Apple has essentially declared (by way of a post in its official developer web page) that every iOS powered mobile app submitted to the App Store must be developed using the iOS 11 SDK (software development kit) and must offer full support for the iPhone X’s Super Retina screen, which sports a soon to be ubiquitous front panel notch, by July of this year.
Current owners of the best selling iPhone X should welcome this latest development. This declaration from Apple basically means that iPhone X users will now be looking forward to even more iOS mobile apps that take full advantage of the flagship device’s front notch. Looking at the bigger picture, owners of future iPhone models that will also feature the notch can also rest assured that whatever version they own a year or so from now will be supported.
As for iOS mobile app developers, it is somewhat a different story. For them, the recent announcement signifies that they will not be able to update their apps unless they get in on the front side notch program. So what happens if they do decide not to comply? It is quite possible that failure to meet the requirements will mean their apps may never get updated.
When the iPhone X was first unveiled back in September of last year, it had wowed casual consumers and tech experts alike with its new features like its superb camera specifications, its clever use of animoji, and of course, the introduction of the Face ID biometric scanning technology, which makes full use of the front side notch in order to perform its magic.
Naturally after the iPhone X’s release, other phone makers now are eager to prove they can do the notch, too, and some are even looking to execute the concept in ways Apple has never dared to imagine (yet). Last March, OnePlus has already confirmed that its upcoming newest flagship offering -- the OnePlus 6 (which is scheduled to be formally announced on May 16th) -- will be fitted with a front panel notch. More than a month ago, Huawei had also introduced the P20 and the P20 Pro, whose front side notch can be hidden according to the user’s preferences. And less than a week ago, LG also had debuted its G7 ThinQ, which like the P20 devices, can also camouflage its front notch against the black colored top bar. With big phone brand names fully embracing the notch, it is reasonable to expect that before the year is over, more new handset releases will be sporting the design.
