Stockfish for iPad

[Tord Romstad]

Hi all,

Apple has finally approved the new iPad version of Stockfish:

http://itunes.apple.com/no/app/stockfis ... 58605?mt=8

Although iPad support is the main new feature of this version, iPhone users are also recommended to upgrade, as there are plenty of bug fixes.

[mhalstern]

Thanks,

I just downloaded it and played some Blitz Games. It works well.

I'm curious. Are you able to see the number of Downloads, and break it down by device type?

[michiguel]

Hi all,

Apple has finally approved the new iPad version of Stockfish:

http://itunes.apple.com/no/app/stockfis ... 58605?mt=8

Although iPad support is the main new feature of this version, iPhone users are also recommended to upgrade, as there are plenty of bug fixes.

I am sorry for this silly question (I am Linux guy who leaves in another planet and forced to use Windows at work). What does it mean that Apple approved the version?

Miguel

[nepossiver]

It is like entering Debian Stable, with the small differences the programmer has to pay a fee to Apple, and there is no way you can install if Apple does not approve your software.

[Cubeman]

I think that Apple has to check the app before general release to make sure there are no pornographic or racist elements to the app.Also they probably want to make sure that there are no nasty virus that is lurking in the code.All in all a good outcome and it is a small price to pay for the slight delay in release in my opinion.
The alternative is the Jailbreak versions which most owners of iphones and ipods don't want to touch.

[nepossiver]

I forgot, the iPadOS (?) is not open source, another small difference.

[JuLieN]

@Tord
Just wanted to say "congrats!" I just downloaded it and the new interface is really pleasant on the iPad. Well done!

[michiguel]

It is like entering Debian Stable, with the small differences the programmer has to pay a fee to Apple, and there is no way you can install if Apple does not approve your software.

Thanks, good analogy. How does the developer test it in its own iThingy? you can install it if you compile it yourself?

Miguel

[nepossiver]

Thanks, good analogy. How does the developer test it in its own iThingy? you can install it if you compile it yourself?

Miguel

I don't really know, but yes, I think when you buy the Apple Developer Kit you are able to install locally - maybe even on other peoples machines. It is just a guess, though, as I don't even plan on buying one of those - my macbook pro gave me enough problems already, for a way overpriced computer.

[Tord Romstad]

I am sorry for this silly question (I am Linux guy who leaves in another planet and forced to use Windows at work).

I'm not really sure it's another planet. I've been using Linux at school and work for most of my life, and for most kinds of serious work, I find it hard to tell the difference between Linux, Mac OS and iOS (the OS on iPhones and iPads). They all feel the same to me, just with different GUIs on top. On the other hand, Windows -- which I also have to use at work these days -- feels completely alien.

What does it mean that Apple approved the version?

The explanation given elsewhere in the thread is basically correct: The only way for non-technical users to install software on their iDevices is through Apple's official App Store, and all apps there have to be reviewed and approved by Apple to make sure they adhere to Apple's user interface guidelines, and that they don't contain hidden or malicious features, cause the phone to freeze or crash, use excessive amounts of battery while running in the background, etc. I understand why Apple is doing this, but the review process can sometimes be frustratingly slow. Moreover, the people reviewing the apps generally aren't the brightest among Apple's employees, and apps sometimes get rejected for incredibly retarded reasons (fortunately, this hasn't happened to me).

For your question about how a developer tests on his own device: There is an officially sanctioned way, but it involves a lot of red tape and tedious work (setting up digital signing, uploading your device's UDID to Apple, creating and downloading a provisioning file that allows the app to run on your device, installing this file on your device, etc.). I can't be bothered to do this, so I just "jailbreak" my device, which essentially makes it a portable Unix workstation with no restrictions. I compile my app on my Mac, copy it over to the device with scp, and run it.

For a chess programmer, jailbreaking is even more useful than to the average developer, because it allows you to run command line apps. This makes it possible to compile just a UCI or XBoard engine first, and run the engine on the device from a GUI running on your desktop computer.