A few friends stuck on iOS 6 couldn’t download my new game Feather because Corona only builds for iOS 7.0 and up. If you’re compiling your own stuff in Xcode, it still has backwards support for pre-iOS 7.
I’m wondering about this too. FYI, I compiled an AdHoc build using Corona 2189 (selecting iOS 7.0 option), and I was able to install this AdHoc build on my old iPad with iOS 5.1.1 – and my app had no problem running on it. Please note, I haven’t tried installing a build with iOS 7.1 beta option yet.
From what BeyondtheTech mentioned above, it almost feels like Apple App Store isn’t allowing the app to be installed on pre iOS 7.0 device – meaning, the limiting factor might be the Apple App Store, not how Corona builds the app.
I haven’t released updates or new app built for iOS 7.0 or up, so my observation might be very wrong. I’d like to hear if there are apps made for iOS 7.0 and up that can be installed on iOS 5.1 devices, whether or not it is built with Corona or any other SDK.
I sort of remember reading something about Apple no longer allowing pre-iOS 6 devices to install apps made for iOS 7 – but I was not entirely sure what it meant. Besides, I think the article mentioned iOS 6 devices should be okay even if the app is built for iOS 7…
Naomi
Lack of an update & guidance from Corona Labs on such a critical topic is a little disconcerting. I wish they would be a little more proactive in keeping us up to date with regards to changes to IOS & Android landscape.
I think we’re good. I released a flappy clone about a month ago using 2183 and compiling using IOS 7 choice in the build dialog. Now I can see many < IOS 7 device installs on the Dashboard so installing on older devices seem to be ok. Would still like to hear from CL on what we do going forward.
When you build for iOS in Corona the MinimumOSVersion key in Info.plist is set to 5.1, even if you’re using the iOS 7.x SDK.
This means that any device running iOS 5.1 or later can download your app.
I’m not sure why BeyondtheTech’s app isn’t available for iOS 6. It should be.
I wouldn’t build and release with the iOS 7.1 beta option, as when I double-checked DTXcodeBuild, the version number is 5B103i which means iOS 7.1 beta 5. Apple wouldn’t approve an app built with a beta version of the SDK. We’ll have to wait for CoronaLabs to officially release a version that compiles with the final version of the iOS 7.1 SDK
I downloaded your app Feather, and the MinimumOSVersion in the Info.plist is indeed 7.0 which is weird.
Are you sure you don’t have a MinimumOSVersion setting in your build.settings file?
The only other thing I can think of is if you’re using some plugins that require iOS7.
Wow, you’re right, I don’t know how it got in there. That’s what I get for using a template!
Great to hear that at least one “mystery” is solved 
Still no word from CL on this one. How bizarre.
I haven’t tried any of the recent Dailies. Did anyone notice a changeover from IOS 7.1 Beta to IOS 7.1 in the Build Dialogue?
Build 2210 still says “7.1 beta” in the dropdown.
Thanks much for that confirmation.
The guys at CoronaLabs have been quite busy the past few weeks (CoronaCards, GDC etc) that happened to coincide with the release of iOS 7.1, so it’s taking some time for them to update their build pipe-line with the official 7.1 SDK.
I don’t see any problems using the 7.0 SDK or immediate benefits of using the 7.1 SDK either. Apple still accepts apps built with 7.0, and users who have 7.1 installed can run apps built with 7.0.
Sometimes CoronaLabs change the “beta” drop down to build with the final release. You can check that yourself by opening your app bundle and checking the DTXcodeBuild key in Info.plist. For the official 7.1 SDK, it should be “5B130a”.
To go back to your initial questions:
Now that IOS 7.1 is officially released I would like to get ready to build for it.
- Is there anything else I need to do?
- Corona SDK build settings window says IOS SDK 7.1 Beta. Is this a problem?
- If the 7.1 Beta indication is a problem when will it be updated? (I am on 2189)
- Finally, when I build for 7.1 older devices running IOS 5 & 6 etc will still be ok right? Just as they are today as I build for IOS 7
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Nope
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Yes, Apple doesn’t accept beta builds
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Don’t know (I suspect soon), but I don’t think it’s an issue as noted above
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All apps built with the iOS 7.x SDK will be able to run on devices with iOS 5.1 and up.
Hope this helps a bit.
Beautiful response. Thank you very much for taking the time to put your thoughts down in forum ink! Wish Corona Labs would have spent some of their time instead and said something about this matter. I find it quite disconcerting that something like this goes totally ignored.
When Apple starts a beta cycle on a new version of the OS, the first 3-4 builds are pretty instable. We generally enable Pro subscribers the ability to build against the new Beta SDK once it gets to Beta 4 or 5. That way we are not chasing false positives for things that Apple will eventually fix.
Once Apple goes Gold Master and releases a new SDK, we generally leave the Beta version there for some period of time so you can test against it. Some times we will put the new GM version there. Then we use this period of time to identify problems we have with the new version of the iOS SDK. Later, when we are comfortable with the new version, we will remove the beta and in this case 7.0 making 7.1 the default.
It’s not been 2 weeks since the 7.1 release, so we are perfectly on schedule.
Rob
Rob, thanks for chiming in. I understand we are perfectly ok to stay with IOS 7 in the build settings in the meanwhile so I was not critical of the time it is taking to move to 7.1. I was simply trying to get a formal indication from Corona Labs on what happens next and when. I appreciate the time you took to write.
Out of curiosity, what are the iOS 7.1 specifics that you are utilizing in your app that aren’t in 7.0?
Sadly, my reply is not “My new Ferrari comes with CarPlay and I want to write for it…”
I just wanted to find out when the switch might happen. Had a few AppStore updates lined up and wanted to see if I should wait for 7.1 or go ahead with 7.0 thats all. With the information provided now I can make an educated decision.
What you will get is any bug fixes in the iOS 7.0 SDK that was fixed in iOS 7.1. New features can be accessed from Enterprise today but features for Corona SDK would require us adding them, and I’m not sure what the plan is for any of those.
Rob
Great discussion done on iOS 7.1 which is very interesting and useful. As per the iOS 7.1 concern I would like to say that this is one of latest update of Apple.