In the space of an hour announcement, Apple has destroyed most of the big mobile players, Nokia, Microsoft, and RIM. I’d expect Google to abandon Android development at this point, it’s now just irrelevant (if it weren’t already).
This is the second coming of the JesusPhone.
That’s (just part of) the response from Layton Duncan of Polar Bear Farms – who make the Search and ShowTime applications for the iPhone – to today’s Apple iPhone SDK / Software Roadmap event.
We did a little informal gathering of responses from some existing and future iPhone developers, on what they thought of today’s announcements from Apple – and to say they’re happy with what they heard would be a *big* understatement …
We’ve been lucky enough to talk to the founders and principals of several leading iPhone publishers, and one real blue-chip from the world of Palm and Windows Mobile apps. We’re very grateful to all of them for sharing their thoughts so quickly!
So here you go, here are some of the responses we’ve had from developers:
Layton Duncan at Polar Bear Farms:
Today’s announcements from Apple are truly industry revolutionising. This is the biggest announcement in the computer industry since Apple introduced the Macintosh to the world in 1984.
The platform, and tools announced by Apple today are light years ahead of any other mobile platform. If there were any doubts that the iPhone will become the dominant mobile platform of the future, today’s announcements have absolutely squashed them. Apple has just changed the face of the mobile industry forever, and indirectly this announcement will change the face of desktop computing forever.
In the space of an hour announcement, Apple has destroyed most of the big mobile players, Nokia, Microsoft, and RIM. I’d expect Google to abandon Android development at this point, it’s now just irrelevant (if it weren’t already).
This is the second coming of the JesusPhone
Hardy Macia, Catamount Software – makers of the PocketMoney native app:
From the SDK to the AppStore I think Apple hit everything perfectly. 70% of revenues going to developers will keep the developer community healthy and wealthy as iPhone sales continue to climb.
Marc Tassin, Ilium Software – makers of leading apps for Palm and Windows Mobile like eWallet, ListPro, and NewsBreak:
I think today’s announcement from Apple opens up a lot of exciting possibilities for mobile developers. They’ve done a great job on focusing on the things that are the most important when it comes to making a mobile application market work, and they seem cognizant of the needs of developers. And most importantly they are focused on creating a great experience for the customer.
As for Ilium Software, I can say without hesitation that we plan to support the iPhone. The eWallet Companion web application is already available in beta as an iPhone web application, but we want to give customers access to their critical information via a native iPhone application as well. In fact, we started development of eWallet for iPhone a few months ago, and I expect that we will have it available by the time the App Store goes live in June.
Vincent Verweij – of Makayama, makers of the Camera Pro, Voice Dial, and Photo Dial native apps for iPhone:
The Apple presentation wasn’t mind-blowing, but we got what we expected and wanted. We will definitely port our apps to the SDK. If Apple can do for the mobile software business what they’ve done for digital music, there’s a huge opportunity.
App Store is the biggest surprise. We expected distribution to be based on iTunes, but over-the-air installation is much, much better. A 70/30 revenue split is reasonable and in line with most other mobile software resellers.
Regarding security: I’m not sure what Jobs meant with ‘electonic certificate’ in the Q&A. If it’s code signing, it’s bad. That’s giving us so many headaches now on Windows Mobile and Symbian. Hopefully Apple doesn’t go that route.
The June release is a bit disappointing. Another 3 months before we can start selling apps, we could have been ready in 3 weeks.
I also don’t like the fact that they’re monopolising distribution. Companies like Handango and Motricity should be given the chance to compete and extend the marketplace.
Tunji Afonja – Efiko Software – makers of iPhoneRingToneMaker:
Am actually pleasantly surprised particularly if you consider all the previous comments and actions by Apple and it’s Executives. From a developer’s perspective, everything looks well put together with the simulator, debugger and all the other necessary tools we need to developer rapidly and effectively. From a business and distribution perspective, things look promising with the App Store and and revenue share. You get the sense that Apple really wants 3 party apps to be a success.
The revenue share. Believe me, Apple giving developers 70% is right out of left field. With them in control you would have expected they would ask for at least 50% and follow the path of the current crop of greedy ESDs. This is very encouraging.
We are already working on some compelling applications that we will now adapt to this official SDK. We should have a beta by the end of the month.
William Volk of MyNumo – who make 501 Darts, The Gambler Mobile Blackjack, Carmadillo, ion Bowling, and more online games for iPhone:
Revenue share and payment terms that make the typical mobile deal look like a joke. The iPhone is as or more powerful than any handheld game system. Watch Out Nintendo and Sony!
Location based games. Cell tower and WiFi data. Swipe interface and the accelerometer. The Handheld Wii. OpenGL 3D. Unparalleled network capabilities. The best casual game platform in the world just by virtue of the UI AND a great HARD CORE game system as well.
Oh, our programmers are going NUTS over this. They are so excited.
So … today makes me feel very excited (even more excited) to be an iPhone user – and it seems it is also a very exciting time to be an iPhone developer, or even an aspiring one …
Continue reading:
- Everything New Apple Just Announced (Septembe
- Apple Watch Pre-Order
- Apple Research Kit launches with 5 Apps
- Apple TV now only $69
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