iPhone SDK already seeding to select devs?

It's not anything more than a rumor right now, but reports are floating around claiming that "select developers" are already receiving prerelease versions of the upcoming iPhone SDK. The kit is said to already be producing native apps, and development is being compared to other sandboxed APIs like Google's OpenSocial -- apps have "clear limits" on what they can do, and interactions with the OS are mediated, presumably to avoid any security or performance issues. That jives with what Steve-O said about managing access, but again -- this is all just a steamy cloud of vaporous nothing till that first app shows up in iTunes.

[Via Mac Rumors]

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 27th 2007 3:46AM]

Ok,

Im an iPhont 3rd party developer (using the unofficial jailbreak method.)

Here is the deal

The framework access we have now with the hacked iPhone is 100% access to the phones resources. Apple is probably going to release the SDK in a sand box to avoid low level hacks and protect the users from unwanted access.

Think of it of a protected level of execution that will only provide limited access to the Phone and its OS.

This is the only logical way apple cant don this right now.

my 2 cents

[JayMonster Posted Nov 27th 2007 9:17PM]

All I want to know is why anybody cares?

Until the iPhone hardware v. 2.0 is released with 3G speed and a phone that is actually good AS A PHONE... it is nothing but an expensive novelty.

Sure the screen look cool! But it is an awful PHONE (something that even most reviewers eventually add... somewhere at the end of the review after raging on and on about appearances). Its call quality is pedestrian to outright poor.

I find it hard to believe that I am the only person that thinks the most important part of a mobile phone is that it makes good quality calls. Without that ability, once the tech toy people have this phone it will go nowhere fast. The SDK will just provide some toys for those that already have the phone and provide an additional revenue stream for Apple until they can make a phone that actually works... as a phone.

And make no mistake about it, some (OK lots) of Windows Mobile phones suffer the same problem. However, there is more than one option in this arena, so while not a "great ad" for Microsoft directly, it does show the flexibility of the platform. Something Apple has never (on any platform) shown an interest in.

[feralchimp Posted Nov 27th 2007 4:38PM]

Thanks to the two commenters who actually said something relevant to the post. My questions:

1. Who is getting an early-access version?
2. Why doesn't my employer's premier ADC membership entitle us to try it out?

I understand the logic behind a beta release, but I don't see why the largest, most experienced shops should get yet another competitive advantage.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 27th 2008 5:13PM]

Because when it finally comes out they want grade A++ examples of software being developed for it. Everyone does this. When a new product comes out, and accessories are needed at release time, they will ALWAYS go for the biggest and most reputable with design specs because they want the best to showcase. Going to small "mom and pop" groups for development will usually never yield in as high a quality of product as going after the bigger guys. It is no different with this SDK. Go for the bigger guys first, get the best and highest quality examples of software from big names, and have a bigger and better marketing position. Its the way to go.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 27th 2007 9:09PM]

Point taken... While Cupertino is pitching this as something that all developers (even small, relatively obscure shops) will have access to the SDK, the bottom line is they're really routing it through developers they have a better 'comfort level' with.

While it is a bit duplicitous, I honestly would do it the same way if I was calling the shots. This is a big break from AAPL's norm and there is alot riding on it (along with an almost paranoia about possibly sacrificing market differentiation and ending up with a marginalized product).

In my mind, it's a forced issue whose time has come.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 28th 2007 3:27PM]

If direct hardware access or OS-X call is not allowed, please just implement Java + some iPhone class libraries, Apple.

[iRonin Posted Dec 5th 2007 3:31PM]

Does this support HMLT tags?

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 17th 2008 6:11PM]

Hey ? Weren't we talking about Notes on the iPhone, (a Mac product)? How did this become an IBM vs MS discussion.. LOL.

I notice that all the Notes-bashers (aka Trolls) who "hate notes" get responses that are technical solutions to specific experiences, (like you are still using the old version, or are demonstrating their gross ignorance about the technology). But when good'ol outlook/Exchange is critiqued/criticised there's nothing but static, no solution, no follow up response, so there seems to be more weight in the criticisms of Exchange than Notes.

Now children play nice