iPad Application Development For Dummies, 3rd Edition

Exploiting the Platform

Okay, enough talk about the iPad’s unique experience. Just what exactly is the iPad platform, and what are its features?

The iPad runs iOS version5.0 as its operating system, and iPad apps use many of the same views and controls you use if you already developed an iPhone app. But the design similarities end there. The iPad’s hardware is ground zero for conceiving the design of an iPad app — it’s the place to start dreaming of what kind of experience to provide. That hardware includes

A touch-sensitive display: The 1,024 x 768-pixel screen supports multifinger gestures.

The connection features of the iPhone (except phone calls): Wi-Fi and optional 3G Internet access; a compass; location services (although a hardware GPS isn’t included in the first version of the iPad, so it isn’t as accurate); and the ability to play audio and video with ease.

Flexible orientation: Users can tilt it, rotate it, and turn it upside down.

The capability to plug in an external keyboard: You can plug in an external keyboard (or pair a Bluetooth wireless keyboard with the iPad) and ...