Skip to Content

First iPhone Developer acceptances confirmed

TUAW has finally been able to confirm actual acceptances into the $99 iPhone developer program. This is what we have been able to learn:

The accepted developers were apparently among the first to apply. Rather than wait for the SDK to download, many of the developers applied as soon as they saw the application page.

The accepted developers previously received the rejection letter (aka what Mike beautifully calls the "limbogram"). While the acceptance letter arrived this morning, developers reportedly received their initial rejections as early as the first Friday after applying.

The acceptances appear to be random. One lucky developer noted his surprise that he, with essentially no iPhone coding background, was accepted while experienced, well-known Mac software houses were rejected.

The program is firewalled. Unless you are authorized, you will not get access to Apple's documentation and support site.

Five iPhone limit. For anyone hoping to find a back door way to distribute software, tough luck. You may develop for up to five iPhones and that's it. So no distribution sans Apple.

Test devices are iBricks -- so to speak. Adding the pre-release iPhone OS to your iPhone seems to kill actual phone functionality. Update: We have unconfirmed reports that some developer phones continue to work as expected; as soon as we can clarify this we will.

TUAW congratulates the lucky developers who got into the program. If you got your happy note this morning and have more to add, let us know in the comments or use our tip line for confidentiality. Update: Unless you submit a working email address with your tip, we cannot get back to you. (Hint hint, T.W.)



TUAW has finally been able to confirm actual acceptances into the $99 iPhone developer program. This is what we have been able to learn:...
 

Add a Comment

*0 / 3000 Character Maximum

54 Comments

Filter by:
Ryan Unger

My firm was lucky enough to get the official nod from Apple. Hopefully we'll have a chance to post our findings at our blog: http://www.punchkickinteractive.com/blog/

-Ryan

April 03 2008 at 7:26 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
pedrolance

Does already someone is sure if the updated iphone with the beta os will work or not normally? I only have this one and I don't want to turn it into a brick! I'm sure many other single developers are having the same question.

March 26 2008 at 5:36 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
John

I received the acceptance email at about 8:30pm pacific on the 19th, and paid almost immediately. It took until around 4pm on the 20th to receive the program activation key. I went through all the certificate, device, and provisioning processes before installing the OS beta. It's worth noting that a provisioning profile has the ability to disable cellular access, that could be why people think that phone functionality gets disabled. I have full functionality with my 5A147p OS. Again, no need to worry about losing phone or iPod behavior, it's working for me.

March 21 2008 at 7:44 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Dani

So. If Erica's reporting/journalism/life is so terrible, then why do you continue to read her articles?

And another thing. Who really gives a fuck if it's a rejection letter or not? Good God, I'd rather call it a hoover than vacuum cleaner. Because it's quicker. Like rejection letter, because everyone evidently knows what it means, and it's quicker and easier to say than the 'We're afraid you have not been accepted at this time but keep holding your breath bullshit etc' letters.

Thirdly. Then my rant will most probably be over. Of xourse she's going to be slightly negative about the restrictive iPhone SDK (i can't remember who mentioned this). It's restrictive. The open-sourced jailbreak scene is much more attractive, and before you crone on about Apple needing to make money, we all know nobody except Apple and its stockholders give a flying flock whether they make any money; We just want their stuff.

March 21 2008 at 1:07 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Chandler

"The program is firewalled. Unless you are authorized, you will not get access to Apple's documentation and support site."
NOT TRUE! The documentation is available to view right in Xcode, which is part of the Free SDK. (This is totally awesome, BTW)
It is also available online through the iPhone Reference Library. You do have to log in though, but only with the user information you received when you registered in the first place, so you could download the SDK!
That being said, I do believe in order to receive support you have to be part of the $99 Standard Program

March 20 2008 at 10:04 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Wayne

>The accepted developers were apparently among the first to apply

Well, I can blow this assumption out of the water. I just got a call from a developer friend who told me he just got his invite to the join the $99 prpogram this morning. Thing is, he wasn't even aware of the program untill I called him several days after I applied and told him he should apply, too. So, here I sit, ready to code and test some OpenGL-based apps, but no idea when I'll get the random nod. So bloody unfair it leave a bitter taste in my mouth that will take some time to fade.

Wayne

March 20 2008 at 8:47 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
daveb

I'd like the "accepted" to tell us if an ipod touch may be used for development.

March 19 2008 at 11:18 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to daveb's comment
Chandler

Short answer, Yes.

Just don't use your personal one with your entire iTunes library on it, as it may get "bricked". Also, remember that the touch does not contain all the same features as the phone. Such as external speakers and the camera, in addition to the "obvious" one.

March 20 2008 at 10:13 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
JLA

According to the definition some are applying to a 'rejection letter', medical school admissions offices don't send out rejection letters...they send out "not this year, try again next year" letters.

March 19 2008 at 9:26 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
David H Dennis

I'm pretty sure that Erica Sadun has done far more for iPhone development than everyone talking on this thread combined. I warmly appreciate her hard work and contributions.

It does sound like she prefers the jailbreak environment to Apple's more restrictive SDK. That's not a crime and I don't see any financial interest she would have in this because all her applications are free. She might have an emotional interest in it, but if we forbade people with emotional interests in things from communicating about them, we would have a much poorer web.

On the other hand, she does seem to have her facts wrong. I registered as a developer and downloaded the SDK. I was too cheap to apply for a certificate; figured I'd hold off on that until I had most of my application done. Insofar as I know, I have all the documentation and videos and software that I need to develop the software. The only thing missing is being able to test on a real iPhone, which is not necessary at this stage of my development.

I would give her a break. She's not a reporter. It's OK for her to be wrong about some things as long as we tell her, without attacking her personally. The personal attacks are just plain silly, and hurtful, and have to stop.

D


March 19 2008 at 5:32 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jim of Davao

I think there's a new creed for bloggers like Erica.

Never admit you were wrong. Never apologize. Flame as much as you can. It's the page views that count.

March 19 2008 at 4:12 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Jim of Davao's comment
Ramesh

Not to mention never respond to the comments yourself.

March 19 2008 at 4:19 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Buy an ad here

Hot Apps on TUAW

Tweets

© 2012 AOL Inc. All Rights Reserved.