WebApps library launched for Apple's iPhone / iPod touch

Folks hoping that Apple would be so kind as to allow developers to craft their own 3rd party applications and have Cupertino accept 'em with open arms can now commence sulking, as a new WebApps directory unveiled today by Apple is nothing more than a dressed up version of Apple's bookmark list. Essentially, Apple has neatly brought together a selection of company-approved apps (listed here) that should function fine in Safari, but alas, there's absolutely no new functionality. So although iPod touch / iPhone users now have a central hub to go to for links to web applets, Apple is still leaving us high and dry when it comes to native 3rd party application support outside of its browser.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 16th 2007 5:27AM]

"Legally"?? Hah!

So the Awesome and Insanely Great One now also writes the law does he? Judge, Jury and Executioner comes to mind:

"Having found you guilty of installing 3rd party software on your own property I sentence your iPod to be updated by the cable until it is very seriously bricked."

Dancey

[tongueincheek Posted Oct 12th 2007 12:19AM]

LOL

If Apple opened up the iPhone and iPod and did everything everyone here is saying, you just know that 90% of you people would still find something else to bitch at. Maybe you'd want a Start menu or something!

It's funny, most people who actually have an iPhone just get on and enjoy it.

Keep smiling

Waddo

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 13th 2007 12:16AM]

repeating what others may already have said about the touch - touchscreen mp4 player anyone? wheres those keepin it real fake guys? as for the touchscreen world phone - come on nokia!

THE JUDAS TWINS are mocking you again - if only LG didn't have a reputation that preceded it - the LG Prada and LG Shine would be the JESUS TWINS

[jbond Posted Oct 12th 2007 5:10AM]

A significant number of these are no more than websites with an alternate user interface optimized for a small screen. So where is the beef? Is that it?

Nothing to see here, move along.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 12th 2007 7:00AM]

For now, I'll settle with a N800.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 13th 2007 8:31PM]

I hope they come out with some good ones.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 13th 2007 11:18PM]

I'm not really put out not having native apps for the iPhone, since A) I'm currently locked in to Verizon without an iPhone yet, and B) I own real computer for real apps.

I think Apple's strategy of only web apps is understandable, at least for the time being while they establish themselves in this market.

I do think the Apple webapps page lacks some flare, especially on the iPhone.

There are already several similar compendiums, e.g., iPhone Application List; and many more that allow you to catalog your favorite sites, e.g. AppMarks.

I run a site that just links to 11 of the best phone apps, http://www.bestphoneapps.com/

I also run a site with more than a dozen useful searches that aims to be the best phone page, http://www.bestphonepage.com/

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 14th 2007 2:42PM]

problem is, without off line apps, you can't access anything when you have no signal, rendering the apps useless