Dynamic ‘default.png’ Files for Third-Party iPhone Apps

iPhone developer Patrick Collison shows how third-party developers can get dynamic “default.png” files, similar to Apple’s own apps, using a symlink in the app bundle that points to a path outside the bundle but within the app’s sandbox.

I still say the whole idea of displaying a UI that looks ready to use but is not ready at all is a bad idea. Several readers emailed to suggest an intriguing compromise: iPhone apps should store a screenshot of the current display when quitting, but then when showing that screenshot when next they launch, dim/fade/desaturate the display to indicate that it’s not yet ready to use. That way, if there’s something worth reading or looking at in the default.png, you can see it instantly, but there’s no confusion about when you can start tapping.

★ Sunday, 9 November 2008