iPhone SDK kit available February 2008

Let the developers and owners rejoice!
Our requests have been heard in loft Cupertino.
Third party software is on the way probably using digital signatures the way Nokia/Symbian permits software to be distributed and installed.

Newton fans, we may finally get to use an Apple PDA again. SV

Steve Jobs's letter:

Third Party Applications on the iPhone
Let me just say it: We want native third party applications on the iPhone, and we plan to have an SDK in developers’ hands in February. We are excited about creating a vibrant third party developer community around the iPhone and enabling hundreds of new applications for our users. With our revolutionary multi-touch interface, powerful hardware and advanced software architecture, we believe we have created the best mobile platform ever for developers.

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. Some claim that viruses and malware are not a problem on mobile phones—this is simply not true. There have been serious viruses on other mobile phones already, including some that silently spread from phone to phone over the cell network. As our phones become more powerful, these malicious programs will become more dangerous. And since the iPhone is the most advanced phone ever, it will be a highly visible target.

Some companies are already taking action. Nokia, for example, is not allowing any applications to be loaded onto some of their newest phones unless they have a digital signature that can be traced back to a known developer. While this makes such a phone less than “totally open,” we believe it is a step in the right direction. We are working on an advanced system which will offer developers broad access to natively program the iPhone’s amazing software platform while at the same time protecting users from malicious programs.

We think a few months of patience now will be rewarded by many years of great third party applications running on safe and reliable iPhones.

Steve

P.S.: The SDK will also allow developers to create applications for iPod touch. [Oct 17, 2007]

Apple

Symbian

Written by Salvatore Volpe MD FAAP FACP CHCQM on October 17th, 2007 with no comments.
Read more articles on 3rd party application and PDA and SDK and Symbian and nokia.

Apple Says Unlocked iPhones In France Not Certain

Earlier this week it was reported that Apple would most likely be selling unlocked iPhones in France due to a French law stating that all locked cell phones have to be sold as an unlocked version as well. Well, Apple has stated that this was technically speculation based on the written law in France, and not statements made by Apple or Orange.

read more

Written by Edward Kirk on October 17th, 2007 with no comments.
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iPhone SDK: Could Motion Controls Make the iPhone a Mini Wii?

In addition to VOIP, the iPhone SDK may give programmers access to the iPhone’s motion sensors, which may result in all kinds of interesting motion-activated controls.

For example, hacker Erling Ellingsen has already built three homemade iPhone applications that are controlled by tilting, rotating or shaking the iPhone.

Ellingsen’s three demo apps are a virtual Steve Jobs bobble-head that bobs its head when the phone is shaken; a maze that is navigated by tipping and turning the phone; and a virtual box of balls that roll and bounce as he rotates the phone.

In the real world, there might kinds of interesting possibilities for game developers — think handheld portable Wii.

See Ellingsen’s impressive video:

Written by Leander Kahney on October 17th, 2007 with no comments.
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iPhone SDK: VOIP Coming To iPhone

Thanks to Apple’s just-announced iPhone software developers kit, VOIP will likely be coming to the iPhone, according to Alex Schaefer lead programmer of Apollo, a web-based iPhone instant messaging application.

“VoIP is next, and I’m preparing to start a new project working exclusively on that,” he tells Wired News’ software blog.

Schaefer is just one of many Mac developers itching to develop for the iPhone. There’s more reaction from developers in this other Wired News story: Developers on iPhone SDK: OMG! ABFT!

Written by Leander Kahney on October 17th, 2007 with no comments.
Read more articles on Apple and Hardware and Hardware Hacks and iPhone.

Is iPhone Opening its Doors to Third-Party Applications?

Apple will invite third-party developers next February to build actual iPhone applications aside from the limiting web-based ones that are currently supported.

Apple has jumped back and forth from its position on third-party apps since May, when it said it was “wrestling with the idea” of allowing them. In June, the company teased developers by authorizing only web-based applications, which meant any software not made by Apple had to run on the Safari browser, instead of on the iPhone platform itself.

(more…)

Written by Chris on October 17th, 2007 with no comments.
Read more articles on iPhone Software.

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