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Apple to exercise tight controls on iPhone SDK?

updated 10:15 am EST, Fri February 29, 2008

Tight iPhone SDK control

Apple will announce tight regulation of iPhone applications at its March 6th SDK event, say several anonymous sources. Although the SDK has been hotly anticipated as a means of turning iPhones into handheld computers, Apple will for various reasons restrict how iPhone software operates and is distributed. Users will for instance have to acquire applications through the iTunes Store, instead of through independent websites, where it may sometimes be more convenient.

According to the iLounge report, Apple will also, allegedly, have absolute approval over whether software can be distributed in the first place. Unlike podcasts, which are generally just listed in iTunes, Apple is said to be interested in exercising quality control over iPhone software, restricting it in the same way that the company manages iPod games. This may possibly favor major developers over independents, and create complications in terms of releasing bug fixes and upgrades.

Developers may also be prevented from interfacing with any accessories attached to the Dock Connector, thus preventing the addition of special devices like external keyboards. Programmers should however have access to all of the onboard hardware, enabling more creative uses of Wi-Fi, the dialer and the camera.

The sources say that what developers will receive on March 6th is a beta SDK, only anticipating the full version, which would be shipped during Apple's WWDC event in June. In the meantime however Apple is expected to announce some sort of support for enterprise e-mail, including Microsoft Exchange and Lotus Notes. This view is echoed by Shaw Wu of American Technology Research.

 
Previous Comments

good

02/29, 10:35am reply

While developers may not like this, it really does create a good quality control for iPhone apps.

eldarkus

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Feb 2004

0

one problem

02/29, 10:44am reply

...like with anything else these days - the SDK will end up on the internet and we will still get thrid party independents developing Apps as tthey are already doing_ The only difference is now they will have a usable SDK and won't have to completely hack the Phone every time they build something_

Either way you look at it - it's advantage:consumer

Apple's only hope of containing this is to use a model similar to what Verizon has been doing for years_

UberFu

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Oct 2002

0

Ahh..

02/29, 10:47am reply

It also means Jailbreaking utilities are going to be around for quite some time yet then. As Apples pre-selected software isn't going to suit everyone. iTunes distribution also suggests the apps may not be free. As next to nothing on iTunes ever is these days.

Grrr

Grizzled Veteran

Joined: Jun 2001

0

free iTunes content

02/29, 10:51am reply

Have you heard of podcast? These Audio and Video programs can be downloaded on FOR FREE on iTunes.

dliup

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Joined: Jan 2006

0

bluetooth

02/29, 10:51am reply

As long as I get access to Bluetooth via IOKit, I'll be happy. Want to port my telescope controller over to the iPhone.

Glasspusher

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Joined: Oct 2000

0

Dog Gone It

02/29, 10:59am reply

There goes my brain for plugging into my model airplanes and kinetic energy kill vehicles.

Guest

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Nov 1999

0

dliup

02/29, 10:59am reply

dliup: Podcasts.. Whoopteedoo.. Largely made by nobodies that don't have a bloody clue what they are doing. So succeed only in curing insomnia for many people. And even the few good podcasts out there don't compare to the process of making a good software application.

Don't get me wrong, I'd like to see a good selection of free apps. I just fear Apples relative greed recently will dictate that they will milk the whole SDK thing for all they can get.

Grrr

Grizzled Veteran

Joined: Jun 2001

0

tight control

02/29, 11:00am reply

I hope Apple will allow free software on iTunes.

ViktorCode

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Joined: Jan 2006

0

Same here

02/29, 11:01am reply

Where is my brain. I have the propulsion unit.

starwarrior

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Mar 2006

0

b*******!

02/29, 11:39am reply

Well, I guess I'll have to keep jailbreaking my iPhone and using Installer.app. How lame is it that we have to use a computer to install new apps rather than download and install them directly on the iPhone? What gives Apple the right to tell me which apps I can and can't run? s**** all that noise!

WiseWeasel

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Apr 1999

0

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