Apple backtracks, updates will "most likely break" 3rd party iPhone software

by Ryan Block, posted Sep 12th 2007 at 3:36AM

Ouch, that was fast. Apple didn't seem to want to let get around that its got a completely neutral stance on 3rd party application development for the iPhone, and apparently got back with Gearlog to clarify that future iPhone "software updates will most likely break" 3rd party app compatibility. Not ignore, not possibly break -- most likely break. In other words, don't set your hopes too high that the NES games you're enjoying on your iPhone today will be around tomorrow, since it sounds like Apple won't be playing Switzerland after all.

Filed under: Software, Apple

Tags: iphone

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neutral

Alex @ Sep 12th 2007 5:16AM

Switzerland = neutral I suppose?

Neutral

tired-of-apple-fanboys @ Sep 12th 2007 7:42AM

No surprise there at all.

Neutral

SICKofArrogantFruityCo&Fanboys @ Sep 12th 2007 11:25AM

Bwaahahahaa... All that work for naught!

iPhone = iCon��

Neutral

JayCaesar @ Sep 12th 2007 1:36PM

yes alex neutral... I was actuallly shocked when they said they were gonna be neutral but oh well

Neutral

JayCaesar @ Sep 12th 2007 1:37PM

yes alex neutral... I was actuallly shocked when they said they were gonna be neutral but oh well

Neutral

Josh @ Sep 12th 2007 1:54PM

I don't think this is as big a "reversal" as the story leads on.. I read this to mean that the API for the Apple Touch Devices (iphone & ipod touch) is still maturing. They are still working out API breaking changes (like adding cut and paste for example). And they aren't tying themselves down to the idea of backwards compatibility.

I would put money on that in 18 ~ 24 months (maybe sooner) Apple developers (specifically their software architects) will rubber stamp an API as stable for publication and shortly after that some kind of official SDK will be released. The definitely wouldn't want to do something like that until they were VERY comfortable with the idea of chaining the weight of backwards compatibility onto their development team!

Neutral

Randy @ Sep 12th 2007 1:56PM

Given that apple hasn't released (to my knowledge,) an SDK for the iPhone and the way people have been hacking on it to get apps to run, no one should be up in arms about a F/W update breaking apps. This was inevitable.