[Boosty]

Signed, I think we need to really get this out there though( "there" being the vast reaches of the internet)

I mean, a couple hundred people saying not to ruin our mods, compared to the now 1 million iphones that have sold....

[riassan]

Signed!!

without third party apps the iphone wouldn't be revolutionary as it is already and beyond coming with more and more to offer out of the iphone then imaginable.

[eg6motion]

signed, I would sell the iphone if it were not for 3rd party apps...its too boring and locked down out of the box.

[Jimbo]

NOT SIGNED

Everyone seems to be missing the point of what was stated. Future releases of firmware will obviously be different from what we have now, bugs will be fixed, features added, etc. It is entirely likely that something, somewhere, will break a 3rd party app. Nobody is saying that this is intentional, just stating the fact that it's likely to happen. Apple cannot be responsible for making sure that all 3rd party apps continue to run as expected, that just isn't reasonable.

I view that news that 3rd party apps, as they are now, are likely to break as GREAT news. That means that Apple still has loads of things they want to do with the iPhone, improving libraries, adding features, etc.

Windows folks, do you expect all apps built for Windows 98 to run under Vista? Mac folks, do you still expect apps build for OS X 10.0 to run under 10.5?

OS versions change all the time, and 3rd party developers release new versions that are compatible, take advantage of new features, etc. That's how things will continue to be with the iPhone.

When the rumored GSM version of the iPhone ships, will the firmware on this be different enough that it will break some apps? Probably. Look down the road a bit further, this version of the iPhone will at some point be replaced by something better, an iPhone 2.0, or whatever. Maybe a new processor, maybe it'll have GPS, allow for Bluetooth input devices, any of a number of things that folks haven't even considered yet. The apps we have now will probably need revision for the new device.

The iPhone has been shipping for under 3 months, folks have barely scratched the surface of what can be done on the iPhone. Take a look at all the apps that still have version numbers that begin with '0.', take a look at the various hacks and tools that are no longer useful because better tools have come along.

Let Apple do its job and perfect the iPhone, the 3rd party folks will do just fine keeping up.

[Criss]

Originally Posted by Jimbo

NOT SIGNED

Everyone seems to be missing the point of what was stated. Future releases of firmware will obviously be different from what we have now, bugs will be fixed, features added, etc. It is entirely likely that something, somewhere, will break a 3rd party app. Nobody is saying that this is intentional, just stating the fact that it's likely to happen. Apple cannot be responsible for making sure that all 3rd party apps continue to run as expected, that just isn't reasonable.

I view that news that 3rd party apps, as they are now, are likely to break as GREAT news. That means that Apple still has loads of things they want to do with the iPhone, improving libraries, adding features, etc.

Windows folks, do you expect all apps built for Windows 98 to run under Vista? Mac folks, do you still expect apps build for OS X 10.0 to run under 10.5?

OS versions change all the time, and 3rd party developers release new versions that are compatible, take advantage of new features, etc. That's how things will continue to be with the iPhone.

When the rumored GSM version of the iPhone ships, will the firmware on this be different enough that it will break some apps? Probably. Look down the road a bit further, this version of the iPhone will at some point be replaced by something better, an iPhone 2.0, or whatever. Maybe a new processor, maybe it'll have GPS, allow for Bluetooth input devices, any of a number of things that folks haven't even considered yet. The apps we have now will probably need revision for the new device.

The iPhone has been shipping for under 3 months, folks have barely scratched the surface of what can be done on the iPhone. Take a look at all the apps that still have version numbers that begin with '0.', take a look at the various hacks and tools that are no longer useful because better tools have come along.

Let Apple do its job and perfect the iPhone, the 3rd party folks will do just fine keeping up.

It's not that we're saying they will intentionally break apps. I think the real point of what Apple was saying is that they will be locking the phone back down so that we are unable to do these custom apps and things we have been doing. So we end up playing the age old game of cat and mouse looking for loopholes to install apps.

**Illegal Disclaimer**
It's kinda like the whole satellite tv piracy thing. They play cat and mouse over locking and unlocking the channels almost on a daily basis, until it gets the point where it's so secure people lose interest and just start paying for it.
**End Illegal Analogy**

So you see this is what we want to avoid. Sure firmware updates will inevitably break apps, but they don't have to lock up every hole we find to make our lives a living hell. What our open letter is getting at is more like a "please don't lock it down tight as a drum and let us still do things" suggestion.

oh, and Signed.

[gnatural]

signed...
GC

[Jacent]

Signed, and telling others.

[akim125]

signed

[billchase2]

signed

[DarkDragonAn]

signed!

[Eyevanovich]

All over that one!!!!!!

[Murfunit]

Signed, but only because I would like to see third party apps developed and promoted.

NOT because I think Apple is out to break the 3rd party apps.

Face it: Third party apps, even the unlocks, sell phones. It would be foolish for them to intentionally look for ways to break them, or even relock the phones.

I think what they're warning us about is that future updates may have to re-lock or otherwise break the apps, in order for the updates to be implemented at all. And in the event that happens then Apple will not take steps to avoid it.

I still would rather have beneficial official updates than a 3rd party app. Shackling the devs by demanding they not break a widget is counterproductive IMO

[Criss]

Originally Posted by Murfunit

Signed, but only because I would like to see third party apps developed and promoted.

NOT because I think Apple is out to break the 3rd party apps.

Face it: Third party apps, even the unlocks, sell phones. It would be foolish for them to intentionally look for ways to break them, or even relock the phones.

I think what they're warning us about is that future updates may have to re-lock or otherwise break the apps, in order for the updates to be implemented at all. And in the event that happens then Apple will not take steps to avoid it.

I still would rather have beneficial official updates than a 3rd party app. Shackling the devs by demanding they not break a widget is counterproductive IMO

I completely agree, but by that same token I don't think they should go out of their way to break apps. (unlocks are a different story since it is in essence breaking their deal with AT&T)

[iAmThePhone]

Signed! I wouldnt even be buying a iPod Touch if I didnt know it was going to be hacked for apps.

And nothing can ever be so secure everyone will forget about hacking it. The PSP hacking scene has been going on for a long time now and sony is always trying to find away to stop homebrew apps from being run on it, but they cant. The hackers keep going.

[netsyd]

Signed.

Web 2.0 isn't ready to support all the data we generate and require to have with us all the time. #rd party apps are the only way to make the iPhone reach the potential that many of us think is has.

I really wish Apple would just support 3rd party development. I don't see why an SDK can't be released and a certification program started to verify that 3rd party apps aren't going to upset the functionality and stability of the device...