Jun 11 2008
We told you so: Apple limits third-party app capabilities
We were afraid of this.
When Apple demonstrated the cool new iPhone 3G, a platform bursting with potential as a hand-held computing platform, we wondered if they would behave in their usual iron-fisted manner about third-party applications. Apple has always zealously defended their devices — Mac, iPod, and now the iPhone — against wide-open enhancement by third parties. Apple’s reasoning is that by maintaining control over how software and hardware developers are allowed to use Apple platforms, they maintain a consistently high-quality customer experience. This is laudable.
But when we see practices like this, we can only feel disappointed.
When we heard about GPS support on the new iPhone 3G, we hoped that one of the established third-party providers of turn-by-turn, real-time route guidance would enhance this device into a traveling salesperson’s dream machine. But, true to form, Apple has clamped down on what is obviously an ultra-cool application. The current Apple iPhone Software Development Kit (SDK) agreement specifically bars third parties from providing enhancements for “real time route guidance; automatic or autonomous control of vehicles, aircraft, or other mechanical devices; dispatch or fleet management; or emergency or life-saving purposes”.
(*sigh*)
Perhaps Apple intends to provide real-time GPS route guidance themselves at some point. Or perhaps they have another agreement with a specific partner who has not yet released their offering.
One can only hope. We’ll keep watching and waiting.
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