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. We are excited about creating a vibrant third party developer community around the iPhone and enabling hundreds of new applications for our users. With our revolutionary multi-touch interface, powerful hardware and advanced software architecture, we believe we have created the best mobile platform ever for developers.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. Some claim that viruses and malware are not a problem on mobile phones—this is simply not true. There have been serious viruses on other mobile phones already, including some that silently spread from phone to phone over the cell network. 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.SteveP.S.: The SDK will also allow developers to create applications for iPod touch.
Offering customers the largest catalog of DRM-free music in the world, Apple today expanded iTunes Plus to more than two million tracks while at the same time lowering the price of those tracks to just 99 cents. In addition to artists from EMI’s digital catalog, iTunes Plus now includes artists from Sub Pop, Nettwerk, Beggars Group, IODA, The Orchard and many others. All iTunes Plus tracks feature DRM-free music with high-quality 256 kbps AAC encoding, offering audio quality virtually indistinguishable from the original recordings.
Motion 3 lets you easily import layered Photoshop graphics with blend modes and transparency intact. Following their import, you can modify each layer separately. Or, as you’ll see in this animated Motion tutorial, turn a 2D graphic into a compelling 3D element with the click of a button.
Orange, the leading wireless carrier in France, will be the exclusive French carrier partner for iPhone when it debuts in France on Thursday, November 29, Apple today announced. “The iPhone is a marvelous product and will change how people think about mobile. I’m delighted that it is launching in France through Orange, and I’m sure that our customers share my excitement.” said Didier Lombard, CEO, France Telecom.
Packed with more than 300 new features, Mac OS X Leopard goes on sale Friday, October 26, at 6:00 p.m. at Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers, Apple announced today. And, beginning today, customers can place pre-orders on Apple’s online store. “Leopard, the sixth major release of Mac OS X, is the best upgrade we’ve ever released,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “And everyone gets the ‘Ultimate’ version, packed with all the new innovative features, for just $129.”
On Friday, October 26, Mac OS X Server version 10.5 Leopard will go on sale at the same time as Mac OS X Leopard, Apple today announced. Leopard Server extends Apple’s legendary ease of use, making it even easier to take advantage of the benefits of a server. Leopard Server packs more than 250 new features including Podcast Producer, Wiki Server, and iCal Server.
Did you know that you can zoom in or out on Microsoft Word or Excel documents using the scroll button on Mighty Mouse or the trackpad on your MacBook or MacBook Pro? It takes just a few seconds to set up, and we show you how in the latest Quick Tip of the Week.
For 2007, iPhone appears among the very short list of products Popular Mechanics honors in its annual Breakthrough Awards. “The best way to understand why Apple’s iPhone ($400) has sent shockwaves through the cellphone industry is simply to check your voice mail with it.” iPhone “displays a visual list of voice mails,” explain the editors. “Using the bright and responsive touchscreen, you scroll through the list and tap a message. When you’re done with a message, simply slide your finger over it and a delete button pops up.“ “All phones,” they conclude, “should work so smoothly. Because of the iPhone, they’ll eventually have to.“
Praising “their efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change,” the Nobel Committee awarded the Nobel Peace Prize to Al Gore and the U.N.’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, reports Walter Gibbs and Sarah Lyall (New York Times).
Citing Al Gore as “ ‘probably the single individual who has done most to create greater worldwide understanding of the measures that needto be adopted’ ” to combat global warming, the Nobel committee awarded the former Vice President the Nobel Peace Prize alongwith the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. As reported by Alan Zarembo and Maggie Farley (Los Angeles Times), the committee noted how Gore’s ” ’strong commitment, reflected in political activity, lectures, films and books, has strengthened the struggle against climate change.’ “
