brief intros about ARKit 4 features let’s take a look about some benefits about ARKit.
Key benefits of augmented reality (AR)
- Quick and high performance
- More details about the visual content
- Product visualization before buying (as a first time user / new buyer)
- Works with Unity3D
Hope you got a brief idea about AR / ARKit and its new features for more details about ARkit please refer to the official documentations.
Conclusion
As per reading this blog hope you got a brief idea about newly arrived iOS development technologies and their benefits and why we should consider them when developing the apps. Each feature got their unique way to attract user attention, choosing the best / suitable feature for you app development will make your app more efficient for user experience. For more reading about the mentioned features, please follow up the apple’s official documentation.
