Creating a best-of-class mobile application includes taking advantage of device hardware and software features that support the intent of your application. In iOS devices, these features range from the built-in calendar and address book, to the iPod library and audio hardware, to the camera, layered maps, and location awareness. This document surveys these and other features and gives you programming guidance on integrating them into your app.
In some cases, a feature is fully described in its own programming guide. In other cases, this document introduces you to the feature and provides code examples. Be sure to read the next chapter, “A Survey of Device Features,” to learn about the range of device features available to you and where to find out more about them.
Before reading this document, you should be familiar with Cocoa Touch development as introduced in iOS Application Programming Guide. You should also be comfortable with Cocoa features, concepts, and terminology as described in Cocoa Fundamentals Guide.
This document includes the following chapters:
“A Survey of Device Features” briefly describes the range of hardware and software-based device features you can use in your app.
“Using the Camera and Photo Library” describes how to employ the built-in camera and how to access the user’s Photo library.
“Previewing and Opening Items” explains how to provide document and image previews, and how to ask the system to find an application to open items that your application doesn’t support.
“Using Copy, Cut, and Paste Operations” describes the ways you can support basic editing features in your app.
“Adding Custom Edit Menu Items” describes how to add your own menu item to the system editing menu.
“Using System Messaging Facilities” explains how to add email and SMS composition and sending to your app.
“Accessing Cellular Telephone Information” introduces the Core Telephony framework, which you can use to support a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) app.
The dedicated programming guides that describe device features include:
Address Book Programming Guide for iOS describes how to access the user’s contacts.
Event Kit Programming Guide describes how to access the user’s calendar.
Multimedia Programming Guide describes how to use audiovisual hardware and software features.
Location Awareness Programming Guide describes how to access the user’s location and how to use maps.
External Accessory Programming Topics describes how to interact with external hardware accessories.
Many device features described in this document have been available since iOS 2.0. Others, such as Quick Look, SMS support, and Calendar integration were first available in iOS 4.0. Refer to the iOS Reference Library for detailed availability information.
Last updated: 2010-04-30