Comments on: iPhone developer frustrations melt away with NDA

It took Apple four paragraphs to rehabilitate its image among iPhone developers, paving the way for better iPhone software by letting developers share ideas.

[techman21]

It's still ridiculous that Apple restricts applications that are too much like their "own plans" - what, afraid of a little friendly developer competition? What an uproar there would be if Microsoft restricted developers like that!!!

[ckurowic]

UM, microsoft does restrict them, ever read one of their agreements???? Are you insane or just living under a rock?

[caldjeff]

Wait...so if NDA still applies to unreleased software, how is this going to help those developers who could use some community assistance to build a new app? Do you really need to be able to discuss development as much once your app has been released? And are they going to also allow devs to know what criteria are being used to judge an app to be app store worthy?

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.

[Tom Krazit]

Those developers working on their unreleased apps will be able to ask developers who have gone before them how they tackled a certain problem in a released application. There are little tips and tricks that are applicable across different types of applications, developers often share these kinds of things on mailing lists and discussion forums. Developers who have a couple applications under their belt probably have other ones in mind for future developement.

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.

[jprescott]

By "unreleased software," it's APPLE unreleased software, like beta releases of future SDK versions, and other pre-release software. This happens with Mac OSX all the time, developers who so desire can get beta copies of Mac OSX and other system software prior to release to the general public, but, they cannot disclose details of the beta software until it is released to the general public.

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.

[Perry_Clease]

Developer frustrations may be melting, but frustrations of non-developer critics is accreting.

[Penguinisto]

But of course... you expected differently?

[softwaredesignengineer]

Apple is idiotic when it comes to developers. Sheash, Microsoft is ten times wayyyy more developer friendly.

[ckurowic]

Of course you know what you are talking about, I mean, no doubt especially with that inconspicuous screen name of "softwaredesignengineer". Thats pretty lame buddy, like a vanity plate.

[setgo]

lol I agree ckurowic

[francis9731]

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.

[Seaspray0]

"Apple's hallmark is control". I agree. It can cause more problems than the benefits.

[Perry_Clease]

Got any examples?

[sachman1]

Nothing like a dose of competition to stir things up

http://tinyurl.com/48z3h7

[Goodbye Helicopter]

WAAA, I have to agree to something, WAAA

At least this will stop the whiners and the dolts who don't read.

[Nodack]

Forgive Apple if they don't trust any developers. A guy named Bill Gates used to work for them and promised not to steal any ideas while he was there not long before he quit Apple to start Microsoft.

[SpiritWater]

Bill Gates never worked for Apple. Bill and Paul Allen started Microsoft in 1975 and Apple started in 1978.

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.

[Penguinisto]

Err, Microsoft was once an Apple contract vendor, so in essence, Gates did work for them at one point.

[DrtyDogg]

Err, my company has done contract work for MS, Dell, Honeywell, GE . . . does that mean I've worked in all of those places?

[sterlingcoo]

This is all par for the course for Apple, get used to it.

[AppleSuxLeo]

Who cares / It`s still a closed system and Apple won`t let better apps than their own onto the system. This changes nothing ! Android still will kick Job`s ass and he knows it. Just as Amazon MP3/MyspaceMusic will make iToons irrelevant. Myspace is a completely now model Apple can`t compete with. A social site that lets users stream full-length , high-quality music from all the major labels...And it is well known RIAA is allowing Amazon to sell tracks/albums that are not avilable to Apple. iToons on it`s way out like the horse and buggy.

[AppleSuxLeo]

Apple/Jobs=pay more , get DRM ! Only get select non-DRM tracks from EMI. We are onto you Jobs...you are an ass.

[Mark_Anderson]

So, aside from the fact the statement reads like it was composed by a whiny child, what does this actually give developers in terms of reassurance that their apps won't be booted because they contravene Apple's secret selection policies (i.e. it's better than their native app)?

Bugger all. That's what.

All sound and fury, signifying nothing.

[Super2online]

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?

[Perry_Clease]

"by Super2online October 2, 2008 5:31 AM PDT
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..."

[inachu]

Would be nice to do as Balmer says but if this was the case then I could just copy the Iphone OS onto my pc and boot the iphone off my pc and make calls from my pc and such.

Now if we can do that and port the Iphone to Virtual pc or vmware that would be sweet!

[make_or_break]

One word...Google. I think Android and Google's blunt openness over its "open platform" nature for its own app development was the kick that finally pushed Apple over the edge.

[AppleSuxLeo]

Apple stock is melting away...AAPL just dropped 8% more , right after Nokia launched it`s new "comes with music" phones , and new touch-screen phone.
Say it ain`t so ! Bwahahahaha !

[AppleSuxLeo]

AAPL dropped almost $9 today while MSFT actually was up a few cets. Here is one reason why...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7649060.stm

[AppleSuxLeo]

The only thing melting away is Apple`s Market Cap. AAPL lost over 40 B in just one week ! ouch !