Handheld Learning - learning with mobile and ubiquitous technologies

Apple will be finally launching their Software Developers Toolkit (SDK) for the iPhone and iPod Touch today.

This toolkit is expected to open up the devices so that third party software developers can create new titles independent of Apple. To date iPhone / Touch software created; from e-book readers to games to web servers to drawing packages, have been the result of non-Apple approved methods and operate after the device has been "jailbroken".

The big question today is how software created by 3rd parties will be distributed?

Apple may decide that they must approve all 3rd party applications or that applications can only be distributed via iTunes with a commission going to Apple.

Apple are opening up the devices but will they open up the market?

Keep checking in and please post anything you come across related to this story.

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The Beta version of the SDK can now be downloaded from Apple's iPhone  Developers site here:

http://developer.apple.com/iphone/

The full release is expected in June.

As widely predicted Apple will approve applications and these will be distributed through the newly announced App Store and iTunes. Developers name the price of their application and Apple takes a hefty 30% of the box office. Developers will need to join a developers program cost $99 for those developing applications for the general market and $299 for those creating enterprise applications, e.g. in-house corporate applications.

A useful FAQ can be found on the CNET site:
http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9888281-7.html

Games company Electronic Arts have had some experience with the iPhone SDK and developed a version of their Spore title within 2 weeks, this video clip provides some insights about the process:

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/u5xA8-XvjNk&rel=0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/u5xA8-XvjNk&rel=0</a>

Commercial developers looking for investment funding for their iPhone / Touch applications may be interested to lear about the $100M iFund initiative launched by the venture capital fund managers, Kleiner Perkins Caulfield & Byers:
http://www.kpcb.com/initiatives/ifund/index.html