• Applications for the iPhone were originally developed by Apple and selected partners. With the release of the iPhone SDK, Apple opened up the field to other developers.

  Applications, or apps as they are commonly known, cover everything from games to business, and movies to medicine.

  Currently over 40,000 apps, ranging in cost from free to $10 or more, are available for download from the iPhone App Store. They can be downloaded directly from the device and also via iTunes on a computer.

  Anyone can develop free iPhone apps, proviiding they have a Mac running OS X Leopard or better. Developers of paid apps are required to pay a $99 registration fee.

• Fast Facts

  1. Applications can be installed on the iPhone through 3rd party software
  2. Many iPhone widgets and applications are web-based and can be accessed through the Safari browser
  3. Top free download of 2008: Pandora RadioMobileCrunch: Apple announces Top 10 iPhone App downloads of 2008 (December 2, 20008)

• The SDK

  The iPhone SDK was announced early in 2008. Selected developers were allowed to utilize and test the developer's kit. With the release of iPhone 2.0, the SDK was released for developers to begin writing their own applications for the iPhone 3G.CNN: 'Pull My Finger' subject of court fight (February 17, 2009)

• The iPhone 3G

  With the release of the iPhone 3G on July 11, 2008, a new wave of applications was also released. These applications range from additional games such as MLB iPhone and Super Monkey Ball iPhone to the more enterprise-focused applications like MobileMe and the Associated Press iPhone.

• Flatulence Fight

  In February of 2009, Air-o-Matic and InfoMedia, Inc., companies that both offer competing farting iPhone applications became engaged in a legal battle. Air-o-Matic, who produced the "Pull my Finger" application asked InfoMedia, the creators of the iFart app, for $50,000 for copyright infringement upon discovering that InfoMedia was using the phrase "Pull my Finger" in its advertising campaigns. Despite the iFart creators' claims that the phrase is a commonly used term, Air-o-Matic has threatened to sue its competitor.

• Kill Switch Rumors

  In August of 2008, rumors spread of a kill switch that could be covertly installed in the iPhone, capable of automatically deleting third-party applications at Apple's command. Apple CEO Steve Jobs later confirmed the existence of the kill switch, but insisted it would only be used in extreme cases (such as an application that installs malware on to the phone), and that no applications were currently on the "kill switch list."Engadget: Steve Jobs ...Confirms Kill Switch (August 11, 2008)

• Related Pages on Mahalo

  iPhone | iPhone 3G | iPhone 3GS | iPhone Accessories | IPhone App Store | MobileMe | Apple | Steve Jobs | IPhone Application Kill Switch | Enigmo iPhone Game | Obama iPhone App | SimCity iPhone | Amazon iPhone Application | Seadragon Mobile | IBoobs | How to Get Free iPhone Apps | How to Add iPhone Apps | 3G iPhone Hacks

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