IPhone Applications
Applications for the iPhone were originally developed by Apple and selected partners. With the release of the iPhone SDK, Apple has opened up the field to other developers. A wide variety of applications, ranging in cost from free to $10 or more, can be downloaded at the iPhone App Store, available directly on the device or through iTunes.
Apple's iPhone development was covered by a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) to protect the iPhone operating system, but this policy was lifted by Apple on October 1, 2008. In a statement to developers, Apple said "(...) the NDA has created too much of a burden on developers, authors and others interested in helping further the iPhone’s success, so we are dropping it for released software."1
Fast Facts
- Applications can be installed on the iPhone through 3rd party software
- Many iPhone widgets and applications are web-based and can be accessed through the Safari browser
- A number of new applications for the iPhone 3G were announced in June 2008
The SDK
The iPhone SDK was announced early in 2008. Selected developers were allowed to utilize and test the developer's kit. With the release of iPhone 2.0, the SDK was released for developers to begin writing their own applications for the iPhone 3G.
The iPhone 3G
With the release of the iPhone 3G on July 11, 2008, a new wave of applications was also released.
These applications range from additional games such as MLB iPhone and Super Monkey Ball iPhone to the more enterprise-focused applications like MobileMe and the Associated Press iPhone.
Kill Switch Rumors
In August of 2008, rumors spread of a kill switch that could be covertly installed in the iPhone, capable of automatically deleting third-party applications at Apple's command. Apple CEO Steve Jobs later confirmed the existence of the kill switch, but insisted it would only be used in extreme cases (such as an application that installs malware on to the phone), and that no applications were currently on the "kill switch list."2
Top iPhone Pages
Related Pages on Mahalo
IPhone 3G | IPhone | IPhone App Store | MobileMe | Apple | Steve Jobs | IPhone Application Kill Switch | Enigmo iPhone Game | Obama iPhone App
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