14 DAY TRIAL // Apple is hooking up developers with the necessary tools to take advantage of the A7 chip’s 64-bit architecture, encouraging them to deploy their iOS 7-native apps on the iTunes App Store.
The A7 chip is currently only found in the iPhone 5s, but Apple will most likely include the spec with its upcoming iPads as well.
In order to show off the processor’s power, Apple is equipping developers with new coding tools to take advantage of the 64-bit capabilities.
The latest version of Xcode churned out both 32-bit and 64-bit apps, depending on the iOS / iDevice generation sought out by the application seller.
On its developer site, Apple tells registrants, “You can submit 64-bit apps for iOS 7 today that take advantage of the power of iPhone 5s.”
“Xcode can build your app with both 32-bit and 64-bit binaries included so it works across all devices running iOS 7.”
Developers looking to continue to support iOS 6 will be able to do so by using new tools which Apple plans on seeding in the near future.
“If you wish to continue to support iOS 6 then you will need to build for 32-bit only. Next month we will be making changes that will allow you to create a single app binary that supports 32-bit on iOS 6, as well as 32-bit and 64-bit on iOS 7,” Apple says.
iOS 7 will become widely available tomorrow, September 18, as a free download through iTunes or over-the-air. Softpedia has created a comprehensive guide for users looking to download and install the update using “official” procedures.
iPhone 5s goes on sale later this week (September 20) in the US, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Puerto Rico, Singapore, and the UK.