Merge branch 'ios-launch-image-is-not-a-splashscreen' into deploy

content/technical/2011/12/ios-launch-image-is-not-a-splashscreen.html

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+At work we're currently having an iOS app that I'm working on styled
+by a designer. The second screen we were supplied was a pretty splash
+screen with a big logo on it. We responded saying that we didn't want
+to use the launch image like that. Our designer responded saying that
+was fine but the majority of the clients nowadays require heavy emphases
+on corporate branding therefore it was a standard practice to cater to
+those requirements. It's a shame that this is what people are are asking
+for since its is not the intended use of the launch image.
+
+Justin Williams recently had the following clear-cut words to say on the
+topic of splash screens in his [On Magazines and the iPad][carpeaqua]
+article (emphasis from the article):
+
+> Remember, kids. The first rule of mobile development is that *no one
+> gives a fuck about your brand*. A splash screen with a giant logo
+> is something that makes editors and marketing directors feel good,
+> but to a user it just feels like a meaningless delay. You know that
+> feeling of frustration you get each time there’s a 15-second preroll
+> before a video on the web? That’s what a splash screen with logos and
+> advertisements is.
+
+[carpeaqua]: http://carpeaqua.com/2011/12/04/on-magazines-and-the-ipad/
+
+The Apple [iOS Human Interface Guidelines][MobileHIG] include the
+following suggestions:
+
+> Avoid taking space away from the content people care about. For
+> example, displaying a second, persistent bar at the top of the screen
+> that does nothing but display branding assets means that there’s less
+> room for content. Consider other, less intrusive ways to display
+> pervasive branding, such as subtly customizing the background of a
+> screen.
+
+> Display a launch image that closely resembles the first screen of the
+> application. This practice decreases the perceived launch time of your
+> application.
+
+> Avoid displaying an About window or a splash screen. In general, try
+> to avoid providing any type of startup experience that prevents people
+> from using your application immediately.
+
+> Supply a launch image to improve user experience.
+> 
+> Avoid using your launch image as an opportunity to provide:
+> 
+> * An "application entry experience," such as a splash screen
+> * An About window
+> * Branding elements, unless they are a static part of your
+>   application’s first screen
+>
+> Because users are likely to switch among applications frequently, you
+> should make every effort to cut launch time to a minimum, and you
+> should design a launch image that downplays the experience rather than
+> drawing attention to it.
+
+[MobileHIG]: http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/documentation/UserExperience/Conceptual/MobileHIG/MobileHIG.pdf
+
+The launch image is designed to make the percieved launch time of you app
+feel faster by showing something resembling the interface that will be loaded
+as quickly as possible. Displaying a logo does nothing but draw attention
+to how quickly your app loads and adds nothing to the user's experience.

content/technical/2011/12/ios-launch-image-is-not-a-splashscreen.yaml

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+--- 
+title: The iOS Launch Image is Not a Splash Screen
+extra: Reasons why the lanuch image in iOS apps is not intended to be a splash screen with your pretty logo on it.
+kind: article
+section: technical
+created_at: 2011-12-08 07:29:00
+keywords: 
+- ios
+- iphone
+- ipad
+- splash
+- screen
+- launch
+- image