Using the iPhone : Get Apps for Apple's Top Moby

Developers Answer the Call to Provide Utility to the iPhone 3G

Aug 22, 2008

Following its launch success, developers are beavering away to provide the top application downloads for the new iPhone 3G

Pulling quickly away from the Windows Mobile and Symbian userbase, the iPhone 3G followed up its enormous launch success with Apple reporting over 10 million downloads of software for the phone in its first weekend.

Coupled with high speed internet communications and a great user interface, the utility of the PDA that everyone is watching is expanding. Apple launched a new SDK (Software Development Kit ) to enable budding programmers to create, test and then launch their own software. This is perhaps the key to the device's future success.

iPhone Download Success

It's a canny approach from the Cupertino crew. Applications for the device are downloaded using iTunes, over 90% of which are free or priced under $10, bringing at least 1 million new users to the iTunes community within the first month following the new model's launch. The choice is widening all the time with over 200 pieces of software offered in the App Store.

Curiously, a noticeable number are based on existing iPhone applications and set out to improve on the initial limitations in the standard iPhone offering. Some reviewers fully expect Apple to take note and adopt neat and new innovations into the native software provided with the phone. All in all, its a great product proving ground for the Company.

Top iPhone Tools for Techies

With its excellent internet connectivity, the phone can be used as a remote device - enabling access to corporate servers and facilities for administrators and employees-on-the-move alike. Its Linux-like core means it readily accepts traditional tools such as OpenSSL to provide secure remote access mechanisms.

Interested parties should check out iSSH from Zinger-Soft. Missing (thus far) from the list of must-have downloads, is a decent remote editor which works over SFTP. Something akin to JEdit for example, would be very welcome.

Charting the Top iPhone 3G Apps

It comes as little surprise that the media is following new releases closely. Search engines are buzzing as users hunt for the most useful widgets to add to their mobile magic box. The App Store on iTunes is the first stop for the new or novice user.

However, more applications are available from other sites which also teach users how to break away from the iTunes monopoly in terms of getting new bits and pieces to the device. For the uninitiated this is not recommended, but does help to extend the utility of the iPhone beyond that mandated by Apple.

Whether mainstream or more specialised, users do need to get away from the limited (so far) reviews available on iTunes. Useful sources for more advice on the pros and cons of new iPhone software include:

The Apple iPhone SDK - It's Only Just Begun

Impressive though the list of available add-ons is, this must be merely the start of an application onslaught. Apple reported 100K plus downloads of the full SDK following its launch in March. There is a real groundswell of development activity. The Apple iPhone App Store, as well as its unofficial copies and counter-culture sites, are worth keeping an eye on.

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