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Apple launches official iPhone, iPod touch Web apps directory

Apple on Thursday afternoon launched as part of its website an official directory of iPhone and iPod touch Web applications, reinforcing its stance that third-party developers should focus their developmental efforts on Web 2.0 applications that function only under the embedded version of its Safari browser.

The move, anticipated by AppleInsider earlier this week, underscores the Cupertino-based firm's commitment to maintaining the security and integrity of its mobile Mac OS X platform by disallowing native application development by anyone other than itself.

The new applications directory, fashioned after the company's official Dashboard widget list, includes over 200 third-party Web-based applications optimized for either the iPhone or iPod touch — which share a similar hardware makeup.

The Apple directory breaks applications down into categories such as Games, News, Sports and Weather. Each application listing provides a short description of that application's function, the name of its developer, associated web addresses, and the date the application was approved and posted to the official company list.

Apple encourages developers to submit their Web applications to the directory and provide feedback on the current concept. The company also provides a guide explaining how developers can get started writing Web applications for the iPhone and iPod touch.



36 Comments

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fiyero 17 Years · 12 comments

im glad they have this directory now!

But i noticed some of the links dont work or link to the wrong page\

the graphing calculator one in particular

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wingrove 17 Years · 5 comments

so with my iPod touch i can only check my "to do" list if i have wifi access? what about all the other time, doesnt apple get it that NO ONE wants web apps, theyre slow and you can only run them if your on the net, aaargh apple listen to your customers, unless youve got something else planned stop blocking others from doing it right!

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mactel 18 Years · 1275 comments

Quote:
Originally Posted by wingrove

so with my iPod touch i can only check my "to do" list if i have wifi access? what about all the other time, doesnt apple get it that NO ONE wants web apps, theyre slow and you can only run them if your on the net, aaargh apple listen to your customers, unless youve got something else planned stop blocking others from doing it right!

Yeah, no doubt. Let the user decide if they want Web 2.0 apps or native apps. We want a free market for the iPhone.

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josephwinters 17 Years · 109 comments

its nice knowing whats available. I'm all for this.

i was looking around and noticed an app called jkPassword.... SEEMS SPOOKY to me. hehe... Is apple ensuring that the web apps are safe? I guess thats all up to the end users discretion.