Apple today introduced Ask Apple, a new series of interactive Q&As and one-on-one consultations that will give developers even more opportunities to connect directly with Apple experts for insight, support and feedback.
Developers participating in the Ask Apple program can ask questions about a variety of topics, such as testing the latest seeds; implementing new and updated frameworks from the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC); adoption of new features such as Dynamic Island; moving to Swift, SwiftUI and accessibility; and prepare their applications for new versions of the operating system and hardware. Ask Apple is free and registration is open to all Apple Developer Program and Apple Developer Enterprise Program members.
The series will allow developers to ask questions of various Apple team members through Q&As on Slack or in one-on-one office hours. The Q&A allows developers to connect with Apple evangelists, engineers, and designers to get their questions answered, share their insights, and engage with other developers from around the world. Office hours are focused on creating and distributing compelling apps that use the latest technology and design. Developers can request code-level assistance, design guidance, information on implementing technologies and frameworks, troubleshooting advice, or assistance with application review guidelines and distribution tools. Office hours will be hosted in time zones around the world and in multiple languages.
“We’ve been listening to feedback from developers around the world about what will most help them create innovative apps, and we’ve seen increased interest in one-on-one support and conversations with Apple experts,” said Susan Prescott, Apple’s vice president of worldwide developer relations and business and educational marketing. “Our team is committed to continually evolving our support for our diverse global developer community, and we’re excited to offer Ask Apple as another new resource.”
Ask Apple builds on successful programs such as Tech Talks and Meet with App Store Experts, which have provided developers with more than 200 live presentations and thousands of office hours over the past year.
Jordi Bruin, an iOS developer from Amsterdam, has launched over 20 apps on the App Store and participated in over 50 Apple developer meetups and labs including Tech Talks and during Apple’s annual WWDC. One of its latest apps, Posture Pal, aims to help users improve their posture using the motion sensors in AirPods. He tells how conversations with Apple experts led him to the process of creating and perfecting apps.
“At the beginning of the development of Posture Pal, I attended a Tech Talk focused on motion sensors in AirPods. I spoke with a technology evangelist who not only helped me understand the parameters and capabilities of the technology, but also helped me think of more advanced features and use cases that I hadn’t considered before,” said Bruin. “An Apple designer also did a complete review of the Posture Pal integration experience and highlighted areas that could be improved. Based on feedback, I removed redundant information and simplified the design of key screens in the app. Hearing from a UX design expert helped me come up with design guidelines for my projects overall.”
Ondine Bullot is CEO of Better Kids and founder of Wisdom: The World of Emotions, an educational app that teaches young children social and emotional skills such as managing feelings and conflict resolution through games and augmented reality (AR). Bullot and her team members from around the world participated in several engagement series, including Tech Talks, Meet with App Store Experts, and WWDC Digital Lounge discussions.
“I vividly remember going to one-on-one doctor’s appointments. It was one of the most creative sessions in terms of introducing new features and use cases for our app. One idea that came up and we’re currently working on is to integrate Siri into our app so kids can say “Hey Siri, I need help with my emotions” which would prompt Wisdom – the main character of our app – to guide them different ways of soothing. strategy,” Bullot said. “Our app offers a wealth of content: interactive games, AR, guided meditations, practice activities, printables, parenting tips, learning resources. Thanks to feedback from Apple experts, we recently redesigned our app’s navigation to create separate paths for kids, educators, and parents, helping to clarify which resources are relevant to each. We also redesigned our meditation section to make it more visual and user-friendly for kids.”
Ask Apple will be an ongoing series with the first round of opportunities from October 17-21. Current Apple Developer Program and Apple Developer Enterprise Program members can register and find schedule information at developer.apple.com/events/ask-apple.
In addition to the Ask Apple series, hundreds of hours of on-demand sessions are available on the Apple Developer website and in the Apple Developer app, allowing developers to hear directly from Apple about the latest technologies and important news in one place throughout the year. long, whenever and wherever is most convenient. Developers have access to an extensive library of current, relevant and practical content from Apple experts and engineers, including news on everything from API and framework changes to Apple’s human interface guidelines, program announcements and technical articles, as well as technical and design video. library. Apple also offers all Apple Developer Program members the opportunity to receive one-on-one code-level support from technical support engineers who can help solve problems with the application’s code or provide solutions for rapid development.
Apple provides developers with a wide range of industry-leading tools and comprehensive support to develop, test, market and distribute their applications to more than 1.5 billion Apple devices. An extensive set of free tools and frameworks—including software development kits (SDKs) and developer services with more than 250,000 APIs—support developers in building apps for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS. These tools allow developers to easily and quickly add new features to their apps and take advantage of powerful features like machine learning, AR, and more. Programs like Apple’s Developer Academies, Entrepreneur Camps, App Accelerators, and WWDC Student Scholarships, as well as open access tools like Everyone Can Code and Swift Playgrounds, ensure that the power of coding technology is accessible and inclusive.
Launched in 2008, the App Store is the world’s most secure and vibrant app marketplace, currently home to 1.8 million apps and visited by over half a billion people in 175 regions every week. It helps creators, dreamers and learners of all ages and backgrounds connect with the tools and information they need to build a brighter future and a better world. Learn more about developing for the App Store at apple.com/app-store/developing-for-the-app-store.