iOS5: A developers dream?

 June the 6th saw the release of the latest version of Appleʼs mobile operating system, iOS version 5. Packed with over 250 new features, how does the update sit with the developers of the 400,000+ apps that are in the AppStore?Many of the features are welcome additions; the long awaited notification centre is well thought out, and makes dealing with many content services (text, email, twitter) much more pleasant. In addition, Appleʼs new iCloud service will make managing data across multiple devices easier and more efficient. Some of the features however may not be so well received by developers.The new Twitter integration, for example, will make it easy for newcomers to the iPhone to start posting to twitter, but will it also negatively impact sales on existing Twitter apps? The case is similar for Appleʼs new Reminders app, which arguably is much more powerful than alternatives due to the new location triggers that let you send a reminder when you arrive or leave a specified location. Users of existing apps may prefer to keep the apps theyʼre used to, but with the rapid rate at which the iOS user base is expanding, how will these developersʼ bottom line be affected?Marco Ament, the creator of the popular Instapaper app, seems to think it will have an overall positive effect. His reasoning is that the new in-built functionality will make casual users more aware of the possibilities of the device, and expose them to new uses of the technology. After a while, they may wish to seek a more functionally rich experience, which they will inevitably look in the AppStore to find. This means that the apps that are currently #1 in their specific domains will still remain on top, and so their customer base should expand over time,Developers will also see big improvements when it comes to developing new apps. Features such as assisted memory management, and storyboard-like user interface design tools will increase both app and developer performance, while reducing bugs - a win for all stakeholders. Other niceties include new APIs for developing turn based games such as Scrabble, and tighter integration with Appleʼs Game Centre. Regardless of whether or not developers are happy with the new changes however, the benefits for the user are so great in iOS 5 that developers will be forced to support it, lest they get left behind.