As for the App Store I feel that a centralized store is great. People want to use an application, not worry about where to get it and how to install it, especially when the device is palm-sized and your not usually stationary when using it. I have only installed 3 apps collectively on all my cell phones over the past 8 years, and I program for a living. Some apps were too difficult to install, some apps I didn’t trust or was afraid would be impossible to remove once added, and some of the apps I desired I could not find online even though I was sure they had to exist. Apple seems to have solved my problems with their solution. The 70/30 split I can agree with you on and their criteria for app acceptance also has me wondering how strict they are going to be.

In the end, as someone who is creating apps for both iPhone and Android devices I do have to say that the iPhone has delivered on it’s promise to customers and developers unlike other companies which have made the promise but have yet to deliver anything I can use right now.

P.S. Android will probably have the most distribution in the end since it is hardware independent and they have a Quake demo which is just plain cool. IMO the iPhone will take over as the primary business phone (replacing BlackBerry) and Android devices will be used for the majority of consumer phones due to the distribution outlets, variety of hardware, and tiered pricing for that hardware.

Stephan, forget videos and links.

The SDK offers the full power of OSX programming. If you can create a new view, which you can, then you can draw anything into it and you can also trigger and receive events for it.

That’s all a button is anyway!

There is nothing in the iPhone SDK that stops anyone from doing whatever they want to with regards to drawing in views.

You keep saying silly stuff like the iPhone is “an MP3 player with a web browser”. Yeah right! Like a car is paint and carpets.

Your post rambles, misinforms and contradicts itself. I suspect you hate the iPhone because you don’t actually know what it is yet. You don’t seem to have a grasp of the product, the SDK or the concept.

As for unlocked in 2008, who knows, 3G is a given, but the unlocked bit … that is tricky.

Sander: Yes, Apple does indeed change the rules when it comes to developing.

Apparently the iPhone SDK can do profiling, next to on-device debugging. Profiling in Carbide means you have to buy Carbide Pro at EUR 1300. On-device debugging can be done in Carbide Dev at EUR 300.

Buy a Mac Mini for development at EUR 600.

And the good thing about Apple *publicly* stating the 30%-70% revenue share sends a powerful signal to other smartphone software resellers.

Seriously though, the iPhone is not actually a smart phone, it’s a MacNano with a constant net connection and incredible UI. After June, all other devices will be competing with a powerful, rock solid, operating system shrunk down into the palm of your hand – you have to admit, it’s a formidable opponent. You’re 3G unlocked iPhone is surely on the cards for 2008.

Simply not true. You can create customer user controls. Watch the UI videos on the developer page before you write something like this.