Web-apps list for iPhone

Apple today officially launched its Web-apps for iPhone website, after much anticipation earlier this week. Apple's site, modeled after its own software download site, lists over 200 third-party Web-based applications optimized and available for Apple's popular device, providing a description, company name information (name/URL) and date added. Previously, the company posted a Web-app development guide to help developers optimize and tune their Web applications. While users, developers, and companies have been clamoring over native application, the Cupertino-based company will reportedly focus on Web-based applications for the near future; however, new rumors indicate that the company may be preparing a broader-based native application strategy that would require certification.

Apple has categorized the listing by Most Recent, Most Popular, Alphabetical and Staff Picks. Currently, the most popular programs are the Facebook app, Bejeweled, Sudoku, and a Twitter app called Hahlo.

Despite the lack of current support of native third-party applications by Apple, the iPhone hacking community developed a way to modify and easily install third-party native applications on the iPhone; however, Apple's most recent v1.1.1 firmware update disabled all previous hacks for third-party application support (as well as "bricked" most--but not all--unlocked phones, as Apple had warned) and make the filesystem much more secure.

Only in the last few days, have hackers been able to "jailbreak" iPhones running the latest v1.1.1 firmware to allow users to re-install (updated) native applications as well as hackers to continue selling their unlock applications.

Apple execs previously said Apple would take a neutral stance on native application by third-parties, but its most recent app-disabling firmware update, new checksum file system security, and recent statements by hackers indicate otherwise.

by MacNN Staff