Apple Stupidity

Apple have changed their developer agreement from

3.3.1 — Applications may only use Documented APIs in the manner prescribed by Apple and must not use or call any private APIs.

to:

3.3.1 — Applications may only use Documented APIs in the manner prescribed by Apple and must not use or call any private APIs. Applications must be originally written in Objective-C, C, C++, or JavaScript as executed by the iPhone OS WebKit engine, and only code written in C, C++, and Objective-C may compile and directly link against the Documented APIs (e.g., Applications that link to Documented APIs through an intermediary translation or compatibility layer or tool are prohibited).

In an attempt to block CS5 and other tools that allow you to compile to the iPhone.

This would have to go down as one of the most stupid decisions ever made. Allowing this would have seen millions of developers without access to a Mac and no desire to code in Objective C the ability to make iPhone Applications. These applications need to go on the App store, resulting in revenue for Apple.

There are literally millions of flash games that could have easily been ported to iPhone resulting in millions of dollars worth of sales, even if a small % of these applications are converted.

The only reason for this, is Apple's desire to control everything, the same reason they wont allow you to run OSX on a PC. They want you to buy a Mac, buy the developer tools, pay a developer licence and then give them a cut of the money for each sale.

I really can't believe that all the Apple fan boys out there, don't see past this. Microsoft on the other hand, say using Visual Studio or one of the free versions, or the command line tool with Notepad, compile your apps and distribute them royalty free.

And yet its Microsoft that gets all the bad press.

I honestly cant believe that there is a single person out there that would consider that Objective C is better than C# or ActionScript for that matter. Its two steps backward, I would choose C# or ActionScript every time.

Apple really should think twice or be prepared for a huge backlash.