14 DAY TRIAL // On January 27, in tandem with the iPad announcement, Apple released a new Software Development Kit (SDK) especially aimed at the tablet device. At the time, the Mac maker told devs they could employ the new SDK 3.2 to create new applications designed to take advantage of the iPad’s distinct features, like its huge screen. An updated version of that SDK is now available for download, according to an update on Apple’s Developer site. Details regarding the changes are under NDA (non-disclosure-agreement), while nobody has been keen on leaking the respective changelog yet.
Just like the iPhone SDK, the kit aimed at iPad development includes a simulator that lets developers test and debug their iPad apps on a Mac. The simulator also aids developers in creating and testing Universal Applications that run not only on the iPad, but also on the iPhone and iPod touch.
“iPhone Developer Program Members can start developing the next generation of innovative applications for iPad with iPhone SDK 3.2 beta, now available in the iPhone Dev Center,” Apple informed devs on January 27, via its iPhone Dev Center. “The iPhone Dev Center also provides members with additional resources including the iPad Programming Guide, iPad Human Interface Guidelines, Preparing Universal Applications, and sample code,” the company behind the Mac OS said.
Not much later, Apple also issued a new iPhone SDK. Currently at version 3.1.3, the kit is aimed solely at iPhone and iPod touch development, and delivers the following changes: support for targeting non-Mac OS X platforms, including iPhone OS SDK; GCC 4.2 & LLVM GCC 4.2 optional compilers for use with Mac OS X 10.5 SDK; updated assistants to create new projects, targets, and source files; toolbar uses a single popup to choose platform, target, and debug/release; integrated SCM support now works with Subversion 1.5.
Both SDKs (3.2 and 3.1.3) require at least Mac OS X 10.5.7 and an Intel processor. Weighing in at a hefty 3.05GB, SDK 3.1.3 is freely available for download, unlike SDK 3.2, which is only accessible to developers enrolled with the company’s iPhone Developer Program. Both iPhone SDKs can be acquired using the link below.