What’s new in AppStudio for ArcGIS Version 3.0

[Anonymous User]

We are excited to announce that AppStudio for ArcGIS version 3.0 is now available to download.  This release focuses on upgrading underlying Qt framework, build infrastructure and the ArcGIS Runtime.  In addition, many new features and enhancements are added to AppStudio Desktop, Player, AppFramework, and three templates.

Few highlights of AppStudio 3.0 release:

•  Underlying Qt framework has been upgraded to 5.10
•  ArcGIS Runtime has been up upgraded to 100.2.1
•  Sample apps available in AppStudio Desktop are now categorized
•  Player now uses an app’s ArcGIS Runtime license if available 
•  Map Tour template supports Mobile Map Packages, allowing it to work fully offline
•  New Measure tool was introduced in Map Viewer template
•  You can now limit the maximum attachments number for the Quick Report template 
•  Support for connecting to high-accuracy GPS receivers and location accuracy parameters 

You can get the latest version of AppStudio for ArcGIS here.  Don’t forget to update the AppStudio Player app on your mobile devices from iTunes and the Google Play store or on your desktops from here.

                                                             AppStudio 3.0 new feature highlights 

AppStudio Desktop 

With this release, ArcGIS Runtime version has been updated from 100.1 to 100.2.1, which means all of the exciting new and powerful features, bug fixes, and enhancements added to ArcGIS Runtime 100.2 and 100.2.1 are available in AppStudio 3.0.  We also discontinued support for ArcGIS Runtime 10.2.6 on AppStudio Desktop; please read this blog post to learn more about this deprecation.  Additionally, we have improved the sample searching experience by adding a new combo box to categorize more than 60 samples.  Many enhancements are added to the cloud Make and Advanced Settings tool as well.  A blog post on what’s new in AppStudio Desktop is coming soon, so watch out for it!

               

                                                                  AppStudio samples are categorized 

AppStudio Player

As of the AppStudio 3.0 release, ArcGIS Runtime 10.2.6 and iOS 32-bit apps are no longer supported. This means the latest Player 3.0 available in the app stores will only run Appstudio apps built with the new generation of ArcGIS runtime 100.x. 

Just in case, if you still have apps that are built using the old generation of ArcGIS Runtime 10.2.6 that need to be tested we have released Player Classic separately in both Apple app store and Google play store.

Note that Player Classic doesn’t include new changes added to 3.0 release. Also, you are required to download and install Player Classic separately. You can install both Player classic and latest player both on the same device if needed.  

The existing Player in the app stores will be updated with all the new features and enhancements added to 3.0 release, such as supporting fingerprint login on Android and Face ID login on iPhone X, and applying for an app’s ArcGIS Runtime license when being run in Player.  Watch for an upcoming blog post on what’s new in Player 3.0!  

                   

                      Player uses app's Runtime license

AppStudio Templates

All three app templates - Map Viewer, Map Tour and Quick Report have received many exciting new features, enhancements, bug-fixes and improvements in user experience in this release.

•   Map Tour now works fully offline with the support of Mobile Map Packages
•   You can launch Map Tour at a specific page using custom URL Scheme 
•   You can sign into Map Viewer quicker and safer using fingerprint, or face ID for iPhone X
•   A new Measure tool is now available in Map Viewer to help you measure distance or area on the map
•   Map Viewer gallery now supports new options to show  maps only, offline maps only, or both
•   The Quick Report results page message has been improved, with reporting each attachment’s upload status to the  feature service. You can also rename video attachments in the Quick Report
•   A warning message will be displayed when downloading Mobile Map Packages with cellular data on all three templates

We will publish three separate blog posts to provide you more information on template updates next week.  

                 

                                                                  New Measure tool in Map Viewer template

AppStudio Framework 

Two new beta plugins – Positioning, and Device – have been introduced in this release.  These allow you to create an app that interacts with high accuracy GPS receivers.  We also published a GNSS Info sample to demonstrate how to connect to a receiver and present location accuracy and satellite information.  Other changes in the AppFramework include:

•   Biometric Authentication is now supported on Android 
•   Encryption used in Secure Storage Plug-in is upgraded and as a result, the maximum length for a key or a value has been changed from 240 to 214
•   Speed improvements have been made for secure storage on Android  
•   The AppFramework.Dialogs plugin is now deprecated
•   Text-to-speech has been moved out of beta and supported on all platforms

           

                                                                           GNSS Info sample

Bug Fixes

BUG-000095218	Symbology issue with applications created using the Story Map Tour template in the AppStudio for ArcGIS website is resolved.
BUG-000095405	Incorrectly formatted word "Display" in Settings is corrected
BUG-000099383	The Map Viewer template in AppStudio for ArcGIS now shows the default extent when opened on Android and iOS devices
BUG-000101053	Missing checkboxes in App Studio Make tool from AppStudio for ArcGIS Desktop on Arabic Mac OSX is corrected.
BUG-000101597	Security vulnerability with iOS applications created with AppStudio for ArcGIS is resolved.
BUG-000101602	iOS apps developed with AppStudio for ArcGIS are now getting compiled using the default iOS memory management framework.
BUG-000101822	The AppStudio for ArcGIS Map Viewer crash issue with time-enabled layer is resolved.
BUG-000101978	Security vulnerability with Android applications created with AppStudio for ArcGIS is fixed.
BUG-000102326	The issue with Map Scale settings of AppStudio for ArcGIS Map Tour not being honored when set in AppStudio for ArcGIS Desktop no longer exists.
BUG-000102917	An AppStudio for ArcGIS application created with the Map Viewer template shows numeric coded values rather than associated domain values.
BUG-000103139	A Map Tour template app in AppStudio for ArcGIS is able to retrieve an image that is successfully accessed when the same image is referenced in a Story Map Tour application in ArcGIS .
BUG-000103313	The OpenStreetMap basemap displays in an AppStudio Player for ArcGIS app that is created using the AppStudio for ArcGIS Map Viewer template.
ENH-000089905	Issues with Quick Report app in German are resolved.

We hope you enjoy all the new updates, features and bug fixes included in this release.  As always, we will continue to listen to your feedback and bring new features to improve your app development experience. A series of blog posts on what’s new in the templates, Desktop, and Player will be published soon.  So, stay tuned! 

Want to try AppStudio for ArcGIS? check this video to see how to sign up for a free trial.