iPhone SDK details announced

In addition to the enterprise support announced at the iPhone (read review) roadmap event Apple also revealed more details about the upcoming software development kit (SDK) that will allow developers to create native iPhone applications. Items of note include several applications demonstrated, an iTunes applications store built into the iPhone, support for free applications and a $100 million venture capital fund for iPhone developers. Also, in the Q&A after the event Jobs indicates that VOIP applications will be allowed, but only over Wi-Fi.

Apple indicated that they will be releasing the same software tools they use to create iPhone applications. The SDK is built of four layers, the Core OS, Core Services, Media and the Cocoa programming language which has been adapted to use the iPhone's touch interface.

One item of interest is that the iPhone SDK will include "Core Location", which will allow developers to create location aware applications. This may indicate usage of the Google Maps Locate Me feature and may be integrated with future GPS support, which Apple has indicated will be forthcoming in future models. The development environment for iPhone applications will be Apple's Xcode tool. You will also be able to debug applications running on your iPhone by connecting the phone to your computer and using Xcode.

iPhone development will also include an Interface Builder to create a user interface for applications and an iPhone simulator that will allow you to test applications on your computer (Mac only of course) or on a tethered iPhone and debug while they are running. Several applications were demonstrated using this setup including one that allows you to "warp" images similar to the effect you get from Apple's Photo Booth software and a space fighter game called Touch Fighter. Apple indicated that the Touch Fighter game took two games to write and uses the built in accelerometer to steer and a touch on the screen to fire.

Several companies were asked to create applications for the iPhone on two-weeks notice. EA built an iPhone version of their upcoming game Spore. Salesforce.com built an application for the iPhone to access their online sales management tools. AOL built an instant messaging client for their AIM service. This is a much requested application that many speculated might not be allowed as instant messaging might pull revenue away from AT&T's text messaging, but apparently this isn't going to be an issue. Of course we don't know if the application, or future IM apps, will use an SMS gateway so you're charged for a text message each time you send or receive and instant message.

Also demonstrated was Epocrates, an application used by Doctors to help diagnose illness and look up drug interactions. This type of application is often used as an example for why the iPhone can't be used by medical professionals. Instead they have, until now, used Palm OS devices where this type of software is well established.

Last up is another game, this time from Sega, Super Monkey Ball. People who have played this game on consoles will understand quickly why the iPhone is a perfect platform for it. Basically you are tilting a board to get a monkey stuck in a ball around a maze. Obviously the iPhone version uses the accelerometer for this tilting action.

As expected applications will be available via iTunes and, as we hoped, there will be access to the store directly from the iPhone. Applications can be downloaded via Wi-Fi or EDGE. The price of the application will be charged to your iTunes account and developers can choose any price they wish, including free. Apple will charge 30% for applications that you pay for and there is no charge to customers or developers for free applications. The SDK will be available for free and publishing an application to the iTunes store will cost $99. We're unsure as to whether that will be per application or a one-time fee. There's also no word about what kind of controls or testing might be put into place.

Support for all of this will come in the iPhone 2.0 update coming in late June (where have we heard that before). A beta version of the SDK will be available to developers today. We have to admit we're not quite happy with the date to see all this coming for consumers, but it wasn't entirely unexpected.

Apple also announced a $100 million "iFund" to support iPhone development in partnership with venture capital firm KPCB. That certainly dwarfs Google's $10 million dollar fund for Android development.

For photos from the event we recommend you check out Gizmodo's coverage.