I think Apple will see the writing on the wall, that if they don't release a real "unlocked" SDK soon, iPhone development will spin out of their control. The last thing they need is a profusion of sub-par, hacky applications (however well intentioned or enthusiastic) damaging the iPhone's stability and reputation.

The full SDK already exists. The full ARM toolchain already exists. All they have to do is release it. I think the heroic and determined efforts of Nightwatch et al have shown just how excited developers are about writing applications for the iPhone and will light a fire under Apple's butt to release the SDK sooner rather than later.

I cannot follow the argumentation why a offical toolchain should be less buggy/better than a private developed one.

Really?

It's been in development (and used) for at least two years and has gone through serious testing/debugging.

I'm not, in any way, belittling the efforts of you folks (it's quite frankly amazing that in less than a month you've managed to get this far) just saying that the ultimate benefit for all your hard work may be to prod Apple to release their dev tools and as a bargaining chip with AT&T.

With your quickly progressing unlock efforts, Apple could return to AT&T and say "Look. The iPhone is already partially opened up. We can try and control the process by releasing the full dev tools. Or be taken in directions we may not want to go."

Originally Posted by cuzco

Really?

It's been in development (and used) for at least two years and has gone through serious testing/debugging.

I'm not, in any way, belittling the efforts of you folks (it's quite frankly amazing that in less than a month you've managed to get this far) just saying that the ultimate benefit for all your hard work may be to prod Apple to release their dev tools and as a bargaining chip with AT&T.

With your quickly progressing unlock efforts, Apple could return to AT&T and say "Look. The iPhone is already partially opened up. We can try and control the process by releasing the full dev tools. Or be taken in directions we may not want to go."

True..................

Apple today announced a series of iPhone Tech Talk sessions in California, Chicago and New York. The New York City sessions take place August 30 and August 31. I don't know what Apple may or may not release at that time but it should be interesting to hear what developers will say.

The agenda includes the following: Ensuring Safari on iPhone Compatibility; Creating Web 2.0 Applications for iPhone; Managing Content and Synched Data on iPhone and Coding and Testing.

The "Managing Content and Synched Data" topic sounds the most promising.

I can't see them releasing an official SDK. That would mean they were supporting 3rd party apps, which would put further stress on their technical support. It's much easier for them to just let people who want to fool around with the iphone do so, and if they fubar it, then they've voided their warranty.

BTW, it's been less than 24 hrs and this achievement has already spread across the interweb. Nightwatch is going to be really famous real soon i think. Good job!

http://popsci.typepad.com/popsci/200...world-thi.html
http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2007/0...world-app.html

Originally Posted by moralpanic

I can't see them releasing an official SDK. That would mean they were supporting 3rd party apps, which would put further stress on their technical support.

Third party apps wouldn't put any stress on Apple. It could be the same support model as used for desktop apps. If it worked before the 3rd party app was installed and didn't after the install, talk to the application developer. Not our problem man.

It would essentially be the same thing, support wise, as apps developed with unofficial SDKs

The advantage to Apple releasing their SDK would be that a vast majority of developers would use their tools (Xcode, Cocoa, etc) rather than third party tools. Another advantage would be that they wouldn't enter an cycle of "Apple releasea a patch to block known hacks." "Hackers release a patch to circumvent Apple's patch." rinse, repeat.

Release an SDK that satisfies 95% of developers and they instantly gain 95% control over iPhone development. If they leave it up to 3rd parties, to come up with the tools then they have zero control over application development.

Personally, I'd love to be able to fire up Xcode and in the "New Project" menu, have an already set up iPhone template, create the project and get busy coding in Cocoa.

the reason apple is not releasing a sdk is because everything on the iphone runs as root. Makes creating viruses alot easier.

Everything on Palm and WM devices "runs as root" too. You don't see deluges of viruses for them, do you?

The reason Apple is not releasing an SDK is because they falsely think that they can keep the iPhone as a simple consumer electronics device despite the massive power under its hood. They think that reducing functionality will make them more money.

Originally Posted by starkruzr

Everything on Palm and WM devices "runs as root" too. You don't see deluges of viruses for them, do you?

Not to mention that "Hello World" also runs as root as will every app based on Nightwatch's toolchain project.

Originally Posted by starkruzr

The reason Apple is not releasing an SDK is because they falsely think that they can keep the iPhone as a simple consumer electronics device despite the massive power under its hood. They think that reducing functionality will make them more money.

In the end, I have no idea what Apple will do, but faced with the prospect of a completely uncontrolled SDK (which is going to happen, probably in the next few months) they could regain control of a large majority of developers by releasing an official SDK.