iphone screensaver (with clock) - iphone

Could I create an iPhone app that replaces/modifies the default clock screen saver and show something else instead (e.g. my own special clock or whatever)?
How do I go about doing that? I'd appreciate a link to a tutorial on the subject, or to example code that does something like this.
(disclaimer: total iPhone dev noob here)

It's not possible to override any of the functionality on the existing apps/features on the iPhone, including the screen that is shown when the phone is locked. You could write an app that mimicked that functionality when launched, but I don't think that's what you're looking to do.

I think this would be a violation of apples UI guidelines and there is a good chance it would not be accepted to the app store.

Related

How to use the camera device in an iPhone app

I am working on an image editing app and therefore googled for it.
I have found some links which says that we can work with camera by ourselves, like here.
They say we can:
capture images from within our app (ColorSplash app)
using accelerometer with camera and some other features
So far my coding doing just opening camera and lets user do the rest.
But I want above listed features... at least the first one.
Can it be done?
i use code from this site to do what your first task do:
http://www.zimbio.com/iPhone/articles/1109/Picking+Images+iPhone+SDK+UIImagePickerController
http://trailsinthesand.com/picking-images-with-the-iphone-sdk-uiimagepickercontroller/
these both were links really helpful.
#Sawan yes you can do the things u want,capturing of image and its selection please take help from here and also u can use accelerometer in the same way we use in our apps

iPhone locked in portrait mode

My question is similar to this thread
which says to lock the iPhone in portrait mode and doesnot allow it to go to landscape mode.
This can be done easily but my concern is I want to lock all the applications running to the portrait mode in iOS 4.
That is if I have locked the orientation mode and has minimised my application then the none of the application in iPhone shall go to landscape mode.
So my question is
Is it possible
if yes then how? Any ideas or link will be really appreciated.
Edit: I know this is already available in iOs 4.0 but its hard to find also this is just for information purpose.
For those who disagree: check out the link
Thanks in advance...
Edit: Finally as per everyones suggestion I think it is not at all possible to lock other applications orientation through our application.
How would you feel if any 3rd application is accesing the orientation of your application and that of device.
So Its all handled out by Apple itself. Also as told no application is allowed to effect the system variable..
So in case you succeed in finding out the hack for this thing... Then also your application is gonna rejected by apple...
Still all the best for ur research :P
Sorry, but you can't lock the orientation via public APIs, and if you are going to use private APIs, Apple will never approve your app.
An iPhone app cant affect system wide variables such as screen lock. If you could, then there would be nothing keeping you from accessing all the other data on the device as well. Sorry, but if you want your app approved by Apple, you'll have to give up on this feature.

Temporarily Lock or Disable iphone home button

I know the iphone home button is extremely crucial for the functioning of the iphone.
However I have an idea for which I need the application running and the home button to be disabled. I tried googling, but haven't been able to find a solution.
Temporary or timed locking (Lock for 5/10 mins.) would also do.
The app. should work on non-jailbroken phones, hence going around apple won't work.
Appreciate any ideas.
Note, from 2014 onwards: just to be clear,
this is now built in to iOS...
Click to accessibility, click "guided access".
Conrats for "inventing" it, PlanetUnknonw! :-)
The answer below is only of historic value...
For the record, it's silly that people are saying "Why would you want to do this?"
it's a great idea for example for APPS FOR SMALL CHILDREN (which is indeed a very large market on the iPhone).
If you've ever marketed an app for small children, you'll know that instantly parents write in abusing you because you "did not stop that stupid home button working, so the child just turns off the game and makes phone calls"
To which you have to reply that it's of course not possible because of the way the iPhone works.
So yes it's a good question. As far as I know, Planet, it is not possible.
Apple should add a "kids mode" where parents can lock the fone on TO one particular app for awhile. (Perhaps you would have to long-press or something the home button to unlock it.)
UPDATE
*iOS 6 reportedly has a "Single App Mode" - Check out vpdn's answer below https://stackoverflow.com/a/10503799/333259
This is against the iOS interface guidelines, and apps have been rejected for "overriding" or restricting behaviour of hardware buttons/switches.
I suggest you have a read of the App Store Review Guideline for iOS apps for a good overview of what you shouldn't be doing.
Particularly:
10.5
Apps that alter the functions of standard switches, such as the Volume Up/Down and Ring/Silent switches, will be rejected
Pretty sure that the Home button is included in that.
I'm not sure what your "idea" is here, but I would suggest you look into other things such as backgrounding. There is a feature that allows you to finish executing tasks in the background, even if the user presses the home button, and optionally display a notification after certain time (before the task "expires"). I imagine that this might offer a more appropriate solution (again dependent on what your idea actually is).
In iOS6 (to be released), there's a feature called "Guided Access", which will allow device owners to lock users (like toddlers and school kids) into an app.
Update: Before the shitstorm about NDA content starts, here's where I got the info from: http://www.theverge.com/2012/6/11/3078350/apple-ios-6-guided-access-parental-control
You can't unless you want to run it on jail broken devices.
Apple currently will not allow any software to disable or change ANY button functionality for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch, so the only software solution is to jailbreak the device, so you're not forced to live by Apple's rules.
However, PaperclipRobot.com is about to release a home button cover specifically targeted to keeping young kids from pressing the home button. Not the exact solution to your problem as stated, but I figured it added to the discussion.
Unsure if you are looking for a way to do it in code in an app or if you're thinking of locking it in general.
Anyways, if you're looking for a way to do it in general, here's a guide for it
http://igrudge.net/how-to-disable-the-home-button-on-ios-devices-iphoneipad/
If you are looking to temporarily disable the home button to keep a child in a particular app, the tip for a make magazine article is to use a bulldog clip to cover the home button cheaper, and more reusable than a bubcap, temporary and effective.
Source: http://blog.makezine.com/2011/03/01/ipad-home-button-child-lock/

forbid exit from iphone/ipad application

is it possible and how to implement forbiden exit from application on iphone/ipad?
we have an application that must permanently work on ipad device. user should not have any way to exit from application. could you advise how to implement this functionality?
By jailbreaking it and installing custom software that enables you to do that.
Or putting a lot of tape over all the buttons.
Anyways, you can't do this with a standard app on a standard device. Just think about it - would be a pretty annoying thing for apps to do, wouldn't it?
Apple's own human interface design guidelines would forbid this. Your app can't encroach on the abilities of the OS that transcend your own application's responsibilities. The whole point is to have a consistent experience for the device and if you're modifying something as fundamental as switching apps, you're violating that principle.
If you can't exit the app, you're essentially turning your device into a single purpose unit. How do you expect to get back to the app list if you disable fast app switching and the home button?
Whatever solution you find would not be approved by the app store.
You should look at whether the current multitasking features can help chip away at your reasoning for needing the app to always run in the foreground.
If you are talking about an enterprise app locally distributed, you might be able to do this, though probably not.
The best idea would be to physically break or block the hardware button.
Or issue alerts to the device every 10 seconds making the thing effectively unusable when outside the application (you can ignore incoming notifications for you in-app).
Why do you have this requirement?
There is no way to implement this functionality. You cannot do it.
You can't do it, But if you jailbreak and configure the "Home-Button" settings you can :)
Btw, If you do it, the only way to quit will be a shutdown... And to shut down every time would be kinda annoying...

iPhone UI design...!

I have seen apps in App Store that have really attractive UI.When i make an app i use only the default set of control provided by Interface Builder and my app(even though good in functionality)does not have a UI that can attract people.Is there any ref or sample code that teaches us how to design good UIs for iPhone apps.
Also I want to place a control in my App similar to one in iPhone(i.e the way we unlock the iPhone by sliding a button and the iPhone gets unlocked)how can we do this.Please provide some ref or sample code for it.
There is no simples step by step description of how to make really attractive ui's. It takes both time, skill and a sense of esthetics. However, a good starting point is to thoroughly read your way through apples iphone human interface guidelines:
http://developer.apple.com/iphone/library/documentation/userexperience/conceptual/mobilehig/Introduction/Introduction.html