Apple notifies iOS developers to submit Retina screenshots, end of 3GS sales?

Today Apple sent out a notification to iPhone developers, informing them to begin submitting Retina resolution screenshots of 960×480 pixels with future app submissions and updates to current ones. This could only suggest one of two things. Either the company is tired of seeing blurry images in their “pixel-perfect” App Store, or this is just preparation for the end of the iPhone 3GS. With a lower resolution of 480×320, the 3GS is the longest surviving iPhone model with a sale lifespan of over two and a half years (this June would make three). Of course, this shouldn’t be a daunting task for developers as “Retina” has been in their vocabulary for over one year now.

When you create or update your apps in iTunes Connect, you must upload screenshots that are high-resolution. We require your screenshots as high-resolution images so that your app is optimized for the Retina display … The requirements for high-resolution images are 960 x 640, 960 x 600, 640 x 960, or 640 x 920 pixels. Images must be at least 72 dpi, in the RGB color space, and the file must be .jpeg, .jpg, .tif, .tiff, or .png. You can update your screenshot files at any time in iTunes Connect.

Nevertheless, this could also hint at another iPhone model on the horizon. That would push the iPhone 4 into the $0 slot, the 4S into the $99 slot, and the iPhone 5 at regular price of $199+ with contracts. Then there’s also the possibility that Apple might soon send out another call to developers for doubling the resolution for the iPad. After all, word on the street is the rumored iPad 3 will come with a shiny Retina display.

Via: TheNextWeb

Jared is a web designer with a passion for writing. Co-founded, The Industry & Evomail. Editor at teamtreehouse.com.