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iPod touch SDK Anticipation thread; top 3 apps you'd like to see?

1. Skype (+ iPod Touch Microphone)
2. Adium
3. Plobb! and other games

Although this is unlikely, maybe Audio Hijack for the touch if there is a Skype client. Would be good for podcasters who record through Skype who are often on the go... and maybe an FTP client for the Touch so you can upload files you make on your touch to a server... although I those aren't really essentials... just would be nice, I guess.



3 top Peripherals I would like to see:

1. iPod Touch Microphone
2. A device that allows you to hook up a SIM card and get SMS on your Touch with software that integrates with Skype to allow you to make calls wherever you want (Apple would never allow this and it would be unlikely to ever happen)
3. SD Card expansion thing?
 
superspiffy said:
How can GPS be incorporated if the Touch only works where there's unsecured Wifi?
Click to expand...
Well there will be new Touch models you know!
Second there are Bluetooth GPS units available.
Third the SDK does not imply that just the current Touch is supported. The SDK will be there to support multiple devices in the family.
Fourth, and most importantly Apple puts a lot of FLASH into these device a user should be able to cover a good portion of the world with maps and still have considerable storage space left over.


It is Apple attention to the issue of secondary storage that makes the Touch devices so interesting for GPS. Nokia's N810 has a GPS feature but they ignored the basic need for storage so the device just isn't the hot seller it could be. The N810 is very much an example of a manufacture moving backward on a product even as it tries to take a step forward. If Apple can avoid this in it next generation of Touch devices they can build some very compelling hardware. So don't think of the SDK as a tool for todays devices only, but rather a Spring Board into a new world of portable devices.

Dave
 
My Top three

1.
Flash - It is not like I like Flash but it would make the Touch more useful.

2.
Python! - Apple needs a good script like language that would allow for rapid program creation and system access. I believe Python to be the best choice a the moment though I wouldn't mind a JavaScript based environment either. I'm not talking JavaScript Browser programming but a version designed to function as a replacement for Bash on the Touch devices.

3.
Command Line Access. -- This means a terminal app and the corresponding Unix tools.


That is my top 3. You might be surprised at the selection, but will try to justify a bit.

First; if Apple does the SDK right there should be a huge number of Apps in short order many meeting common needs. So I expect my common needs to be taken care of quickly. So what I need is an easy and quick environment to take care of my uncommon or person specific needs. A scripting environment is the best place to do that.

Second; the Terminal app and the unix tools lead to simple command line apps that are very useful. For example I still regularly use WGET from the command line because it does certain things real well. Not to mention it would be a hit for those doing remote access.

Third; - I'd like to see Apple try to innovate with respect to the Unix scripting environment. Touch devices are a good place to experiment with such. Thus the thought that they produce a JavaScript based shell environment. That may generate a lot of howls but done right I see the potential for a lot of value. The goal would be an environment that allows text based scripts to execute like they normally would on Unix but at the same time could work with graphical elements if the programmer so desired.

By the way the issue with Flash the video technology isn't so much a want as it is a need. I don't like Flash but some sites simply require it. If the could simply implement video only support so that CNN and the like work it would be great. News is about the only thing I use it for. Its just one of those things that Apple has to suck and deal with.

OH and the one more thing: APPLE GIVE US ACCESS TO THE FILE SYSTEM!!! Yes I'm screaming but why treat us as if we are stupid. This in and of itself makes for a huge number of possible apps that wouldn't work well without.

******************

In any event like others have stated I think we need a top three hardware additions list also. Mind would be:
1. Fully supported Bluetooth. VERY IMPORTANT!
2. A Compact Flash or SD port.
3. A bigger device.

Dave
 
I think a lot of people here dont really understand the sdk. We will NOT be getting flash or other system settings etc through it. It will be for making apps / games that run in their own environment, as for gps i assum you mean linking to units which i guess could be done but only with apples blessing. Im not saying flash wont arrive, but certainly not through the sdk.
 
The ability to use the Camera adapter with the iPT so you could put images on your touch from camera.

Flash

Then improvments to current aps. Though most of them are great, I wish I could do a few more things with the current aps. For instnace I wish mail would beep with the iPod Touch "speaker" when I got an email. That sort of thing.
 
speakerwizard said:
I think a lot of people here dont really understand the sdk. We will NOT be getting flash or other system settings etc through it. It will be for making apps / games that run in their own environment, as for gps i assum you mean linking to units which i guess could be done but only with apples blessing. Im not saying flash wont arrive, but certainly not through the sdk.
Click to expand...

You are right, mainly, however my thought is that with the release of the SDK will possibly/probably come a firmware update, hopefully with a few significant features to make the whole SDK release that much more notable.
 
Got to have flash!

Then a way to share my iTunes over wifi... I currently use a third party app for that


And probably enable third party apps...
 
Google Gears

1. Google Gears...

- All Google Services... gmail, notebook, reader, calendar, etc. Plus, there's also Remember the Milk and many others.

2. Downloadable Maps

- The ability to download maps of states/regions, save directions, etc.

3. Can't think of anything else.
 
wizard said:
1.
Flash - It is not like I like Flash but it would make the Touch more useful.

2.
Python! - Apple needs a good script like language that would allow for rapid program creation and system access. I believe Python to be the best choice a the moment though I wouldn't mind a JavaScript based environment either. I'm not talking JavaScript Browser programming but a version designed to function as a replacement for Bash on the Touch devices.

3.
Command Line Access. -- This means a terminal app and the corresponding Unix tools.


That is my top 3. You might be surprised at the selection, but will try to justify a bit.

First; if Apple does the SDK right there should be a huge number of Apps in short order many meeting common needs. So I expect my common needs to be taken care of quickly. So what I need is an easy and quick environment to take care of my uncommon or person specific needs. A scripting environment is the best place to do that.

Second; the Terminal app and the unix tools lead to simple command line apps that are very useful. For example I still regularly use WGET from the command line because it does certain things real well. Not to mention it would be a hit for those doing remote access.

Third; - I'd like to see Apple try to innovate with respect to the Unix scripting environment. Touch devices are a good place to experiment with such. Thus the thought that they produce a JavaScript based shell environment. That may generate a lot of howls but done right I see the potential for a lot of value. The goal would be an environment that allows text based scripts to execute like they normally would on Unix but at the same time could work with graphical elements if the programmer so desired.

By the way the issue with Flash the video technology isn't so much a want as it is a need. I don't like Flash but some sites simply require it. If the could simply implement video only support so that CNN and the like work it would be great. News is about the only thing I use it for. Its just one of those things that Apple has to suck and deal with.

OH and the one more thing: APPLE GIVE US ACCESS TO THE FILE SYSTEM!!! Yes I'm screaming but why treat us as if we are stupid. This in and of itself makes for a huge number of possible apps that wouldn't work well without.

******************

In any event like others have stated I think we need a top three hardware additions list also. Mind would be:
1. Fully supported Bluetooth. VERY IMPORTANT!
2. A Compact Flash or SD port.
3. A bigger device.

Dave
Click to expand...

Great post, nice to have a dev perspective on all of this. :)
 
wizard said:
Command Line Access. -- This means a terminal app and the corresponding Unix tools.
Click to expand...

Amen to that. It is incredibly frustrating to have a full-fledged Unix system in your pocket and not be able to use it.

I've managed to resist (so far!) the urge to jailbreak the device only because I wanted to see what the SDK would bring us after the first few weeks.
 
speakerwizard said:
I think a lot of people here dont really understand the sdk. We will NOT be getting flash or other system settings etc through it. It will be for making apps / games that run in their own environment, as for gps i assum you mean linking to units which i guess could be done but only with apples blessing. Im not saying flash wont arrive, but certainly not through the sdk.
Click to expand...

No we understand what a SDK is but you seem to think that things like Flash will arrive without a SDK. The issue is this the SDK will define what is possible for third parties to do. Thus if Flash looks possible, that is Apple opens Mobile Safari to plug ins and provides the API's needed for Flash integration then there is a chance. It is not a case of Flash being part of the SDK but rather that the SDK arrival means that many things that get speculated about end up written in stone. Also if any company was building pre-release software, with a beta SDK, they would be able to deliver that software once the SDK is in the wild.

AS to GPS I beleive many people are thinking along the lines of a app that connects to a Bluetooth GPS module. The SDK is only part of the equation here as they also need Operating System updates.
 
Alphy said:
Great post, nice to have a dev perspective on all of this. :)
Click to expand...

Funny I don't think of my self as a developer. I think there is a big gulf between those that write simple scripts for themselves and those that write complex apps. The whole point of the javascript approach was to find a easy to learn and use solution.

Like wise the command line is very useful even if you are not a developer.

In any event even though the SDK will be with us soon I still think Apple has a long way to go with the OS

Dave
 
?

Once the Apple certified SDK comes out what will happen with all of the programs that are already being used through Jailbreaking? Will all of these show up on Apples "SDK" site?

Or will I lose access to these by needing to re-lock my Touch to gain the "official" SDK programs?
:confused:
 
dunno if it could be done with the SDK but I'd like a 'Remember Password' tick box for the password in Mail (so I could save all my details except my password) and a volume control linked to the home button (two quick clicks to lower volume, two slow clicks to raise or something)
 
1) Flash
2) Games
3) ability to save maps locally
I belive that this is what podmaps will be. Like podcasts from the store. Download them in touch format for free and use it like a semi GPS.
 
altaprod said:
Once the Apple certified SDK comes out what will happen with all of the programs that are already being used through Jailbreaking? Will all of these show up on Apples "SDK" site?

Or will I lose access to these by needing to re-lock my Touch to gain the "official" SDK programs?
Click to expand...
I expect that most third-party apps you can use on a jailbroken device will be "ported" to the official SDK. I doubt they'd be directly available, though, as Apple is very likely to require that some standards be met.

Some apps might never make it to the official list - though I dearly hope they do, as it'd save me the hassle of jailbreaking : terminal, ssh server, etc.

And, of course, as long as the SDK isn't released, all of this remains idle speculation.
 
My Main Wish

My main wish is that all apps work in portrait and landscape mode...trying to type in portrait mode in Mail is a pain...I have big hands so...

After that would be more media support in Safari...and of course, some sort of VoiP would be great...
 
I'd really like to see an SSH client. I used to use TuSSH on my old Palm Tungsten C, and enjoyed having that available. I'm looking quite seriously at a Touch, and having SSH (and therefore any command line app I can get running on an OS X or Linux computer) available thereon would seal the deal.
 
also I don't know if it all will be through itunes or not but if they do require for you to pay for apps that developers want to be free or something. The easiest way would be for somebody to get the SDK and do things that way(transfer it through the tools that apple gives you in the SDK)
 
1. Downloadable maps- this is a must for me as i live in australia and wifi is only existant at my home and my school (and i already know where i am when i'm there)
2. Flash support would be nice.....
3. some sort of IM program... compatible with windows live etc.
 
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