By Kat Asharya | Thu Sep 09, 2010 11:33 am |
Apple today said it is loosening restrictions on developers creating applications for its mobile devices, potentially opening up its market to products made with third-party tools like Adobe's Flash program.
The Cupertino, Calif.-based company's changes appear to allow programmers to create apps for its iPhone and iPad products using third-party tools like Flash. But iPhone users will likely not be able to access Flash-based websites, which require running externally hosted code that the new guidelines prohibit."In particular, we are relaxing all restrictions on the development tools used to create iOS apps, as long as the resulting apps do not download any code," Apple said in a statement. "This should give developers the flexibility they want, while preserving the security we need." Over the past two years, developers have criticized Apple for the closed nature of its rules and app approval process. Creating apps with very little direction from the company, software makers had often taken their products through the full development process, only to have it blocked by Apple from its online store. The company is also publishing guidelines for app approval, so developers will have a better sense of what can be sold in its App Store. Apple is also easing rules imposed earlier this year on using third-party tools that "translate" code written for another platform. Apps originally developed in Flash or Java language can be converted into iPhone apps without rewriting them. Google's Android Market, the chief Apple App Store competitor, has few restrictions on developers, creating a market with an abundance of products for Android phone customers. The easing of developer restrictions should allows Apple to compete better with its rival and create products that iPhone and iPad enthusiasts have been waiting for.
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