Apple Easing Up On iOS Dev Tools

[Sean7512]

http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2010/09/09statement.html

Very welcomed!

 

[thejadedmonkey]

Hell freezes over: Apple to allow 3rd party developer tools

Gizmodo is reporting...

In a surprising announcement, and after receiving countless criticisms by developers and users, Apple has announced that they "are relaxing all restrictions on the development tools used to create iOS apps" and "publishing app review guidelines."

— The App Store℠ has revolutionized the way mobile applications are developed and distributed. With over 250,000 apps and 6.5 billion downloads, the App Store has become the world's largest mobile application platform and App Store developers have earned over one billion dollars from the sales of their apps.

We are continually trying to make the App Store even better. We have listened to our developers and taken much of their feedback to heart. Based on their input, today we are making some important changes to our iOS Developer Program license in sections 3.3.1, 3.3.2 and 3.3.9 to relax some restrictions we put in place earlier this year.

In particular, we are relaxing all restrictions on the development tools used to create iOS apps, as long as the resulting apps do not download any code. This should give developers the flexibility they want, while preserving the security we need.

In addition, for the first time we are publishing the App Store Review Guidelines to help developers understand how we review submitted apps. We hope it will make us more transparent and help our developers create even more successful apps for the App Store.

The App Store is perhaps the most important milestone in the history of mobile software. Working together with our developers, we will continue to surprise and delight our users with innovative mobile apps.

This means dev's will now actually know where their programs might run afoul before submitting them, as well as allowing Adobe's flash to iOS compiler to work. It looks like Apple didn't like the US Gov getting into Apple's hair too much.

 

[Daveoc64]

This is excellent news. Good to see them listening to feedback from developers and users.

 

[samcraig]

It looks like Apple didn't like the US Gov getting into Apple's hair too much.

It also looks like they wanted to cease people from accusing them (rightfully) of just being spiteful for spite's sake. Which is a good thing on Apple's part. I don't think they were remotely justified in refusing Apps designed with certain developers tools.

 

[Chundles]

That's awesome news.

What it probably means is that when they don't allow VLC into the App Store they can point to all the parts of the Approval Guidelines that it violates

 

[djhash]

Apple Says It Is Relaxing Some Restrictions on iOS Ops Development Tools

Hey,

Just got this alert from CNBC. What does it really mean?

"Apple Says It Is Relaxing Some Restrictions on iOS Ops Development Tools (story developing)"
Source:
http://www.cnbc.com/

Edit: I guess I looked in the wrong subforum! oops.

Oh well.. now that's fixed (sorta), I would like to read on why some apps will get rejected.

Also, they said
"as long as the resulting apps do not download any code"

Does this apply to "Made for iOS" devices that could use the iOS device to download a firmware update for their devices? (I haven't seen any devices that would need such a thing, but this doesn't mean it can't happen.)

 

[maflynn]

Great news and long over due.

I suspect the increased competition is causing apple to be even more developer friendly.