The second to RAD Studio XE5 shipped yesterday, including a significant update on the Delphi side and the support for iOS development on the C++Builder side. Update 2 is free to existing XE5 users, and RAD Studio developers or C++Builder developers at least at the Enterprise level can start using iOS support for C++ right away. Developer with a Delphi license will get an update with many bug fixes... and a few hidden gems.
The official information and links first:
- Update 2 download at cc.embarcadero.com/item/29662 for registered users. There is also an ISO download if you prefer.
- Update 2 Release Notes at docwiki.embarcadero.com/RADStudio/XE5/en/Release_Notes_for_XE5_Update_2 (while you might have to re-install, the binaries are compatible, and so are third party components, with an exception on the iOS side, as explained in the document)
- The list of the 111 bugs fixed is at edn.embarcadero.com/article/43522. It includes bugs in the compiler (for different platforms), RTL, Indy, FireDAC, DataSnap, and more. Specifically, there are fixes for the iOS7 simulator, for OS X Mavericks support, compiler issues with generics and exceptions handling, an annoying bug with POST operations on ISAPI DLL larger than 48KB (affecting WebBroker and DataSnap), FireDAC connection and TFDPhysIBDriverLink issues, some mobile debugging issues, several FireMonkey UI issues (mostly for iOS and Android), and some SOAP issues.
- There are in fact new features mentioned in the What's New page at docwiki.embarcadero.com/RADStudio/XE5/en/What%27s_New_in_Delphi_and_C%2B%2BBuilder_XE5#What.27s_New_in_XE5_Update_1 (long URL, I know). The most relevant is Embarcadero's first C++ mobile compiler for iOS, with notable features for a C++ compiler like ARC support. See also www.embarcadero.com/products/cbuilder/ios-development.
As I mentioned, there are also a couple of hidden gems in this release... but I'll leave this open to a couple of follow up blog posts (and, no, they are not listed in the what's new page, or they won't be 'hidden gems").
What you should do now, if you still haven't done so, if go buy XE5. It brings Delphi to new hights, and in the next two weeks you can take advantage of some great offers including upgrade from older versions of Delphi and C++Builder, and even some extra VCL components from InfoPower and the new Delphi book by Nick Hodges! Info at www.embarcadero.com/radoffer.