Apple iPhone SDK Event Recap
We all know that Stevie J can put quite an event together. It’s almost cult-tastic. It seems that even the most avid Apple-haters forget themselves and crack a brief smile while Jobs is on stage doing his thing. There’s no question; he’s a smart dude. The iPhone SDK Event was no exception – so let’s have a quick recap:
- Apple has 28% of the US Smartphone market, 71% (doubtful) of mobile browser usage is Safari.
- Business users? Check. Full Exchange / ActiveSync support is on the way including push email, push contacts, push calander, VPN, security and more.
- Web apps are great, native apps are better. The SDK is here and it’s ready to party… As long as you’ve got a Mac. Developers using Windows and Linux-based systems need not apply.
- Game developers gave demos of native games built in two weeks without ever having seen the SDK prior. EA showed Spore and Sega showed Super Monkey Ball; sweet.
- App developers had a bit more time to boogie. Salesforce.com showed a very good looking native app tied to its online CRM solution. AOL showed a native AIM app.
- All apps will be distributed through Apple’s App Store only. This is great news for big developers that can afford to pay to have their apps featured, ok news for small developers that have a better chance at more exposure, and not so good news for users who are going to have to dig through the inevitable mess of thousands upon thousands of apps. Hey, at least Jobs’ model keeps Handango out of the game.
- Developers get 70% revenue share (score!), no charge for publishing freeware apps (only $99 for payware!) and a nice little $100 million VC fund to help them get crackin.
- SDK is available now, the rest drops in June with version 2.0 software. Free for iPhones, chargeable for iPod Touches.
This chapter of the Book of Job(s) is now closed. No Flash support yet just like we said, but good things in general. Go developers go!
how about a BGR app for iphone? Sure you can get that going.
Also, Zack how about looking at the Browsers being used on BGR, you could look and tell us what the breakdowns are. I think BG did this awhile back but its interesting data.
And I agree this is all good news for Apple and maybe something that will push RIM to move faster with their plans.
I still why they have to make it chargeable for iPod touches and free for iPhones! RIDICULOUS!
Looks awesome on paper, but I’m curious to see what happens when the store goes live and devs start pushing limits, especially in the realm of what Apple allows on the store.
Of course, someone will inevitably figure out how to load in SDK-developed software on Jailbreak-ed phones, and it will be a moot point. I don’t know if I want to deal with the hassle, though. As much as I love the iPhone, I can load any application I want onto a Crackberry or a Windows Mobile device, and I don’t have to worry about fighting security measures designed to prevent me from using the $500 phone I bought the way I want.
Also, I have to agree with chriz. Apple’s strategy “of nickel-and-dime Touch users in every way possible” is pretty insulting. At worst, I would have just tacked on another ~$20 to the price of each Touch, covered it up front. I guess that would suck for people who just want to play music and watch videos on their Touch but if that’s the case…why would you buy a Touch?