Pastebud to bring cut and paste to iPhone
A new Web service called Pastebud will soon let iPhone users copy and paste text from Safari into e-mail messages and between Web pages.
Since the iPhone was launched 18 months ago, many users have complained about its lack of cut and paste capabilities. Users were once again disappointed when the iPhone 3G debuted in July with that same omission.
Third parties have tried to create applications to add cutting and pasting to the iPhone, but most have failed. One such application called OpenClip, seemed promising earlier this year. But Apple's iPhone 2.1 software, released in late summer, shut down the functionality.
Pastebud's Web site hasn't launched yet, but its creators have put a demonstration of the service on YouTube. And it looks like Pastebud might avoid pitfalls of other cut and paste developers. For one, Pastebud is a Web-based service. This means that users don't have to download software onto their iPhones. It also means that Pastebud can bypass Apple's App Store altogether.
The way it works, according to the YouTube demo, is through bookmarks that allow users to go between Web pages and e-mail. Then users are able to highlight text and hit a button to copy, flip to another page, and hit paste.
The catch is that Pastebud works only with the Safari browser and e-mail. But since those applications are the most likely to need cutting and pasting, it shouldn't be a major limitation.
Of course, it's too early to say how well the application really works. All that's available is the YouTube demonstration. But even if it works moderately well, it could help satisfy some iPhone users clamoring for some kind of cut and paste functionality, at least until Apple comes up with a more elegant solution.
News of the new service was first reported on the gadget blog Gizmodo.
Marguerite Reardon has been a CNET News reporter since 2004, covering cell phone services, broadband, citywide Wi-Fi, the Net neutrality debate, as well as the ongoing consolidation of the phone companies. E-mail Maggie. 
It will last until Apple shuts it down.
This approach will never make it to the address book or any other app other then safari, it also won't be a security vulnerability, at least no more so then visiting a website with javascript enabled.
The saddest part is that this is necessary. :(
My assumption is that cut-and-paste - along with voice dialing and other essential/expected features were left out due to time/resource constraints. They needed to push out what was "new" and blingy on a short schedule and with a finite staff. Some things just had to be left out.
As much as I do believe this explanation, it is wearing thin, isn't it? They've had time to get something as simple as cut-and-paste done. So, it baffles me that it hasn't been added yet.
It's nonsensical to say that it can't be done without some external shenanigans. What it does require is that Apple add a clipboard and associated API. Really, it doesn't have to be fancy. A single system-wide clipboard that accepts text only would be a functional start that would satisfy 90% of requirements. Of course, then you have probably a 6-month lag before most third-party apps are updated to use the clipboard.
I can think of a number of ways that apps could share information without going outside. But it would be a short-term hack, most suitable for a "suite" of applications that would want to cut-and-paste functionality or sharing some limited quantity of data. For example, couldn't one store data in a "photo" on the camera roll in one app, and read it back in another? I'm just now delving into iPhone programming, but I have to assume from using various apps that there ARE various places inside the iPhone where apps can read and write in common. Photos? Contact list? I'm surprised that OpenClip ran into a roadblock with and update. What mechanism was it using?
Long term, we need a clipboard API from Apple, as well as a permission system allowing apps to share files and databases when it makes sense. (The latter, of course, would require that they stop running everything as root. How about a user ID per application?)
Maybe this is why something as seemingly simple as cut and paste hasn't been implemented.
Obviously, I'm probably wrong but I'm really wondering what the technical/policy reasons might be for not having this. Are there any iPhone apps that can share data between them?
http://iphone-tips-tricks.blogspot.com/2008/03/iphone-tips-iphone-copy-and-paste-in.html
I've been copying URLs or paragraphs from Safari and e-mailing them on my iPhone since OS 1.4...
- by MoreFunToBeHad December 13, 2008 12:54 PM PST
- I bought the ipod touch with great excitement and anticipation. I returned it two days later. The ONLY reason was that it couldn't cut and paste. I use the calendar program and my address book all the time. Not being able to copy and paste an appointment into a new slot ruined it for me. I hear others complaining about not being able to copy and paste between applications. I think it is worth noting that it can't even copy and paste within the same program! I am a big Mac fan, but I am so disappointed. My old palm pilot works better. I hope they fix this oversight quickly.
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