iOS release build IPA file size to large

Hello,

I have the same problem and for this reason I just opened a new thread

http://forums.adobe.com/message/4243013

I read in the current thread that people looked inside the ipa file and found that their "application.app" was really big.

But... if the ipa file is compressed, I think that also the one on the Apple Store is compressed too and they calculates the size on the compressed file not on the uncompressed one.

Am I wrong?

I think that the problem is the code that the Application Uploader adds to your original package.

Am I wrong?

I ran into the same issue with my social networking Flex-based app, Xuland (http://www.xuland.com).  I find the concept of Flex/AIR apps on mobile absolutely fascinating.  It's wonderful not having to know Android Java and XCode ObjectiveC to maintain two code-bases for two platforms (not even counting BlackBerry), but the file size and startup time for Android apps could be a deal-breaker.  My Xuland app compressed as a .ipa or .apk file is roughly 10Mb and balloons to 28Mb in the App Store after Apple encrypts and re-compresses for DRM.  Since the 3G limit is 20Mb for downloaded apps, it prevents folks from impulse downloading when not on WiFI and I think that's a big deal when you're trying to get your app discovered.

If it's a game or some other large utility app that people are determined to have, they'll get it when on WiFi no problem.

It could be that the AIR packaging simply adds too much overhead (I figure over 8Mb alone).  Adobe may choose to allow you to de-select AIR components that you won't use to get the filesize down but I'm not sure if it'll be enough.  We'll have to see.

I've already fired up Eclipse and headed down the road of native app development.  I'll do the same with XCode (after I buy a Mac).  These are good skills to have regardless...and there are some features in native iOS apps that you won't see (ever?) in AIR apps (like Google maps integration, etc).

Anyway, follow my mobile adventures on Twitter (@erichcervantez), Google+ or at http://www.eonflex.com for more updates.

I know situation, when users build apps with debug parameter so binary have aroud 10-20-30 mb ^) not whot ipa file.

Has anyone at least done some research and found some stats on how many files on Apple Store are over 20mb? Because I too am concerned to the point that I'm rethinking about moving to PhoneGap or some other technology. To be honest alot of people don't even know what to do when they get the pop-up that says a download requires WIFI. This is potentially a huge problem. In an app I'm creating, most of my clients will be all over the world in outdoors environments using Geo data. If they try and download my 20mb+ app just to get denied because no WIFI in remote locations we got a serious problem. Anyone have a work around or a way to resolve this?

We're having the same issues.  A relatively simple app is producing a 7.8 MB ipa, which contains a 21 MB application file within it and Apple is saying users can't download it over the cellular network.  The largest image (by far) within the application is 43k and there's no video or other large files.

It would be great to hear from Adobe how we can squeeze these files under the 20 MB wifi-only limitation - otherwise no one will be able to download Flex mobile apps...mobiley. 

Thanks.

Fwiw, setting explicitly setting the "optimize" and "strict" compiler flags didn't help.

Anyone has an idea to solve this problem? Its realy a blocker for me!

The included AIR overhead shouldn't be so large. When exporting for iOS, files in some directories are included too. For example, if you have index.htm, js folder and expressinstall.swf in your \bin folder, these are exported too (if you have said so in compile arguments, which is default in online examples). First try for you is to browse ipa file (it's renamed zip) and search for unnecessary things.