Anyone who doubts how important developing applications for the iPhone is to Apple needs only to look at the upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) session schedule. The iPhone accounts for almost one-third of the total sessions hosted by Apple during the five-day event, which takes place in San Francisco starting on June 9.
Released to developers earlier this year, Apple is now on its sixth beta version of the iPhone Sofware Development Kit (SDK), which lets developers create native applications for the iPhone. The sessions at WWDC are designed to aid those developers by giving them information from and access to the people responsible for creating the SDK — Apple’s engineers.
When Apple first launched the iPhone, the only sanctioned way to write software for the device was as a Web application, accessed via the iPhone’s Safari Web browser. However, four months later, Apple relented and announced it would release an SDK for native iPhone development.
iPhone sessions at WWDC include designing applications with Interface Builder, user interface design, game development, multi-touch events and gestures, text input, networking, and integration of technologies like Apple’s Address Book API.
Although the iPhone is a hot topic for WWDC, Apple isn’t putting all its focus on the device. More than 50 percent of the tracks at WWDC 2008 are on Mac development.
From advanced media application development to Cocoa tips and tricks, Apple is putting on a full schedule for its Mac developers. Developers also have the opportunity to take a class on developing plug-ins for Aperture, Apple’s professional photography workflow software.
Sync services, Spotlight, Quick Look, USB, FireWire, Ruby on Rails, networking, and media integration will all be part of this year’s sessions for Mac developers.
Not to be left out, Apple will also have some sessions focused on IT. Topics includebBest practices for migration of OS X Server, large scale deployments of Xsan, iCal Server services, and deploying Final Cut Server.