Apple posts guide to help new developers start creating apps

For those who have never dove into building iOS apps, it can be quite a difficult experience when first starting out. Apple has strict rules about what apps can and can’t do that can be easily broken. Luckily, Apple is pretty good about giving assistance to new developers.

To help new developers move onto the iOS platform, Apple has posted a stylish guide titled “Start Developing iOS Apps Today“, introducing them to what it takes to build an iOS app…
The guide starts with the basic of app development, like how to install Xcode from the Mac App Store and building your first iOS app. The guide then talks about basic coding language, frameworks, design patterns, and getting your app onto the App Store.

This isn’t Apple’s only step to help new developers. There are also many smaller posts available on in the Developer Center, from basic frameworks to how to use Xcode.

Apple makes guides like this available to continue the lockdown of their App Store. These guides clearly tell what’s expected out of developers when they submit an app to be reviewed by Apple, in hopes of less and less being turned down. An easier development experience for developers also means for more and better apps.

You can check out the full guide, whether you have a paid developer account or not, on Apple’s Developer Center.

Facing criticism, Foxconn raises worker wages by as much as 25%

Apple and its overseas manufacturing partners have been taking quite a bit of heat over the last month. Reports of underage employees, 60+ hour work weeks and other poor working conditions have been constantly grabbing headlines.

But just as we have reported on the bad things, we must also report the good. It appears that in the face of criticism, Foxconn, Apple’s largest supply chain partner, has decided to substantially increase its workers’ wages…
Reuters is reporting that Foxconn announced last Friday that it has raised the wages of its factory workers by as much as 25%. Junior-level workers at its Shenzhen plant now make 1,800 yuan per month, which is about $285 USD. While that amount may sound terrible by some standards, Foxconn says that the salary of its junior workers is “far higher than the minimum wage.”

The manufacturer also said Friday that it plans to “provide more training opportunities and learning time, and will continuously enhance technology, efficiency and salary, so as to set a good example for the Chinese manufacturing industry.”

Even if Foxconn is only making changes for good press — they’re still making changes. If nothing else, it’s good to know that consumer concerns about the poor labor practices in China are no longer falling on deaf ears.

But don’t misunderstand our praise for approval. There is still much work to be done.

Apple sold more iOS devices last year than it ever sold Macs

We don’t really need more proof that the iPhone and iPad are a success, but every now and then we still like to be reminded of it. This time, it’s Horace Dediu from Asymco that shares some incredible stats about the success of iOS.

To put things into perspective, Dediu created a graph that shows the cumulative sales of Apple computing products over the years since their launch. The conclusion is just breathtaking. More iOS devices were sold in 2011 than all the Macs ever sold…
Apple sold 156 million iOS devices in 2011, reaching 316 million cumulative iOS units ever sold. In comparison, it took the company 28 years to sell 122 million Macs. Unbelievable.

‘Screen Swipe Sounds’ adds sound effects when swiping between pages

It’s sure to be a battery drainer, but for those looking for sound effects while swiping between screens, Screen Swipe Sounds is an interesting solution.

For $0.99, the developer has provided over a dozen sounds and the ability to enable vibration when swiping between pages on your iDevice.

The only downside (besides the obvious battery issue) is that the sound selection is quite abysmal
I’m not normally someone who harps about battery life and things of that nature, but it’s obvious, if you have sound and vibration happening with every swipe of your Home screen, your battery isn’t going to last very long.

Battery worries aside, Screen Swipe Sounds is sure to appeal to many in the jailbreak community. It’s just too bad that the sound effects that come bundled with it are so utterly terrible.

If you’re interested and your device is jailbroken, head over to the BigBoss repo where you can download it.

What do you think about those “sound effects”?