A year ago, the iPhone launched, and it was a "closed" device. We were told that "Web 2.0" apps were all we needed. But the web, even with AJAX, couldn't touch the fluid animations and deep hardware integration of the native iPhone apps. Today, Apple changed course. They’ve released the iPhone SDK, and with it, the App Store.
As a developer, this is a "Gold Rush" moment. We’re not just talking about a new phone; we’re talking about a whole new platform.
The SDK is built on the foundation of Cocoa (now Cocoa Touch) and Objective-C. If you’ve done Mac development, you’ll feel right at home with Xcode and Interface Builder. But the constraints are different. You’re working with a 480x320 screen, limited memory, and a "multi-touch" interface that replaces the mouse. No more hover states; we have "gestures" now.
The "App Store" is the other half of the revolution. Apple is handling the hosting, the payments, and the distribution. In exchange for a 30% cut, they’re giving a single developer in their basement the same global reach as a major software house. It’s a complete democratization of software sales.
// A simple iPhone view controller snippet
- (void)viewDidLoad {
[super viewDidLoad];
self.view.backgroundColor = [UIColor whiteColor];
UILabel *label = [[UILabel alloc] initWithFrame:CGRectMake(20, 20, 280, 44)];
label.text = @"Hello, App Store!";
[self.view addSubview:label];
}
The critics are pointing to the "Walled Garden" aspect. Apple has to approve every app, and their guidelines are... well, a bit vague. They can reject you for "lack of utility" or for competing with their own apps. It’s a high price to pay for entry.
But the potential is too big to ignore. For the first time, we have a powerful, Unix-based computer in everyone’s pocket, always connected to the internet, with a GPS, a camera, and an accelerometer. The kind of apps we’re going to see in the next few years-social, location-based, gaming-are going to change the world.
If you aren't downloading the 2GB SDK installer right now, you’re already behind.
Aunimeda develops mobile applications for iOS and Android - from MVP to production-ready apps with full backend integration.
Contact us to discuss your mobile project. See also: Mobile App Development, Mobile Game Development