Apple to open iPhone platform at WWDC?
updated 09:15 am EDT, Mon June 4, 2007
Apple to open up iPhone?
The iPhone fever built by Apple and its much adored chief exec has caused some anxiety in Apple execs ahead of the much-anticipated launch on June 29th. The massive interest and the immense attention may lead some to be disappointed with the first generation of Apple's iPhone, according to the The New York Times. "The anticipation, which is intense even by Jobsian standards, has led to some quiet, behind-the-scenes anxiety at Apple. Some Apple executives worry privately that expectations for the one-button phones may be too high and that first-generation buyers will end up disappointed." The report, however, indicates that Apple's planned in-the-field software upgrades for the iPhone may give it an edge in a rapidly changing mobile technology environment and that the company will announce a program at its annual developer conference next week to open the iPhone platform to third-party applications.
The report notes that there are skeptics of the consumer device, as the high price will limit the phones’ appeal to true believers, the bandwidth or connectivity is slower than many other phones, and lack of a true-keyboard may limit text-intensive business applications.
“It’s very media-centric,” the Times quotes a director at a handset competitor. Declining to be identified so as to not elicit comparisons with the iPhone, the director continued: "It will hit one sweet spot, but not necessarily all of the sweet spots — we hope."
Last week at the D5 conference, Jobs touted the software behind the device and said that Apple was looking for ways to open up the iPhone platform to third-party applications, which could spawn an entire new generation of mobile computing. Jobs believed that Apple's Mac OS X, tuned for mobile applications, will allow it stay ahead of its competitors, giving it a five-year lead in the industry and helping it succeed where the Japanese consumer electronics industry failed.
The Times reports that Apple intends to announce at WWDC next week that it will make it possible for developers of small programs written for the Macs to easily convert them to run on the iPhone.
oh please oh please
06/04, 09:37am reply
Please open it up to developers, such as yours truly! I'll port my telescope controller app over so fast...
Glasspusher
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Oct 2000
more bs
06/04, 09:37am reply
"…that expectations for the one-button phones may be too high…"
One button?! It has 5 buttons, not one.
suhail
Senior User
Joined: Nov 1999
It only has one button
06/04, 09:54am reply
Where are you seeing the other 4?
http://www.apple.com/iphone/technology/specs.html
mgpalma
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Sep 2000
hope so
06/04, 10:54am reply
a piece of my app will be there so fast (package tracking and notfiication piece)
chadpengar
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Oct 2001
5 buttons
06/04, 11:00am reply
I think he means the multi-touch allows you to use all your fingers on the screen.
mr100percent
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Dec 1999
It's inevitable!
06/04, 01:58pm reply
It will happen. I can't wait to see some great astronomy software ported to it and some good bible reader apps too. Then I can quite carrying a Palm Pilot in my other pocket.
Deal
Mac Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2001
huh?
06/04, 02:11pm reply
indicates that Apple's planned in-the-field software upgrades for the iPhone may give it an edge in a rapidly changing mobile technology environment and that the company will announce a program at its annual developer conference next week to open the iPhone platform to third-party applications.
I'm sorry, but don't other high-end phones update their software too?
testudo
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Joined: Aug 2001
@testudo
06/04, 04:57pm reply
Come on, don't be so stupid. They do not say that the in-the-field SW updates is the key in and of itself, but the stuff that they can add to the phone through the mechanism that will keep them ahead.
And not all smart phones make it easy to do in the field upgrades. My Nokia N80 can now, through a convoluted PC/Windows only firmware flashing thing that you have to do on your PC and hook to the N80 by a cable...
chadpengar
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Oct 2001
re testudo
06/04, 07:45pm reply
C'mon testie, that is a weak attack even by your standards. S/W upgrades that can re-map the buttons and functions and phone-apps and everything except memory and screen res - you can't remap Treo keyboards.
I'm with others here. I have a Palm for only two reasons, astronomy apps and tracking expenses. Give me 3rd party apps on this 3" screen and I will pay the money. I was not really considering the phone when my contract finishes in 6 months, but after seeing those commercials - I'm on board!
MacnnGregor
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Apr 2004
lack of a true-keyboard
06/04, 07:59pm reply
That's a good one. Those teeny-weenie little things on phones are "true-keyboards". Give me a break.
I'm typing on a true-keyboard-on my Mac.
msuper69
Mac Elite
Joined: Jan 2000