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iPhone Can Now Run Apache, Python, Vim
An anonymous reader writes "After the first Hello World application, hacker NerveGas and the people at #iphone-shell have built Apache, Python and other Open Source apps for the iPhone using NightWatch's toolchain. Yes, your iPhone can now be a Web Server and do all sort of 1337 things. This also means that third-party applications for iPhone will happen no matter what. People, iPhone Doom could be just around the corner." It's fairly thin on information but if true, this will lead to good things. Like hopefully permission from apple.
"This also means that third-party applications for iPhone will happen no matter what."
Maybe, or it could mean that geeks aren't the target audience and only sanctioned apps will appear and be used by the iPhone masses.
I do however believe that apple will now release a SDK for the iPhone (apple pretty much do anything the consumers want these days, even managed some drm music, something i thought would never come while the RIAA existed.)
I also believe apple stated ajax/web apps as the SDK because they didn't want to give people any reason to think the iPhone was incomplete (and hence to put off the purchase.)
Instant Messaging!
Three days from now?? Thats tomorrow!! ~Peter Griffin
Since when do we ask permission to bend our gadgets to our will?
I see voided warranties in people's futures! There's no way Apple (or AT&T for that matter) is going to give the "OK" on 3rd party applications. Apache web servers and python scripts? If people really wanted to try to get acceptance they would have started with a diet-calculator or bowling-score manager. Forget it now, I can see AT&T and Apply's lawyers scrambling for ways to avoid the maelstorm of hacks and scripts that could threaten their good name. Windows based phones have allowed 3rd part apps since their inception, but somehow it seems much less ominous. Perhaps because they're mostly used in corporate deployments, and pure geek-types?
'Every program attempts to expand until it can read mail'. In that case every platform evolves until it can run Doom...
A doom( prboom?) clone runs great on open embedded with ARM cpus, but the iPaqs I played it on actually had buttons and a four-way toggle key for movement. I think playing an action game on an iPhone might be a little more difficult. Now, Day of the Tentacle with Scummvm would be neat...
iphone webcam. See the world from someone's hip or side of their head.
honestly though, how long before AT&T starts deactivating phone accounts for "data plan abuse" because people are actually using their data plan with these hacks and apps? they already try their hardest to scam their customers into buying the full data plan for their smartphone instead of the cheaper smartphone plan.
I had a AT&T rep threaten me that if I dont change my plan he will have my service shut off.
cingular and now AT&T pride themselves in the absolute crappiest customer service they can give. Threaten customers, scamming them into getting service plans they do not need (All I want is email, websurfing on a phone sucks and who cares about MTV videos on a phone)
Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
reality check: "permission from apple"??
Why after spending what was likely loads of time locking down the thing because they didn't want anyone messing with it would they suddenly change their minds because someone took a crowbar to the thing?
I think from their point of view it's a bit like the roaches expecting you to lay out some cheese platters and stop spraying since they managed to get into your house anyway.
I'm thinking they're going to see a fumigation tent a lot sooner than a bucket of veggie dip.
How about SSH?
Might be time to bite the $600 bullet.
Every analyst figured out that MP3-player Cel Phones were a threat to the iPod, obviously Apple knew that as well. The iPhone no doubt started simply as an iPod/Phone combo, and some basic Internet features probably evolved into the beautiful little device that you see now.
There negotiations with Cingular/AT&T probably focused on getting iTunes activation, and AT&T focused on controlling the feature set.. The first phone I had with an AIM client was back in 2001, it's not a rare feature, but Apple probably yielded on iChat because AT&T was yielding on WiFi and didn't want people to avoid paying SMS fees.
I think that Apple wanted to move product first, then aim for smartphone competition. If they move millions, then Apple, not AT&T, has the power in a renegotiation. Apple wanted to get the iPod-Phone out there and prove demand, then they can go after the pocket computer market.
Please don't confuse any "webserver" with a potentially full-blow apache. Answering GET requests by streaming out plaintext html files is accomplished by freshman's programming examples - having a real webserver is much much more.
Given that the iPhone is running some variety of MacOS X, it's highly likely that we see the full potential of this thing unlocked pretty soon. Having a fairly standardized environment, a fairly powerful CPU and a sleek form factor is good.
Being turing-complete isn't good enough for the real world of computing. Any PCL printer is, but do you see anyone here breaking out the champagne over that?
Maybe someone will write drivers so the iPhone can do wireless stereo bluetooth like my Treo.
p hone
http://www.softick.com/bluetooth-audio/
Maybe someone will write drivers so you could use a bluetooth or IR keyboard.
Maybe someone will write drivers so the iPhone can add some storage, like an SD card. May require soldering.
Maybe someone will write drivers so you can change the battery. May also require soldering.
Maddox loves his iPhone. http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=i
With a 4 GB drive, couldn't this turn into a potential nightmare for the RIAA/MPAA? Even though the upload rate will be horrid, imagine a thousand micro-Pirate Bays running around in people's pockets...
Ideally, bittorrent would be a much bigger nuisance though.
Insert Sig Here
I can now run Apache on a phone that's more expensive than my desktop system, and void my warranty and likely have it bricked on the next sync.
Folks, if you want to have iPhone-like features with a programmable device, invest your time and effort into helping with one of the actually open phone platforms, don't waste it on trying to battle with Apple's DRM. Apple doesn't want you to run apps on the iPhone, period.
Of course, recompiling Apache requires so much less smarts than actually creating a nice phone app.
> Since when do we ask permission to bend our gadgets to our will?
Because the iPhone is from Apple and Cmdr Tack drank a full jug of the Kool-Aid. Seriously, replace Apple with ANY other entity and imagine seeing "It's fairly thin on information but if true, this will lead to good things. Like hopefully permission from _____." on the front page of Slashdot... written not just by an idiot editor like Zonk but by the Taco himself. If anyone didn't understand the power of the Steve Jobs Reality Distortion Field, here is your proof.
Since when did we need permission to run software on our computers? The vendors have been throwing up technical and legal roadblocks since the Atari 2600 but that hasn't stopped very many people from doing it anyway. Yes the iPhone will be cracked and allowed to run any software. Just like the XBox was cracked and the XBox 360 will eventually be. Just like the PS3 will get the GPU opened up. Just like every TIVO gets more advanced 'protection' and gets opened up anyway. No, just because Steve doesn't like it we aren't going to say "Well, if Steve doesn't want it we will not even try. Might make him cry or something and we can't have that."
Democrat delenda est