Getting Started with Newsstand Kit

The Newsstand Kit framework provides a central library for storing and managing publication issues locally on a device. Additionally, Newsstand Kit creates easy to use hooks into system APIs for managing content downloads when your app is not running. Before we get into the specifics of how Newsstand Kit works, however, there are a few settings you need to configure in your app to make it a Newsstand app.

As mentioned, Newsstand apps get special treatment in both the App Store and on the iOS home screen. Specifically, these apps are separated from the pack and, unlike traditional iOS apps, developers can programmatically change Newsstand app icons after the app is installed on a device. This process of changing icons can be done in the background when the app is not running and is often used to indicate new content to a user. Further, Newsstand app icons are not limited to a square aspect ratio but can be any height to width ratio based on the paper size of your publication (Figure 11.1).