More iPhone cool projects : cool developers reveal the details of their cooler iPhone apps and discuss their iPad development experiences

356 Pages·2009·9.51 MB·English

by  Danton Chin

More iPhone Cool
Projects
Cool Developers Reveal the Details of Their
Cooler Apps and Discuss Their iPad
Development Experiences

■ ■ ■
Danton Chin Ben Britten Smith
Claus Höfele Chuck Smith
Ben Kazez David Smith
Saul Mora Arne de Vries
Leon Palm Joost van de Wijgerd
Scott Penberthy

i
More iPhone Cool Projects: Cool Developers Reveal the Details of Their Cooler Apps and
Discuss Their iPad Development Experiences
Copyright © 2010 by Danton Chin, Claus Höfele, Ben Kazez, Saul Mora, Leon Palm, Scott
Penberthy, Ben Britten Smith, Chuck Smith, David Smith, Arne de Vries, and Joost van de Wijgerd
All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any
means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information
storage or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner and the
publisher.
ISBN-13 (pbk): 978-1-4302-2922-3
ISBN-13 (electronic): 978-1-4302-2923-0
Printed and bound in the United States of America 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
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they are subject to proprietary rights.
Publisher and President: Paul Manning
Lead Editor: Clay Andres
Development Editors: Douglas Pundick, Matthew Moodie, and Brian MacDonald
Technical Reviewer: Ben Britten Smith
Editorial Board: Clay Andres, Steve Anglin, Mark Beckner, Ewan Buckingham, Gary Cornell,
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ii
My gratitude and thanks to Mom and Dad (they would have liked this), to my wife Carol for
everything over the years, and to our wonderful and artistically, musically talented son Tim. Also,
thanks to Robert and Elizabeth Bergenheim, Elise Falkinburg and Errol Frankel, and their
wonderfully intelligent sons, John and James Frankel.
—Danton Chin
Thanks to my wife and daughters, who inspire me daily to help make the world a better place. And
for letting me buy that awesome new MacBook Pro (you know which one).
—Saul Mora
To my mother, who taught me to pursue excellence, and to my father, who always inspired
creativity in me. Also to Andrea Zemenides, for being cute and little.
—Leon Palm
To the beautiful women in my family: Lisa, Julia, and Taylor. Taylor insists I mention our dog,
Jack, and Snickers too.
—Scott Penberthy
To my lovely wife Leonie.
—Ben Britten Smith
To my parents, who were always there for me and gave me the joy of reading. Also to my
professor, Dr. Gene Chase, who always brought an incredible amount of enthusiasm to everything
he taught, and made computer science inspiring.
—Chuck Smith
To my wife and best friend, Lauren.
—David Smith
iii
Contents at a Glance
■Contents at a Glance...................................................................................................iv
■Contents.......................................................................................................................v
■Preface.........................................................................................................................x
■Acknowledgments......................................................................................................xi
■Introduction...............................................................................................................xii
Danton Chin....................................................................................................................1(cid:2)
■Chapter 1: Using Concurrency to Improve the Responsiveness
of iPhone and iPad Applications...............................................................3(cid:2)
Claus Höfele.................................................................................................................57(cid:2)
■Chapter 2: Your Own Content Pipeline: Importing 3D Art Assets
into Your iPhone Game............................................................................59(cid:2)
Ben Kazez....................................................................................................................89(cid:2)
■Chapter 3: How FlightTrack Uses External Data Providers to
Power This Best-Selling Travel App........................................................91(cid:2)
Saul Mora, Jr.............................................................................................................107(cid:2)
■Chapter 4: Write Better Code and Save Time with Unit Testing..............................109(cid:2)
Leon Palm..................................................................................................................135(cid:2)
■Chapter 5: Fun with Computer Vision: Face Recognition with
OpenCV on the iPhone...........................................................................137(cid:2)
Scott Penberthy.........................................................................................................161(cid:2)
■Chapter 6: How to Use OpenGL Fonts without Losing Your Mind............................163(cid:2)
Ben Britten Smith.......................................................................................................189(cid:2)
■Chapter 7: Game Development with Unity..............................................................191(cid:2)
Chuck Smith...............................................................................................................249(cid:2)
■Chapter 8: Cocos2d for iPhone and iPad; It Is Easier than You Think....................251(cid:2)
David Smith................................................................................................................287(cid:2)
■Chapter 9: Creating an Audio-Centric App for the iPhone
with AVAudioPlayer..............................................................................289(cid:2)
Joost van de Wijgerd and Arne de Vries....................................................................309(cid:2)
■Chapter 10: Implementing Push Notifications at eBuddy.......................................311(cid:2)
■Index.......................................................................................................................577
iv
Contents
■Contents at a Glance.......................................................................................iv(cid:2)
■Contents..........................................................................................................v(cid:2)
■Preface............................................................................................................x(cid:2)
■Acknowledgments..........................................................................................xi(cid:2)
■Introduction...................................................................................................xii(cid:2)

Danton Chin........................................................................................................1(cid:2)
■Chapter 1: Using Concurrency to Improve the Responsiveness
of iPhone and iPad Applications....................................................3(cid:2)
(cid:2)
Prepare for Concurrency.........................................................................................................................................3
(cid:2)
Non-Responsive User Interfaces.............................................................................................................................6
(cid:2)
Building the Interestingness User Interface.......................................................................................................7
(cid:2)
Adding A JSON Parsing Framework to the Interestingness App......................................................................10
(cid:2)
Composing a RESTful Request for a List of Interestingness Images...............................................................10
(cid:2)
Using the RESTful Request and the JSON Parser to Parse the Response.......................................................12
(cid:2)
Implementing the UITableViewDataSource Protocol Methods to Display the Results.....................................14
(cid:2)
Concurrency Landscape.......................................................................................................................................16
(cid:2)
Considerations When Using Concurrent Solutions................................................................................................17
(cid:2)
Concurrency with NSThread and NSObject..........................................................................................................19
(cid:2)
Concurrency with Operation Objects....................................................................................................................24
(cid:2)
NSOperationQueue...........................................................................................................................................25
(cid:2)
NSOperation and NSInvocationOperation........................................................................................................26
(cid:2)
Concurrency with Operation Objects and Blocks..................................................................................................45
(cid:2)
Blocks..............................................................................................................................................................46
(cid:2)
Summary..............................................................................................................................................................53
(cid:2)
Resources.............................................................................................................................................................54
(cid:2)
Apple and Apple-related News........................................................................................................................54
(cid:2)
Apple Documentation.......................................................................................................................................54

v
■ CONTENTS
(cid:2)
Blocks and Grand Central Dispatch.................................................................................................................55
(cid:2)
General.............................................................................................................................................................56
(cid:2)
JSON................................................................................................................................................................56
(cid:2)
POSIX Threads.................................................................................................................................................56
Claus Höfele......................................................................................................57(cid:2)
■Chapter 2: Your Own Content Pipeline: Importing 3D Art
Assets into Your iPhone Game.....................................................59(cid:2)
(cid:2)
Starting an iPhone Game......................................................................................................................................59
(cid:2)
Why Write Your Own Tools?..................................................................................................................................60
(cid:2)
Creating a Flexible Content Pipeline.....................................................................................................................61
(cid:2)
The Tools Problem...........................................................................................................................................61
(cid:2)
Data Exchange vs. In-Game File Formats........................................................................................................63
(cid:2)
Outline of the Example Code.................................................................................................................................64
(cid:2)
Exporting 3D Models.............................................................................................................................................65
(cid:2)
Reading FBX files.............................................................................................................................................66
(cid:2)
Traversing the Scene Contents.............................................................................................................................69
(cid:2)
Distinguishing between Different Types of Scene Nodes.....................................................................................70
(cid:2)
OpenGL Triangle Data......................................................................................................................................71
(cid:2)
Converting FBX Models into Triangle Data......................................................................................................73
(cid:2)
Converting Triangle Data into an In-Game Format..........................................................................................76
(cid:2)
Handling Textures.................................................................................................................................................79
(cid:2)
Image Compression vs. Texture Compression.................................................................................................79
(cid:2)
Imagination’s PVRTC Format...........................................................................................................................80
(cid:2)
Reading PNG Images.......................................................................................................................................82
(cid:2)
Converting Images into the PVRTC Format......................................................................................................84
(cid:2)
Rendering the Converted Data on the iPhone.......................................................................................................86
(cid:2)
Running the Converter Tool.............................................................................................................................86
(cid:2)
Creating the iPhone Project.............................................................................................................................86
(cid:2)
Summary..............................................................................................................................................................87
Ben Kazez.........................................................................................................89(cid:2)
■Chapter 3: How FlightTrack Uses External Data Providers
to Power This Best-Selling Travel App........................................91(cid:2)
(cid:2)
Choosing a Data Source........................................................................................................................................92
(cid:2)
API Design........................................................................................................................................................93
(cid:2)
Data Coverage and Accuracy...........................................................................................................................94
(cid:2)
Economics.......................................................................................................................................................95
(cid:2)
Trials................................................................................................................................................................96
(cid:2)
Source-Driven User Interface Design....................................................................................................................96
(cid:2)
Challenges.......................................................................................................................................................97
(cid:2)
Techniques from FlightTrack...........................................................................................................................98
(cid:2)
Design Patterns for Data Source Consumption.....................................................................................................99
(cid:2)
Direct-Client Consumption...............................................................................................................................99
(cid:2)
Server-Intermediary Consumption.................................................................................................................100
(cid:2)
Data-Driven Cocoa App Architecture..................................................................................................................101
(cid:2)
Data Model Design.........................................................................................................................................101
(cid:2)
Connecting Data to UI....................................................................................................................................102
vi
■ CONTENTS
(cid:2)
Choosing an Approach...................................................................................................................................104
(cid:2)
Release!..............................................................................................................................................................105
(cid:2)
FlightTrack Today...............................................................................................................................................105
Saul Mora, Jr..................................................................................................107(cid:2)
■Chapter 4: Write Better Code and Save Time with Unit Testing..................109(cid:2)
(cid:2)
Mock Objects.................................................................................................................................................120
(cid:2)
Testing Your Core Data Models......................................................................................................................127
(cid:2)
Summary............................................................................................................................................................134
Leon Palm.......................................................................................................135(cid:2)
■Chapter 5: Fun with Computer Vision: Face Recognition
with OpenCV on the iPhone........................................................137(cid:2)
(cid:2)
What Is Computer Vision?...................................................................................................................................140
(cid:2)
Why do Computer Vision on an iPhone?.............................................................................................................141
(cid:2)
Your Project: Creating a Face Detector...............................................................................................................142
(cid:2)
Setting Up OpenCV.........................................................................................................................................142
(cid:2)
Setting Up XCode...........................................................................................................................................145
(cid:2)
Adding Image Conversion Functions..............................................................................................................147
(cid:2)
Creating a Simple GUI....................................................................................................................................149
(cid:2)
Loading Images from the Photo Library.........................................................................................................151
(cid:2)
Loading the Haar Cascades...........................................................................................................................152
(cid:2)
Performing Face Detection............................................................................................................................154
(cid:2)
Bonus.............................................................................................................................................................156
(cid:2)
Performance Tweaking.......................................................................................................................................157
(cid:2)
Going Further......................................................................................................................................................159
(cid:2)
Summary............................................................................................................................................................160
Scott Penberthy..............................................................................................161(cid:2)
■Chapter 6: How to Use OpenGL Fonts without Losing Your Mind................163(cid:2)
(cid:2)
History.................................................................................................................................................................164
(cid:2)
Terminology........................................................................................................................................................165
(cid:2)
Pragmatic Fontery...............................................................................................................................................167
(cid:2)
fCookie................................................................................................................................................................167
(cid:2)
Creating a Font’s Texture Atlas...........................................................................................................................168
(cid:2)
Texture Mapping............................................................................................................................................171
(cid:2)
Opening Your App..........................................................................................................................................173
(cid:2)
The Fontery Classes............................................................................................................................................173
(cid:2)
APGlyph..........................................................................................................................................................174
(cid:2)
APChar...........................................................................................................................................................175
(cid:2)
APText............................................................................................................................................................177
(cid:2)
Putting It All Together.........................................................................................................................................179
(cid:2)
Setting Up the Display.........................................................................................................................................181
(cid:2)
Creating Your Fortune.........................................................................................................................................182
(cid:2)
Displaying the Fortune........................................................................................................................................184
(cid:2)
Summary............................................................................................................................................................187
vii
■ CONTENTS
Ben Britten Smith...........................................................................................189(cid:2)
■Chapter 7: Game Development with Unity...................................................191(cid:2)
(cid:2)
What Is Unity?.....................................................................................................................................................192
(cid:2)
Why Use Unity?...................................................................................................................................................193
(cid:2)
Exploring the Unity Interface...............................................................................................................................195
(cid:2)
The Scene View.............................................................................................................................................196
(cid:2)
The Game View..............................................................................................................................................197
(cid:2)
The Project View............................................................................................................................................198
(cid:2)
The Hierarchy View........................................................................................................................................198
(cid:2)
The Inspector View........................................................................................................................................198
(cid:2)
How the Pipeline Flows..................................................................................................................................198
(cid:2)
The Transform: Everybody Has One...............................................................................................................199
(cid:2)
Meshes, Renderers, and Materials................................................................................................................200
(cid:2)
Importing Assets............................................................................................................................................204
(cid:2)
Custom Scripting...........................................................................................................................................205
(cid:2)
Playing Your Game.........................................................................................................................................208
(cid:2)
Coroutines Not Updates.................................................................................................................................209
(cid:2)
The Game View..............................................................................................................................................210
(cid:2)
Adding Lights.................................................................................................................................................213
(cid:2)
Using the iPhone as a Game Pad...................................................................................................................214
(cid:2)
Your Game..........................................................................................................................................................215
(cid:2)
Adding a Base to Work From.........................................................................................................................216
(cid:2)
The Main Character........................................................................................................................................218
(cid:2)
Inputs and Colliders.......................................................................................................................................224
(cid:2)
Your First Design Iteration.............................................................................................................................228
(cid:2)
Adding More Touchable Objects....................................................................................................................230
(cid:2)
Prefabs...........................................................................................................................................................231
(cid:2)
Animations.....................................................................................................................................................232
(cid:2)
Animation Import Settings.............................................................................................................................233
(cid:2)
Interacting with Something Besides the Floor...............................................................................................237
(cid:2)
User Interface................................................................................................................................................240
(cid:2)
Multiple Cameras...........................................................................................................................................241
(cid:2)
3D Objects As GUI Items................................................................................................................................243
(cid:2)
Building for Your Device................................................................................................................................247
(cid:2)
Summary............................................................................................................................................................248
Chuck Smith...................................................................................................249(cid:2)
■Chapter 8: Cocos2d for iPhone and iPad; It Is Easier than You Think.........251(cid:2)
(cid:2)
Origins of Cocos2d..............................................................................................................................................251
(cid:2)
Why Use Cocos2d?.............................................................................................................................................252
(cid:2)
Getting Started with Cocos2d.............................................................................................................................252
(cid:2)
Installing Cocos2d..........................................................................................................................................254
(cid:2)
Configuring Sample Code..............................................................................................................................254
(cid:2)
Installing the XCode Project Templates.........................................................................................................255
(cid:2)
Starting a New Project...................................................................................................................................256
(cid:2)
Introduction to Video Poker.................................................................................................................................257
(cid:2)
Making a Scene..................................................................................................................................................258
(cid:2)
Creating a Game Menu..................................................................................................................................260
viii
■ CONTENTS
(cid:2)
Game Logic.........................................................................................................................................................261
(cid:2)
Card...............................................................................................................................................................262
(cid:2)
Deck...............................................................................................................................................................264
(cid:2)
SimpleHand....................................................................................................................................................266
(cid:2)
I Like the Sprites in You.................................................................................................................................270
(cid:2)
Putting It All together.....................................................................................................................................272
(cid:2)
Events: Making It Interactive.........................................................................................................................275
(cid:2)
Adding Sound......................................................................................................................................................280
(cid:2)
Supporting the iPad............................................................................................................................................281
(cid:2)
Further Exploring cocos2d..................................................................................................................................286
David Smith....................................................................................................287(cid:2)
■Chapter 9: Creating an Audio-Centric App for the
iPhone with AVAudioPlayer.......................................................289(cid:2)
(cid:2)
Design.................................................................................................................................................................290
(cid:2)
Designing for Your Target User......................................................................................................................290
(cid:2)
Our Design Process........................................................................................................................................291
(cid:2)
Implementation...................................................................................................................................................295
(cid:2)
Example Project..................................................................................................................................................296
(cid:2)
Getting Started...............................................................................................................................................296
(cid:2)
Setting Up the UI............................................................................................................................................298
(cid:2)
Coding the Audio Player.................................................................................................................................302
(cid:2)
Summary............................................................................................................................................................307
Joost van de Wijgerd and Arne de Vries.........................................................309(cid:2)
■Chapter 10: Implementing Push Notifications at eBuddy............................311(cid:2)
(cid:2)
Introduction to eBuddy........................................................................................................................................311
(cid:2)
The eBuddy Messenger.................................................................................................................................312
(cid:2)
The eBuddy iPhone Application.....................................................................................................................312
(cid:2)
Apple Push Notification Service..........................................................................................................................313
(cid:2)
The Communication Flow..............................................................................................................................314
(cid:2)
The Client Implementation.............................................................................................................................314
(cid:2)
The eBuddy Push Implementation......................................................................................................................317
(cid:2)
Client / Server Protocol..................................................................................................................................317
(cid:2)
Server to APNS...............................................................................................................................................318
(cid:2)
Fitting the Parts Together..............................................................................................................................322
(cid:2)
Changes along the Way......................................................................................................................................323
(cid:2)
Introducing eBuddy Pro.................................................................................................................................323
(cid:2)
Extending the Beta Program..........................................................................................................................324
(cid:2)
Summary............................................................................................................................................................325
■Index............................................................................................................577
ix