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Apple Slowly Ramping Up iPhone Developer Program

reno said:
i got a rejection email and it feels like i've been stood up for my high school prom (which i actually wasn't, but my date kinda sucked anyway). i am really curious as to what parameters Apple bases their acceptance or rejection on.
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Perhaps they just didn't like the cut of your jib. ;)
 
I really like the way apple are going about this. They are establishing a framework which should be in place for years to come. They have to take it slowly at first and practice some quality control. Microsofts approach is simply develop an OS and then leave it to all comers to write stuff for it. Then they go all high and mighty and will not take any responsibility for the system crashes, viruses, general inconvenience and frustration resulting from what is frankly untested software working incorrectly on the OS. I really applaud apples approach, all the developers may be moaning but I (not a developer)will be getting an iphone and their successors and are overjoyed at the signals they are giving us-the users ie the people who have to USE the apps and live with the consequences of them not working..

To me they are saying come what may and despite the protestations of the fly by night, lets make a quick buck and move on developers, this will be a stable, reliable platform you can use with confidence and risk free.

In these forums, there are posts by all these well intentioned amateurs (like me) who say they have a world beating app which is going to transform peoples lives, trouble is they haven't written a line of code except put up a web page. OK, great but before moaning about not being accepted as a developer, download the SDK (which you still can) and get some experience. Every man and a his dog is going to write an app so thank god apple will filter out the wheat from the chaff ...
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apple thank you from the bottom of my heart as I am sick to death of having my PC crash, having to change my credit card (twice now) after somehow it was comprimised.


go apple
 
What? Crap. I assumed from the video that the ability to test on the phone was part of the sdk download. Maybe I missed something they said. I know they said the cpu profiling tools aren't very useful if you use the simulator.
 
The fact that a "trusted" developer leaked the iPhone 2.0 firmware to the hacker community pretty much the same day it was seeded is enough to make Apple tighten the reigns, don't you think?

Told you, you hackers are going to ruin it for everyone.
 
needthephone said:
Microsofts approach is simply develop an OS and then leave it to all comers to write stuff for it. Then they go all high and mighty and will not take any responsibility for the system crashes, viruses, general inconvenience and frustration resulting from what is frankly untested software working incorrectly on the OS.
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That's also Apple's approach to OS X. Code away! Yet oddly I don't have system crashes, viruses, or frustration from untested software. Maybe it's possible to create an OS that doesn't easily crash and maybe the end users are smart enough to find the software that's good?
 
I was writing an iPhone app as a research project, now I will have to drop the idea coz the simulator isn't advanced enough for the extra features provided by the iPhone. Maybe I will work on it in the summer when the full release comes along.
 
Personally, I am going to use this time to write a bunch of different programs (and hope I got the multitouch aspect right) and then I'll have a nice pile to unleash on the world the day this all goes live for everyone. :)
 
I dosn't make sense. If there are a lot of bugs they should work those like any new software release they have had. I think they are trying to steal all the good ideas.:D Im excited for all the new apps though.
 
The iPhone SDK is NOT a beta version! It is the same SDK Apple itself uses to develop iPhone apps.

The iPhone 2.0 firmware is the beta, not the SDK. The $99 fee is to get the firmware beta and the finished SDK.

Please remember that.
 
I think that Apple has set aside a number of resources to help answer questions and deal with issues like how to properly suspend a program when switching to another, etc.

Apple probably wants to ensure this first set of applications are solid and also want a variety of apps, not just games. Apps that will sell iPhones.

I bet they have about 120 developers signed up for this phase.
 
csimmons said:
The iPhone SDK is NOT a beta version!
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Except that it IS a beta version. The iPhone SDK isn't finished- it is missing things that are promised for the final version, one example is the Interface Builder for iPhone that was demo'd, but not yet available.

Even Apple's own press release makes it clear that the iPhone SDK itself is a beta version:

"Starting today, anyone can download the beta iPhone SDK for free"

http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2008/03/06iphone.html
 
Spam apps

It is conceivable that developers may not be able to objectively assess the quality or marketability of their own work. I, for one, would be sorely disappointed if the App Store open in June with hundreds of poorly written applications. As consumers, we would have to download (or purchase) them and essentially "beta test" and rate them. This not only takes valuable time but may also subject the iPhone to instability.

Therefore, I applaud Apple for upholding a high level of quality for iPhone - even if they are more lenient in the future.

(Apple's Widget site currently contains too much junk.)
 
found this on another forum. not linked to protect the poster. Acceptance letter to the Enterprise Beta.

Congratulations.

Your company has been chosen to participate in the iPhone Enterprise Beta Program. We’re excited about the features being introduced in this iPhone 2.0 software beta and eager to hear how it works in your company’s environment.

Below are a few important steps you need to complete to ensure your participation in the program:

1. If you haven’t done so already, start by identifying between two and five people from your company who will be participating with you in this program.

2. Have iPhones dedicated to testing the software ready. Installation of the software is not recommended on business critical or personal iPhones. You will also need to install new versions of the software from time to time during the program as the initial version and subsequent versions of the software may time out.

3. Visit <link> and provide the name and email address of each participant as well as the device identifier (UDID number) of each of their dedicated iPhones. This information will be used by Apple for device registration, communication, verification and software installation. Beta software installed on an iPhone not registered in advance with Apple will result in an inoperable device.

After you have submitted your team’s information they will receive an email invitation to participate in the iPhone Enterprise Beta Program and a link to online enrollment. An important step in the enrollment process requires that all participants accept the online Customer Seed and Confidentiality Agreement. You can preview this agreement with your team members <link>

If you need assistance or have questions about the iPhone Enterprise Beta Program please reply to this e-mail and we will be happy to help you.

Thank you for your participation.

Apple
Click to expand...
 
Apple has gotten itself in a pickle here by not being clear. If you are going to let 1 billion download the sdk (i know, i know 100,000), why block a smaller number that is actually willing to pay? The $99 is the gauge of their seriousness. If they wanted to limit it, they should have charged $499 at this time. The application itself does not request enough information to believe that Apple is making a sound decision so the developer can only feel put out. Worse of course is the risk factor to a small developer. How can he be certain that efforts extended will be rewarded with acceptance into this program at some point? Can he wait, sure, but then larger competitors get there faster, the incumbants win. Of course as http://www.personafile.com/products points out, Apple still makes the distribution decision on your iPhone application... you can develop it but you can't get it on a single customer's iPhone unless Apple OK's it. Assuming Apple will be fair is a risk I am willing to take, but I'm not sure everyone will take it that way, and based on these initial rejections of a unclear program, I can see why people are nervous. Apple is clearly in the power position here, no one disputes that. But if the iPhone is to become a platform then its all about the developers, so treat them right every step of the way, treat them all the same, and create no confusion in the process.
 
klimegreen said:
Worse of course is the risk factor to a small developer. How can he be certain that efforts extended will be rewarded with acceptance into this program at some point? Can he wait, sure, but then larger competitors get there faster, the incumbants win.
Click to expand...
Except there is no evidence that acceptance is based on whether you're larger vs. smaller.
 
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