Insight VR

This is a strange one. Battle for Vesta has run solidly since version 1. No crashes, problems launching, or other problems. For version 2.2 I tested it on my iPhone 3GS, iPhone 3G, and iPad. I also ran it on the iPhone 4 in the simmulator. I didn’t see a problem with any of these systems.

After v 2.2 went live I began to get reviews saying that the app doesn’t do anything. This was concerning as I wasn’t able to replicate the problem on any of my hardware. Eventually it became clear that the problem only affected iPod Touch owners, so I borrowed my brother’s and was able to replicate it.

I started putting breakpoints in my code yet the debugger wasn’t hitting any of them. Finally I put one in main.m and was able to see the debugger hit:
int retVal = UIApplicationMain(argc, argv, nil, nil);
But once it entered UIApplicationMain nothing seemed to happen. It is pretty tough to debug something that the debugger won’t let you see.

I started retracing my steps and looking at what I had done to enable the Retina Display and Universal Binary aspects of the update. The first thing that I did was look at the Info.plist file entries. The Universal Binary instructions that I followed had suggested splitting the “Main nib file base name” entry into two entries: “Main nib file base name (iPhone)” which points to the iPhone (and I assumed iPod Touch) version of the nib file and “Main nib file base name (iPad)” which of course points to the iPad version. That turned out to be the problem. I added the old “Main nib file base name” entry again, pointing to the iPhone/iPod Touch version and everything worked again.

I find it very odd that the iPod Touch wouldn’t look for the iPhone version of the file, but live and learn.

I have submitted a 2.2.1 update to Apple. I’ve also made Battle for Vesta free in the meantime, so that nobody pays money for an app that doesn’t currently run on iPod Touch. Once the update goes live I’ll put the price back at $2.

Update:

The bug also appears on iPhones under iOS 3.1.3 but not iOS 4.

Update 2:

The 2.2.1 update is live. Battle for Vesta will remain free for the rest of the day and go back to its regular price tomorrow.

The media has been all aflutter for the past three weeks about the iPhone 4′s antenna. For more links about the issue than you could ever care to read check our Daring Fireball’s coverage.

Yesterday Apple had a big sit down with the media and characterized the issue on their own terms and offered a band-aid. Now everyone is getting a free bumper or other case with their iPhone 4. Seems like a sensible solution for those few that are experiencing problems. However there is a deadline: as of right now you have to buy your iPhone 4 before Sept 30th to get your free case.

What are the odds that the Sept 30th cutoff indicates that there is some sort of hardware revision in the works? Either Apple is working furiously on a solution or at that point they plan on ramping up production to put a bumper in the box with the phone. Otherwise they’ve painted themselves into a corner, with the phone being seen by the overeager media as defective after Sept. 30.

Steve Jobs said that they would reevaluate the situation before Sept. 30. I think that “reevaluate” is a euphemism for “hardware fix” but they would never announce that right now, as it would kill sales right when they’re booming.

In any case it is unimaginable that they’ll simply stop offering free a bumper on Sept 30 without any change to the phone.

I’ve updated the game to support the iPad, iPhone 4, and the multitasking capabilities of iOS 4. This means full resolution on all devices and starting off right where you left off if you resume pretty quickly.

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