Filed under: Steve Jobs, Apple, Developer, iPhone
Apple: "we plan to have an iPhone SDK in developers' hands in February"
That's right folks. You read it correctly. Cats & dogs are living together, and in other news Steve Jobs has, via Apple's 'Hot News' page, announced that Apple will, FINALLY, support third-party development of native applications for the iPhone. The SDK will arrive, for iPhone and iPod touch (!), in February 2008 after MacWorld San Francisco. Apple "[is] excited about creating a vibrant third party developer community around the iPhone and enabling hundreds of new applications for our users," but they are taking the time to do it properly "because we're trying to do two diametrically opposed things at once -- provide an advanced and open platform to developers while at the same time protect iPhone users from viruses, malware, privacy attacks, etc."
I think I can speak for everyone here at TUAW, and of course our loyal readers, when I say that this move is so incredibly welcome and WOW. All I can say to Steve is: "What took you so long to let us at your beloved devices?" Now the only question is whether the various iPhone dev teams can sit on their collective coding hands until Valentine's Day...
Thanks to all those who sent this in!
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Mike Schramm said 11:26AM on 10-17-2007
Woohooo! It was probably me buying an iPhone last weekend that did it. Steve just couldn't let me go without official apps.
Reply
Rollins said 11:32AM on 10-17-2007
Well, that pretty much solidifies my decision to get an iPod Touch. Thanks Apple, although that's quite a bit of a wait. :\
Reply
nick said 11:34AM on 10-17-2007
/does a crazy dance
Reply
Atariboy said 11:36AM on 10-17-2007
http://digg.com/apple/iPhone_and_iPod_Touch_SDK_in_February
Reply
Carl Trimble said 11:36AM on 10-17-2007
Dev teams, don't sit on your hands. Get us a relock for anySIM or TurboSIM users.
Reply
m said 11:36AM on 10-17-2007
yes,this is great news, no more erica as of february. see you then!
Reply
Bill Mac said 11:39AM on 10-17-2007
Geesh! SJ announces that there'll be an official SDK for you iPhone developers and all you can say is "what took you so long?" "Quite a bit of a wait."
I guess it's only us iPhone users who actually understand how important a stable, safe, hack-free iPhone environment is... well, us and SJ anyways.
What good is an open platform that you can all sink your teeth into if nobody uses it because it gets so buggy and broken...I guess it would be a fun hobby for the "enthusiasts", but not much else.
It's a good thing for all of us that they're taking their time and making it right. You'll all profit in the end, so show a little patience. :)
Reply
Dominic Yates said 11:39AM on 10-17-2007
Oh yes finally !!
Reply
cashmonee said 11:43AM on 10-17-2007
So now what will Erica post about? I doubt the Dev Team will ever go away, since I am sure these apps will not be free and people in general don't like to pay for these things.
Reply
David Tait said 11:41AM on 10-17-2007
Dont you mean Macworld?
WWDC is later in the year in the spring/summer
Reply
XESpawn said 11:43AM on 10-17-2007
WOW and Double-WOW!!
We may never know if Apple always had this in the works or not, but one thing is clear...if they didn't, the iPhone Dev Team forced Apple's hand on this just like Parallels pushed Apple to release BootCamp. If it was always planned, then the iPhone Dev Team certainly pushed Apple to let us know their plans.
That's all customers really want--to know what is the plan. We can make better, more informed, decisions when we know what to expect.
Kudos to the Dev Team, and kudos to Apple for listening to its customers. This is great news to all of us already owning an iPhone/iPod Touch, and those that have been considering it.
Reply
byaah said 11:43AM on 10-17-2007
This is pretty awesome, but it makes me kind of sad at the same time. I was really enjoying the whole hacking community that went along with no SDK. I guess there will still be plenty of things to hack, even with an SDK.
Thanks, Steve.
Reply
PSM said 11:43AM on 10-17-2007
Great news! I am trying out AT&T right now, and although I went with Windows Mobile due to 3rd party openness, things are looking up for the iPhone being a possible choice for my next upgrade. I hope so, cause this thing is so... Windows-y! Bleh!
Reply
Chris said 11:45AM on 10-17-2007
YAY!!
Reply
Johnny Thrash said 11:47AM on 10-17-2007
HOT DAMN! I knew it would come sooner or later! Without hacks and crap. WOOOHOOO!
Reply
E-Rock said 11:47AM on 10-17-2007
Finally? Seriously, the freaking phone's been out for what, 3 and a half months? Like #7, I'm happy they're taking their time to do it right. Now maybe we could let up on all the hacking news...
Reply
apeguero said 11:48AM on 10-17-2007
This is excellent news. I had heard earlier this month that they were working on something to allow apps to be installed. It'd be interesting to see what apps are created for the iPhone and how they'll be distributed (iTunes anyone?). I hope they'll at least do a personal finance one that syncs with Money and Quicken.
Reply
Hordur said 11:49AM on 10-17-2007
XESpawn ....
"the iPhone Dev Team forced Apple's hand on this just like Parallels pushed Apple to release BootCamp. If it was always planned, then the iPhone Dev Team certainly pushed Apple to let us know their plans."
what do you mean ?
BootCamp and Parallels are in no way related in the way you describe...
There was a "dev" team if you will, that released a free EFI solution before BootCamp... nothing related to Parallels
Reply
wei said 11:49AM on 10-17-2007
Sounds great. I think I'll hold off on updating the firmware of my touch until the SDK is released, so I can keep enjoying my jailbroken touch ;). I just hope Apple makes this SDK widely available so everyone can provide great software!
Reply
Troy said 5:49PM on 10-17-2007
Is it just me or are people completely ignorant that the iPhone delayed Apple's Leopard by several months because Leopard devs were moved to the iPhone to get it out on time.
And now that Leopard has "gone gold", Apple announces that they're developing an SDK for the iPhone/Touch.
Apple isn't Microsoft - they don't have the kind of manpower to burn the candle at both ends. Apple also seems to be able to put out a competent product, unlike our friends in Redmond.
I believe that the SDK is less a response to consumer demand than it is something that was delayed because Apple had enough on its plate already with releasing the iPhone, new iPods, and Leopard.
Reply