Apple has unveiled new tools and technologies which it claims are designed to help developers create more engaging app experiences and make it even easier to build high-quality apps.
Developer betas for iOS 15, iPadOS 15, macOS Monterey, watchOS 8, and tvOS 15 are available to Apple Developer Program members at developer.apple.com starting today.
More details on pricing and availability for Xcode Cloud will be shared this fall.
Here is a brief introduction of some of the tools.
Xcode CloudXcode Cloud is a new continuous integration and delivery cloud service designed specifically for Apple developers.
Xcode Cloud can automatically build apps in the cloud to free up developers’ Macs for other tasks.
Parallel testing in the cloud means developers can test on a simulated version of every current Apple device, then deploy a build of the app for internal testing, or deliver to external beta testers through TestFlight for instant feedback.
Xcode Cloud will be available as a limited free beta starting today, with expanding access throughout this summer and fall, and will be available to all developers next year.
App StoreApple is introducing new product page tools, which, it claims offer developers greater flexibility and new ways to connect with users right in the App Store.
Custom Product Pages let developers showcase different features of their app for different users, while Product Page Optimisation gives developers the ability to test different screenshots, preview videos, and even app icons.
With the analytics in App Store Connect, developers can see what their users like most and make the best decisions for their product pages.
SwiftSwift — Apple’s programming language — now features built-in concurrency support.
This means developers can more easily write code that does work in parallel, while doing more work in the background.
With concurrency in Swift, developers can write fast, modern, safe code with fewer mistakes, claims Apple.
The SwiftUI includes enhancements for improving list views, search experiences, in-app accessibility features, multi-column tables, and more.
Augmented RealityApple claims that its augmented reality platform has 1 billion AR-enabled devices powered by ARKit, a framework that allows developers to easily create AR experiences, and RealityKit, the rendering, animation, audio, and physics engine built from the ground up for AR.