Jai's Laboratory

Guest Column By Alex Noble

It was no secret that Adobe was building an IPhone packager which would be included with the release of CS5. This packager would allow developers to create their as3 flash projects into native iPhone apps. What?! Yes, that simple. The idea behind the iPhone packager was to provide developers with a tool that would allow them to publish to a number of different platforms. However Apple does not seem to like that and has banned all Apps built with 3rd party API’s, including the iPhone packager.  What does this mean? in short terms control & business for Apple and A very cool tool that is pretty much useless for Developers now. Apple will never allow you to upload your App to the App Store. no distribution, no cash.

I was especially bummed out when i heard about this. Not only are they basically turning off my web content for the iPad/iPhone (I usually use Flash in one way or another in my projects), they kick Mr. Chen’s door down (gizmodo’s prototype showdown.) , and now I’m “banned” for using the iPhone packager.

I had been stopped before I even began. However it soon became brighter, I heard of an alternative, something that could make things better. Apparently there are a lot of developers and people, who are against how Apple has been managing the AppStore and its contents. So they have created their alternative to the AppStore, its called Cydia. Cydia offers a wide variety of apps which were banned from the App Store. Some of these apps are very useful and conflict with Apple’s interests. This would be the case of GV Mobile(allowing one to make free phone calls were Wi-Fi is available), Cycorder (record Video with iPhone, a feature that does not exist in the iPhone), among many others. The library also includes Adult Apps, but more importantly now we will see a range of apps created by 3rd party API’s. more variety, more solutions, more concepts, more approaches.

To install Apps offered from Cydia, one must Jailbreak their iPod, iPhone or iPad, with third party software (Spirit, QuickPwn, etc)  Jailbreaking allows you to access both Cydia and the App Store without problems. Jailbreaking sounds risky, but it is not. its something good that’ll let you have cool features.

It is still very much in the horizon, but we can only imagine what will end up happening with this situation. It has all the pieces to unfold into a very interesting scenario, with rogue phones and all.  Whatever it might be, I feel good about Cydia’s future and what is represents. its an open free-market for a “device” that wants it closed.

lets see what happens, but for the time being,  Adobe’s tool has made me a very happy man.

Alex Noble
“Unfortunately not a developer. but a designer. A designer who likes stuff that moves and interacts sometimes.
graphic&interactive designer from Mexico City. recently graduated in Vancouver, a really nice place in the the Northwest.”

noble@portalpachun.com
www.portalpachun.com