Since developers can publish their software free on itunes anyway and have Apple host it for them, for FREE, whats the point?

Oh yeah, sorry, forgot the hackers want to be clever and cool.

Then again, maybe they could try getting out more and meet some women, drink some beer or something instead of sitting in darkened rooms jerking off over how clever they are.

I presume that Apple will only publish software that complies with the restrictive usage rules of the SDK, which would, for example, exclude Java. So there is a point after all, and there's no need to descend to silly ad hominem insults.

Perhaps you should do your research before posting stupid comments like that.

Apple are being extremely restrictive over what you can do with your iPhone/iPod Touch, eg a VoIP client will likely be out of the question - a kick in the teeth for the iTouch (A 3rd party microphone has been developed for it).

Also you cant implement anything that runs in the background, such as any instant messaging clients or anything that pops up messages or completes tasks whilst doing ANY other thing on the phone - it must be launched from the springboard in a wholely 'modal' manner (A Windows'ey term meaning only one functional window useable, until you dismiss it). Very old hat.

I for one congratulate the iPhone Dev Team for the iPwnageTool - simply because it liberalizes the iPhone platform.

"eg a VoIP client will likely be out of the question - a kick in the teeth for the iTouch (A 3rd party microphone has been developed for it)."

Apple have specifically said VoIP will be fine over WiFi. As the Touch only has WiFi, I will be expecting VoIP clients on day one.

The apps you're not allowed: bandwidth hogs, porn, malicious apps, VoIP-over-Edge ... you know, the usual ones you'd expect.

In addition to the previous comment about this it's also worth noting that:

You have to pay for a signing certificate if you want to put an app you've developed onto an iPhone/iPod touch. This applies even if your app is going to be free, and even if you only want to put it on your own device.

At the moment you can only apply for a certificate if you are in the US. Everywhere else will have to wait. Even in the US most of the people who applied for a certificate have been rejected and told to try again later in the year.

I've not jailbroken my iPod touch yet, but I think the restrictions on the SDK might be what push me to do it.

Just like the author, now that i know it, i too can not wait to find an excuse to use it :-)

http://dictionary.reference.com/wordoftheday/archive/2004/08/19.html

I'm sure I read somewhere that even VoIP over WiFi was actively discouraged - to protect the Mobile network operators interests and profit margins.

In fact I would think that any app that would use a totally unsanctioned hardware addition to the iPod Touch (the 3rd party mic) would not be accessible via the official Apple SDK - the iTouch wasn't supposed to have 'Audio In' capabilities.

Does anybody know if the SDK allows access to audio input from a microphone on an iTouch? I've not got a Mac to find out.

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Another restriction - They've only come up with the SDK for the Macintosh. I for one ain't going out to buy one of those piles of poo just to write code for my iPod Touch. I am neither a Mac fanboi or a Windows fanboi.

Piles of poo? How old are you, 7? Plus read the article - Windows version expected within 24 hours. Grow up.

It really is poo, so many other phones let you run apps (mostly java, symbian and win-mobile) and some, like the sony ericsson's, HTC's etc let you minimise one app, run another and leave apps running minimised.

This is simple functionality which people are used to having on PDA's and to some extent phones. Without it yes the iPhone has a new poo on it's pile.

Stu was talking about the SDK not the hack, I suggest you read the comments before answering them...

Yes I wish ppl would read the comments before replying.

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Dont get me wrong here - I love the whole iPod Touch / iPhone thing - its a great platform, but its brand new - and Apple are not (imho) being very conducive to its overall development and improvement, what with their software release policies and what they think the whole iPhone experience should be like (no background apps for instance).

They are being far too big-brother-ish over its nurturing, saying what can and cannot be done with quite a bit of restriction.

Lets face it, we all pay good money to Apple for, even, the iPod Touch - I'd like to do what I want with it (but not writing viruses of course) - especially if I put the time into developing the app for it myself.

Thats why I'll stick to hacking open my iTouch and will eventually get round to looking into developing for it, all without using the official SDK - OR Apples approval.

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What I was referring to being a 'pile of poo' though, is the Macintosh platform. But Phil if you prefer - okay its a pile of utter SHIT. Better?

..because I want porn on my iPhone. Why should the Church of Apple deny my porn needs.

"They are being far too big-brother-ish over its nurturing..."

Isn't that ironic considering their big Macintosh ad campaign in 1984.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R706isyDrqI