Apple Introduces New Frameworks and Tools for Developers, Including Xcode 12

by

As part of WWDC 2020 this week, Apple has introduced a series of new APIs, frameworks, and tools for developers, ranging from App Clips to Xcode 12 to a new SwiftUI API for making widgets that work across iOS, iPadOS, and macOS.

xcode 12

  • App Clips: New in iOS 14, App Clips surface information from relevant apps without requiring users to download an entire app. Apple describes App Clips as a "small part" of an app designed to be discovered the moment it is needed. Once inside the App Clip, users can easily install the full app with a single tap.
  • Widgets: iOS 14 features widgets that can be pinned in different sizes on any home screen page, providing useful information at a glance. For this, Apple has released a new SwiftUI API that allows developers to use the same code to build a widget for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS.
  • Find My network accessory program: In iOS 14, the Find My app is gaining support for finding third-party products and accessories with the new Find My network accessory program. This will allow users to use the Find My app to locate non-Apple devices, complete with end-to-end encryption. A draft specification is available for accessory makers and product manufacturers starting today.
  • Xcode 12: Apple's development tool has received a redesign to match macOS Big Sur. Apple says new document tabs make opening multiple files faster, while navigator fonts now match the system size, or can be set to small, medium, or large. In addition, Xcode 12 builds "macOS Universal" apps by default to support upcoming Macs with custom Apple silicon. Apple released the first beta of Xcode 12 today.
  • A new StoreKit tool in Xcode lets developers simulate subscription setup, in-app purchases, and refunds directly on a Mac.
  • Safari for Mac is adding support for the WebExtensions API used by Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, making it easier for extension developers to work with Safari and distribute through the Mac App Store.
  • App Store now supports Family Sharing for subscriptions and in-app purchases.
  • HomePod is gaining support for third-party music services.
  • Users can set third-party web browser and email apps as default in iOS 14.
  • Developers now have the option to detail their app's privacy practices directly in the App Store for users to review, including the types of data the app might collect, whether that data is shared with third parties, and the option for users to opt out.

Apple outlines several other new developer efforts in its press release, including the ability to "challenge" App Store Review Guidelines starting later this summer.

Tag: Xcode
Related Forum: Apple, Inc and Tech Industry

Popular Stories

Generic iOS 18 Feature Real Mock

iOS 18 Available Now With These 8 New Features For Your iPhone

Sunday September 15, 2024 10:09 am PDT by
Following over three months of beta testing, iOS 18 was finally widely released to the public on Monday, September 16. The update is available in the Settings app under General → Software Update on the iPhone XS and newer. Below, we have highlighted eight key new features included in iOS 18, and Apple shared a complete list of new features and changes last week. Note that Apple...
Read Full Article • 121 comments
iOS 18 Public Beta Thumb 1

Here's When iOS 18 Rolls Out Today in Every Time Zone

Monday September 16, 2024 3:56 am PDT by
It's that time of year again. Apple is about to release iOS 18, which promises to bring a range of new features and improvements to iPhones worldwide. It's Apple's biggest software update of the year, and the company is expected to release it sometime today – Monday, September 16. Based on past releases, the update is likely to drop at around 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time/1:00 p.m. Eastern...
Read Full Article • 140 comments
apple silicon mac lineup wwdc 2022 feature purple

M4 Macs, New iPad Mini, and iPad 11 Expected at Upcoming Apple Event

Sunday September 15, 2024 5:29 am PDT by
Apple will likely hold another event in October this year to announce new Macs and iPads. If so, it would be the fourth time in the last five years that Apple has held an event in October. Last year, Apple held a virtual event on Monday, October 30 to announce new MacBook Pro and iMac models with the M3 series of chips. In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reiterated...
Read Full Article • 134 comments
M4 Mac mini Black Ortho Cooler

Apple Leaks New Mac Mini With 5 USB-C Ports

Monday September 16, 2024 11:40 am PDT by
Apple has seemingly leaked the rumored next-generation Mac mini with five USB-C ports, according to a code change within Apple software that was discovered today by MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris. The code refers to an unreleased Mac mini model with an Apple silicon chip and five ports, which lines up with a previous report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman that said the next Mac mini will be ...
Read Full Article • 232 comments
16 pro

iPhone 16 Pro Demand Has Been Lower Than Expected, Analyst Says

Sunday September 15, 2024 3:58 pm PDT by
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today said demand for the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max has been "lower than expected" since the devices became available to pre-order in the U.S. and dozens of other countries on Friday. Kuo said his data is based on a "supply chain survey" and shipping estimates listed on Apple's online store. Kuo estimated that sales of all four iPhone 16 models reached...
Read Full Article • 603 comments
Beyond iPhone 13 Better Blue Face ID Single Camera Hole

10 Reasons to Wait for Next Year's iPhone 17

Friday September 13, 2024 2:40 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models simultaneously, which is why we sometimes get rumored feature leaks so far ahead of launch. The iPhone 17 series is no different – already we have some idea of what to expect from Apple's 2025 smartphone lineup. If you plan to skip...
Read Full Article • 294 comments

Top Rated Comments

lunarworks Avatar
lunarworks
55 months ago

How are they going to allows cross-platform applications using X11 for the GUI to run on macOS, many of which are not specifically designed for macOS. This includes numerous scientific and academic software projects.

Will I be able to run command line tools from terminal (a python script for example)?
Is python or Rstudio going to work at all?
Is it possible to connect to a server via Terminal and launch a non-Mac applications with its GUI?
What happens to the Unix based language?

I think all scientists got REKT by Tim and his MacOS hipster edition. Why can’t we keep the ****ing desktop OS?
Whatever people have been doing on 10.15 they should still be able to do in 11.0. The kernel hasn't changed.

They did some UX changes, and people are losing their minds.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cmaier Avatar
cmaier
55 months ago
Shockingly my most complex app built fine from a clean build folder in Xcode 12, including for ios 14 and the simulator.

That never happens when Xcode is updated.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
HiRez Avatar
HiRez
55 months ago

Xcode 12 is a universal app so when comes it to iPad?
It's Universal for macOS Intel + Apple chips, I don't think it's universal between macOS + iOS. Probably will happen at some point though.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
albebaubles Avatar
albebaubles
55 months ago

Apple needs an Xcode 11/12 tutorial.
no just do your homework like we all do every year.


Still no Xcode to iPad. It’s a shame. Nothing less.
They simply do not have enough onboard RAM, how hard is that to comprehend? Like whining your 4 cylinder won't tow like a diesel.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mattlqx Avatar
mattlqx
55 months ago

Xcode 12 is a universal app so when comes it to iPad?
Now, as then, Universal refers to the architectures supported by the binary, not the frameworks.

Apple displayed mobile apps being run-able on the desktop. It won't be going the other way around (desktop apps on mobile) because of the obvious resource and UI paradigm differences.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Spungoflex Avatar
Spungoflex
55 months ago
Part of me likes the new look and part of me think it makes Apple computers look like Fisher-Price toys.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments