Apple VPs confirm no 3rd party iPhone apps

Wow, that's terrible, terrible news. This is totally a platform that would be strengthened by third party development. I hope Apple reverses this decision.

http://mobquery.com/2007/01/11/iphone-enabling-technologies/

what a shame. i was just contemplating all the neat stuff you can do with the UI. oh well, i hope Apple realizes what a mistake that would be and change their mind. otherwise, someone else will come along and provide a platform that independent innovators can jump on, and i bet'cha, that'll leave Apple far behind.

Don't worry too much guys. If Apple does not open the phone to third parties we will find a way to do it.

I gurantee it.

Ricardo

Not even JAVA (J2ME)?

Now that does seriously suck. I can understand why Apple would prevent anything to harm the system they want to perfect. But Java runs in a virtual machine (sandbox) so it cannot harm anything in the system. any Pocket PC can run J2ME apps in what they call the 'midlet manager'.

Some services, such as road information data rely on J2ME apps to transmit the information... I wouldn't want to need another app just for that.

Cingular currently anyone at all to write code that will install on their handsets, including Windows Mobile Smartphone applications (unlike Verizon). Smells more like Apple's restriction than Cingular's.

This polycarbonite statement directly contradicts David Pogue's hands-on with interview in which he states both that the front surface of the iPhone is glass and that Apple specifically went through many types of glass to find one that doesn't show fingerprints (when the backlight is one) and which wipes clean readily with a sleeve. Mr. Pogue also describes the trim as stainless steel and the back as aluminum with black plastic (where RF needs to get out). Based on the specific detail in that description, I'm more apt to belief it.

If you want a nice form-factor device with open API, user-installable apps, extremely usable web browser, email, chat, video player, mp3 player, navigation software, WiFi, Skype (coming soon)....then take a look at the Nokia N800, also announced this week (at CES in Las Vegas), and on shelves today -- $400. It's not a phone, so it's not the convergence device that the iPhone promises to be. But it's also not locking out 3rd party development, and it's cheaper, and you could have it tonight if you have no control over your spending habits. ;-) And it runs Linux -- not exactly OS X, but then apparently neither is the iPhone.

Cheers!

"reminds me of a redmond based firm"

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Are you referring to Nintendo? If you're referring to Microsoft, this is the exact opposite of what Microsoft would do and does do (see Windows Mobile Smartphones and PocketPC phones).

That's really a shame--I wanted to see Skype on the phone!