iPhone 3rd parties a let down
As I previously stated - there is speculation that apple will allow 3rd parties on the iPhone
- now I still can find details of what Mr Jobs actually announced yesterday - but it looks like 3rd party apps will be allowed - but only web based ones.
No access to any phone specific functions - not local database access and for me the worst thing - no chance to auto start the phone and prompt people with a piece of software.
For me this takes a few liberties with the idea of 3rd parties at all - we all knew from the moment that we saw the first iPhone that it would browse the web - so I am hoping that within the Safari browser there are going to be some significant enhancements that will allow javascript access to some phone features.
The announcement that Safari is now Windows compatible suggests that Apple are going to try and be the platform of choice for we apps - and this might mean some new stuff. For example iTunes could become what it always should have been - a web app, but Safari might allow local databases etc - then they can operate one itunes over mac, windows and iPhone without having to bother people with these upgrades.
Looks like things will get interesting though - but maybe not until Leopard is out later this year.
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