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1. Having used google maps native (not java) on Symbian (Nokia 6630) and google maps in safari on the mac… the Symbian version is tighter, more responsive, and loses only on the fact that the Mac has vastly more screen space :-) Since you’re not claiming that iphone-safari is better than realmac-safari (only “as good on a smaller screen”) I think that’s one example where Gruber is right. Besides, would you go without native apps on the Mac itself?
   
   To go even further, webkit (the safari core) is already part of the Nokia devkit (as well as being the native browser on the E71) so for things where server offloading matters, I think we’ll see more “richer than a browser” native apps with web2.0-style backends.
   — Mark Eichin    677 days ago    #
2. I am not saying that web apps are superior to native apps, nor am I saying its the best long-term strategy. What I am getting at here is that I don’t agree with the defeatist attitude that people are taking regarding third-party apps on the iPhone, which is almost certainly going to be a runaway hit.
   
   I want in on the iPhone’s success, and instead of whining about the lack of an SDK, or claiming that web apps targetted at the iPhone aren’t going to be good enough, I am simply pointing out that I think I can beat the user experience of native Treo and Symbian applications with really solid web apps targetted for the iPhone.
   
   From what I have seen, the iPhone’s browsing experience absolutely owns anything else out there. If I cannot exploit the power of OS X on the iPhone, I can at least plan on exploiting the iPhone’s excellent browsing experience.
   — Jonathan LaCour    677 days ago    #
3. If Apple chooses to close the door to native apps on iPhone as Sony did on PSP, the result will probably be the same: hackers will open it up and start coding homebrew apps based on custom SDKs.
   
   You will be able to launch them on the iPhone with minor modifications or tricks. Worst case you need to install a hacked firmware. Best case, you launch it from one of the standard apps or from a page in the browser.
   
   Just remember that there is no way a consumer device can withstand the will and the competence of hackers. Especially when they are motivated by a sexy platform.
   — Louis Choquel    676 days ago    #
4. You are spot-on Louis! I have no doubt that if Apple keeps the platform closed, that there will be people out there who will figure out how to put their own applications on the iPhone through reverse engineering. However, I don’t think that these applications will gain too much mainstream acceptance.
   
   I think Apple is going to keep the first generation iPhone locked down pretty tightly, and then eventually open it up to custom widgets, but I am not sure if they will ever open the iPhone up to fully native appliscations that can take advantage of all the great frameworks available on the iPhone (Core Animation, Cocoa, etc.). Personally, I hope that they change their minds on this one.
   
   I think that one of the main reasons that they are keeping it tightly controlled may be some sort of contractual agreement with Cingular. With an SDK, people would be able to download and install applications for their iPhones that may detract from Cingular’s existing revenue stream. An instant messaging client would be in direct competition with Cingular’s lucrative SMS text-messaging. A client for any of the popular VOIP services (skype, vonage, etc.) would detract from Cingular’s mobile voice services. One has to imagine that Cingular execs thought of this before they signed on the dotted line…
   
   Oh, to be a fly on the wall during the negotiation process :)
   — Jonathan LaCour    675 days ago    #
5. If Apple don’t open up the phone with a decent SDK then what’s the point of it? Okay, it looks good and has a nice UI but one of the reasons I still have my XDAII after 5 years is that I can download applications to make it do what I want it to do and there is a virtually unlimited selection of software for this purpose.
   
   And, furthermore, if I can’t find the right application for my purposes, then I can just write my own using free tools available on the web. Basically I don’t want to have to rely on Apple writing software that they think I want.
   
   I can see that this phone is targeted at the masses who are, lets say, not very technically savvy, but with such a good platform it would be a waste to not open it up for serious commercial use too. I can think of half-a-dozen major blue chip companies who would love to have an alternative to Symbian / Wince / PalmOS with custom made applications tailored to their employee’s mobility requirements.
   
   Corporate unified messaging integration springs to mind straight away. Are Apple going to want to develop integrations with 10 or 12 different UM vendor’s systems? No! Give them an SDK and let them do the hard work!
   — Terry Stebbens    674 days ago    #
6. Terry, I actually agree with most of what you say. It would be great if Apple released a real SDK, and made the iPhone an open platform. They could make a lot of money, and make a lot of advanced users happy.
   
   That being said, I don’t think most people give a damn about installing third-party applications on their cell phones. I know of many people who own Symbian phones and Treos who just use what comes with the phones out of the box. I am a pretty technically savvy user who owns a Symbian phone, and I found the whole process of installing and using third-party software so painful, that I haven’t done it since the first month I owned the phone!
   
   Sure, you might like the iPhone more if you could write software for it. But 99% of consumers won’t care.
   — Jonathan LaCour    673 days ago    #

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