Developers working around iPhone SDK restrictions

Developers are finding ways to cope with the harsh restrictions of Apple's iPhone SDK, writes the LA Times. The terms of the SDK include a strict non-disclosure agreement, which has generally been interpreted to mean that developers cannot discuss the SDK tools with people outside of an app's creative team, whether through e-mail, blogs, discussion boards or conferences. "We can't talk about our...

Inside Apple's iPhone SDK Gag Order

snydeq writes "InfoWorld's Tom Yager takes a closer look at Apple's iPhone SDK confidentiality agreement, which restricts developers from discussing the SDK or exchanging ideas with others, thereby leaving no room for forums, newsgroups, open source projects, tutorials, magazine articles, users' groups, or books. But because anyone is free to obtain the iPhone SDK by signing up for it, Apple is essentially branding publicly available information as confidential. This 'puzzling contradiction' is the 'antithesis of the developer-friendly Apple Developer Connection' on which the iPhone SDK program is based, Yager contends. 'You'll see arguments from armchair legal analysts that the iPhone developer Agreements won't stand up in court — but those analysts certainly won't stand up in court on your behalf.' Anyone planning to launch an iPhone forum or open source project should have 'a lawyer draft your request for exemption, and make sure that the Apple staffer granting it personally commits to status as authorized to approve exceptions to the iPhone Registered Developer and iPhone SDK Agreements,' Yager warns."Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Say hello to the iPhone SDK 8th beta version

Section: iPhone + Communications, iPhone, iPhone SDK & AppsFinally, just in time for the release of the iPhone 3G in a couple weeks, Apple has released the 8th beta version of the iPhone Software Development Kit. This new iPhone SDK includes everything that third-party iPhone application developers could probably need, including tools, compilers, frameworks and documentation. In addition, the SDK also contains the Xcode IDE, as well as the Instrument analysis tools and many more. The iPhone SDK also includes the iPhone Simulator, which enables developers to create applications that run on both the iPhone and iPod Touch. It is compatible with the final iPhone 2.0 release, and can be used to build and sign any iPhone OS application that needs to be submitted to the App Store. The iPhone SDK is free to download, but if you’re keen on submitting your iPhone OS applications, you must be a member of the iPhone Developer Program. Being a member also gives you a complete and integrated process for developing, debugging and distributing your free, commercial, or in-house applications. Likewise, it also gives you access to the complete package of development resources, real-world testing on iPhone, and distribution facility to the App Store. Via [Palluxo] Full Story » | Written by Arnold Zafra for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »

iPhone SDK Beta 8 Released

Apple has released iPhone SDK Beta 8 (9m2199) in preparation for launching the iPhone App Store in the near future. Additionally, iPhone beta certificates issued before June 9 have also expired. Applications must be associated with a certificate issued after June 9 in order to work with the iPhone. The update is 1.25GB in size, and includes iPhone firmware revision 5a345. Typically, if the revision ends in a number, it's a pretty stable release. According to sources familiar with the release notes, things got a lot more stable in the last two weeks, since revision 5a331. Also mentioned along with the update is a developer-only version of iTunes 7.7, which developers can use to "install iPhone OS Beta 8 on your Apple devices." The new version of iTunes doesn't seem to be included with the 1.25GB update, however, and developers -- apparently -- are having a hard time finding it on Apple's website. More details about the SDK will be available here as we learn them, and will probably be posted to Apple's iPhone Developer Site when they're available. Tips, as always, are welcome at our tip line. We're happy to take a look at confidential information, and your anonymity is our guarantee. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

iPhone SDK agreement forbids real-time route guidance, dancing, rock'n'roll

Apple's always been known for its amusingly-conservative disclaimers (you can't use iTunes to "design a nuclear weapon," for example) and it looks like the products-liability team at the Fruit has had their way with the iPhone SDK agreement as well, inserting a provision specifically prohibiting developers from creating apps "marketed for real time route guidance; automatic or autonomous control of vehicles, aircraft, or other mechanical devices; dispatch or fleet management; or emergency or life-saving purposes." Yep, that's right -- no real-time route guidance (or, uh, fleet management) allowed. That'd be a huge bummer -- except, of course, that TomTom has already come out and said that its app is ready to go on the iPhone. Assuming TomTom used the SDK and not the jailbreak toolchain, we'd bet that Apple is just covering its ass here and that it's worked out an agreement with TomTom to pass along any liability -- you can bet Steve doesn't want to get sued when iPhone users start careening into sandpiles and into oncoming trains. We'll see for sure when the App Store finally launches, though -- until then, it's all just cheap speculation. [Via BoingBoing Gadgets]Permalink | Email this | Comments

Apple posts iPhone SDK 7

Section: Apple, Apple News, Software + Apps, Developer, Development, iPhone + Communications, iPhone, iPhone SDK & AppsGood news for those working with the iPhone SDK. Yesterday, during all the WWDC hoopla, Apple quietly posted the seventh edition of the iPhone software development kit. The newest edition of the SDK is build 9M2199, and weighs in at a download size of 1.19GB. Registered users of the SDK can go to the Apple Dev Center to download the new build as an update, or you can go to the same site to register for the program and download the build. Via [World of Apple] Full Story » | Written by Mark Rowland for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »