Got a tip for us? Share it...

New iPad SDK Adds Gesture Tools, Removes Video Chat Icons

Apple yesterday released the fourth beta version of the SDK for iPad developers, and observers have started to find a few differences popping up in the latest update.


9 to 5 Mac reports that Apple has added support for "3Tap" and "LongPress" gestures to the SDK, suggesting that the company is opening the door for developers to take advantage of these gestures in their applications. The gestures themselves are not new, as Apple has utilized them for such options as turning the iPhone's display on and off when using VoiceOver (triple tap) and activating copy/cut/paste (long press), but the added files should make it easier for developers to use them.

9 to 5 Mac also notes that Apple has removed several icons that previously hinted at the ability to accept or decline video chats on the iPad. Despite the apparent absence of a camera in the iPad, hooks for videoconferencing were discovered in the iPad SDK, leading to speculation that either a camera would be an added feature announced before launch or had been planned and was scrapped for unknown reasons. Hints of front-facing camera capabilities have continued to surface in iPad SDK betas, but it appears that Apple has begun removing some of these references.

Top Rated Comments

(View all)

25 months ago
I'm SO not buying an ipad without video chat.
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives
25 months ago
Figures the icons would be gone; I have a feeling the iPad won't be camera endowed until G2 of it rolls around. Otherwise the only update I can see happening is a higher capacity model rolling around before G2. (2010 and still at 16GB?)
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives
25 months ago
hm, i know of three people who say they won't buy an ipad without video chat/video skype.

not sure if they will stick to it. maybe if there is a third party camera they will buy an ipad......
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives
25 months ago
no vid chat then
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives
25 months ago
There will be a 3rd party camera, and Apple will wait to see how popular it is before adding a built-in camera in a future model.
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives
25 months ago

There will be a 3rd party camera, and Apple will wait to see how popular it is before adding a built-in camera in a future model.


I hope this isnt the case. On a side note, I think its so stupid they didnt include a USB port on this thing. One port for an item like is so liming. I guarantee the majority of the people here love being able to use their laptop while having their iphone/ smartphone plugged in.

The only reason I feel that they arent adding a camera is to give them another incentive for someone to buy the next round of them.
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives
25 months ago
strange. not sure how programming triple tap can be any easier? it's just a tapCount.
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives
25 months ago
the few people that i have talked to that are bemoaning inability of video chat when pressed i find never actually use it. They talk about how great isight is on their macbook pros etc but again very rarely use this feature. I am not denying that there are people who do want it and who would use it, but the media hype surrounding it i feel is giving it more weight than it deserves. I have no idea why i woulod want an ipad but i expect a developer to write something outrageous and will MAKE me want one sooner than later. Probably why its such an exciting device.
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives
25 months ago
I am not commenting on this story. Prerelease software quite often has features disappear then reappear later. If I were talking about the operating system for a not yet released device, I would tell most people to chill.
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives
25 months ago

It figures Apple would remove the one cool surprise from the iPad prior to launch.
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives

[ Read All Comments ]