SDK

An updated USBConfiguration.plist file discovered in the most recent version of the iPhone OS 3.1 firmware beta offers evidence that Apple is continuing development on an unknown device. According to an ArsTechnica story, the product, referred to as "iProd", was first discovered in March and has since been updated as "1,1", which has led users to believe there is indeed an unknown product inside of Apple under active development running the iPhone OS.

Apple has released version five of the iPhone 3.0 software (Build 7A312g) to developers, as well as a new pre-releas version of iTunes 8.2 and version five of the SDK (build 9M2735). As was the case with the last beta software download, iTunes 8.2 is required in order to install the latest beta OS. We're still waiting on details about new features and changes from the previous version.

There was some speculation last week that Google was using undocumented APIs and other such resources deemed out-of-bounds in the SDK in their updated Google Mobile App, but was still somehow approved by Apple. Google recently confirmed that this is partly true, but still denies some of the claims.

Along with the 2.2 Software update for the iPhone (and iPod touch), Apple has released a new version of their SDK that includes some additions that are specific to developing for the new software. The SDK is available to registered developers only, and can be downloaded form the iPhone Developer's Connection, as usual.

The Google Mobile App is easily one of the coolest apps we've seen so far. In fact, it's almost too good, making some wonder if Google got special access to private frameworks and unpublished APIs from Apple that are forbidden in their SDK. Erica Sadun did some digging found that Google is probably getting access more things than other developers. You can check it out at Ars Technica.

Adobe and ARM have both announced that they will be working together to optimize Adobe Flash Player 10 and Adobe AIR to work on ARM-powered devices. The optimization specifically focuses on the ARM11 family, which just so happens to be what powers our iPhones.

As promised earlier this month, Apple has posted a new version of their iPhone developer agreement. One version is publicly available, while another is only available to registered devs. Most of the restrictions of "confidential information" now seems to be focused on Apple's pre-release software.

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has in the past expressed interest in getting Microsoft Silverlight, their own take on an Adobe Flash developing framework, on the iPhone, but at the time he said he hadn't discussed it with Apple so he didn't have many details to go in to. Now Microsoft is back and while they're making a concerted effort to get it on Google's Android platform, Silverlight on iPhone is becoming less and less likely.

Apple has dropped their Non-Disclosure Agreement for iPhone app developers. Since March 6, 2008, anyone who wanted to develop official apps for the iPhone were legally bound to keep their mouths shut about nearly everything to do with the process, but no longer. Apple released an official open letter on Apple.com to their developers stating that the NDA for released apps has been lifted, as well as explaining why it was put in place.

Adobe has stated in the past that they intended to port Flash over to the iPhone, but Apple has continued to stand in their way, and for a while we had thought they had given up. As it turns out, they didn't, and have now revealed that Flash for the iPhone is nearly ready and waiting for Apple to give the 'OK'.