iPhone software development to be locked down by Apple?

[djames04]

I think that you would have to be a complete idiot to believe that any company would allow a product of theirs to be 'Open' to anything not approved by themselves first! What better way to do that than to use iTunes as an installer for the iPhone.

Even if all Applications are not free via iTunes, at least iTunes is the installer! Think about it. If we can find a way to Jailbreak this phone, don't you think there will be a way to install free applications through iTunes? I would much rather use iTunes than Installer.app.

And what really makes me upset at every obliterating idiot that expected Apple to make 3rd Party Apps 'open' is this letter from Steve Jobs himself; Posted October 17, 2007:
http://developer.apple.com/iphone/de...party_apps.php

PS. Whoever stated Nokia allowing anything on their device, make sure you read the first line on the third paragraph.

PSS. I also think it is funny when people believe all these 'Inside Sources'. With a company as secretive as Apple, people lose their jobs over this kind of information. I don't believe half of the rumor RSS feeds.

PSSS. Switch07 makes a valid point. The iPhone is revolutionary, keeping the phone as tightly woven as possible prevents unwanted problems. How about the iPhone knock-off in Japan or wherever that is. Would that have been possible if the phone wasn't capable of being Jailbroken?

[Switch07]

Apple never learns. They never open their stuff and they are terrible at partnering. As much as I love Apple this is why they lost to Microsoft for so many years. I can buy a Windows Mobile phone and put whatever I want on it FOR FREE, because I BOUGHT THE PHONE AND OWN IT. Apple is delusional to tell people what to do with a device THEY paid for. If you want to deny them warranty thats fine, but don't not let them put what they wish on their phone just because you have an ego complex, Steve.

Then buy a windows mobile phone! No one is forcing you to stay with the iphone. But the windows mobile platform is terrible. I used it for two years before I bought my phone. I would take a locked down iphone over almost any windows mobile device (minus maybe the n95 for other reasons) any day of the week. You are just proving my previous point even more. You don't buy the iphone for the openness of it right now, its not ready for that. It was made pretty damn clear when we bought our phones. Even installer.app has its fair share of crap/buggy programs, and this is when it is still a small base of developers working on programs. These apps would multiply tenfold if it were open to everyone.

The problem is not that "apple never learns." I would much rather be PATIENT and let apple do it the right way, than go with the microsoft way of 'rush and release it now, fix it later, then fix it again, then dump it for a new platform'. (and no, i'm not an apple fanboy. I've run PC's all my life and have been running both platforms equally for the past year and a half)

[heath_rox]

who cares i cant think of an app that some one would make that apple wouldn't approve apart from a emulator and a unlock

[jay2712]

I guess I am right in assuming that because software will only be released on iTunes then for us living in countries outside where the iPhone is officially released will not be able to access this software via iTunes ... that is unless we can somehow obtain a U.S. iTunes account.

how exactly DO you obtain an iTunes acc if u live outsied the US?
(sorry, out of context to forum...but cudnt stand it)

Hi ppl,
what you've got to understand that this is the FIRST EVER VENTURE of Apple into the mobile phone industry. Everything is a gamble...didnt they cut the price by $200? Didint they halt the 4GB model? Did they not introduce a GPS like function however limited it is? And what about the Double-click the Home button thing? and the upgrades in 1.1.3? and.....

believe me ppl, Apple is already onto something incredible. There has never been a better OS in any other phone than in iPhone. Its marvelous!!

So trust me, no one is going to regret buying an iPhone ever. Be patient as everything will soon clear up...

Oh BTW, after a long time, Mac OSX runs windows. what if, you know somehow....!!!

[FoneWeasel]

Apple will also be taking a nice cut of all apps released through iTunes.

[MattMac]

Anyone thinking that SDK will deliver 3rd party apps when its released, or ever for that matter, would have to be pretty ignorant. They charge you for pretty much anything that's not stock standard... With the iPod Video games, music, videos, and even charging iPod Touch customers for their 1.1.3 update... Apple are too tight with money and security. Jailbreaking will always be the optimal method for 3rd party apps.

Matt.

[iphonejeff]

I wonder if they put a price on it or if you could put a price...

[Cokeman]

I just got the iPhone & I knew it wasn't open to 3rd party apps (unless jailbroken). The phone fits my needs all in 1 device, beautiful screen, can call, send sms, connect to net with wifi, & listen to music for 10hrs a day. Check weather, mail, I use my phone as a phone very little. But.

This is why I have avoided apple products for so long. I could careless if they release the apps through iTunes or download from apple strait to the phone however they want you to get them.
The issue is all the limits they put on what you can & can't do with the sdk.
Someone said earlier "I can't think of an app that Apple wouldn't approve of" I can the first that comes to mind is a web browser. You know good & well Apple will not allow a mobile version of IE or FF to be put on the iPhone. I personally would add FF to it in a minute if it had Flash support, etc...

[ps2gamer02]

so basically we make apps and apple sells them through itunes an makes money? wtf?? do they at least pay the developer?

[saifeeab]

actually switch07 i guess u r wrong here. i have many friends using windows mobile and r quite happy with it. actually most of them wonder at my choice of buying an iphone which actually has so many limitations. the only reason i prefer the iphone over others is bcos of its really sleek and sexy look and its touch interface. nothing else.

i have never been a fan of apple products (and so far never thought of owning one) bcos of their strict & tight regulations. its like even though u have purchased the iphone with ur money u still owe steve for using his "masterpiece"!!

the nokia s60 has 1000 of apps and i agree with switch07 that many of them r crappy. but so what? atleast i have the option of installing them or not and based on community reviews can judge for myself their worth. i dont have someone monitoring through a software my every move and intention of a product that is legally mine.

Then buy a windows mobile phone! No one is forcing you to stay with the iphone. But the windows mobile platform is terrible. I used it for two years before I bought my phone. I would take a locked down iphone over almost any windows mobile device (minus maybe the n95 for other reasons) any day of the week. You are just proving my previous point even more. You don't buy the iphone for the openness of it right now, its not ready for that. It was made pretty damn clear when we bought our phones. Even installer.app has its fair share of crap/buggy programs, and this is when it is still a small base of developers working on programs. These apps would multiply tenfold if it were open to everyone.

The problem is not that "apple never learns." I would much rather be PATIENT and let apple do it the right way, than go with the microsoft way of 'rush and release it now, fix it later, then fix it again, then dump it for a new platform'. (and no, i'm not an apple fanboy. I've run PC's all my life and have been running both platforms equally for the past year and a half)

[Switch07]

actually switch07 i guess u r wrong here. i have many friends using windows mobile and r quite happy with it. actually most of them wonder at my choice of buying an iphone which actually has so many limitations. the only reason i prefer the iphone over others is bcos of its really sleek and sexy look and its touch interface. nothing else.

Look, I used windows mobile for 2 years, and without a doubt I would still be using it if the iphone hadn't come along. All of this is a matter of opinion, so no one is right or wrong here. But my opinion is that it is to difficult of a mobile OS to use. I don't mean I couldn't do stuff on it, I mean doing things on it was annoying and unnecessarily difficult. FOR THE AVERAGE CONSUMER, the iPhone blows windows mobile out of the water in every way. I have had 3 different people that I know, buy a WM phone then return it for something different because they hated how it operated.

i have never been a fan of apple products (and so far never thought of owning one) bcos of their strict & tight regulations. its like even though u have purchased the iphone with ur money u still owe steve for using his "masterpiece"!!

the nokia s60 has 1000 of apps and i agree with switch07 that many of them r crappy. but so what? atleast i have the option of installing them or not and based on community reviews can judge for myself their worth. i dont have someone monitoring through a software my every move and intention of a product that is legally mine.

You are only thinking about yourself and other members of our community when you say something like this. But what i'm saying, is that before everyone jumps on apple's back about this, they need to look at it from their point of view too. When apple releases this SDK, they need it to appeal to everyone that buys an iPhone. Of course you and I know how to sort through and find the crap applications, But consumers that are less tech savy don't and won't (don't believe me? go look at anyones computer that is not, and go look through all the crap they have downloaded, the spyware they've aquired, all of that). What happens then? All of these people will start blaming apple for having an unstable phone. The reputation of the iphone will bomb, sales will drop off etc. This is why apple is doing everything they can to make this right.

As for the "paying steve for his masterpiece" BS. Why doesn't anyone understand, apple is a BUSINESS. They are making money. That is what they are supposed to be doing. Is a business making money such a sin? They're business model is obviously working (you gave in and bought an iphone didn't you?). If you hadn't bought a phone and refused to because of their business model, that statement might have held some validity. But you did, so all you have to be mad at is yourself.

[freefone]

disappointing? yes. surprising? no. overall, though, i don't think apple is as draconian as most think given that they let the community relatively peacefully co-exist. imagine, gates and balmer were in the driver's seat or the cooks from the RIAA ... we'd be sued for the ages! regardless, the customization business seems alive and well for some time to come, the donate buttons continue to remain red hot, and apple gets to siphon their toll from the otherwise uninspired and hapless telcos. without apple, we'd still be carrying three + devices fumbling furiously when yet another call is dropped. not perfect but certainly an improvement over where we were a year ago. moreover, the app's available are not only a step up but a quantum leap. i actually got a computer with phone capabilities now with continued improvement not requiring a new phone. nokia still can't provide a decent symbian upgrade without a new device. life is good with an iphone.

[Cokeman]

disappointing? yes. surprising? no. overall, though, i don't think apple is as draconian as most think given that they let the community relatively peacefully co-exist. imagine, gates and balmer were in the driver's seat or the cooks from the RIAA ... we'd be sued for the ages! regardless, the customization business seems alive and well for some time to come, the donate buttons continue to remain red hot, and apple gets to siphon their toll from the otherwise uninspired and hapless telcos. without apple, we'd still be carrying three + devices fumbling furiously when yet another call is dropped. not perfect but certainly an improvement over where we were a year ago. moreover, the app's available are not only a step up but a quantum leap. i actually got a computer with phone capabilities now with continued improvement not requiring a new phone. nokia still can't provide a decent symbian upgrade without a new device. life is good with an iphone.

Wait I've never seen Microsoft threaten to sue someone for making a windows theme for a cell phone. Now Apple did threaten to sue. Made people pull them from the site. People can argue that the graphics belong to Apple but then Apple would have to sue millions for the use of the osX graphics that are used for Windows & Linux themes.

Now I like my iPhone, it's not the phone to end all phones thats for sure, but it fits my needs for the time being. But it's by no means a computer. It's a stripped version of osX. I've been able to make calls on my computer for years but there is no way I would buy a 400.00 computer that wouldn't let me install anything on it. Or no ability to copy/paste. could only use internet with 1 company (dial-up at that).

I do agree with the last statement about Nokia. This is 1 thing Apple has done that I hope the other manufacturers will follow suit. Thanks Apple for firmware upgrades & adding features.

[playful_cyanide]

Think about the SDK from a modder's point of view. When we see how the SDK is setup, what encryption's it uses, etc; we will be able to not only have a jailbroken phone/ipod, but we, the Dev team, will be able to mod the SDK into letting apps go past the iTunes process, or even create other ways of letting dev's get rewarded (apps sold through other sites, not iTunes) Although this will completely flush out the whole point of the "secure SDK" (no malicious code, etc It will unlock much more than Apple intended for us to use.

Let the "computer illiterate" (*cough [newbs] *cough) use iTunes for the apps that we already have through Installer.app. They can go the easy but expensive way, while we can go our way and not pay a cent (except the $400 for our iPhones of course. ) and revolutionize the SDK as much as we were hoping it to be in the beginning.

-Artur

[GenghisPhlip]

Who really cares what they do at Apple as long as the very talented developers keep working to defeat their security.