iPhone developer frustrations melt away with NDA
The end result of Apple's decision to drop an NDA for released iPhone software? Better software.
(Credit: Apple)Software development is complicated enough, even when you can ask for help.
Apple's decision to let its nondisclosure agreement on released iPhone software expire had an effect just hours after it was formally announced: developers such as Craig Hockenberry started sharing ideas for iPhone code.
A heavily moderated mailing list for Cocoa developers (Apple's user interface technology) rejoiced at the prospect that they could discuss tips for iPhone development the way they discuss Mac development.
Before Wednesday morning, they simply couldn't do such a thing in public, for fear of getting booted out of the iPhone Developer Program. Of course, in this era of ubiquitous communications, it's pretty hard to keep people under wraps, if they have something they want to say, but Apple's decision to apply the iPhone SDK's NDA to released software forced developers to go underground simply to share tips and tricks they discovered when working on a freely available application.
That was a ridiculous state of affairs, and it did nothing to further the mutual goal of Apple and iPhone developers: the continual improvement of software on the iPhone in order to boost sales. It would sort of be like if CNET forbade me from explaining to readers and colleagues how I developed my thoughts during the writing process for an article that had already been published.
Apple's justification for applying the NDA to released software (it still applies to unreleased software under development) was that competitors might be able to glean insights into the iPhone from the technical details shared among developers.
The iPhone is without a doubt a hot topic among other mobile-software development companies, such as Microsoft, Symbian, Research In Motion, and Google. However, if those companies really wanted to figure out how the iPhone works, it's not much of a stretch to assume that they have ways of making that happen.
Instead of throwing off the competition, the NDA merely angered developers who wanted nothing more than to help make Apple's latest baby even better: they just needed a little help from their friends.
This move is a win-win-win, a rare time in which that cliche actually rings true. Apple will benefit from a vibrant developer community's excitement over developing for the iPhone. The developers will be able to make their applications better and more reliable, which will make them more popular and profitable. And iPhone users are the direct beneficiaries of developer innovation.
It's also a sign that Apple--whose relationship with developers has been somewhat more strained than that other major operating-system company--is listening to the outside world.
Apple's hallmark is control: this is a company that requires an escort for reporters who want to walk 100 yards down a cavernous hallway in the Moscone Center from the media room to the bathroom in plain sight of dozens of people. That control sometimes serves Apple well, in that it can dictate a specific user experience free from outside distractions that might cause problems.
But when you make the decision to take the training wheels off the iPhone, you have to let go a little. I'm in the camp that believes that Apple always intended to open up the iPhone to outside development--despite telling developers in June 2007 that Web apps are the coolest thing since widgets--but Apple clearly has had control issues, when it comes to how its technology is tinkered with by outside forces.
Apple is never going to be Google, or even Microsoft, when it comes to placating developers. But developers are drawn to the iPhone because of the product itself, rather than the promise of freedom to tinker or a tight integration with IT. All Apple has to do to keep them happy is to give up the tiniest bit of control.
That's what Apple did Wednesday. Now all the company needs to do is set clear guidelines for what constitutes a kosher iPhone application and what is too similar to Apple's own plans to be released.
Communication has not been Apple's strong suit this past summer. But with just four paragraphs, developers are now looking at the company in a new light. Imagine what a full-time iPhone developer evangelist could accomplish.
Tom Krazit writes about the ever-expanding world of Internet search, including Google, Yahoo, online advertising, and portals, as well as the evolution of mobile computing. He has written about traditional PC companies, chip manufacturers, and mobile computers, spending the last three years covering Apple. E-mail Tom. 
Forgive me if I'm a bit underwhelmed by this "gesture" of "goodwill". I think it's more likely that somebody at Apple has been reading blogs of pissed of devs for the last few weeks and then they just looked at their calendar and realized that Oct 22 is only 3 weeks away, and on that glorious day, the Android beast is unleashed...no NDA required.
Android may have indeed forced Apple's hand to a certain extent, but iPhone developers seem happy either way, which is all that really matters for Apple and iPhone users.
Third-party software is outside of Apple's control, and is as open as the developer wants it to be. If a developer wants to consult with other developers and makes details of his app available, that is up to the that developer, and is only the business of Apple to the extent that details of Apple's software enters into the discussion.
http://tinyurl.com/48z3h7
At least this will stop the whiners and the dolts who don't read.
Microsoft made software for the original Mac that was the precursor to Office. They used their experience developing for the Mac to make applications for what would be Windows.
Bill Gates once has Apple to clone the Mac but Apple refused hence Microsoft's focus on Windows.
Microsoft does have better developer support than Apple, but Apple is quickly catching up and their tools are getting better.
Bugger all. That's what.
All sound and fury, signifying nothing.
What"s this I'm hearing on the radio about Apple and the record lables in a tiff over price again. Jobs says he will close iTunes before giving in on price?"
The "radio" did not have it quite right, Steve Jobs did not say that. From the story on CNN:
"In a statement submitted to the board last year, iTunes vice president Eddy Cue said Apple might close its download store rather than raise its 99 cents a song price or absorb the higher royalty costs
...If the [iTunes music store] was forced to absorb any increase in the ... royalty rate, the result would be to significantly increase the likelihood of the store operating at a financial loss - which is no alternative at all," Cue wrote. "Apple has repeatedly made it clear that it is in this business to make money, and most likely would not continue to operate [the iTunes music store] if it were no longer possible to do so profitably..."
Now if we can do that and port the Iphone to Virtual pc or vmware that would be sweet!
Say it ain`t so ! Bwahahahaha !
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7649060.stm
- by AppleSuxLeo October 3, 2008 5:29 AM PDT
- The only thing melting away is Apple`s Market Cap. AAPL lost over 40 B in just one week ! ouch !
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