why iPhone .app files is much larger than .ipa file?

Question

My new iPhone application have .ipa file size (by Archive) is 2.8 MB, which is okay. But my .app file is much large > 13 MB, and AppStore describes my app's size is 7.9 MB.

What causes this problem? Can I make my app size in AppStore is the same as my ipa file?

Thanks,

UPDATE:

• When I unzip .ipa file, I see an .app file whose size is 5.2 MB!!!. It seem that I have difference configuration between these build settings. Wonder if I can use this app file to upload (beta tester can use this anyway!)

• When I use iTunes to sync my downloaded app from AppStore, the .ipa size is > 13M (same as my uploaded .app)

Answer 1

.ipa files are compressed, which explains why they're smaller. I'm not sure why your .app file is so much larger than what the App Store reports unless Apple does some sort of image compression for the App Store.