Mainstream apps optimized for iPhone 5, Passbook, & iOS 6
I f you want to take full advantage of iOS 6 and the new iPhone 5′s extra screen real estate, you will want to pick up some of the apps and updates below, which are specifically optimized for the device's bigger screen size and latest OS.
Context & Ripple Effects
The iPhone 5 launch arrives after Apple made under-the-hood App Store changes in iOS 6 and as developers reported unusually fast App Store reviews ahead of the device. That combination gives mainstream publishers a tighter path from a new hardware format and OS feature set to a live update.
With more than two million iPhone 5 pre-orders reported in its first 24 hours, support for the larger display and Passbook is a launch-week distribution decision for app makers, not merely a cosmetic refresh.
First-order effects
- iPhone 5 owners can use updated mainstream apps that fit the larger display and incorporate iOS 6 and Passbook support.
- Publishers that have prepared updates can reach the new-device audience while accelerated App Store reviews reduce the approval delay around launch.
Second-order effects
- Apps without iPhone 5 layouts or iOS 6 support face a weaker first-use experience against updated rivals, concentrating developer attention on Apple’s new feature set.
- Passbook integration gives participating app publishers another Apple-controlled surface through which to present tickets, passes, or other supported items to iPhone users.
Third-order effects
- If launch-week optimization becomes standard, Apple’s hardware and OS release cadence will increasingly set the product-planning timetable for consumer app developers.
- The pattern reinforces platform gatekeeper leverage: distribution, review timing, device formats, and OS capabilities jointly shape which app updates reach users first.
The trend: Smartphone software is becoming more tightly coupled to each platform’s annual hardware, operating-system, and app-review cycle.