ReplayKit should be able to record all apps, not just the app that started the recording

Originator:AriXmail
Number:rdar://26999290 Date Originated:24-Jun-2016 10:51 AM
Status:Behaves correctly Resolved:
Product:iOS SDK Product Version:
Classification: Reproducible:
 
Summary:
Currently, ReplayKit's screen recording functionality can only record the app that uses the ReplayKit framework to initiate the recording. If the user switches apps while ReplayKit is active, the recording stops.

This is ostensibly for security reasons, but the app that starts the recording already doesn't have access to the recording that ReplayKit creates - the user ultimately chooses what to do with it.

It'd be tremendously useful to be able to create recordings of the whole screen, regardless of app, to allow users to demonstrate things on their device.

For example, my app, Workflow, allows people to run "workflows" which may involve using multiple apps, and we'd like to allow users to record the workflows they run and share those videos as demonstrations for others. You can also imagine this capability being used for "screencasting" or other educational purposes, like to create training materials on how to use particular apps or web sites.

Steps to Reproduce:
1. Look at RPScreenRecorder API

Expected Results:
Expecting to see an API to choose whether the screen recorder records only the app that initiates the recording or to record the entire screen regardless of which app is frontmost.

Actual Results:
There is no way to record the entire screen regardless of app; you can only record the app that starts the recording.

Version:
iOS 10 beta 1

Notes:


Configuration:
iPhone

Comments

"Apple Developer Relations 27-Jun-2016 12:34 PM

Please know that our engineering team has determined that this issue behaves as intended based on the information provided.

This is by design for iOS 10. We will consider this feature for a future release."


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