Apple’s plans to give third-party developers access to its iPhone will be unveiled Thursday at its Cupertino, Calif., headquarters. But what it plans do at its iPhone Software Roadmap event has developers anxious.
It’s not clear if Apple will release a promised software development kit, but failing to do so would be a major disappointment for developers. Apple is already late on its promise to have an iPhone SDK in developers’ hands in February.
The iLounge Web site has reported that Apple will only release a beta version of the SDK, with the full kit not available until June in conjunction with the Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco.
In any case, developers may be a little underwhelmed by the terms Apple is setting. iLounge reported, based on sources who “independently confirmed” the details, that Apple will distribute third-party applications through the iTunes Store, that it will decide what applications are approved, and that developers will not be able to interface with hard accessories.
Ross Rubin, an analyst with NPD Group, wrote on his blog that having Apple as the sole distributor of third-party apps is “overall positive, if true.” After all, he said, “The inability to track down mobile applications has been one of the major hindrances in smartphone application development.” Rubin also suggested Apple make the apps available over its iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store.
Until that happens, “I’m pretty certain jail-breaking will be popular for the foreseeable future,” said Damien Stolarz, coauthor of an upcoming book on iPhone hacks, in an e-mail. “The SDK is better than nothing, but a lack of over-the-air purchase and install will leave installer.app in business until Apple lets you buy on the phone.”
iLounge editor Jermey Horwitz noted that the plan to have Apple serve as application gatekeeper is easily “the most controversial…