7 TIPS FOR iOS 7
iOS 7 is a major departure from past versions.
Get your apps ready for the change.
01 INTRODUCTION
“THE BIGGEST CHANGE SINCE THE ORIGINAL iPHONE”
A s CEO Tim Cook described at the June 2013 World Wide Developers
Conference (WWDC), the upcoming iOS update brings some of the most
fundamental changes since the introduction of the operating system. And with
iOS 6 adoption over 94%, it is important to be prepared for the changes when
users begin to upgrade.
With more than 1,500 new or updated APIs available to developers, there is a
multitude of ways to modernize your iOS app.
This eBook will provide you with seven focus areas to provide a great iOS 7
experience for your users.
// eBOOK // 7 Tips for iOS 7
“
WITHOUT A DOUBT, IOS 7 IS THE BIGGEST
OVERHAUL THE PLATFORM HAS RECEIVED SINCE
ITS INTRODUCTION AS iPHONE OS WAY BACK IN
THE HEADY DAYS OF 2007.
DAN SEIFERT
THE VERGE
03 UPDATE UI
EXTRA TIP
For more information on iOS
app testing and the biggest
iOS painpoints, check out:
The Essential Guide to
iOS App Testing
LEARN MORE
1. UPDATE YOUR UI
DON’T GET LEFT BEHIND
The transition to iOS 7 brings a fresh UI If you have created a custom experience
designed to get out of the way of the user, without UIKit elements, you may want to
provide clarity on interacting with apps and revisit how your app looks and flows in
create depth and layers designed to foster the new paradigm. Conversely, if you are
a more enjoyable experience. Once these currently using UIKit elements, you will
changes hit, users will expect your app to want to examine how they are coded into
fit the flow of iOS 7. If you don’t keep up, your app. Compiling your app against the
it’s all too easy for users to find another app iOS 7 SDK will automatically use newer kit
that has embraced the changes. As more elements, but you will want to ensure the
apps enter the marketplace, users will gain a elements still work with the look, feel and
sense for how a well-thought-out iOS 7 app flow of your app.
looks, feels and operates.
// eBOOK // 7 Tips for iOS 7
04 TRANSITIONING
2. BE CAREFUL TRANSITIONING
As you move your app forward or design PAY AT T E N T I O N TO :
a new app from scratch, there are several
• App icons are losing their shine, drop shadow and will now have a
key areas you should keep in mind to different corner radius. Be sure to verify that your branding is not
make sure the transition goes smoothly. affected by these changes.
• Launch images should be extended all the way up to the status bar
area. Since you can now tint the status bar to match your app, leaving
this space as black by default may make your app feel dated.
• Drop shadows, gradients and bezels are de-emphasized in iOS 7 as
the OS moves away from mimicking the physical world. Transition
away from these metaphors to more smooth and layered layouts.
• Bottom-up swipes now launch Control Center. Be cautious when
coding usage of this area of your app.
• Dynamic Type allows users to adjust the size of text they see in apps
throughout their device. Implementing Dynamic Type will further
satisfy users as your app will respond to their requested changes.
// eBOOK // 7 Tips for iOS 7
“
EVERYTHING APP DESIGNERS KNEW ABOUT
THE LOOK AND FEEL OF iOS HAS BASICALLY
BEEN TOSSED OUT THE WINDOW WITH iOS 7.
BUTTONS NO LONGER HAVE BORDERS, DROP-DOWN DISPLAYS ARE
TRANSLUCENT, ICONS ARE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. DESIGNERS ARE
BASICALLY GOING TO HAVE TO START FROM SCRATCH WITH iOS 7 TO
MAKE SURE THEIR APPS FIT WITH APPLE’S NEW DESIGN GUIDELINES.
DAN ROWINSKI
READWRITE
06 AUTO LAYOUT
3. VERIFY AUTO LAYOUT
Apple’s Xcode 5 brings powerful updates to the Interface
Builder and Auto Layout. Introduced in Xcode 4 and iOS 6,
these tools you can design a single interface that flexibly
adjusts to the various iOS devices and states. Xcode makes
it easier for you to handle views on different devices,
orientations and localizations.
While this capability is very helpful, it is important to
verify the results. Apple’s iOS may not have as large of a
fragmentation issues as Android, but even with the current
supported lineup there are a minimum of eight orientation/
screen resolution combinations you’ll want to test.
A well-defined test strategy would incorporate in-the-wild
testing with a mix of iOS devices to verify implementation
of the layout choices. Be sure to understand how your app
performs on Retina and non-Retina devices, in portrait and
landscape and how your app handles Dynamic Text.
// eBOOK // 7 Tips for iOS 7
07 BE FLUID
EXTRA TIP
To learn more about mobile
app testing, download this
free eBook:
The Essential Guide to
Mobile App Testing
LEARN MORE
4. CREATE A FLUID EXPERIENCE
BUT DON’T GO OVERBOARD
Updates to the UIKit enable your user However, just because you can do
interface to “come alive” in iOS 7. You can something, doesn’t mean you should. Think
now quickly build animations and motion about the best use of the new UIKit features
into your app. As users interact with your before implementing them. Adding new
app, the user interface can react and move interactions because you can, not because
based on how users are holding and moving it’s needed, does not make for the best
the device. Adding translucency and depth user experience. Too much of a good thing
to your app can draw users in and make can be overwhelming and a user may grow
navigation easy. frustrated trying to accomplish basic tasks
within your app.
// eBOOK // 7 Tips for iOS 7
08 DEVICES
5. NOT ALL DEVICES ARE CREATED EQUAL
The move to iOS 7 marks the first upgrade FEATURES WITH LIMITED SUPPORT
in which non-Apple processors will no • Camera Filters are only available on the iPhone 5 and iPod Touch 5,
longer be supported. If you have an however Filters are available in Photos on the iPhone 5 or later, iPad 3 or
later and iPad Mini
audience that heavily uses the iPhone 3GS
or earlier or the iPad 1, you may need to • Panorama is only available on the iPhone 4S, iPhone 5 and iPod Touch 5
consider supporting iOS 6 as well.
• AirDrop is only available on the iPhone 5, iPad 4, iPad Mini and iPod
Additionally, despite the supported Touch 5
device list utilizing A-series processors,
• Siri is only available on the iPhone 4S or later, iPad 3 or later, iPad Mini
certain devices will not support all iOS 7
and iPod Touch 5.
functionality.
If your app utilizes any of the features in
the sidebar, think about an alternative or
an alert for users with older devices.
Beyond feature compatibility, older devices
may mute or tone down aspects of the UIKit
in order to maintain optimal performance.
Testing across a range of iOS devices will
provide insight as to how your app performs
on the newest iPhone to the oldest iPad.
// eBOOK // 7 Tips for iOS 7
09 AUTO UPDATES
6. AUTO UPDATES
AND
FRIEND FOE
Users will no longer have to enter the App Store to download
the latest app updates. When devices have a reliable
connection over WiFi, it will automatically download and
install updates. You can now more quietly update bug fixes
without requiring action or alerting the user. You can also
better insure the vast majority of users are running the latest
version of your app within days.
But be careful, just because you can push updates more
frequently without disturbing users doesn’t necessarily mean
you should. With quieter updates, a user may be avoiding
your app unaware that you’ve since fixed the bug that drove
them away. You should also know how your app handles
upgrade flows to minimize user disruption. Does your app
logout when upgraded? Does it save users’ data? Be sure to
put the user first when thinking about upgrades.
Additionally, without the user making the conscious decision
to update, you miss out on educational opportunities to let
them know about new features or substantial changes. Since
apps now update automatically, you should consider how to
inform users about new features and flows.
// eBOOK // 7 Tips for iOS 7
10 MULTITASKING
7. MAKE MULTITASKING USEFUL
New multitasking code makes it easier to keep your This helps eliminate load lag on your
content up-to-date and more accurate. Previously, iOS social networking, location-based and
versions allowed a limited window of time when an content-driven apps. Implementing
app was inactive to receive updates. Now, iOS 7 will the new multitasking code will provide
intelligently schedule updates according to your app’s a more seamless user experience.
usage and other device conditions to prevent battery
drain while providing up-to-date content. You can
register intervals for your app to be woken up or tie
content downloads to push notifications to ensure users
are getting the latest data when they open the app.
// eBOOK // 7 Tips for iOS 7
11 ABOUT UTEST
ABOUT UTEST
Test provides real-world testing services for web, The company is headquartered near Boston,
desktop and mobile applications. By leveraging a with offices in Silicon Valley, Seattle, London MORE INFO ON
community of 80,000+ professional testers from and Israel. uTest has raised more than $37MM iOS 7 TESTING
190 countries, uTest helps companies test their in funding and consistently generates triple-digit Have testing questions
products under real-world conditions. Thousands annual revenue growth. The company was named or looking for testing?
Let uTest help.
of companies – from startups to global enterprises to Inc. 500’s list of Fastest Growing Companies in
such as Google, Microsoft, HBO, Amazon and USA the U.S. for two consecutive years. CONTACT US
Today – turn to uTest to complement their in-the-lab
More info is available at www.utest.com or blog.
testing, and to help them launch better apps. uTest’s
utest.com. For more info on mobile app testing
services span the entire software development
and mobile analytics, visit www.mobileapptesting.
lifecycle, including functional, usability, security,
com and www.applause.com.
localization and load testing.
uTest, Inc.
p 1.800.445.3914
e info@utest.com
w www.utest.com
