Xcode / iOS simulator: Trigger significant location change manually

So two answers:

A) Hop on a train :-)

B) Use the simulator. In iOS 5.x simulator, there is a debug menu that has a location submenu. Choose freeway drive. This will start the simulator on an imaginary journey down the scenic 280 in Northern California. It gives you everything but the view: your app will get Significant Location Change updates, and will also be launched in the background if it has been suspended.

To verify that you are actually moving, launch safari in the simulator, and go to maps.google.com and click the little track my location button. You should be moving.

Awesome! Now how to debug the lifecycle problem of being launched by the system? Easy! Have xCode wait for your app to be launched to start debugging. From the Scheme menu, choose edit scheme. In the Run Scheme, and the Info tab, for the "Launch" setting choose : "Wait for My.app to launch".

Run your app once in the simulator, so that it starts monitoring for location updates, then force quit it, so that it is suspended. Add a break point in your application did finish launching function, and wait. As soon as your simulator has gone far enough, your application will be woken up, your breakpoint hit, and you are in the money.

But really, the train ride is more fun.

Well, I've found that I can do this by toggling on and off Airplane mode and/or WiFi. Perhaps start the app with the device in airplane mode, then close the app and turn airplane mode off. That will turn the GPS on and force a location update to be dispatched.