Get Ready: Deep Linking in iOS9
The leaves are changing, and the nights are getting cooler. That means that the iOS9 release is quickly approaching!
IS YOUR APP READY?
As you may remember from WWDC a few months ago, iOS9 is packed with new features, awesome functionality improvements, and upgrades to much of the core OS. For those of us in the deep linking world, there are a few that we’ve been particularly keen on. Most specifically, the new Core Spotlight APIs and Universal Links. Here is your crash-course on each, and how they will effect your existing Deeplink functionality.
Universal Links
This announcement was huge for app engagement! It means that web URLs will now open your app (no Safari interstitial) if your app supports Universal Links. We’re excited to announce that Deeplink fully supports Apple’s Universal Links. And if your app doesn’t support universal linking on rollout, that’s cool too, as we can still support deep linking in iOS 9 in a very similar fashion to how we do it today.
Core Spotlight API
This is the announcement that got much of the attention... Craig Federighi stood up on stage and talked about how broken mobile search is (Ahem!) and how signaling has changed (<cough>). And then he dropped the bomb. Spotlight Search will now search INSIDE your apps (duh!).
To make this magic work, you’ll need to support Apple’s Core Spotlight APIs. It’s super easy. Once you do, users can search your content with a query (sort of like Google search on desktop, but for app content).
But that still leaves a gaping hole in UX. Your app content is still only available when a user deems it the right time to find it. What about those times where a user does something complementary? Aren’t those perfect times to serve your app content to them?
They certainly are. So, we’ve added a crazy-awesome, incredibly simple solution to the AppWords SDK. With a simple 30-second CocoaPods integration, you’ll also get found in relevant apps from the Deeplink network.
Go here--> AppWords iOS SDK. Do it now.
No visual display in your apps, no updating necessary, just a free tool to get found in thousands of apps when iOS9 launches.
We’re here to help with all things iOS9 and Deep Linking, so let us know your questions!
