So the news is all over the place: The iPhone’s much-anticipated SDK, due to be released on March 6th, will be pretty locked down. According to reports, Apple will implement a system where it decides what iPhone applications are ‘approved’ and which aren’t, since they’ll be using iTunes as the delivery method. Also, apparently, the SDK will *not* allow developers access to the iPhone’s Dock Connector, which means 3rd party solutions such as the GPS module are ruled out. There’s still a bit of confusion as to whether they’ll get access to the Bluetooth chip, but integrated features such as the camera, WiFi, and phone app will indeed be open for developers.
There seems to be quite a bit of surprise around the intertubes on this, and I have to say, why? Please explain what part of the iPhone thus far has been open? It’s locked to a specific carrier, locked to 3rd party apps, locked to ringtones, why on EARTH would you think this magical SDK would be Apple dumping all the locks?
This is why I use Nokia’s S60 handsets. It’s not necessarily because I blindly believe that S60 is the rule-all OS, but because I, as the end-user, am ENCOURAGED to use the handset for anything and everything I can think of. Nokia/S60 is constantly working to make it easier and easier for developers to create applications for the platform, with access to nearly everything on the phone.
Regardless of anything else, why on earth would you want to give your money to support a company that intentionally prevents you from getting the most out of their product?
Ricky Cadden 
First there is no iPhone SDK. No one is happy. Along comes an SDK. People still complain. Can’t win.
Think of it as Apple’s means to maximize the user’s experience on the device: stable, secure, fast.
One might say this is missing from every other mobile device and perhaps a nod to why Apple grabbed more than a quarter of market share in less than a year.
If no one wanted what Apple is offering with the iPhone, they wouldn’t buy it.
First there is no iPhone SDK. No one is happy. Along comes an SDK. People still complain. Can’t win.
Think of it as Apple’s means to maximize the user’s experience on the device: stable, secure, fast.
One might say this is missing from every other mobile device and perhaps a nod to why Apple grabbed more than a quarter of market share in less than a year.
If no one wanted what Apple is offering with the iPhone, they wouldn’t buy it.