Thursday, October 18, 2007

Apple finally opens up the iPhone to third-party apps

Well, you guys are finally going to get your wish! It's about time Apple listened to the consumer and allowed them to have their third-party applications. But you're going to have to wait until February:

Apple boss Steve Jobs has said that outside developers will now be allowed to make add-on software for the iPhone.

The move follows criticism that Apple was previously not allowing outsiders to make programs that would run easily on the popular mobile phone.

Last month Apple warned iPhone users not to hack into the gadget to install unauthorised programs.

Apple said that such moves would render the phones "permanently inoperable" when it releases software updates.

[...]

He added that it would take until February to release a software development kit (SDK), as Apple both wanted to "provide an advanced and open platform", at the same time as protecting iPhone users from viruses and privacy attacks.

The SDK will also allow developers to make applications for the iPod touch, which uses the same underlying architecture as the iPhone.

Apple has played a cat and mouse game with hackers since the phone's launch, with programmers battling the protection on the device in order to install third-party programs, such as games emulators, net telephony applications and turning the gadget into a remote control.