Tepid Response to iOS7! Why Are iPhone App Developers in a Flux?

Introduction

So the iOS7 is released. This mobile centric operating system was a refreshing splash of cool water to the increasingly watery eyed users of the otherwise fabulous, entertaining older user interface. Besides, competing OS were updating furiously to wean away such customers ringing alarm bells in Cupertino, Apple’s HQ. Hence this new baby from Apple.

However the app development community is in a quandary. Knowing that Apple controls the iPhone app development ecosystem strictly, it eventually has to fall in line. But some hot blooded among them aren’t giving in without dissent. Just as there are willing converts to the new OS!

Developers Analysis- How iOS7 Compares with Other OS’?

Any update/upgrade of the OS will require significant amount of time, energy and money to synergize apps residing on it. This can at time become contentious with vendors of important apps dissenting on some or all of the upgrade saliencies.

Chatterati in the app dev community revolves Top mobile app development around the investments required to make their apps compatible. They know Apple will pull all stops to “encourage” gluttonous usage of its new OS.

For instance, the flattening of icons has rustled up many, otherwise happy with skeuomorphic icons that helped differentiate iOS topography from other operating systems. Graphics of the apps accustomed to the earlier iOS versions now need a redesign to get the compatible scale and pixilation’s. This involves investment in software required for redesigning the icons. Part of the task would be to get rid of the gloss and depth in these icons to obtain a smooth, bright and slightly beveled look. This would also entail a change in the code to accommodate the new look. Result: Amplified cost to the developer for time and energy invested.

This is the case of just one app. App Store has applications numbering more than 500,000. Imagine the amount of investments (time, effort, money) needed to overhaul the huge pile. No less of a gargantuan task!

iPhone app developers currently using the iOS6 or iOS5 platform have to stall their development in lieu of the iOS7. The APIs that have bound these apps with the previous iOS versions may have changed prompting rework of code to adapt to changed functionalities as well use the new ones.

While these firms go in for a mega overhaul, a parallel stream must be activated supporting their apps in the old iOS. There are many users still running the old apps and who might not all come aboard the iOS7 bandwagon, at least initially. Besides, there might be an inevitable temptation to charge customers for the upgrade which may result in discontinuation of services or cancelling the app because the apps available are plenty and the customer may just switch to another friendly app.

Any Positives?

Well, cynicism on one side is an opportunity to the other. While some see the migrating of apps to new the iOS as a pain there are other who see it is a goldmine. Some see collaborations in building apps for the new OS. Others are eyeing a business-to-business outsourcing model where by the old OS based apps can be outsourced to another company while the parent company immerses itself in iOS7 based iPhone app development.

Prospects

With the new OS, iOS7, Apple has pressed the Refresh button in app development. Existing mobile app development companies have to learn the ropes quite soon. Competition in this existing app development field is rampant and there are new start ups waiting to jump into the fray. Dexterity and adaptability will define the fortunes of app developers courting the new iOS7 platform. May the best win!