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Apple announces SDK for the iPhone, support for Microsoft Exchange and that "Spore" is coming to the iPhone

Apple has promised the software development kit (SDK) for the iPhone for months now. The SDK was delayed slightly, but Apple delivered today and it’s most definitely firing on all cylinders.

First off, Apple announced that is targeting enterprise customers with a wealth of new feature on the iPhone. The iPhone will now support push email/calendar/contacts, global address lists, Cisco IPsec VPN, Certificates and Identities, WPA2/802.11x and remote wipe. In addition, Apple is bringing the oft-requested support for Microsoft Exchange via Microsoft ActiveSync -- Apple licensed ActiveSync specifically for this purpose.

Apple also revealed on its Cupertino campus that the iPhone SDK is available today for third-party developers. Access will be provided to the iPhone's APIs including Cocoa Touch, Core Services, Media and Core OS. Developers can use Xcode to create and debug applications. Xcode includes a source editor, integrated documentation and a remote debugger -- naturally, it runs on Macs.

In addition, Apple rolled out the iPhone Simulator which will allow developers to test the software they have developed on a Mac and see exactly how it will look and respond on an iPhone. The mouse can then be used to make Multi-Touch gesture commands on the "Virtual iPhone" screen.

Apple announced today that EA Games' highly-anticipated "Spore" is coming to the iPhone in September and will be the first third-party game for the platform. The stripped-down version of “Spore” was made in a claimed two weeks using the SDK and includes 18 complete levels. Other new apps coming to the iPhone include AOL Instant Messenger and SEGA's "Super Monkey Ball".

In order to distribute these new third-party applications, Apple created the iTunes App Store. Unfortunately, this will be the only way that customers will be able to get new iPhone applications.

While developers can nab the SDK today for free, it will cost $99 to publish an application to the iTunes App Store. All hosting, processing fees are free if a developer makes his or her application freely available. If a developer chooses to charge for the application, Apple will take a 30% cut of the purchase price.

For companies that are just starting out, a $100M venture capital "iFund" will be provided by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers -- a figure ten times that of the Google Android fund -- to help make the development process easier.

"Developers are already bursting with ideas for the iPhone and iPod touch, and now they have the chance to turn those ideas into great companies with the help of world-class venture capitalists," said Apple CEO Steve Jobs. "We can't wait to start working with Kleiner Perkins and the companies they fund through this new initiative."

Developers can start making apps today, but customers will have to wait until the iPhone/iPod touch 2.0 firmware update to take advantage the previously mentioned goodies (iPod touch users will again have to pay for the update). Unfortunately, that update won't see the light of day -- for consumers -- until June of this year. Developers and enterprise customers can apply to beta test the update.

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About time
By FITCamaro on 3/6/2008 3:21:49 PM , Rating: 2
Only took them what? 9 months?

Anyway. While I won't even touch the iPhone until they offer it on Verizon without any BS requirements (like that you must get a contract that includes data services), lets hope more companies start releasing somewhat open phones that let people write their own apps.

I'm looking forward to Google's Android OS.




RE: About time
By bkphysics on 3/6/2008 3:29:18 PM , Rating: 2
The iPhone is so easy to unlock now that to use AT&T exclusivity as an excuse not to get it is silly.

Unlocking 1.1.4 (and all version for that matter) takes 4 mins and one mouse click.


RE: About time
By stinkyj on 3/6/2008 3:35:58 PM , Rating: 5
Yeah, but what some people still seem to fail to grasp, is that the iPhone is GSM. Verizon = CDMA, so you're just out of luck.


RE: About time
By oab on 3/6/2008 3:36:09 PM , Rating: 1
Verizon is CDMA, not GSM therefore the iPhone cannot be used on Verizon, so OP's point is valid, though short-sighted because it probably won't be released on GSM anytime soon, if ever.


RE: About time
By heffeque on 3/6/2008 9:21:24 PM , Rating: 2
European iPhones are GSM, aren't they?


RE: About time
By oab on 3/7/2008 1:07:15 AM , Rating: 2
All iPhones are GSM.


RE: About time
By glennpratt on 3/7/2008 2:11:33 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
...it probably won't be released on CDMA anytime soon...


RE: About time
By Chaser on 3/6/2008 3:36:14 PM , Rating: 2
until Apple updates the Iphone's firmware again and bricks the phone.


RE: About time
By JonnyBlaze on 3/6/2008 4:06:02 PM , Rating: 2
you know it's a choice to upgrade the firmware. you don't upgrade until you can jailbreak the new one, which usually doesn't take long.


RE: About time
By xRyanCat on 3/6/2008 4:20:53 PM , Rating: 2
That's why you don't automatically go out and grab the latest releases.

It's the same with the PlayStation Portable modding scene. Sony constantly updates it's firmware so old hacks won't work. But this is usually reverse engineered by the hackers to work on the new hacked firmware.

The PSP is 100 times better unlocked than locked down with Sony's Firmware.


RE: About time
By TheWizardofOz on 3/6/2008 3:38:14 PM , Rating: 2
How exactly would you like to get your iPhone? With no data plan? Or pay as you use? Which one do you think is going to be cheaper?

If you don't want to use the data why don't you get a free bluetooth phone from Verizon and get iPod touch?

And for the offering in Verizon... It's not even GSM, so how is this going to work? Do you expect Apple to make a complete different piece of hardware just so that a few thousand CDMA people can get iPhone, whereas GSM is widely used in the WORLD?


RE: About time
By Natfly on 3/6/2008 5:27:25 PM , Rating: 2
Maybe he only intends to use data services when connected to a wireless ap, or just doesn't need the unlimited plan.

As for not creating a CDMA version, I don't see why they wouldn't. Verizon alone has 65 million subscribers and Sprint has over 53 million. Also, from what I have heard, South Korea is all CDMA.


RE: About time
By TheWizardofOz on 3/6/2008 5:37:28 PM , Rating: 2
Wireless standards have not unified yet. Maybe in 4G there will be some sort of unification between GSM and CDMA. (WiMAX - VoIP(?)

iPhone is an international product and by so it has to support major standards. There are over 1.2 billion GSM users worldwide, so iPhone is using this standard. it's highly unlikely that Apple is just going to create a new iPhone version to support CDMA, since 4G and WiMAX are so close to be used widely.

By the way S.Korea is not all CDMA, KTF and SK telecom are offering GSM.


RE: About time
By phatboye on 3/6/2008 6:43:07 PM , Rating: 2
That can't be true because if memory serves me correct, Apple went to Verizon first before going to Cingular/AT&T about the iPhone. Verizon is one of the largest callular compaines in the US and I'm 100% positive that if Apple and Verizon could come to an agreement they would offer a iphone that worked on Verizon's network as well.


RE: About time
By oab on 3/7/2008 1:09:26 AM , Rating: 2
It's AT&T exclusive in the US, it's not going to Verizon until that deal expires.

However, AT&T was the only carrier that said yes to Apples proposal, the others said no because they were afraid of the contract stipulations, the kickback on subscribers and the fact that apple would do it's own thing with the software on it, and not just do whatever the carrier wanted.


RE: About time
By winterspan on 3/7/2008 2:57:19 AM , Rating: 2
It looks like at least most of the CDMA stallwarts are going to jump over to the "GSM track" of LTE for their "4G" network upgrades. Not sure about South Korea, but America and probably Canada will be unified LTE along with the rest of the world.
The only problem is that in the near term during a transitionary period, CDMA carriers will probably use LTE just for data and layer it over the existing CDMA technology creating CDMA/LTE phones, similar to how some GSM carriers only use UMTS/HSPA for data and still rely on their existing GSM networks for voice.
eventually however, everyone should be converted to an All-IP LTE network using a type of VOIP for voice... hopefully then they'll be able to make 1 phone for all regions (except we-dont-want-to-pay-royalties China)


RE: About time
By chromoplastic on 3/6/2008 11:38:30 PM , Rating: 1
Yeah, you pay Apple for your application, you pay Apple for every application sold, you're Apple locked... all this just to see that in the near future your application doesn't work anymore because Apple changed CPU or OS or platform. Mac users are this stupid, developers shouldn't...


RE: About time
By kelmon on 3/7/2008 3:45:50 AM , Rating: 2
I'm sorry, who is this moron? What has been proposed is a win for all parties involved. Users get a one-stop-shop to download applications from a trusted source, developers get maximum exposure for their applications (which can be free) with Apple dealing with the distribution, and Apple gets to maintain a secure platform by ensuring that only good applications (i.e. ones that aren't malicious or cause stability issues) are available. It will remain to be seen how Big Brother Apple will actually be but you'd be hard pressed to suggest that this isn't anything other than a very good announcement.

"Mac users are stupid" - nasty case of "pot calling the kettle black" you've got there.


RE: About time
By mattflaschen on 3/12/2008 4:19:30 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
Apple gets to maintain a secure platform by ensuring that only good applications (i.e. ones that aren't malicious or cause stability issues) are available.


Apple approving every single application is lock-in, plain and simple. Somehow, Microsoft and Palm haven't found it necessary. Even Apple wouldn't dare try making Mac OS X a "secure platform" this way.

Lest we forget, Apple didn't want to allow third-party development at all.


RE: About time
By winterspan on 3/7/2008 2:43:39 AM , Rating: 1
quote:
Only took them what? 9 months?


I'm no Apple apologist, but have you ever tried to write a stable, secure, and modern mobile operating system? I think they have move pretty fast considering the limited resources they have compared to much larger entities.

I too wish Apple had made a CDMA/EV-DO iPhone at launch, but including unlimited data access with the usage plans is a no-brainer. Why would you want an iPhone with no data plan?

Android looks pretty nice, but it's going to take a while for a killer device to come out that can get anywhere close to comparing to the iPhone.


RE: About time
By KeypoX on 3/7/2008 11:06:09 PM , Rating: 2
oh yeah... i shouldnt even respond to your ignorance but i will... there are far better phones than the iphone

try the open source phones on linux and how about the n95? Dont be so blind


$99 for Application
By xRyanCat on 3/6/2008 4:25:11 PM , Rating: 2
While $99 isn't really a lot to publish your application it seems like just another way to lock the iPhone down and prevent your average coder from whipping up an application.

Its only set up like this so all programs must be downloaded through Apple, and Apple can guarantee that if a consumer pays for a program, they get their slice of it. As opposed to the application developers hosting and charging it on their own 3rd party site and Apple seeing 0 profits.




RE: $99 for Application
By TheWizardofOz on 3/6/2008 4:31:51 PM , Rating: 2
Apple takes 30% of the revenue just to pay for the store, hosting and taxes. It's an approach that they had to make to insure the security of the iPhone and OSX Mobile. Apple is not going to make money off of that 30% share.

But on the plus side for Apple, people are going to stick more with iTunes, and buy some more stuff off the store while they are there shopping for apps. ( Actually, this won't affect anything, since everybody who owns an iPhone uses iTunes anyways )


RE: $99 for Application
By kinnoch on 3/6/2008 4:58:49 PM , Rating: 2
They won't make money off the 30%, are you kidding me?

Most of the infrastructure for the App store is already in place from the iTunes store.

The 30% will help them pay taxes on what income? The 30%?

Its just Apple forcing themselves to be the publisher and keeping their system closed (much like Xbox arcade games). Could you imagine if microsoft forced you to release Windows applications through them, where they got a 30% cut?

I don't think Apple is really doing anything wrong. They can do what they want to, and they don't think this choice will hurt them. However, I think saying they don't plan to make money from a 30% cut is a bit off.


RE: $99 for Application
By TheWizardofOz on 3/6/2008 5:25:11 PM , Rating: 2
The thing is Apple said many developers would like to publish their apps for free and if they do that Apple is not going to charge them for publishing their apps on iTunes store.

Don't assume that every single app is going to cost money, I believe there will be a lot of apps free to download.

Perhaps I was wrong by saying no money. They will be making money but it will be negligible compared to the other sources that Apple is making money.


RE: $99 for Application
By camix on 3/7/2008 11:00:58 AM , Rating: 2
Well Wiz, I guess you either didn't watch the press conference live or you didn't read this article correctly.

"It will cost $99 to publish an application to the iTunes App Store. All hosting, processing fees are free if a developer makes his or her application freely available. If a developer chooses to charge for the application, Apple will take a 30% cut of the purchase price."

A developer still has to pay $99 it's everything else that is free after the fact.


RE: $99 for Application
By ok630 on 3/26/2008 4:15:14 AM , Rating: 1
Die painfully okay? Prefearbly by getting crushed to death in a garbage compactor, by getting your face cut to ribbons with a pocketknife, your head cracked open with a baseball bat, your stomach sliced open and your entrails spilled out, and your eyeballs ripped out of their sockets. Fucking bitch


RE: $99 for Application
By helios220 on 3/6/2008 5:18:18 PM , Rating: 3
I'm of the understanding after watching the announcement earlier that there is not a $99 per application fee, but a $99 fee to join the developer’s network and have the ability to publish applications.

Perhaps that is not the case, but I sincerely hope it is. One hundred dollars to register as a developer does not seem like a bad deal to me, however paying that every time I wanted to publish an application would really turn off many would-be amateur developers.


RE: $99 for Application
By TheWizardofOz on 3/6/2008 6:19:50 PM , Rating: 2
it's actually a yearly subscription fee of $99.


RE: $99 for Application
By androticus on 3/6/2008 10:10:47 PM , Rating: 2
I don't have one yet, but I don't think this is a bad idea. First, they can keep tabs on who is publishing apps, which will hopefully help to limit malware. Also, for most small publishers, I would think 30% for basically zero hassle and overhead would be an entirely reasonable amount.


Caveat
By helios220 on 3/6/2008 5:05:24 PM , Rating: 3
quote:
Download the Free SDK
* Free sign up as a Registered iPhone Developer required to download the iPhone SDK.
Technical Requirement: Intel processor-based Mac running Mac OS X Leopard




RE: Caveat
By PB PM on 3/6/2008 5:19:35 PM , Rating: 2
Why is that a shock to you? The iPhone runs on... wait for it... OSX.


RE: Caveat
By helios220 on 3/6/2008 5:50:51 PM , Rating: 4
I don't recall ever proclaiming to be shocked, it is however an important consideration for many potential developers.

You don't have to be a Mac zealot or even an OS X user to have an iPhone, and certainly not to harbor a curiosity to see Mac's take on an SDK /API. As a software developer and a hobbyist I'd like to check it out, but I won't be buying a Mac just for this.

Surprised? No. Somewhat disappointed? Sure.


RE: Caveat
By sprockkets on 3/6/2008 6:47:20 PM , Rating: 2
Maybe it is the fact that you need, not just OSX, but Leopard.


When will Microsoft clone Jobs???
By androticus on 3/6/2008 10:06:54 PM , Rating: 2
When will the Microsoft Board of Directors and shareholders realize that the hack salesman who has been impersonating their CEO for the last decade should be replaced with a real CEO befitting a corporation of that size?

Maybe they can license a clone of Steve Jobs from Apple! Or at least they might use Jobs as a standard by which to measure potential new CEOs.

Idle question: when was the last time Microsoft released anything remotely interesting and/or that made good business sense?




By HrilL on 3/7/2008 12:42:26 AM , Rating: 4
DOS?


RE: When will Microsoft clone Jobs???
By kelmon on 3/7/2008 3:56:13 AM , Rating: 2
I have to confess to being interested in seeing what they do with the Surface technology. If that ever turns into a product I'd love to see how they launch it. However, I'd definitely agree that Microsoft needs someone charismatic to launch their products. Steve Jobs's keynotes are practically perfect each time and he could probably sell anything (insert own gag or Apple-bashing comment here). Bill Gates, as brilliant as he is, is about as charismatic as hemorrhoids and probably only appeals to nerds whereas Ballmer is just Apeshit. Microsoft is quite capable of making interesting products but they do need someone who can make them desirable to customers.


By KeypoX on 3/7/2008 11:10:50 PM , Rating: 2
that is the whole concept of mac, make inferior products but make all the sheep think it is great. aka ipod, iphone, macbooks all overpriced and of less quality of some of the competition. Point is they are sold/marketed/convincing that they are of the highest quality when in fact they are not.

Microsoft doesnt need to do this because they have the power and the numbers.


3g
By nace186 on 3/6/2008 3:41:02 PM , Rating: 3
Where's the 3g iphone?




RE: 3g
By TheWizardofOz on 3/6/2008 3:45:10 PM , Rating: 3
Today's Apple event was NOT a hardware announcement. 3G iPhone is expected in Q2/Q3 2008


RE: 3g
By sinful on 3/6/2008 9:42:08 PM , Rating: 2
Don't you keep up with the Apple fanboys?
A 3G phone would be a power hog, be slow, unreliable, and just be terrible all around.

Well, at least up until Apple releases a 3G iPhone, at which point 3G will be OMGWTFBBQ amazing.

=P


Spore
By BMFPitt on 3/6/2008 5:19:52 PM , Rating: 4
quote:
The stripped-down version of “Spore” was made in a claimed two weeks using the SDK
Now that sounds like quality...




RE: Spore
By helios220 on 3/6/2008 5:55:48 PM , Rating: 2
They are referencing the Spore application that was demoed at the Roadmap presentation this morning. They brought several developers in, including EA and Sega, and gave them two weeks with an SDK that they had never used before to see what they could come up with.

The point was to demonstrate how easy the SDK is to work with and how much you can accomplish with it in little time. Given that Spore won't be released on iPhone until September, it's implied that much more work will be put into the game before the actual release.

However if this Spore's release goes anything like it's full-scale big brother, maybe they'll have something going by September 2012.


Logic Bomb
By powergrip on 3/6/2008 3:47:43 PM , Rating: 1
I'd like to see someone code a logic bomb for these and hide it in a free app. lawl




RE: Logic Bomb
By kelmon on 3/7/2008 4:04:06 AM , Rating: 3
Hysterical. Now I need to go and find some needle and thread to sew up my sides that have mysteriously split at the sheer hilarity of your suggestion.


Tsk tsk =P
By Raidin on 3/6/2008 4:23:29 PM , Rating: 4
quote:
For comapnies that are just starting out


Spellcheck FTW!

quote:
SEGA's "Super Money Ball".


While I appreciate SEGA's financial games dept.'s efforts, I think this is actually supposed to be Super Monkey Ball. =P




Mac only SDK =(
By HrilL on 3/6/2008 6:23:16 PM , Rating: 2
I guess the only way I'll get to make my own apps is to get leopord working in a VM if that will even work since I'm not going to buy a mac. I guess that goes for trying the beta 2.0 update too ;(

on another note active sync is going to be awsome and now exchange service will be a lot easier to sell to iPhone users :) as of late we have been pushing black berries over anything but now the iPhone will be just as good :)




RE: Mac only SDK =(
By robinthakur on 3/7/2008 5:51:47 AM , Rating: 2
Wow, even more glad that i got my iPhone now. I'm especially pleased that other than storage increases, Apple haven't yet introduced a new model and are instead pushing software updates instead. After all, which blackberries are 3G again?


By Chris Peredun on 3/6/2008 3:21:17 PM , Rating: 2
The link is working - their servers are not.

Please be patient.




Lock in
By mattflaschen on 3/12/2008 4:15:54 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
In order to distribute these new third-party applications, Apple created the iTunes App Store. Unfortunately, this will be the only way that customers will be able to get new iPhone applications.


That's an unbelievable level of lock in. Why should users have to get their apps through Apple, and if vendors are selling their programs, why should they give Apple a cut?

The idea that this is necessary for "security" or something is totally bogus. Apple is just trying to maintain their stranglehold.




YES!
By monitorjbl on 3/6/08, Rating: 0
"DailyTech is the best kept secret on the Internet." -- Larry Barber











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