Ok folks, the long wait for the iPhone/iPod touch SDK is over and it seems the reason it took so long to arrive is because Apple has been cooking up so many features to accompany its release. As Steve Jobs took to the stage at the special event held in Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino yesterday, he could barely conceal his enthusiasm.
Perhaps the biggest reveal, at least for prospective business users of the device, is that Apple has licensed Exchange ActiveSync from Microsoft. Not only that but the software is being built right into the iPhone for out-of-the-box connectivity to the Microsoft Exchange Servers in order to deliver over-the-air push email, contacts, calendars and global address lists.
The other big aspect of the release is the brand new channel for delivery that Apple has created, called the App Store. The App Store will be an online wireless delivery channel for third-party applications and all of the necessary tools to publish applications to the App Store will be integrated straight into the SDK with Apple taking care of any bothersome credit card, web hosting, infrastructure and DRM costs. In exchange for this, developers will have 30 percent of all of the revenue they generate deducted from the price the customer pays. Developers set the price for the applications they submit (and can choose to make them free if they wish) and as long as they pass through Apple’s approval process, they will be made available on the App Store.
The SDK itself contains advanced tools for creating native iPhone and iPod touch applications including Xcode for source code editing, project management and graphical debugging; Interface Builder with drag and drop interface creation and live preview; Instruments to monitor and optimize iPhone application performance in real time; and the iPhone Simulator to run and debug applications.
And as if that isn’t enough to get light headed over, EA were on hand at the event to demo an iPhone version of Spore which, despite looking very polished, was apparently developed in just two weeks. Another game, Touch Fighter, was also shown and was essentially a 3D space shooter complete with touch and accelerometer controls. Both looked very slick and easily more crisp and fluid than an equivalent DS title.
All the tools and and other necessaries to get started are available on Apple’s web site now and detials about licensing and pricing can be found there too.
So after that barrage of info we are off for a stiff drink and a lie down (even though it is only 10 in the morning). Expect there to be plenty more on this throughout the day.
Where will the games be available for download?