BlackBerry 10 and iOS app SDK/Platform comparison

Suavek Zajac Developer Relations

Key Takeaways:

Understand the similarities and difference between the platforms

� What’s different

� What’s the same � Where differences matter

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The Platforms

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iOS (Kernel) & Drivers

Core Services

Graphics and Audio

Application Frameworks [Maps, Message …]

UIKit

BB10 (QNX micro-kernel) & Drivers

Core Services (/BPS)

Graphics and Audio

Application Frameworks [Qt, Maps, PIM, Share …]

Cascades / QML

Posix

Webkit

Android Runtime, AIR

Types of Apps

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Web Apps

Native with Webview PhoneGap…

Native

(Objective C and Cocoa Touch UIKit, OpenGL)

Web Apps

Native with Webview WebWorks, PhoneGap…

Native

(C/C++, QML, Cascades, OpenGL)

Objective C and C

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#include <stdio.h>!#include <stdlib.h>!!int !main(int argc, char **argv)!{! fprintf(stdout, “Hello World!\n”);! return EXIT_SUCCESS;!}!

C/C++

!  C/C++ is used widely due to it’s portability. It’s a true cross-platform language (combined with POSIX) !  Enables Lots of BB10 Open Source Frameworks !  iOS can also run C/C++ apps (Objective-C++). Developers are

starting to look into this option for cross-platform savings. !  Simple on iOS (just rename your .m file into .mm and add objective-C+

+)

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Development Environment

Momentics IDE

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XCode

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Platform Services

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!  BB10 is playing catch-up to iOS in SDK features and services

!  Lots of similarities between key features …

!  Differences to be discussed…

Thoughts…

!  iOS !  Facebook/Twitter Connect APIs !  Background (/Headless) services

!  VOIP !  Custom Navigation Apps !  Music / Downloads /Services

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Cryptography*

!  iOS and BB10 … similar features !  AES,DES,3DES… !  Key difference BB10 crypto algorithms are FIPS certified

!  What the FIPS? Only Modules validated as

conforming to FIPS 140-2 are accepted by the Federal

Agencies of Canada/US for the protection of sensitive

information.

Service similarities (Invoke)

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I need to open

this .doc file. Anyone?

I can open .doc

files

Invocation Framework

Service Similarities (Viewers)

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Similarities in UX

!  Apple Says !  The Display Is Paramount

!  Regardless of Its size !  Apps Respond to Gestures, Not Clicks

!  RIM Says !  Content is King !  Apps must Flow

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Notifications

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BB10 Peek is more efficient

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!  Apple concept of page curl !  Not as universal

A key difference

!  Apple Says !  People interact with One App at a Time

!  RIM Says !  Extend/Connect

!  BlackBerry people Multi-Task !  Combine that with Peek and Viewers/Cards

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Application Behavior Lifecycle and when to store your data

•  Must respond correctly to lifecycle events

•  Can drain battery •  Must store data

efficiently

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Start

Exit

Normal (Active)

Thumbnail (Active/Inactive)

Hidden (Inactive)

iOS Lifecycle

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!  Long-Running Background Tasks !  Audio !  Location/Navigation !  VOIP !  Newsstand apps (downloads etc…) !  Accessory apps

Sample Project Podcast App (Work in progress. Blog installments)

Starting: Development Tools

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UI Design (iOS storyboards)

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BB10 Qt/QML

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Lists (ListView)

Container*{***..*****ListView*{*********dataModel:(XmlDataModel({*************source:*"models/items.xml"*********}*********listItemComponents:*[************(ListItemComponent({*****************type:*"header”*******************HeaderListItem*{*********************>tleText:*ListItemData.>tle*********************sub>tleText:*ListItemData.sub>tle*****************}*************},*************ListItemComponent*{*****************type:*"listItem”*******************StandardListItem*{*********************>tleText:*ListItemData.>tle*********************descrip>onText:*ListItemData.sub>tle*********************statusText:*ListItemData.status*****************}}}}}}*

Lists

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10 Lines of QML!

Lists Summary

!  iOS Storyboards are Visually appealing but … QML/Qt is just as descriptive.

!  Data binding to Lists is much easier in Cascades than on iOS

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Similar UI (notice subtle UX diff’s)

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Navigation (Navigation Controller)

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Navigation Pane

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A closer look at applications

Navigation Bar / Action Bar

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Settings / App Menu

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Tab Bar

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Tab Overflows (BB10 Sidebar)

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Context Menu

36 toolbar

Custom buttons in the navigation bar

BB10 has an action bar overflow

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TableView / ListView

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WebView and WebView (webkit)

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Action Sheets / Sheets

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Cascades Sheets

A sheet breaks the current navigational flow. It contains a subflow that need to be finished before the original application flow can be resumed.

Examples: Pickers, Forms

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Cascades Controls

iOS Controls

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Questions and Answers

Thank you

Suavek Zajac Developer Relations