Leak: third-party iPhone apps to be issued through iTunes Store
Chief among the revelations was that Apple will apparently manage and distribute software for the iPhone and iPod touch written using its upcoming Software Developers Kit (SDK) through its ubiquitous iTunes Store.
"Tiny Code no longer produces fixes or applications for firmware 1.1.3. We can't say much, but we are working with Apple and with their SDK for the next firmware release and SDK applications and we shouldn't be missed for long," the developer wrote in a message on its website that has since been remove. "We will no longer update our Installer.app repo for legality reasons and you should see us soon on iTunes."
In a sidebar item also since removed from the site, Tiny Code also wrote "Now targeting fw 1.1.4 alpha 2," implying that applications written using the iPhone SDK will only function on iPhones running the still unreleased iPhone software version 1.1.4.
While announcing Apple's formal intent to offer an official SDK for the iPhone and iPod touch last October, company chief executive Steve Jobs also hinted that his firm was taking extra precautions to develop a distribution system that would protect users from viruses, malware, and privacy attacks — one that many have long speculated would involve the iTunes Store in some fashion.
"While this makes such a phone less than 'totally open,' we believe it is a step in the right direction," he wrote. "We are working on an advanced system which will offer developers broad access to natively program the iPhoneâs amazing software platform while at the same time protecting users from malicious programs."
52 Comments
You call that a leak? I'm not exactly shocked that 3rd party apps are going to be available through itunes. But since its not official yet I guess I will pretend I'm actually surprised and shocked by this.
Leak? Wait. Didn't you guys attend MacWorld this year?
It was made pretty clear at MacWorld that Apple would be handling this.
You call that a leak? I'm not exactly shocked that 3rd party apps are going to be available through itunes. But since its not official yet I guess I will pretend I'm actually surprised and shocked by this.
"What...oh, ALIEN BABY!? THAT IS SHOCKING...I...I AM SHOCKED! SHOCKED!"
-Andy the Bomb
Seriously, can I get an "effing duh?" Of course it was going to be through the iTunes store. How else was it going to work?
Leak? Wait. Didn't you guys attend MacWorld this year?
It was made pretty clear at MacWorld that Apple would be handling this.
100% agreed! Common knowledge at the very least. So much for breaking news.
Am I the only one who doesn't want a "totally open" phone? I'm all for 3rd party apps on phones, but with the always on nature of cell phones and increasing complexity of their OS I want some built-in stopgates against malicious and poorly written code. Has a horribly inept coder I'd hate to think that anyone could easily install code I wrote on their phone.