Steve Jobs said he doesn’t want iPhone to be an open platform, available to 3rd party software application developers.

That’s pure nonsense.

Apple’s developer’s conference will show us a different tune, based on Steve’s comments in the Gates and Jobs interview:

“This is an important tradeoff between security and openness. We want both. We’re working through a way… we’ll find a way to let 3rd parties write apps and still preserve security on the iPhone. But until we find that way we can’t compromise the security of the phone.”

I think we’ll see the ability to develop and run Widgets first, then other custom applications over time. Think of it this way-- Apple sells 6 or 8-million Macs a year, 23 years after launch. Apple expects to sell 10 million iPhones between now and end of the first calendar year. Within two to three years there could be more iPhones sold than Macs in the installed base. Apple wants developers writing cool applications for the iPhone as that extends the value proposition.

$500 is plenty to pay for a cell phone, but not so much for a cell phone, a video iPod, and a wireless computer rolled into one.

I have my name on a list at the local AT&T;store to get an iPhone. Apparently there are hundreds of people ahead of me on the list, so it’s not likely I’ll get my iPhone when they’re released.

Most people I know who have smart phones do not add extra programs. I know of some corporations that add one or two programs for certain execs or sales types, but I don’t think that’s the norm.

Still, with OS X as the platform, it’s natural that Apple could and would want to capitalize on third party programs to run on the iPhone, especially if they can be sold through iTunes Store and downloaded directly to the iPhone.

Ringtones? That will be a big business, too. I have a RAZR and about 20 different ringtones to match up with my contact list.

Did anyone notice the Apple television commercials for the iPhone? They actually squeeze in the user interface and some features into 30 seconds. I’ve never seen that in a television commercial for a cell phone.

The buzz down the halls of the developers conference so far has been mixed. There’s disappointment that Apple is not opening up iPhone for 3rd party applications running on OS X. However, there’s some excitement about the prospect of using Safari for Web 2.x applications that run on Macs, and Windows, and in iPhone. I haven’t had much contact with Apple engineers yet, so I don’t know what all is involved. Programmers have mixed emotions.

I don’t think it’s necessarily a bad thing that it’s not open to 3rd party apps. It’ll remain lean and mean with more room for songs and multimedia. After all, it’s still a phone and the future is supposed to be with these web 2.0 apps. It’d be cool if a taser was added to prevent the inevitable iPhone muggings.

Jeffrey Mincey - 04 June 2007 03:09 PM

I think we’ll see the ability to develop and run Widgets first, then other custom applications over time. Think of it this way-- Apple sells 6 or 8-million Macs a year, 23 years after launch. Apple expects to sell 10 million iPhones between now and end of the first calendar year. Within two to three years there could be more iPhones sold than Macs in the installed base. Apple wants developers writing cool applications for the iPhone as that extends the value proposition…

Somebody’s crystal ball is working over time. Good call.

I can do some Javascript, and have no problems with standards compliant HTML and CSS. How hard is it to create applications using Dashcode? Will that be a good start toward creating some Safari applications for iPhone?

How does one get started on that?

Look, given that entire application suites are launching as web apps (sooner or later Google will come around to supporting Macs), the idea that a phone with a reasonably standards-compliant browser needs any special development environment will be seen as increasingly outdated.

Widgets have been designed for simple purposes, as they were meant to be, and the environment is nothing short of hugely resource hungry. However, given that universities and Fortune 500 companies have entire systems run on the web, the iPhone with Safari will pull off a great deal in the 3rd party realm by way of Web 2.0.

Andrew Purvis - 15 June 2007 04:24 AM

Look, given that entire application suites are launching as web apps (sooner or later Google will come around to supporting Macs), the idea that a phone with a reasonably standards-compliant browser needs any special development environment will be seen as increasingly outdated.

Widgets have been designed for simple purposes, as they were meant to be, and the environment is nothing short of hugely resource hungry. However, given that universities and Fortune 500 companies have entire systems run on the web, the iPhone with Safari will pull off a great deal in the 3rd party realm by way of Web 2.0.

The iPhone is out and I’ve got my hands on one. Looks like creating web applications is the way to go. For now.

Jeffrey Mincey - 04 June 2007 03:09 PM

Steve Jobs said he doesn’t want iPhone to be an open platform, available to 3rd party software application developers.

I heard it was because application runs as administrator or worse yet root. I don’t know if this is true but it could explain a lot about Apple not allowing third party development.

satcomer - 31 July 2007 08:53 PM

I heard it was because application runs as administrator or worse yet root. I don’t know if this is true but it could explain a lot about Apple not allowing third party development.

I read the same thing but don’t remember where. I don’t understand why root would be required. It seems as if Apple could have segregated users for the iPhone-- administrator for cell carrier access, individual user for anything else.

Has anyone heard of a web-based VoIP application?

Just trying to think out of the box.

Yes there is Gizmocall.