Next week I will be publicly releasing my new iOS 9 developer course - it’s a complete overhaul (and re-record) of the previous course, and adds a bunch of new topics, including an Uber app clone, in-app purchases, iAds, version control, classes/objects and more.
I wanted to write here to answer questions about the new course, before they come up. If you have any questions that aren’t answered here, leave them in the comments and I’ll update the post.
Why didn’t you just update the iOS 8 course?
I struggled with this decision for a long time. I value hugely the community that exists around the iOS 8 course, and the answers to current and past discussions add a huge amount of value to the course (not to mention the reviews!). Losing all of this would be a major blow.
As long-term students will know, I’ve already updated/re-recorded most of the iOS 8 videos multiple times as Swift syntax has changed and developed, and haven’t charged for any of these updates (something very few course providers do).
When Swift 2/Xcode 7 was announced, however, it was clear that a whole new course would be needed - a bunch of basic commands and constructs had been changed, along with a number of processes and menu locations in Xcode.
While in theory it would have been possible to update the iOS 8 videos, I also wanted to take the opportunity to improve on some of the apps in the course, changing the way they were put together, adding and removing certain sections, and of course adding the extra content. This would have been difficult while keeping the current structure intact, and a lot of the discussions would become irrelevant (and many previously correct answers would now be wrong).
Finally, supporting and updating such a big course with almost 100,000 students to the extent that I want to takes a huge amount of work, and asking a small amount to keep this going seems both reasonable and the best way to keep me incentivised to keep producing, supporting and updating quality content!
What will happen to the iOS 8 course?
The course will continue to exist on Udemy and will be sold for a reduced price. A lot of the syntax does remain the same from Swift 1 to Swift 2, and the apps have already been updated to Xcode 6.4 (the last version with Swift 1). I hope this will provide a discounted way for students who can’t purchase the new course to get into iOS development.
However, I will switch my active support in the forums to the new iOS 9 course on its release. I want to avoid discussing how to fix apps using syntax and tools which are now outdated (soon Xcode 6 will likely become unavailable which will further confuse things). My support on the new course will be just as vigorous as on the old course (with every discussion getting a response within 48 hours, usually much quicker).
If anyone is unhappy with this for any reason, the usual Udemy refund policy applies, but I would ask you to carefully consider whether it is worth $10 to get a whole new set of videos, new apps and other content, a year’s support and a year’s web hosting. I’d love to keep you all in the great iOS development community we have created if at all possible!
I bought the iOS 8 course in the last 30 days - can I get a refund and still get the new course for $10?
Technically, yes, but again please consider if all the new features are worth the price. If you choose to get a refund on the iOS 8 course, I would ask you to wait for the full release of the iOS 9 course and purchase it in the usual way.
What about your other courses?
I will continue to update the content of my other courses in the way I have done in the past. At some point, each course will likely get to the point where a completely new course is required. This has happened particularly quickly with the iOS 8 course because of the rate of change of Swift. On the other hand, the Web Development course is still largely intact, so it makes sense to update it for now rather than re-record the whole thing. I don’t have a particular ‘new course’ schedule in mind, but will let you all know when I do.
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As I say, I will add answers to more questions as they come in. I am phenomenally proud of the community of students we have built around this course, and I hope we can continue to grow it as iOS 8 gives way to iOS 9.
These are hugely exciting times to learn to code, and I look forward to continuing the journey with you all.
Happy coding,
Rob
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Hi Rob,
This is great news, and a perfectly fair decision to split off from the iOS 8 course. Hopefully Apple will slow down, and stabilise some of the changes to Swift soon. Your hard work in keeping the iOS 8 course up to date (and no doubt this will be the same) is much appreciated.
I have one question I just want to clarify.
I recently pledged support for your Android Kickstarter campaign. This stretch goal was met (and exceeded! Well done!)
“Second free course for all £15 and above backers!!”
I assume backers will be able to use the iOS 9 course as one of their free course rewards?
Regards,
Chris
Thanks Chris! No - it’s the 4 courses as stated on the Kickstarter.
Hey Rob, I’m looking forward to the iOS 9 course, and kudos for having one ready in good time prior to its official release.
Elaborating on Chris’ question above, if you pledged the gold membership amount on your Android M Kickstarter campaign, does this entitle you to take the iOS 9 course as part of the “full lifetime access to all my current and future courses for free” statement? Or do we still need to upgrade? If it’s the former, how do we go about accessing the material?
Kind regards,
Dan
You’ll get it this week
Hello, I’ve ‘just started’ the iOS 8 course and I’m thinking about upgrading. What’s important to me: Does the new one cover size classes and testing/UI testing?
Nope - there’s lots of new stuff, but those topics specifically are not covered. Sorry!
Hello Rob,
What an amazing course was “The Complete iOS8 and Swift Course”, did enjoy it and learned a lot! Of course I am planning to upgrade to iOS9 version of the course, but before I do, I just wanted to ask a question. As a “Complete Android Developer Course” pledger I am supposed to get access to two of your other courses. Can this iOS9 course be counted as one of those two?
Thanks and all the best,
Ivan
I’m afraid not - it’s the 4 courses as stated on the Kickstarter.
Hi Rob
I’m a “The Complete Android M Developer Course with Android Studio” pledger, reward was gold membership.
Will I get access to your new coming course? or should I update?
Thanks.
You’ll get it this week
Are you going to cover the syntax improvements and “Advanced error handling model using try / catch / throw” as mentioned on the Swift page (https://developer.apple.com/swift/)? And if so in which chapters. Perfectly happy to pay the £8.
Yep! That’s in there.
Hi Rob,
In which lectures do you go into the “Advanced error handling model using try / catch / throw”?
I can’t seem to find it.
Or will you add it at a later stage when Xcode 7 final has been released?
It’s throughout the course - I think the first use is in the audio section.
Hallo Rob! Congratulations on the (almost) completion of the iOS 9 course!
I was a backer of your Kickstarter for the iOS 8 course and back then I pledged in the 185 GBP which gave access to all past and future courses. Will this be also included?
(Btw. Thanks for the access to the Android Studio Development course I received a few days ago!! I had been trying for months to find an accessible way to learn how to use the IDE by Google, and finally it found me instead!!)
Cheers! And have a good weekend!
Yep! You’ll get it when it goes live this week.
Hi,
how much will the course cost for normal customers (not iOS 8 students)?
It’ll be my standard price - $199, but there may be some promos coming up so keep an eye out!
Hi Rob,
I pledged to your Apple Watch Kickstarter getting the Gold Membership which I believe gives access to your current and future courses; will I need to pay to get access to the iOS 9 course?
Nope - access for that has been sent round, or you can get it via android androiddevcourse.com/ks.php.
Hello Rob,
I “just started” the iOS8 course.. Would upgrading be useful for me or should I consider completing the iOS8 course first and later go for the newer version.. ?
Upgrade and carry straight on from where you left off!
I just bought the iOS 8 course two days ago and haven’t even started. I’m interested in the iOS 9 course, but need to have an iOS 8 background too. If I upgrade, will I still have access to the iOS 8 course, or just the iOS 9 one?
You’ll have full access to both
Hi Rob!
I was a backer in your Kickstarter campaign for the Android Development course. And as part of my stretch goal rewards, I chose the iOS 8 course. I’ve only just started the course and am yet to claim the free stuff such as your e-book and the year’s worth of hosting. So, would you suggest that I upgrade to the iOS 9 course(I am a complete newb to Swift) or just stay with the iOS 8. Also, say I upgrade, do I get an extra additional year’s worth of hosting or not?
And btw, your courses are great. I’ve only just started and already learnt so much already.
Cheers!
Yep!
Rob,
In the description of the course you mentioned Tinder and Uber clones but they are not listed on the course syllabus on Udemy. Are you planing to add them later or are there already in?
As I posted on the iOS 8 forum, I’ve been having problems setting up FB login and Parse on Swift2/XCode7 and would like to know if the code is updated and running for that section.
Thank you.
Uber is only in the iOS 9 course, Tinder is in both. I’ll update you in the forums, but FB Login is working fine on Swift 2/Xcode 7 Beta 3.
Hello Rob. I am in your iOS 8 course and I love it so much. I decided to upgrade to iOS 9 and I did pay via PayPal last week. However, I didn’t see the course in my courses. Could u please help me to double check this?
I am looking forward to hearing from you soon.
Best Regards,
Sang.
You’ll need to check with Udemy I’m afraid - they can help you out.