It’s Apple’s ball…

The Internet has been all a stir about Apple’s new  iPhone App Developer ToS clause (3.3.1) preventing developers from using 3rd party tools to generate native iPhone apps. Though, there still seems to be some confusion about what it is really preventing. While I can certainly understand people getting annoyed in terms of freedom and openness, as a developer I just don’t see the problem.

About a year ago, while developing an OpenGL/Physics game for the iPhone, I seriously considered using the Unity3D application which provides developers with the ability to develop cross platform games with built-in physics support. I actually had a working demo up in a short amount of time and I was impressed with the software, though the UI was a bit clunky.

However, I just did not feel comfortable about adding an unnecessary layer of software between myself and the iPhone OS. Not only would I have pay Unity for the privilege of using their software, I would not have direct access to the powerful frameworks that are provided by Apple. Further, iPhone OS 3.0 had just been released and I had no idea if/when Unity would add support for the great new features/APIs it created. Add to that the fact that I would have been tying myself to a company that I knew little about and at a time when companies are under serious financial strain, not knowing whether it would still be  supporting the iPhone or even in existence in the months and years to come.

As a developer with 10 years experience of Java, when I decided to begin working on iPhone apps, my first thoughts were about learning Objective-C and Cocoa Touch. Not to begin searching the Internet for Java based cross compilers. While I can see the advantages of using something like Unity, I don’t understand why developers want to write native iPhone apps in Flash or C#. To me it would be like working with one hand tied behind my back. Objective-C isn’t that hard, especially if you are an experienced developer. Look at it as an investment and an opportunity to expand your knowledge. The more you put in the more you get out. If you are lazy or aren’t willing to learn, then stick to writing Flash apps for the Internet and stop complaining.

I realise it will be a very sore point (and I do have some sympathy) for anyone who has already invested time and money in one of the banned platforms, but it was always going to be a risk. Apple were never going to let Adobe have it all their own way.

At the end of the day, we all signed up to Apple’s ToS to get in on the most compelling new software platform since the dawn of the Internet. Apple could have done things very differently, with exorbitant license fees or by only allowing specific partners to develop apps for their prize possession but by allowing anyone to develop an app (within reason), we have all prospered. If we want to play in their garden, we have to play by their rules. End of story…

As for the new features in iPhone OS 4.0:

• Multi-tasking: is a great new feature, but the best thing about it is that we can now stop complaining about it being missing (much like Cut & Paste). Its a simple and elegant solution to a pretty complex problem.
• Game Center: will be a great addition and is something I would definitely want to build into future games. Though that depends on the uptake of iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad users to the upgrade. I sincerely hope Apple give it away free to all users so that we can move forward as a single community and stop worrying about users running legacy OSs.
• iAd: The new advertising platform is less exciting from a personal point of view but it makes sense to have a centralised ad platform for developers to take advantage of if they wish to do so.
• Folders: The new ability to organise apps into folders. I have been looking for a feature like this for some time as my growing collection of apps becomes more unwieldy by the day. Thanks Apple!

With 85 million iPhone OS devices and the recent iPad launch, it is a great time to be an iPhone OS developer!