Apple has reportedly issued directives to App developers to submit screenshots of their applications which are of Retina display quality, indicating that it may soon discontinue its iPhone 3GS.
The iOS developers have now to submit screenshots of Retina display quality of both their new apps and updated applications. The high Resolution images are required because the company wants to make sure the images are optimised well for the retina display.
Currently, Apple’s two most advanced devices – iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S – come with retina display of 640×960 resolution in contrast to 320×480 resolution of iPhone 3GS. This difference in resolution leaves some earlier apps redundant as lower resolution images were not compatible with the Retina display. Now the company wants to make sure its app store is ready for the time when more Retina display based Apple devices would be there in the market. This development also means the end of 320×480 resolution based apps.
Apple’s iPhone 3GS was released in 2009 but talks of its discontinuation started after the launch of the next generation Apple iPhone 4S last year. The older device is still generating a lot of interest in many markets but the graduation to new devices is likely to happen in the near future. The requirement should not prove very difficult for the developers, as they are developing apps for the retina display devices any way.