iPhone OS 3.0 is for the developers first
There is much to be said about the features that are available in iPhone OS 3.0. Mainly, though, a lot of those features are aimed squarely at the developers who will bring us better applications.
There was the typical hoopla surrounding the event at which iPhone OS 3.0 was introduced. The Town Hall auditorium was full of Apple executives, employees, and members of the press corps. But the evident meat of the meeting was the introduction of features that other smart phones already have. You had to look a little deeper to see what the hoopla was really all about.
One of the important points was the introduction of the new API, which will not wait for summer deployment, but is available immediately. This new API is greatly expanded and allows developers access to core functionality inside the new operating system. The core map API has been opened to developers for use in building and embedding better maps. The Bluetooth API was fully opened to developers for the first time, allowing the wireless connection of thousands of devices to the iPhone. This list goes on and on. The new API is a treasure trove of tools for the developer.
At the same time, Apple announced some significant changes in the Apple App Store. There was talk of how accepting the app store has really been, accepting about 96 percent of all apps submitted, and moreover accepting about 98 percent of those within a week, according to a Washington Post article. There was the announcement of subscriptions (including the ability of an app to download additional content) being allowed into the app store, opening up multi-level games, magazine subscriptions, travel guides, web magazines, etc. Best of all, developers can set their own prices for this added content, with Apple getting their same 30 percent cut.
The bottom line is that iPhone OS 3.0 starts out being more of a boon for developers than it is for users. Developers get a very large pile of new toys to play with and significant avenues for new revenue from the iPhone. In the end, of course, that will benefit users, who will get more and better applications. We also can’t forget the biggest winner: Apple attracts better apps to the app store and makes its users happier, not to mention building its iPhone revenue stream. It’s hard to find a loser in this scenario, unless it is the makers of other smart phones.
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