OS X Code (r,s)

Posted on Wednesday 10 January 2007 - Popularity: 4%

If you ask me, the iPhone shown yesterday is easely the most exciting product of the past decade, if not longer. The iPhone really is something you would expect in a Sci-Fi movie and not in the present reality. There’s no doubt, this product will sell, even at the current price tag.

However, there’s one thing developers like us are missing, tools and API documentations. Nothing is as exiting to a developer as a new product with exciting new features to explore. I’m pretty sure most of us would love to think about applications and widgets made especially for the new multi-touch user interface, all those new sensors and the network capabilities, but we can’t.

Now what’s the reason for not inviting us? Well, if you ask me, there are two simple ones:

• It’s not finished
• There’s currently no FCC approval

Now if this would’nt be a cell phone, Apple would just give us the unfinished API, some documentation and an updated Xcode just to give us a first look, test a few things, think about possible apps … but this is not your usual electronic device, this one is a cell phone and without FCC approval Apple simple can’t open the platform. Now of course “not open” isn’t the same as no 3rd party support, after all Google and Yahoo are already working on applications for the device and as revealed by Macintouch: “… developers who want to do applications are welcome to contact Apple developer relations.” 3rd party apps will be developed, it’s just not for all of us right now.

So when can we expect the platform to be open? My guess? Short after the official release. However, I think they will first open the Widgets with a final release of Dashcode and all the 3rd party apps during the first months will be by invited developers only and all released through iTunes or the Apple website. Conclusion: If you want to develop for the iPhone, contact Apple developer relations and prey … oh and you better have a good idea, Apple loves good, fresh new ideas.

Update: Looks like it will stay a closed platform:

Roche reports, “Although the iPhone runs a version of Mac OS X “optimised for the handheld experience”, Joswiak explains it’s not an open platform and any updates to applications or software will come through Apple. This closed model, although secure, means you can’t install additional custom or third-party apps — does this mean it isn’t defined as a smartphone? It’s a model that Joswiak says will continue in the foreseeable future.”

In other words, only Apple made apps or applications developed together with Apple will be available for the iPhone. New apps will most likely be available as a download through iTunes, some may cost money. This isn’t good news for us small independent developers, but it’s not really a big issue for the general user … well, some will even have a better experience with the iPhone because of it. From a MacDailyNews comment:

I agree with locking the system down, for now. Maybe in the future, Apple can find a way to heavily control the deployment of third party apps, like only allowing widgets or something. It’s a consumer device, you don’t want to open it up to everyone. I bet Apple will allow widgets to be installed thru Apple’s widget website (or Cingular), which means Apple would review and test any third-party widgets first and then put them up for download on their site, like they have done with Google and Yahoo so far.

I currently have a WM5 Smartphone (HTC StrTrk) and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to do a full system restore due to third party apps messing up the phone or distorting the user experience. Thankfully, the Missing Sync for OS X is a wonderful application, so everytime I have to restore my WM5 phone, I have all my important information on my Mac. I am at the point where I just keep my phone stock, no third-party apps or anything just so that it stays somewhat reliable.

Everyone (well at least Windows users) expect computers to be buggy and unreliable, this mode of thinking was established by Microsoft ever since Windows became mainstream with Windows 95. But with consumer devices such as the iPod or cell phones, people expect them to work flawlessly. Most people just want a cell phone that has a good UI, works great as a phone and has some extras on the side (like a media player and internet). Only the hardcore geeks want a device that they can hack up and install a bunch off add-ons.

Can you imagine how much of the flop the iPod would have been if it was somehow unlocked to allow third-party crap installed?

As a developer, well, you still have Safari on the iPhone, so you can most likely design special JavaScript applications for the device, for the exact resolution and specs of the phone. Safari supports the canvas element, so even if Flash and Java isn’t supported, there’s still the Canvas element if you want to work on a per pixel level. Let’s just hope the JS performance is good enough.

Fredi