Apple's operating system upgrade to spur mobile apps
Home automation seen as one potential market where HK developers can work with hi-tech giant's HomeKit platform to launch apps
Mobile applications developers in Hong Kong expect to generate fresh business opportunities after Apple took the wraps off its new and improved mobile operating system, iOS 8.
Technology giant Apple announced on Monday in the United States the release of the iOS 8 software development kit to its global developer community before the company's much-anticipated launch of new products, including upgrades of the popular iPhone, iPad and MacBook, in the second half of this year.
Apple chief executive Tim Cook described the new mobile operating platform roll-out as "the mother of all releases", providing developers with more tools to create innovative new apps.
The iOS 8 SDK released to developers delivers more than 4,000 application programming interfaces including HealthKit, HomeKit and Family Sharing, the advanced graphics technology called Metal, expanded security and productivity features, and Swift, a new programming language.
Nick Murray, the co-founder and chief technology officer at Hong Kong-based mobile apps developer PassKit, told the South China Morning Post: "We will see iOS apps released faster and with higher-quality in general than those on the Android operating system."
"For start-ups and entrepreneurs in Hong Kong, there is no better time to get into the iOS development business," Murray said. There are currently 1.2 million apps in Apple's App Store.