October 22, 2014 at 14:36Apple obliges developers to create 64-bit applications
Following the public release of iOS 8.1 on Monday, October 20, Apple introduced a number of other innovations, among which are those directly related to developers of mobile applications for iOS.
In particular, the company changed the requirements for released applications, which was announced yesterday to developers through notifications from the Developer Center.
There are two main new requirements: from February 1, 2015, all new applications and updates already published must be developed using the iOS 8 SDK included in the Xcode 6 integrated software development environment and be compatible with 64-bit architecture. Otherwise, they will be rejected.
Mandatory introduction of support for 64-bit systems is associated with the use of Apple's 64-bit A7 and A8 processors in all of their new devices, starting with the iPhone 5s and iPad Air, not to mention the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus introduced this fall, as well as the iPad mini 3 and iPad Air 2. Both chips give the new iPhone and iPad models a significant increase in performance with less energy. However, currently on these iOS devices you have to use additional resources to work with 32-bit applications.
This is not the first time Apple has forced developers to transfer software to new software. This was already in 2013, when the company ordered developers to optimize all new applications for iOS 7.
It is worth noting that the requirements apply only to applications or updated versions published for the first time on the App Store. Older programs may still remain 32-bit. It is likely that in the future all applications will be transferred to the 64-bit architecture, but the solution to this issue will most likely take more than one year.
In particular, the company changed the requirements for released applications, which was announced yesterday to developers through notifications from the Developer Center.
There are two main new requirements: from February 1, 2015, all new applications and updates already published must be developed using the iOS 8 SDK included in the Xcode 6 integrated software development environment and be compatible with 64-bit architecture. Otherwise, they will be rejected.
Mandatory introduction of support for 64-bit systems is associated with the use of Apple's 64-bit A7 and A8 processors in all of their new devices, starting with the iPhone 5s and iPad Air, not to mention the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus introduced this fall, as well as the iPad mini 3 and iPad Air 2. Both chips give the new iPhone and iPad models a significant increase in performance with less energy. However, currently on these iOS devices you have to use additional resources to work with 32-bit applications.
This is not the first time Apple has forced developers to transfer software to new software. This was already in 2013, when the company ordered developers to optimize all new applications for iOS 7.
It is worth noting that the requirements apply only to applications or updated versions published for the first time on the App Store. Older programs may still remain 32-bit. It is likely that in the future all applications will be transferred to the 64-bit architecture, but the solution to this issue will most likely take more than one year.