iPhone SDK: What’s holding it up?
The iPhone’s software developer’s kit (SDK) was supposed to be the answer to the device’s many shortcomings: no corporate e-mail support, no cut-and-paste, no native games, etc.
Now, with only five business days before Apple’s (AAPL) self-imposed February deadline, Arik Hesseldahl reports in Byte of the Apple that it ain’t gonna happen — at least not on deadline. He writes:
I’m hearing from one source that its going to be late. I’m not yet hearing any reasons why, and it’s sounding like the official release date could slide by anywhere from one to three weeks. (link)
Hesseldahl, it should be noted, was one of the Businessweek reporters who broke the SDK story back in October, one day before Steve Jobs announced that it was coming in the Hot News section of Apple’s website.
So what’s the hang-up? Hesseldahl doesn’t speculate, except to say that the situation is “fluid” and that there are “a lot of moving parts to something this complex.”
But to get a feel for what’s involved, you don’t have to look any further than Jobs’ Oct. 17 letter, the one that starts:
Let me just say it: We want native third party applications on the iPhone, and we plan to have an SDK in developers’ hands in February.
Jobs goes on to say:
It will take until February to release an SDK because we’re trying to do two diametrically opposed things at once–provide an advanced and open platform to developers while at the same time protect iPhone users from viruses, malware, privacy attacks, etc. This is no easy task. … As our phones become more powerful, these malicious programs will become more dangerous. And since the iPhone is the most advanced phone ever, it will be a highly visible target. Some companies are already taking action. Nokia, for example, is not allowing any applications to be loaded onto some of their newest phones unless they have a digital signature that can be traced back to a known developer. While this makes such a phone less than “totally open,” we believe it is a step in the right direction. We are working on an advanced system which will offer developers broad access to natively program the iPhone’s amazing software platform while at the same time protecting users from malicious programs. We think a few months of patience now will be rewarded by many years of great third party applications running on safe and reliable iPhones. (link)
If Cupertino’s best developers haven’t cracked that nut in the four and a half months since, it could take them more than Hesseldahl’s one to three extra weeks. We’ll find out soon enough.
I don’t like Apple or the iPhone. There are several smart phones that are much better than the iPhone. It doesn’t matter if a SDK comes out or not. The iPhone will be obsolete in 3 years and people will feel like fools for wasting money.
Congrats on your new iPhone. I don’t know why you would wait for the SDK. It is what software developers will use to make apps for your iPhone and probably not for the casual iPhone user to use. We just want the apps they make with it. So plug in your iPhone and enjoy it and eventually the SDK will come out followed by a bunch of new apps.
Ok, I will finally say it. No one bothers hacking a Mac because they only have 5% of the market share. Of course no hacker ever wants to bother!! Geez people get a grip. If the Apple products were so superior, then everyone would have them. I have an i-phone and it is not for business use at all!! Macs are for DJ’s and Photo-journalists. They are in no way even comparable on the business end to any Microsoft product. Be careful what you wish for too, if Macs do become popular then there will be malware, spyware, viruses etc. Be warned. Windows mobile may be old looking but it is so aftermarket friendly it is silly. You pay for the phone, you should be able to do what you want to it. Not have Big Brother lock it down and tell you what to do.
Let’s see…the Motorola RAZR had EDGE data, the iPhone has EDGE data. The RAZR had Bluetooth voice dialing and Bluetooth OBEX capabilities, the iPhone can use Bluetooth for a headset. Plus the RAZR kills the iPhone in RF reception. A pretty interface and “visual voicemail” aren’t the be-all and end-all.
And to the genius talking about Android: Google announced Android after the iPhone shipped. The first devices were demonstrated at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona last week and should be out later this year. Check out phonescoop.com for the video demo. The reference device was a standard PDA with QWERTY keyboard, and was lightning fast. Plus Android can handle actual real-world requirements like 3G voice and data and full Bluetooth functionality, in addition to all of the multimedia apps. And I’ll bet the devices will be available with a subsidy from the carriers, unlike a certain overhyped, under-powered device from your greedy friends in Cupertino.
I just bought the iPhone yesterday, shoud I wait a few weeks for the SDK phone to come out? if it is just a program, can I just download it or buy the programs in the store? Let me know your thoughts.. I have 2 weeks to return it..
> iPhone SDK: What’s holding it up?
It’s not done yet. The first SDK for the first full-featured smart phone is probably a big job.
Worth noting that there are 5 full days left before the deadline even as I write this. It’s not even late yet.
Also worth noting that the OTHER Web 2.0 smart phone, Google Android, has shipped their first SDK but no phones. There are exactly zero Android phones, yet.
Compare to Windows Mobile v6.1 which just came out … it does not even have a modern Web browser like iPhone and Android. Windows Mobile has the features of a 1993 PC if that.
Nokia promises a touchscreen smart phone by “end of 2008″.
Hard to say Apple is behind.
The iPhone is less advanced than the RAZR? LOL!
That’s the phone my wife had prior to the iPhone. If you like it so much we have an extra one sitting in a box some where for you since my wife will never use it again in this lifetime because it’s “so advanced”.
Muhahaha!
The iPhone is the most advanced phone ever.
I have several Motorola RAZRs. They do not compare to the iPhone.
The iPhone is also the most rapidly and frequently updated smartphone, running the most advanced cellphone operating system, OS X - a UNIX variant.
The SDK probably comes with another firmware, system software, and application update.
Apple has to also maintain security and upgrade its iTunes music store and iTunes software.
Thus the process is complex.
Apple has to make sure security is maintained so that we iPhone users won’t have viruses and malware that permeate more open systems. This is why Nokia, itself, has closed it’s cellphones - allowing uploading only signed software which can be traced back to the developer. Apple will probably require a developer have a physical address and telephone and credit card before allowing their software on the iTunes Music store. Hurray!
What I love about Apple’s products is how they just work, how silent the experience is - without malware, viruses, adware, and intrusive antivirus software that permeat Windows systems.
The biggest inaccuracy in the article is the Jobs quote calling the iPhone “the most advanced phone ever.” Give me a break. It’s less advanced than a Motorola RAZR in terms of functionality.
You don’t need our comments to point out the obvious flaws in your article. The lack of journalistic integrity is evident in the writing itself. Its uninformed, non-factual, and poorly written.
Three weeks late with the SDK? Where were you when every OS that MSFT has shipped was late? If I remember correctly Windows 95 didnt even make it out in 1995. And you are trying to give Apple a hard time over three lousy weeks? You clearly have no clue what is involved in software developement.
Your post is comical. You should feel ashamed.
Sad and pathetic reflection on some dood who gains satisfaction by self exposure and stating the obvious and speculating nonsense.Keep clawing at the doors of greatness dood and you are sure to recieve some ill begotten scraps that you will choke on. One of the reporters to break the news - what a joke. So what innovations might this great company present that you don’t know about - you don’t know - do you? Bumbleweed
More F.U.D. from another Microsoft Wall Street sock-puppet. Should kill at least a few iPhone sales.
My guess is that 1. Apple is working through issues found from testing third-party software that’s already been developed off of the pre-release SDK, and that 2. Apple is closing additional “security” holes based on the same third-party software testing. “Security” includes both protection for the user and locking-out some software types for Apple and its chosen partners.
For me, 1 to 3 weeks, even a month, is no big deal, if it means the SDK is better for development. Now if it was a year, that’d be a different story.
In my opinion is given too much importance to the SDK.
As Steve Jobs said, for the Iphone the platform is the web, with a browser like Safari on the Iphone you can already develop fine applications, two fine examples that demostrate that are the Facebook application at http://iphone.facebook.com and the enterprise grade webmail Touchmail at http://www.tm.comvalid.com
Thanks for deleting my post.
Too bad Fortune not only has to stoop so low as to try to pass off heresay and conjecture as “news” about high profile companies just to get eyeballs on their website, but they now remove anything that even slightly objects to the information.
I wonder how long this message will stay on the page. Hopefully longer than the 30 seconds my last one was.
Well done. I guess these publications and their employees believe that freedom of speech is a selective right and not a natural one.
I am a lawyer, not a media or tech professional, so please accept any misinterpretation.
Good thing the media does not have the same restrictions as the judicial system because this article is complete heresay. There is not a single fact in the entire piece.
As for Arik’s prediction about the MacBook Air the day before MacWorld, that has got to be a joke. EVERY Apple rumor website knew of re new laptop. Arik’s disclosure was ABSOLUTELY nothing that had not been circulated.
Does anyone remember that idiot Ryan Block who claimed the iPhone would be delayed, citing an internal memo from Apple that was of course false, though the damage to the stock was already done. Worked well for that guy. I have entirely stopped reading Engadget because of that one and I am not alone.
It is really a sad state of affairs when a once reputable publication like Fortune has to stoop so ok as to print pure speculation about high profile companies with no facts whatsoever merely to bring eyeballs to thier website.
Yellow journalism has returned. Hearst would be so pleased.
Apple bashing has always been newsworthy. Amazing. Most any story on Apple has a negative bias title. Who’s supporting these people? Ya think!
A three week delay in releasing an SDK - big deal. I believe the daily negative reports like this about some new imagined peril with Apple products is contributing to the slow deterioration of the stock price. Millions of people love their new products (Windows folks included) and the future is bright for Apple. Most of the doom and gloom financial news stories published about Apple since January 1 are loaded with speculation and the word “if” - not solid facts to help investors. Is Apple bashing some new fad?
The author clearly has no concept of the software development cycle.
He ends with:
“If Cupertino’s best developers haven’t cracked that nut in the four and a half months since, it could take them more than Hesseldahl’s one to three extra weeks.”
There are one of two interpretations of this statement:
1- “Well maybe it will take longer or maybe not.” Like DUHHH - this is so obvious and non-committal as to be ridiculous and meaningless.
2- Or he could mean what (to me) is the first interpretation that comes to mind - “Well, if they have not got it yet - then they PROBABLY will not for a long time.”
SW process-
To begin with - this is not a nut to crack. It is not like you find THE key and then have THE answer. Complex software is more like an enormous combination carnival ride and Rube Goldberg machine that, while it must hold and drive a roller coaster car, is constructed of toothpicks.
I will discuss the process very briefly (and inadequately), rushing to my point.
1- Design
2- Specification
3- Development (coding)
4- Testing (SWQA)
5- Release
The thing of note here is 3 & 4. This is an iterating cycle. Testing ALWAYS finds problems and then has to retest the fixes that are coded. QA finds problems - “Bugs” - and submits them for review. They are then prioritized. Few pieces of complex software are shipped without any known bugs. Hopefully the fatal and serious ones have all been squashed.
The point is this - the software is enormously complex AND totally interconnected. Therefore, anytime you touch the code you need to run through the whole QA testing process from the beginning to be sure that the new fix has not broken something else. So, as you approach the end of the project the discovery of a serious bug can easily set the release back a few weeks. The fix may be involve only a single line of code, but the whole QA cycle must be repeated. (I can imagine scenarios in which testing is limited to only portions of a large project, but even here, the testing will be of a fairly large scale.)
The point:
It ain’t done until it is done!
Apple has always been a stickler for quality. They take the game very seriously. Bravo to them.
Why is someone allowed to write an article about the iPhone who obviously knows so little about it. If a iPhone user goes to the apple website, clicks on iPhone, and looks at TopWebApps, there are literally dozens of games available. If you’re gonna be in the business of bring down Apple, how about doing a little homework.
ex ped: Sorry for the confusion. I meant native games, not web-based games.
PED gives Arik Hasseldahl credit for October’s news, but discredits this one?
Can’t have it both ways.
Game ChangerIt will be worth the wait. They are right in being careful about this. Stock has been beaten up enough by bashers with no valid ammunition. Can’t give the bashers and shorts any valid points…
It’s widely expected that the SDK will be released at the upcoming Feb 26th meeting and word has it that some Developers already have a early version for evaluation, showcase application development. You might have talked to someone at Apple, instead of relying on just Mr. Hasseldahl and a 5 month old letter from Mr. Jobs. We readers depend on you to dig deeper than that, since you have the resources and expertise to do so, and to put the rumors to rest. thank you…
PED, please make up your mind.
You give Arik Hasseldahl credit for being right and on time for his Oct’s news break and you’re not given him credit this time?
WHAT KIND OF WRITING ARE YOU DOING????
Oh, that’s right. You only copy and paste.
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Silicon Valley veterans like to joke that Steve Jobs must be surrounded by a reality distortion field; if you get too close to him, you start to believe what he's saying. Thanks to the success of the iPod, the launch of the iPhone and the renewed interest in the Mac, Apple has made believers out of millions of customers - and made a lot of investors rich. But Philip Elmer-DeWitt believes that an ounce of skepticism never hurts when writing about the company. He should know. He's been covering Apple - and watching Steve Jobs operate - since 1982, first for Time Magazine, then for Business 2.0, and now for Fortune.
…and those “much better” smartphones cost the same will be obsolete in 6 months..