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Jobs: Third Party iPhones Apps in February

Wednesday, October 17th, 2007 at 11:55 AM - by

iPhone and iPod touch users have been clamoring for third party applications, and on Wednesday, Apple CEO Steve Jobs finally committed. Mr. Jobs stated in an open letter on the Apple Web site that his company is in fact working on a software developer kit, or SDK, and that it will be available in February.

Mr. Jobs stated in the letter "It will take until February to release an SDK because we're trying to do two diametrically opposed things at once -- provide an advanced and open platform to developers while at the same time protect iPhone users from viruses, malware, privacy attacks, etc. This is no easy task."

Although developers and users would undoubtedly prefer to have an iPhone SDK and applications available now, the February commitment is still good news. Apple's official endorsement for third party applications means that once the SDK is available, users won't have to worry about voiding their iPhone or iPod touch warranty, or potentially ruining their handheld with a software update.

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A guest said: (hide)

Wed Oct 17, 2007 12:53 pm

When I first saw this headline, my reaction was a clear, out loud "It's about freaking time, Steve!". The hard line was starting to make Apple look silly -- although now it appears the "blocks" that many erstwhile iPhone app developers have been struggling with may actually be the the beginnings of that malware protection.

Or it could just be that Steve and/or ATT threw in the towel when they saw how hopeless it was to fight almost pathologically determined iPhone hacker. Either way -- we win!

'Nuff said.

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Small White Car said:

member since 02 Jul 2004 with 1960 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

Wed Oct 17, 2007 1:19 pm

Anonymous wrote:
Or it could just be that Steve and/or ATT threw in the towel when they saw how hopeless it was to fight almost pathologically determined iPhone hacker. Either way -- we win!

Or it could be the obvious answer, they don't have enough time to do everything.

Leopard was delayed months so that they could finish the iPhone. Clearly, in that situation, you're going to drop some features from the iPhone to save time just so you can get it out on time.

Now that Leopard is done they can shift more resources back to the iPhone apps project, which was put on the shelf back in the spring.

The fact that the new Mac OS was delayed until October is all the proof you need to see that they can't do everything they want as quickly as they want. Obviously some things have to be put off. iPhone apps is clearly one of those things.

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Terrin said:

member since 29 Jan 2006 with 414 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

Wed Oct 17, 2007 1:34 pm

Bingo, you win. People forget that Apple has limited resources. Moreover, it is a secretivie company in terms of exposing its long term plans. The iPhone has been out for less then six months and obviously was rushed to market. In addition, Apple has been working on Leopard most likely at a hectic pace in order to meet its deadline. When Leopard is shipped, Apple will likely shift its focus back to the iPhone.

Apple has always hinted at it allowing improved support for third party applications. Such things take time.

Small White Car wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Or it could just be that Steve and/or ATT threw in the towel when they saw how hopeless it was to fight almost pathologically determined iPhone hacker. Either way -- we win!

Or it could be the obvious answer, they don't have enough time to do everything.

Leopard was delayed months so that they could finish the iPhone. Clearly, in that situation, you're going to drop some features from the iPhone to save time just so you can get it out on time.

Now that Leopard is done they can shift more resources back to the iPhone apps project, which was put on the shelf back in the spring.

The fact that the new Mac OS was delayed until October is all the proof you need to see that they can't do everything they want as quickly as they want. Obviously some things have to be put off. iPhone apps is clearly one of those things.

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Black_Dog said:

member since 18 Apr 2007 with 21 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

Wed Oct 17, 2007 3:31 pm

Correct me if I am wrong, but why is this such big news? Hasn’t Apple always maintained that they would allow third party apps for the iPhone but that developers would have to work with/through Apple so that system integrity is maintained? From what I understand, they aren’t opening the system to every Tom, Dick, and Harry hacker. To me, Apple is doing exactly what they said they would do.

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Sir Harry Flashman said:

member since 08 Feb 2007 with 792 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

Wed Oct 17, 2007 3:57 pm

Black_Dog wrote:
Correct me if I am wrong, but why is this such big news? Hasn’t Apple always maintained that they would allow third party apps for the iPhone but that developers would have to work with/through Apple so that system integrity is maintained? From what I understand, they aren’t opening the system to every Tom, Dick, and Harry hacker. To me, Apple is doing exactly what they said they would do.

It is news because of all the FUD, whines, and misunderstandings about the great brick attack of 2007. A number of talking heads on TV news are reporting on allowing 3rd party apps on the iPhone. The still get wrong, some reporters are saying that Apple will be releasing 3rd party apps.

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Bosco said:

member since 03 Jun 2002 with 1002 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

Wed Oct 17, 2007 4:50 pm

I hope the developers who opened up the iPhone file a class action lawsuit against Apple. They did all the work to make the iPhone an open platform and now Apple is undercutting them. This is consistent with Apple's long history of screwing its loyal developers. Developers who often work without sanction, APIs, or complete documentation. On the day when the Dhali Lama won the Gold Medal in Congressional Speaking, this is just a disappointing move by Apple.

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A guest said: (hide)

Wed Oct 17, 2007 5:19 pm

Bosco wrote:
I hope the developers who opened up the iPhone file a class action lawsuit against Apple. They did all the work to make the iPhone an open platform and now Apple is undercutting them. This is consistent with Apple's long history of screwing its loyal developers. Developers who often work without sanction, APIs, or complete documentation. On the day when the Dhali Lama won the Gold Medal in Congressional Speaking, this is just a disappointing move by Apple.

This is Apple's device, and therefore Apples rules have to be followed whether we like it or not. If I invite you over to my house, you are most welcome to hang out, play, do whatever you'd like-within the boundaries I've laid down; but I promise you, if you were to say, pee on the floor, I'd kick your butt out faster than you could say 'without sanction.' I must say though, I have to agree with you on the shoddy treatment from Apple front-I used to work for an Authorized Service Provider, and working with Apple was trying, to say the least.

No one will ever be one hundred percent satisfied with one piece of technology. I actually think this is a good, good thing.

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gslusher said:

member since 13 Nov 2002 with 2088 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

Wed Oct 17, 2007 5:52 pm

Guest wrote:
Bosco wrote:
I hope the developers who opened up the iPhone file a class action lawsuit against Apple. They did all the work to make the iPhone an open platform and now Apple is undercutting them. This is consistent with Apple's long history of screwing its loyal developers. Developers who often work without sanction, APIs, or complete documentation. On the day when the Dhali Lama won the Gold Medal in Congressional Speaking, this is just a disappointing move by Apple.

This is Apple's device, and therefore Apples rules have to be followed whether we like it or not. If I invite you over to my house, you are most welcome to hang out, play, do whatever you'd like-within the boundaries I've laid down; but I promise you, if you were to say, pee on the floor, I'd kick your butt out faster than you could say 'without sanction.' I must say though, I have to agree with you on the shoddy treatment from Apple front-I used to work for an Authorized Service Provider, and working with Apple was trying, to say the least.

No one will ever be one hundred percent satisfied with one piece of technology. I actually think this is a good, good thing.

Good one, Bosco--you caught yet another Guest. No wonder he/she/it doesn't register and log in--it might be too embarrassing.

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