Well, Apple’s SDK roadmap event is done and over with, and I’d say today’s events were promising, to say the least. However, we realize that there was a lot of technical terminology tossed around yesterday, so I’m here to clarify exactly what all this SDK stuff means.

What’s Push email?
A it’s essentially an email system where instead of your iPhone checking the server for email every so often, it “pushes” it to your phone, so you get it a lot sooner. With push Calendar and contacts, it’s the same concept applied to a calendar or address book.

What’s a Global Address List?
Another thing for business users so that everyone in a company has the contact information of everyone else they need to contact. It’s based on the Microsoft Exchange server system.

What’s an SDK, and why is it a big deal?
The SDK is a set of tools for software developers so they can develop better native iPhone apps. It’s a big deal because without it developers have to wait or resort to hacking iPhones.

Where can I get the SDK?

Here: apple.com/downloads.
How do I get the new apps?
Apple won’t start offering the new apps until this June. When they do, you can download them right onto your phone like you download iTunes from the iTunes Mobile store or through iTunes.

How do I publish apps?
They haven’t given specifics on how to publish applications, but they will be charging a $99/year fee to become a registered iPhone developer with Apple, and 30% of revenues.

How much will the apps cost to download?
Apple is letting developers decide how much to sell them for.

Can I download the SDK and install my own apps on my iPhone?
No. The SDK will only let you install apps created with it if you’re a registered developer.

What the heck is an iFund?
The iFund is a $100,000,000 chunk of money that investment firm KPCB has set aside for loaning out to companies that want to start a company that revolves around the iPhone in order to advance the iPhone and iPod touch as a developing platform.

More on the iFund at kpcb.com.

I hope that put a few of these things into perspective. If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments below.

via http://www.iphonealley.com/news/iphone-sdk-q-a?s=c4139f5f3bf5b786f38ea98dc3acb6c6&

Posted on March 7th, 2008 by admin
Filed under: iPhone News, iPhone SDK