Apple Encourages Developers to Update Their Apps for iPhone X

Friday October 27, 2017 3:44 PM PDT by Juli Clover
Apple this afternoon reminded developers about the imminent launch of the iPhone X and encouraged them to submit apps that are optimized for the new device.

Developers can download Xcode 9.0.1 to test apps using the iPhone X simulator before submitting their updated apps to iTunes Connect.
The future is almost here. iPhone X will be available November 3. This stunning device features the all-new Super Retina display for more immersive experiences and Face ID, a secure new way to unlock, authenticate, and pay. The TrueDepth camera works with ARKit, and the A11 Bionic chip is designed for Core ML and Metal 2. Download Xcode 9.0.1, test your apps in the iPhone X simulator, and capture screenshots. Then submit your updated apps and metadata in iTunes Connect today.
There are specific Human Interface Guidelines developers are encouraged to follow when updating their apps for the iPhone X.

Developers need to take into account the iPhone X's rounded corners, sensor "notch" at the top of the device, and the indicator area for accessing the Home screen to prevent clipping. Developers are discouraged from attempting to mask or call special attention to features like the rounded corners and the sensor housing at the top of the device.

Apps that support Apple Pay or Touch ID will need to make sure Face ID, not Touch ID is referenced within apps on the iPhone X. Apps that use Touch ID will be able to incorporate Face ID as a replacement automatically.

The iPhone X will be in the hands of customers starting on Friday, November 3, the official launch date for the device.

Tags: App Store, developer
39 comments

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JohnApples
29 months ago
...so is it pronounced “ex-code” or “ten-code”? :confused:
Rating: 26 Votes
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xero9
29 months ago
Given I still have apps that aren’t optimized for the plus screens, I’m not hopeful. I look forward to the next two years at least of terrible looking apps!
Rating: 14 Votes
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keysofanxiety
29 months ago

Apple needs to tell us how precisely how many iPhone X units have been Pre-Ordered, so that we have some confidence & incentive to do so !

NO MORE marketing games, Mr. Cook ... give us the facts, & treat us like Adults !


Lol please. As if the numbers aren’t announced so your magnum opus of an app isn’t updated for the iPhone X. :rolleyes:

This sort of ridiculous hyperbole seems to get more prevalent every year.
Rating: 14 Votes
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Cosmosent
29 months ago
Apple needs to tell us how precisely how many iPhone X units have been Pre-Ordered, so that we have some confidence & incentive to do so !

NO MORE marketing games, Mr. Cook ... give us the facts, & treat us like Adults !
Rating: 11 Votes
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LandRovers
29 months ago

Apple needs to tell us how precisely how many iPhone X units have been Pre-Ordered, so that we have some confidence & incentive to do so !

NO MORE marketing games, Mr. Cook ... give us the facts, & treat us like Adults !

Future iPhones will adopt the same form factor as the X. You should probably update your app dude.
Rating: 8 Votes
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szw-mapple fan
29 months ago

...so is it pronounced “ex-code” or “ten-code”? :confused:

If it comes first, it’s eks, if it comes last, it’s ten.

Eks: Xcode, Xserve, xQuartz
Ten: OS X, Final Cut Pro X, iPhone X
Rating: 6 Votes
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OldSchoolMacGuy
29 months ago

Apple needs to tell us how precisely how many iPhone X units have been Pre-Ordered, so that we have some confidence & incentive to do so !

NO MORE marketing games, Mr. Cook ... give us the facts, & treat us like Adults !


Millions of units have been sold. That's more than enough to get most developers invested.

More units than all Pixel XLs sold last year.
Rating: 4 Votes
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ILikeAllOS
29 months ago

As a developer, if it takes you a boatload of time to edit an app for the X (to various degrees of success, see Marco Arment’s tweets on Overcast updates for iPhone X) why do it?

You do it so that you don't end up as one of the many 1-star apps that haven't been updated in 2 years, which allows another developer to then make a newer app and steal all of your customers away.
Rating: 4 Votes
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rti92391
29 months ago
So what’s the negative if someone doesn’t update their app? As a developer, if it takes you a boatload of time to edit an app for the X (to various degrees of success, see Marco Arment’s tweets on Overcast updates for iPhone X) why do it? I surmise we will see a phone without a notch in the future, which would require an undo of this work. Outside of an iOS 11/32 Bit app situation, I don’t see much changing for apps on iPhone X.
Rating: 4 Votes
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nt5672
29 months ago

Given I still have apps that aren’t optimized for the plus screens, I’m not hopeful. I look forward to the next two years at least of terrible looking apps!


Well Apple does not care about any Apps for pre iOS 11. It seems to be impossible to get a single app to work correctly on both iOS 9.x and 11.x, since they made the change from guides to safe areas. We cannot figure out if the problems are in the simulator or if they will be real problems with devices. So we sit and wait for real devices, because that is what Apple is forcing us to do.
Rating: 4 Votes
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