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How To Prepare Your App For iOS 14 Update?


How To Prepare Your Apps For iOS 14 Update?

Apple originally planned to roll out the iOS 14 updates in the fall of 2020, but it was let loose in June with a number of changes and a few path-breaking announcements. Not surprisingly, the leading platform company came out with a variety of industry-transforming additions to its OS, with an aim to make app experiences even more immersive, easy, and highly secure. However, the difference this time around is that the changes made will affect the ways in which advertisers target users. 

There are major changes a mobile app’s development company will need to make, such that any app becomes UI ready on iOS 14. The company may have to implement dark mode and also take care of how to screen delegate, and modal presentation are applied. Take a look at the features of iOS 14, which will help you to prepare an app in a manner such that app marketing efforts are not hampered.  

Know the features of iOS 14

Brand new widget experience- Widgets have always been important for the iOS ecosystem, but only in the form of full-width boxes in the background. iOS 14 has brought about a major change where they hold more information and are available in a host of new sizes. Most of all, the widgets can be dragged and brought to the home screen now. 

App library in the home screen

The tech giant has drastically changed the home screen in the iOS 14 update. Apple users will now be able to remove applications from the screen, or even remove screens. The App Library, where all apps are found, is just one swipe away from the ending screen. It groups all apps into large folders that display the last used apps. Additionally, users can search for apps through the search box at the top of the screen. All folders are automatically organized as per Social, Health, and Fitness, and more. 

App clips

Apple took inspiration from Google and launched App Clips with the iOS 14 update. As the name sounds, these are small parts of the applications which allow users to use sections of the apps without signing up or installing the actual app. Various iOS development companies make use of these App Clips to deliver app experiences which are less than 10 MB in size. Apple also encourages developers to make use of the Apple Pay and Sign In and prevent users from logging in to the applications. App Clips can be triggered through QR codes, NFC tags, web, messages, and others, and thereby help companies obtain new customers.

Picture-in-picture mode

This mode will finally be available on the iPhone through iOS 14. Users can return to home screens while watching a video or using FaceTime, and the video will continue to be visible on the screen. Apple users will also be able to move the box around the screen or move it side.  

Major privacy tweaks

Giving several privacy features has always been Apple’s forte and one of the major reasons for its superiority over the Android platform. Features have been increased in the new iOS 14, where users have the option to share their approximate locations instead of actual locations. Also, in case an application asks for photo permissions, you can share only specific photos and not the whole library. This makes it easier for a customer to trust your company’s iOS app, designed by the best mobile app development company.   

In the event an app is accessing your camera, the iOS update will be able to show a green dot in the status and an amber dot in case the microphone is being used. 

Updates to Apple Arcade

Apple Arcade was launched fairly recently with an aim to completely transform the gaming industry. The good news here is that iOS 14 is able to show users what games their Game Center friends are currently playing. It also accesses the last games played and makes it simple to locate and sort Arcade games.  

ARKit 4 tools for development companies

Apple is expanding AR tools for every iphone app development company with ARKit 4. Originally launched with iOS 11, these tools now allow developers to place Location Anchors such that AR objects have a place in the real world. A depth API is now available for iOS app developers for them to create 3D mesh environments on iPad Pro.  

In addition to the list of features mentioned above, making an app ready for iOS 14 necessitates the app development company to tell its users whether a unique device code known as IDFA is being collected or not. IDFA is the name of a randomly generated code that Apple gives every device. Through the code, iOS apps are able to put together user activity. Due to this update, businesses will not be able to accurately measure their campaigns, and publishers can expect low views of their ads. 

Impact of iOS 14 on mobile marketing

App developers will have to ask for user consent in order to track their users’ data through a pop-up message present in the app. This will mean greater privacy and more security as mobile marketers will find it hard to extract information. For the users who say no to tracking, their IDFA will show several 0’s, which would be worthless. This will allow a user to be opted-out by default once an app is launched. Once the IDFA notification comes, users may either opt-out or in by sharing the IDFA on an individual app basis.   

Apple has come up with the SKAd Network, through which no user or device-level data will be shared with any advertiser. In other words, Apple will be in a position to control the attributes passed to the Registered Ad Networks. Apple has also indicated that SKAd Network will:

  • Allow only click-based attributions.
  • Permit conversions in batches with latency ranging between 24 – 48 hours. There will not be any date stamp parameters.
  • Restrict the campaign IDs to 100 for every ad network.

A top-rated mobile app development company will have to work out the best solution to protect user privacy while still being able to make a sustainable future for advertisers and app developers. App developers are the ones at the core of the mobile ecosystem, and so they have the unique opportunity to give feedback on workable solutions within a specific timeframe.

Use a specific language

Apple users need to be sent concise, clear, and comprehensible wording while seeking consent from them. App development companies will have to specifically describe the purpose of data collection, meaning what the data will be used for. General phrases must be avoided at all costs, and publishers must practice being upfront with users.

According to the app category or target audience, publishers also have the option to adjust the language for the convenience of Apple users. In the manner that in-app text is tailored for its target audience, consent pop-ups may also be written to communicate with users in an effective manner. A/B testing has to be carried out on consent pop-ups for measuring performance and for optimizing the in-app experience.

Other points to check before the iOS 14 update

  • Publishers need to check if their analytics are being able to capture all events or not.
  • The publishers have to ensure that the network partner they have tied up with as CMP (Consent Management Platform) Support. They will be able to collect user consent through CMPs.  
  • It will be an advantage if the publishers are able to adjust pop up messages directly without needing to update the app. Publishers not only have to check this capacity but also must check if they can A/B test the pop-ups.  

There is no doubt that the iOS14 IDFA changes will completely alter the entire mobile advertising industry from its roots. However, publishers can make preparations in advance so that their apps are ready for the latest wave of technology and can function in the new environment.  

There are a number of reputed iOS development companies which you can speak to for preparing your app. Remember that it is a question of the future of your business. The better you understand changes that have to be made, the better it will be for your business. Also, this change is such that it will impact each and every industry. Always remember the famous saying, “Being forewarned is being forearmed.”

There are a lot of key unknowns when it comes to targeting iOS 14, and many of the technicalities still need to be ironed out before its release.

Regardless of the outcome, advertisers should start preparing for these changes so they can feel confident and ready once September rolls around. While it can be hard to know where to start, we’ve put together a checklist of items to help you prioritize over the next few weeks.


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