Developer creates copy-paste tech for iPhone

One of the common complaints about Apple's iPhone--and one that did not get solved with the launch of the iPhone 3G--is the lack of a copy-paste function. An independent developer, Zac White, recently unveiled his open-source solution: OpenClip, a standard for other iPhone application developers.

He's not the first one to have that idea: another developer, Preston Monroe, has created a hack called iCopy that lets iPhone owners copy and paste between the e-mail and Web browser applications.

OpenClip is not a standalone app but rather a technology that developers can incorporate into their iPhone applications, should they choose to participate. No applications yet support OpenClip, but it's coming soon for the American Heritage Dictionary and Roget's Thesaurus applications, Twitter client Twittelator, notepad application MagicPad, finance lexicon Wall Street Worlds, and a number of others.

iPhone users will be able to copy and paste from one OpenClip application to the next, but not to developer applications that aren't participating or to Apple's own iPhone apps, such as its e-mail client or the Safari browser.

Apple has acknowledged that copy-paste functionality will be officially coming to the iPhone, eventually, and OpenClip's creator has recognized Apple's plan.

"Instead of just waiting on the sidelines, we wanted to help iPhone users and Apple by being proactive and trying to help with a solution," the site's FAQ reads. "While just an interim fix until Apple adopts a systemwide version, OpenClip hopes to add to the iPhone user experience and provide a working case study for Apple, hopefully allowing (company engineers) to roll out their version more quickly."

[manodud]

awesome!! cant wait to use it...

[smilin:)]

Copy Paste! OMG Apple has now officially out innovated RIM and Microsoft!

...oh wait. That was a "1.0" feature for RIM and MS.
...oh wait again...Apple didn't actually accomplish it yet.

At least they accomplished solid 3G connectivity before anyone else and I heard they should soon have our crashing apps fixed.

[faceless128]

yeah, i've been using solid 3G (EV-DO Rev.A) for half a year on my cellphone, and using tethering too.

[logicbus]

Link should be to openclip.org, not openclip.com.

[moretroops]

Any idea why apple has not incorporated copy/paste yet? Is it a copyright thing -- afraid of people sending protected files to each other? Apple is obviously capable. I'm just wondering why they've held back.

Any clues.

[plcrules]

cuz apple hates copying other companies. they never do. i think they might have to now cuz ppl r forcing them 2. but they might not and they might just be stubborn. i really dont no wat they r going to do

[antdzi]

when can we have it I would pay £0.59p for it ... Anthony uk

[wratbatblue]

Big deal. I need to be able to copy/paste ID/password from password vault app to Safari, or from email to notes. Might as well not bother with it at all until it can be used in all apps. Otherwise it's just a tease.

[Thomas, David]

Copying, and pasting ID/password(s) is actually a bad idea.

[wadah1111]

well done at last someone is doing something about some phone Aaah when Apple's going to get it? apple while working on 3G please help this guy spread his clip to other applications . Use your itunes magic

[Musacha]

This is the funniest article I've ever read. I didn't know that the iPhone couldn't do something as simple as copy & paste. Wow!

[Pixelkida]

It's not as simple as it seems. You have to remember that however they implement it, that will be the way copy and paste works on this new platform for the next 20 years or however long.

They need to get it right and I for one am happy to wait.

[IowaNinersFan]

They can't even fix a 3G connectivity issue, what makes you think they'd have time to develop something simple like copy-n-paste? LOL

[Vegaman_Dan]

Who wants to bet that this will never actually appear in the Apps Store? It's exactly the sort of thing that Apple does not want on their device. That means it will be available to jailbroken devices only most likely.

Why doesn't Apple have copy/paste already? Since the user is running as root all the time, there is zero protection or security enabled. Allowing people the copy/paste functionality would cause all sorts of wonderful exploit vectors to appear. With full unrestricted root access, you could easily create a zombie net of iPhone/Touch units with no hope of fixing it by the end user. It would be a horrible nightmare of PR for Apple to allow that to happen.

They have a very real reason to keep copy/paste restricted until they come up with a means of security for the unit. Right now though- yeah, it's an open platform just ready for anyone to walk in and take over.

[Thomas, David]

Hey VD, it's not an application.

[RonningFamily]

Just keep using your Palm it's all about choice you dope...if you like Palm's, or Blackberry's use those. It's all about choice....... pick your poison.

Most novice users just don't get computing....... Apple makes it simple....Look at all the users using different platforms to manage their music and pictures.....

Same concept....Apple I tunes use Itunes one simple method.

Shoud have never did the Zune. Should have had one platform and have one platform for all pc owners.

Keep it simple.........