“By creating games and other programs for the iPhone, software developers hoped to find millions of new customers. But they didn’t expect to feel muzzled,” Michelle Quinn reports for The Los Angeles Times.
“The software development kit that Apple Inc. distributed to programmers bound them to not discuss the process of creating programs for the iPhone. Companies typically waive such legal restrictions once the product in question launches, but Apple didn’t. And it won’t say why,” Quinn reports.
“As a result, iPhone developers — and businesses that cater to them — say they are prohibited from asking technical questions or sharing tips anywhere in public. On Apple’s official support website, moderators remind visitors that they are bound by the nondisclosure agreement and should mind what they say or ask,” Quinn reports.
“Conference organizers are trying to figure out how to plan sessions for iPhone software developers when they’re not allowed to talk about iPhone software. Book publishers are sitting on how-to manuals, afraid that if they ship them Apple will sue,” Quinn reports.
“And software developers are forced to make applications for the iPhone in an information vacuum, without the help of a developer community that is used to openly sharing tricks of the trade. Quality may suffer,” Quinn reports.
“The Cupertino, Calif., company is famous for tightly controlling its products and image. But even professionals who for years have made products and services to complement Apple’s are startled by the information clampdown,” Quinn reports.
Full article here.
Sounds pretty cult-ish to me.
Bullshit.
Another pile of lies and misinformation from that lib newspaper LA Times.
Storytelling dumbasses. Developers are elated at the deal they are getting with Apple and the money they are finally making.
This asswipe wants to always write something ‘controversial’.
Piss on him.
The “waiting for patents to be approved” is a BS excuse. If Apple’s already submitted it for consideration it’s patent pending, and if it goes through they can retroactively charge license fees or sue for them.
Do you think physical devices are kept from being released, for fear that patents haven’t been approved yet? No, that’s what the “patent pending” label is for!
And if Apple *hasn’t* submitted things for patents yet, they’ve screwed the pooch and it’s too late–regardless of NDA someone else could have pushed through a claim already. Might not stand up in court, but Apple could’ve avoided the headaches entirely.
I don’t know the reason, because Apple doesn’t say why they’re keeping the NDA in place. But keeping everyone in the dark is a boneheaded move, and they’re doing themselves no favours by doing so.
And for those who think developers should be falling over themselves to develop for the iPhone despite the barriers because it’s the next big thing, keep in mind there’s only so much a developer will tolerate before they say “screw this!” and look elsewhere. The best in any field don’t learn everything themselves in a vacuum, they learn from others–both their successes and from their failures.
While I think it is true that Apple wants to control the initial iPhone app development, it is time for them to remove the NDA from developers. It is counter productive. If they have a good reason to retain the NDA, they need to communicate those reasons and provide a road map for the iPhone SDK so developers aren’t left in the dark. It really IS hard to develop in a total vacuum. Right now there hundreds, if not thousands of developers making the same mistakes because their experiences cannot be shared. This grumble is going to grow into a real turn-off if Apple doesn’t make a change soon.
I sure hope Apple reads these comments. They seem to be a bunch of dolts and could use the brilliant expertise shown here. You folks should guard your superior knowledge, not spew it here for free. Get Apple to pay for this stuff.
“They seem to be a bunch of dolts and could use the brilliant expertise shown here.”
NICE ! !
Hey MDN!
Why aren’t you replying calling these developers idiots and dumbazzzes for wanting to share how-to information with each other? Well MDN????????
@Friday
If you were an Apple fan you’d already know Apple Legal turns away all operational ideas from the public, good or bad
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Being Apple doesn’t excuse them from valid and constructive criticism.
More meaningless flatulence from the site idiot.
If you don’t like the rules of the game, don’t put on the uniform.
Well, lets hope if these patents are software-related, that they won’t be approved and innovation will take place in the mobile phone world. Software patents are the bane of the technology world.
I jailbroke my iPhone today.
Now I just need to figure out what these apps do and how they work.
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I live near Los Angeles and read the print version, and the la tIMES screwed up on the word “iPhone” in the title of their damn article, calling it IPhone, with a capital “I”!
It’s not that hard, and I’d expect better from such a large paper on the front page of their business section.
Spudly: “If every time you did something someone copied it and sold it for less than you..wouldn’t you grow wary? I’m sure Apple has a good reason for this…and my guess is that it revolves around the patents that are still pending on/within the iPhone… Once patents are awarded then the NDA will lift and all you folks bitching and whining will move on to the next item on your bitch and whine list…”
Two things.
1. This exact argument appeared on Daringfireball a few weeks ago. I’m not sure if you read that blog, but I’d say about the same thing as to why Apple is doing this.
2. The developers of iPhone apps are NOT the usual crowd who are always bitching, moaning, and whining about cracks in Apple products, most of them are completely new to Apple. The difficulty this NDA causes them is a real issue, and effects their livelihoods if they want to publish or share information, or run seminars. So, no they won’t “move on to the next thing to whine about” because this is not an issue that effects the professional Apple complainers, nor are these devs likely to move on to another topic to complain about regarding Apple.
If every time you did something someone copied it and sold it for less than you..wouldn’t you grow wary?
Yes. But what’s the point of running martial law when the primary offender, MS, is guaranteed to already be in with the NDA folks?
The SDK is still *very* new, it’s a baby. I can understand why Apple is proceeding cautiously. They can barely handle the road at the speed they’re traveling at now, just imagine how fast things will move once developers have full freedom.
Um, new APIs and SDKs weren’t a problem in the pre-Mac OS X / Rhapsody days….
WHY is Apple making their own developers go through as much BS as possible? If Steve really doesn’t want third-parties on iPhone, then close it up & kill the damned developer program.
Folks, we’re on a direct path to repeating the Macintosh. MS will have a “good enough” knockoff in a few years, and they’ll let everyone code on it freely. Why put up with Apple’s crap? Game over. 🙁
@ clunker again
Greater liability issues. Apple has already had one frivolious lawsuit brought against it for 3G performance issues and dropped calls. Letting unregistered developers run thhrough your S#!t not only jepoardized the iPhone but potentially all the networks the iPhone runs on. Apple did not say you could not discuss your problems with them but if they are suddenly out of the loop then how can they be expected to provide future support and guide the developer community properly. Why do you think Vista and Win Moblie is such a cluster F???
Thats’s Win Mobile.
No credit for passing this on to MDN?
I sent you guys the link for this two days ago!
Screw a damn iPhone. I’m so sick of iPhones. I lost my signal while watching some great porn. iPhones suck.
What? No pro-apple MDN take on this? odd…
Oh! How glad would Balmer be, if M$ spies could also photocopy all these new (“futur”) iPhone apps to bring them on windoze mobile!!!
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What a deal. How on earth can Apple know if a developper is a “sincere” colaborator or just a damn opportunist wishing to sell anythin to anyone?!
…and forgot: how come Bill could sell “his” OS to IBM? Answer: Steve was just too naive at that time! Such mistake has NOT to be redone…
The less Apple lets leak, the sooner M$ will disapear…
I think DonJuan has it right, they don’t want the info out in public because too many people will write apps that can be installed without the App Store and Apple will lose out on their (ridiculous) 30%.