Kasper JadeApple Inc. won't oppose developers attempting to write new and intuitive applications for its iPhone handset, but also won't jump through hoops to make sure those programs remain functional with each successive iPhone Software Update, a company executive said this week.
On the other hand, Joswiak said Apple won't have much sympathy should one of its own upcoming software updates accidentally break some of the unofficial apps. Unlike development for the Mac, he explained, Apple is less experienced writing code for a mobile platform in this regard.
The Apple exec also left the door open to a further change to its policy on third-party iPhone development, explaining that the company is always re-examining its perspective on such risky matters.
In the meantime, Apple's neutral stance is good news for the few dozen native iPhone applications already in existence, and the countless others that are sure to crop up following Joswiak's comments. It may also boost interest in the company's upcoming iPod touch player, which — as Joswiak also confirmed — runs the same Mac OS X-based software platform (and the same hardware) as the iPhone. Therefore, most applications written for the iPhone should also function the same way on the new iPod.
In speaking to PC Magazine, Joswiak also dispelled rumors that Bluetooth functionality was yanked from the iPod touch at the last minute. Any images on the internet that may have implied as such were errors, he said. Similarly, he added, there are no immediate plans to bring games to the iPod touch.
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53 Comments
I wish they would make games a top priority. It would be a good market for them to jump in on.
i wouldnt mind playing a few cool games on my iphone.
i have iBlackjack, LightsOff (from delicious monster) and FiveDice on my iPhone. All are pretty decent games, but I really want a touch version of Texas Hold'em. ---and not just on the iPhone, but Apple TV.
however, over Edge, Scenario Poker works amazingly well (better on wi-fi, of course), once it loads. try it out:
http://iphone.scenario.com/
Ok, this article is good news. It's what developers need to hear.
Even though no promises have been made toward the future, right now, there seems to be a blanket approval for the unofficial SDK and installer that's out.
Of course, there could be a problem if third party tools permit things that are banned, such as these ringer utilities are reported to do.
If Apple finds that they must prevent them from functioning, and the only way they can do so it to shut down the entire development process, they may decide to do so.
We can only hope that is not the case.
There is still the possibility that Apple itself is planning its own software for development. With Jobs's remarks earlier this year, I still have hope for that by MacWorld.
Apple is insane to not provide the SDK for the iPhone. Oh, well... just another roadblock Apple has set up to slow adoption of their latest and greatest.
Apple is insane to not provide the SDK for the iPhone. Oh, well... just another roadblock Apple has set up to slow adoption of their latest and greatest.
My thoughts are about the same.
I've thought that as long as it were possible to write an independent SDK and installer, someone would do it, and they have.
This is all fine, and in the long run, may work out well.
But, the problem is that by allowing the possibility for this, Apple has destroyed their own argument for why THEY don't provide one. If it is destabilizing, and dangerous for the network as well (I'n not saying I buy into that, but it is Jobs's argument), why would Apple allow it at all? It makes no sense.
If, as I believe, Apple will be coming out with their own software for this, why not just come out and say so directly, instead of hinting?
The problem here for Apple is that if they do come out with an SDK and installer, the Genie may already be out of the bottle, and Apple may have lost control of the process, esp. if their own software doesn't allow things that the independent versions do. That likely would not have happened if Apple were there first, as the incentive to anything else would have been significantly lessened.
If Apple hopes to derail this independence, they had better not wait too long.
But, after saying that, I believe that the bigger developers will be very wary of using something that is not officially endorsed by Apple, and that might be blocked in the future.
So, while this is pretty good, it's not perfect.