In iOS 7, we can now add a constraint between a view and the top layout guide, which I think is very useful to solve the status bar offset issue in iOS7(especially when ther
I think the reason they don't show up in the XIB is that there is no knowledge of the view controller hierarchy in that situation, whereas in a story board IB can tell where the guides are from the view controller hierarchy the view is in. I.e If it is contained in a UINavigationController, it can determine that the top layout guide is below the navigation toolbar.