Official iPhone web-app directory coming?

Apple is gathering an official listing of web applications for the iPhone, reports claim. An anonymous developer says that Apple representatives are contacting the authors of various apps, and prompting them to supply material such as icons, screenshots, URLs and descriptions. The procedure is said to be close to that for developers submitting to the official Dashboard widget directory, which makes it easier for users to find widgets that are safe to install. Participants in the iPhone program are purportedly being sworn to absolute secrecy, at least for the time being.

If true, the news of a web-app directory would seem to validate an earlier account from an unofficial Apple source, which suggested that the company has no current plans for a native SDK release. This same source has hinted however that developers may eventually be able to take advantage of offline storage through Safari, opening the door to apps that do not require EDGE or Wi-Fi. These programs may even be given their own Home icons, or JavaScript access to certain iPhone functions. The primary limitation would be the need to code through HTML, CSS and AJAX.

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Rezzz

tell me which developer

10/10, 11:43am, EDT

so i know not to buy their crap.

"Participants in the iPhone program are purportedly being sworn to absolute secrecy.."

and yet we read about it here from one of these would be professionals leaking. little wonder apple doesn't like to interact with Cracker-Jack outfits. grow some sack and keep your mouth shut. ethics.

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SLURPY

No thanks

10/10, 11:53am, EDT

Sorry but I just think these "web apps" cannot be considered applications in the real sense of the word. They are web pages that fit the iPhone screen.

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Roehlstation

re: no thanks

10/10, 12:13pm, EDT

These Web apps are more closely related to Widgets than Web pages. No one seems to whine about Widgets.

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varcos

re: re: no thanks

10/10, 5:59pm, EDT

No one whines about widgets because they can still get real apps on a computer. You can't build a terminal app with HTML, CSS & AJAX, as an example. You wouldn't want to build a 3d game with HTML, CSS & AJAX when building one using the native OS X tools would be infinitely easier. You can't access the accelerometer in the iPhone using a web app. There are times to use web technology and times not to. Some people, myself included, need some real apps on my iphone, I just hope Apple will start allowing it sooner rather than later.

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