iPhone Can Now Run Apache, Python, Vim 312
An anonymous reader writes "After the first Hello World application, hacker NerveGas and the people at #iphone-shell have built Apache, Python and other Open Source apps for the iPhone using NightWatch's toolchain. Yes, your iPhone can now be a Web Server and do all sort of 1337 things. This also means that third-party applications for iPhone will happen no matter what. People, iPhone Doom could be just around the corner." It's fairly thin on information but if true, this will lead to good things. Like hopefully permission from apple.
And on the seventh day... (Score:1, Insightful)
Maybe, or it could mean that geeks aren't the target audience and only sanctioned apps will appear and be used by the iPhone masses.
my thoughts (Score:4, Insightful)
I do however believe that apple will now release a SDK for the iPhone (apple pretty much do anything the consumers want these days, even managed some drm music, something i thought would never come while the RIAA existed.)
I also believe apple stated ajax/web apps as the SDK because they didn't want to give people any reason to think the iPhone was incomplete (and hence to put off the purchase.)
First Application . . (Score:5, Insightful)
s/permission/official blessing/ (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:s/permission/official blessing/ (Score:5, Insightful)
No way Apple will go for it (Score:5, Insightful)
Jamie Zawinski said... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Erh what? (Score:2, Insightful)
First cool app for apache (Score:5, Insightful)
honestly though, how long before AT&T starts deactivating phone accounts for "data plan abuse" because people are actually using their data plan with these hacks and apps? they already try their hardest to scam their customers into buying the full data plan for their smartphone instead of the cheaper smartphone plan.
I had a AT&T rep threaten me that if I dont change my plan he will have my service shut off.
cingular and now AT&T pride themselves in the absolute crappiest customer service they can give. Threaten customers, scamming them into getting service plans they do not need (All I want is email, websurfing on a phone sucks and who cares about MTV videos on a phone)
permission? huh? (Score:2, Insightful)
Why after spending what was likely loads of time locking down the thing because they didn't want anyone messing with it would they suddenly change their minds because someone took a crowbar to the thing?
I think from their point of view it's a bit like the roaches expecting you to lay out some cheese platters and stop spraying since they managed to get into your house anyway.
I'm thinking they're going to see a fumigation tent a lot sooner than a bucket of veggie dip.
Re:my thoughts (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:my thoughts (Score:3, Insightful)
Which is stupid. Did they REALLY think the iPhone wouldn't be hacked? Now they have no control over it.
Re:my thoughts (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:How about Applescript or Fscript? (Score:3, Insightful)
Might be time to bite the $600 bullet.
Also design process (Score:4, Insightful)
There negotiations with Cingular/AT&T probably focused on getting iTunes activation, and AT&T focused on controlling the feature set.. The first phone I had with an AIM client was back in 2001, it's not a rare feature, but Apple probably yielded on iChat because AT&T was yielding on WiFi and didn't want people to avoid paying SMS fees.
I think that Apple wanted to move product first, then aim for smartphone competition. If they move millions, then Apple, not AT&T, has the power in a renegotiation. Apple wanted to get the iPod-Phone out there and prove demand, then they can go after the pocket computer market.
Re:Disappointing (Score:5, Insightful)
Given that the iPhone is running some variety of MacOS X, it's highly likely that we see the full potential of this thing unlocked pretty soon. Having a fairly standardized environment, a fairly powerful CPU and a sleek form factor is good.
Being turing-complete isn't good enough for the real world of computing. Any PCL printer is, but do you see anyone here breaking out the champagne over that?
Stereo bluetooth (Score:2, Insightful)
http://www.softick.com/bluetooth-audio/ [softick.com]
Maybe someone will write drivers so you could use a bluetooth or IR keyboard.
Maybe someone will write drivers so the iPhone can add some storage, like an SD card. May require soldering.
Maybe someone will write drivers so you can change the battery. May also require soldering.
Maddox loves his iPhone. http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=i
Re:my thoughts (Score:5, Insightful)
This is because foreign code may not only affect stability and "user experience" but the monopoly you have on that hardware. And reducing the monopoly means commodization of some sort and that's what Apple hates more than anything: fixed, exclusive, expensive 2-year contracts, secrecy around new products, higher-than-expected prices, strict limits on the user (changing the battery? a memory card?) - it's all oriented around their central marketing aim of being in THE special position among all hard- and software manufacturers.
People are buying it, Apple is profitable like nothing and has a crowd of fans silencing all critics - it seems to work, I admit.
I have quite some respect for their marketing and product strategy - they are doing everything right from a shareholder's perspective. (Stock inflation for unreal expectations is not that important)
But don't make the mistake to consider Apple a corporation totally different from its arch rival Microsoft. They're following a different path, but their goal is comparable. If Apple's and MSFT's market shares were reversed, we had the same problems with Mac OS than we have with Windows right now, except their design and safety record wouldn't suck half as bad. But concerning anti-competitive maneuvers, vendor lock-in amd user restrictions, they'd be just the same.
Re:First cool app for apache (Score:4, Insightful)
I think we differ in what this part means.
Your definition seems to be: "I send SMS messages frequently enough to use 100 to 150 of them a month. It doesn't bother me to pay extra money on my plan to get these."
My definition is: "SMS messages are annoying and I've never sent one, though I have recieved a few of them. I don't want to pay for crap I know I won't use, especially overpriced crap. Cut them out of the plan and save me some $$$."
See? Those of us complaining about the plan aren't unreasonable either, we just have different needs. Needs that aren't being catered to by AT&T. That's why there's so much bitching. One size does not fit all.
Re:Disappointing (Score:3, Insightful)
Ideally, bittorrent would be a much bigger nuisance though.
great! (Score:4, Insightful)
Folks, if you want to have iPhone-like features with a programmable device, invest your time and effort into helping with one of the actually open phone platforms, don't waste it on trying to battle with Apple's DRM. Apple doesn't want you to run apps on the iPhone, period.
Of course, recompiling Apache requires so much less smarts than actually creating a nice phone app.
Taco drank the Kool-Aid (Score:3, Insightful)
Because the iPhone is from Apple and Cmdr Tack drank a full jug of the Kool-Aid. Seriously, replace Apple with ANY other entity and imagine seeing "It's fairly thin on information but if true, this will lead to good things. Like hopefully permission from _____." on the front page of Slashdot... written not just by an idiot editor like Zonk but by the Taco himself. If anyone didn't understand the power of the Steve Jobs Reality Distortion Field, here is your proof.
Since when did we need permission to run software on our computers? The vendors have been throwing up technical and legal roadblocks since the Atari 2600 but that hasn't stopped very many people from doing it anyway. Yes the iPhone will be cracked and allowed to run any software. Just like the XBox was cracked and the XBox 360 will eventually be. Just like the PS3 will get the GPU opened up. Just like every TIVO gets more advanced 'protection' and gets opened up anyway. No, just because Steve doesn't like it we aren't going to say "Well, if Steve doesn't want it we will not even try. Might make him cry or something and we can't have that."
Re:my thoughts (Score:2, Insightful)