Is it true that if it is in UIKit, including drawRect, the HD aspect of Retina display is automatically handled? So does that mean in drawRect, the current graphics context for a 1024 x 768 view is actually a 2048 x 1536 pixel Bitmap context? (is there a way to print this size out to verify it).

We actually enjoy the luxury of 1 point = 4 pixels automatically handled for us.

However, if we use CGBitmapContextCreate, then those will really be pixels, not points? (at least if we provide a data buffer for that bitmap, the size is not for the higher resolution, but for the standard resolution, and even if we pass NULL as the buffer so that CGBitmapContextCreate handles the buffer for us, the size probably is the same as if we pass in a data buffer, and it is just standard resolution, not Retina's resolution).

We can always create 2048 x 1536 for iPad 1 and iPad 2 as well as the New iPad, but it will waste memory and processor and GPU power, as it is only needed for the New iPad.

So do we have to use a if () { } else { } to create such a bitmap context and how do we actually do so? And all our code CGContextMoveToPoint has to be adjusted for Retina display to use x * 2 and y * 2 vs non-retina display of just using x, y as well? That can be quite messy for the code. (or maybe we can define a local variable scaleFactor and set it to 1 for standard resolution and 2 if it is retina, so our x and y will always be x * scaleFactor, y * scaleFactor instead of just x and y.)

It seems that UIGraphicsBeginImageContextWithOptions can create one for Retina automatically if the scale of 0.0 is passed in, but I don't think it can be used if I need to create the context and keep it (and using ivar or property of UIViewController to hold it). If I don't release it using UIGraphicsEndImageContext, then it stays in the graphics context stack, so it seems like I have to use CGBitmapContextCreate instead. (or do we just let it stay at the bottom of the stack and not worry about it?)