iOS Update

It's time for another update on our progress towards iOS support. Lately we've been working on toolbars, navigation and the splitview, which is a control specific to iPad.

In the screenshot below, you can see the toolbar on the bottom. In this example, it's using icons. 

Toolbar with Icons

But they don't have to be icons. You can use regular buttons as well:

Notice that the the left-most button looks unusual. That's because iOS controls support styles. In this example we have applied a style to that button in the toolbar. We have also applied a style to the titlebar to make it green. Notice the First and Done buttons in the screenshot above? We've got navigation working as well.

If you've ever used the Mail or Settings apps on the iPad, you know that they looks a bit different from the iPhone. On the iPhone you start with a list, select an item and then view the details in another layout that slides over the list. On the iPad, however, the list and detail views are displayed at the same time (at least when the iPad is held in landscape orientation). This is accomplished with a control called a splitview. It essentially holds two layouts. This makes it easy to take the two layouts you would use for your iPhone app and use them with a splitview to create the iPad version:

The above example shows two simple layouts (called "views") that have been dragged into a splitview control. Notice that the titlebar of View2 has been styled not only with a different color but with a different font as well. In most cases you won't need or want to change the look with a style but it supports them if you need them.

Unlike most iOS development tools, we are using native controls. We've noticed others that appear to be using native controls but really, they are just drawing controls that look like native controls. The difference in this case is not skin deep. Native controls, like on the desktop, have automatic features (such as accessibility) that you get essentially for free by using them. And should Apple decide to change the look and feel of the native controls, you get those changes for free. Drawing the controls rather than using the native controls might be faster for the tool developer but it's not the what's best for the application developer or their users.

If you want to get a head start on learning about iOS development, come to the Real Studio Developer Conference. We have several iOS-specific sessions planned so you can learn all the details and start planning your iOS projects.

Stay tuned. We will have another update on iOS soon.