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Apple to Announce 3rd Party iPhone App Development?
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It's a big mistake for outsiders to think they have figured out Apple's business plan. Clearly the iPhone is still a work in progress and there is still much to be seen. It may very well turn out that Apple decides they will make more profit on selling iPhones than they would charging people a few bucks for someone else's software.
You will note that this is the model even with the iPod -- unlike some competitors (I'm looking at you, Sony) Apple chose to make it easy for people to load music from CDs on the device. This surely reduces profit from Apple's music store, but increases the number of people who buy iPods.
So it's pretty simplistic at this point to say that we can know what the future plans are because "it's all about money". Making money is just not that simple. Personally, I expect to see third-party apps provided through an Apple service with some quality standards, some of them for free and some costing money based on the developer's choice. For example, we'll probably see a free GMail client from Google, and maybe somebody else will charge a few bucks for an SSH client.
I think both native and web-based applications will thrive. After all, I can install applications on my Mac now, but I still use plenty of "Web 2.0" applications as well.
My point is that short of a native SDK, a good web SDK can do a lot. There's no reason they couldn't throw some event handlers for the motion sensor into Safari. Apple has already said they're going to have offline storage (local preferences), safari supports canvas which is quite easy to make a finger painting app in, you can easily have basic animations (fade effects, etc), and there are already native-looking web GUIs freely available.
Granted you will never get access to the phone or media playlists if they choose to go this route, but it will be possible to write pretty much any "pda" software that doesn't require graphic-card access (e.g. not games, video players). There's also no reason that safari couldn't support embeded sound (no clue if it does or not).
It's not ideal, but it seems like apple is taking the stance that they're not going to open the OS to developers. For all I know they have legal restrictions in doing this. If a good web SDK is released I'd be happy.
hopefully apple will just make app development useful. It doesn't even matter if its open or not, just good enough so that decent apps can be user made without breaking the user licence agreement
I'm not sure that you actually made a point here.
You are agreeing with me, with the exception that some apps might be free..?
And who said I was an outsider?
Don't you think it's pretty naive to think that a company who is in business to make money would just let this go? As a stock holder, I would be pretty pissed if I saw them pissing money away like that.
As for the iPod and loading music from CDs... That's a "Duh" comment. You can't compare a fact that would have killed a product from day-1 to "free 3rd party apps".
now, the reason that 3rd parties WILL be able to develop for the iPhone.. If apple sells apps for it, then they must allow others to prevent an anti-trust suit.
I read the full tidbits article, and it has given me hope. Here are three data points:
(1) From the article: "The other smartphone platforms - Palm OS, Symbian, and Windows Mobile - generally allow any arbitrary program to be installed, but access to phone features is typically limited, and network access is sometimes restricted to Wi-Fi, when that's available."
(2) From the article: "the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store works only over Wi-Fi"
(3) The original argument for not allowing 3rd party applications was to protect the AT&T network.
Together, these leads me to believe that 3rd party applications that don't use Edge may very well be near!
(1) From the article: "The other smartphone platforms - Palm OS, Symbian, and Windows Mobile - generally allow any arbitrary program to be installed, but access to phone features is typically limited, and network access is sometimes restricted to Wi-Fi, when that's available."
(2) From the article: "the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store works only over Wi-Fi"
(3) The original argument for not allowing 3rd party applications was to protect the AT&T network.
Together, these leads me to believe that 3rd party applications that don't use Edge may very well be near!
You are right, and if you take things at face value, you would be right in saying that Apple could just ignore that 1% and still make a mint.
Technology companies, however, are always trying to get to the "influencers". That small group of people who are on the cutting edge. They buy new products long before anyone has heard of them, figure out what's good and what isn't, then tell all their friends and family.
Take your example above. Would those 7 family members above have purchased an iPhone if you didn't recommend it to them? I'm guessing you watched every scrap of news leak out about the iPhone from January till June, helped build the hype amongst your family (and friends), so when the time came, they were ready to buy.
Am I close?
See, you are the person Apple really wants to sell. Getting you on board gets them 5, 10 or 20 extra sales because you generate the hype for them. If they burn the bridge with you, suddenly you're off recommending an LG Phone, a Dell PC or *gulp* a Zune.
So, don't discount the importance of that 1%. The really successful technology companies -- like Apple -- don't...
You're convinced that Apple will try to directly make money by selling apps, and I'm saying that might not be the case. I think Apple might decide they will make more money in the long run by giving away the SDK (eventually) as they do for the Mac.
You don't work for Apple and that makes you an outsider in the sense that you know nothing of their business plans. Nor do I.
You may think that the iPod CD-loading is a "duh" comment but that's only because the strategy worked out so well; Sony tried a completely different strategy that was far less open, and they lost a fortune over it.
I'm sorry, but now that the sheen has worn off the iPhone, isn't the reality that it costs the same if not more than devices that have much more functionality and expandability? Yes, it's pretty, and yes the touchscreen is an amazing innovation, but at the end of the day it seems to be falling a bit short.
Gods willing, Apple is waking up to the fact that they're not selling iPods in the mobile phone market - they're selling something that helps people get work done. And I'm including return on investment as part of getting work done. If they're going to continue calling the iPhone a "smartphone" then the possibility for developers to create real, native 3rd party applications has to exist - both for free and for sale. I won't even touch the asinine ringtones issue Apple has created, that kind of nickel and dime behavior speaks for itself.
Gods willing, Apple is waking up to the fact that they're not selling iPods in the mobile phone market - they're selling something that helps people get work done. And I'm including return on investment as part of getting work done. If they're going to continue calling the iPhone a "smartphone" then the possibility for developers to create real, native 3rd party applications has to exist - both for free and for sale. I won't even touch the asinine ringtones issue Apple has created, that kind of nickel and dime behavior speaks for itself.
Oh, but you are wrong. I told everyone in my family to avoid it. Most bought it the day it came out. And yes, I was the first to laugh at them when the price dropped. and I included the "i told you so". It's still cute to hear them bitch so much about how slow web browsing is. Then I show them my 8525 on HSDPA.. a little salt for the wound. I was recommending the Nokia N81... but the carriers killed that one off. Honestly, most people I know can work just fine with a Razr..
A SDK for the iPhone and iPod touch is a must. Or even better, a brand new Intel Silverthorne-based handheld computer booting a true and full Mac OS X 10.5. Thus the Mac OS X in your hand. Full native Keynote and PowerPoint support. High-speed wireless. We need tons for our University staff and students.
my thoughts....
Multitouch gestures/arbitrary input recognized by javascript? I highly doubt it.
This is one of the main points of contention I have with web apps (besides the slooooooooooow execution of javascript, lack of accelerated graphics, dependence on the internet, inability to receive phone calls while using the apps, etc)
What a disappointment it would be to have an incredible Iphone interface/input system when most apps won't be able to use it?
To all the people who say "no one cares about jail-breaking", I would have to disagree. Many "laymen" / tech novices may not even know what jail-breaking is, but they sure as h*ll would appreciate quality third party applications that let their shiny new toy do hundreds of things that Apple would never think of/implement.
Multitouch gestures/arbitrary input recognized by javascript? I highly doubt it.
This is one of the main points of contention I have with web apps (besides the slooooooooooow execution of javascript, lack of accelerated graphics, dependence on the internet, inability to receive phone calls while using the apps, etc)
What a disappointment it would be to have an incredible Iphone interface/input system when most apps won't be able to use it?
To all the people who say "no one cares about jail-breaking", I would have to disagree. Many "laymen" / tech novices may not even know what jail-breaking is, but they sure as h*ll would appreciate quality third party applications that let their shiny new toy do hundreds of things that Apple would never think of/implement.
Iphone ARM processor has *native* java bytecode support?
You know whats ever worse if true, Christian? When you look up the model number of the ARM chip running the iphone, it says it has HARDWARE support for running java bytecode natively. Now unless they made a custom chip for Apple and used the same model number or removed/disabled the java support or something, Native java bytecode support could be sitting right now in the iphone.
I can't even imagine what that would be like. Has anyone seen anything like this before where a chip can run java bytecode natively? Does anyone know if this capability is truly in the iphone processor? What did the tear down people say?
You know whats ever worse if true, Christian? When you look up the model number of the ARM chip running the iphone, it says it has HARDWARE support for running java bytecode natively. Now unless they made a custom chip for Apple and used the same model number or removed/disabled the java support or something, Native java bytecode support could be sitting right now in the iphone.
I can't even imagine what that would be like. Has anyone seen anything like this before where a chip can run java bytecode natively? Does anyone know if this capability is truly in the iphone processor? What did the tear down people say?
you missed the most important thing!
You touched on alot, but missed the MOST IMPORTANT of all:
Having multi-touch support. With web "applications" the iphone is reduced to a "Onclick" event. So much for the most advanced/intuitive interface on a mobile phone. This is a *MAJOR* point of contention here.
You touched on alot, but missed the MOST IMPORTANT of all:
Having multi-touch support. With web "applications" the iphone is reduced to a "Onclick" event. So much for the most advanced/intuitive interface on a mobile phone. This is a *MAJOR* point of contention here.
third party apps
You hit on an interesting point. There are so many naysayers that always shout "NO ONE CARES ABOUT 3RD PARTY APPS". Well, just as i mentioned in the other post, One could reason that the MAJORITY of iphone owners would indeed love the concept once introduced to cheap or free, easily
downloadable, reliable applications from iTunes. I haven't heard 1-5%, but I have seen a few different surveys on apple sites, and they are usually around 50%. How much this translates to in the general iphone buying public, I don't know. But I do now many "laypersons/tech novice" type people who did indeed try Apptap or whatever it is.
You hit on an interesting point. There are so many naysayers that always shout "NO ONE CARES ABOUT 3RD PARTY APPS". Well, just as i mentioned in the other post, One could reason that the MAJORITY of iphone owners would indeed love the concept once introduced to cheap or free, easily
downloadable, reliable applications from iTunes. I haven't heard 1-5%, but I have seen a few different surveys on apple sites, and they are usually around 50%. How much this translates to in the general iphone buying public, I don't know. But I do now many "laypersons/tech novice" type people who did indeed try Apptap or whatever it is.
he indeed has a good point, here
Actually, he made a very valid point. He suggested that even though Apple will want to make as much money as possible on the device, that fact does not AUTOMATICALLY allow you to take the leap to saying apple will lock down the device. On the contrary, Apple may indeed end up making more money selling more iphones with a somewhat open 3rd party app environment, than selling less iphones with a secondary revenue source of selling Apple-only applications.
I myself, and a few friends fall into the category of "waiting to see" regarding 3rd party app support before we buy.
Actually, he made a very valid point. He suggested that even though Apple will want to make as much money as possible on the device, that fact does not AUTOMATICALLY allow you to take the leap to saying apple will lock down the device. On the contrary, Apple may indeed end up making more money selling more iphones with a somewhat open 3rd party app environment, than selling less iphones with a secondary revenue source of selling Apple-only applications.
I myself, and a few friends fall into the category of "waiting to see" regarding 3rd party app support before we buy.
the 1%
THWACK! right on the nose.. This is an interesting point that I think many have neglected when they bring up the "small minority" argument. I think you saw Apple's commitment to this (although I didn't agree with the decision) with the $100 iPhone coupon. Whether apple truly cares about pleasing their loyal base or not, they DO KNOW how loud that minority can be, and would wish to at least appease them from making a rumble.
THWACK! right on the nose.. This is an interesting point that I think many have neglected when they bring up the "small minority" argument. I think you saw Apple's commitment to this (although I didn't agree with the decision) with the $100 iPhone coupon. Whether apple truly cares about pleasing their loyal base or not, they DO KNOW how loud that minority can be, and would wish to at least appease them from making a rumble.
productivity on the iPhone will be important...
a Razr? What do your friends do for a living? Most of mine would shrivel up and die without their precious blackberry or treo. Besides all the other points being made in this thread, Apple drastically needs to get *some* type of mobile word/excel support, outlook sync, enterprise email compatibility (exchange), and enterprise WPA2 wifi security compatibility. With those features, can you imagine the huge business smartphone market that would open up?
a Razr? What do your friends do for a living? Most of mine would shrivel up and die without their precious blackberry or treo. Besides all the other points being made in this thread, Apple drastically needs to get *some* type of mobile word/excel support, outlook sync, enterprise email compatibility (exchange), and enterprise WPA2 wifi security compatibility. With those features, can you imagine the huge business smartphone market that would open up?
although it would be nice to see if Apple really makes a UMPC/MID/PDA with a 5-6" screen, it really is a different market than the iphone. And you don't need a silverthorne to do it. Apple could be doing it RIGHT NOW with an Intel 45nm Penryn-based Core 2 Duo low-voltage/ultra low voltage. go look at dynamism.com, and click on UMPC and subnotebooks. They have some pretty amazing stuff available in Japan/South Korea. Apple needs to jump on the bandwagon!
sorry for all the posts...
sorry for all the posts... I was just responding as I went through the thread. And apparently, there was a nuclear blast/alien invasion and I'm the only one left on the planet able to write posts on macrumors. lol
sorry for all the posts... I was just responding as I went through the thread. And apparently, there was a nuclear blast/alien invasion and I'm the only one left on the planet able to write posts on macrumors. lol
I think Native and Webapps will be one and the same thing.
Add offline storage (like the app's already embeding themselves in a Bookmark).
Which gives you offline apps.
Add sandboxed low level language support (like dashboard, web frontend, whatever backend)
Which gives you have a native app.
But to the end user it's all one thing not three, it's seamless (Apple like)
Add support for Bookmark aliases on the home screen.
Picture Complete.