Apple unwraps the iPhone software development kit

Cupertino (CA) - Independent developers are finally able to access the anticipated software development kit for Apple’s iPhone and iPod Touch platform, fully opening the device to third-party applications.

Developers will have complete use of Apple’s "Cocoa Touch" technology, which powers the iPhone’s unique touch screen input. The iPhone uses a kernel similar to Apple’s Mac OS X platform.

All APIs used internally by Apple for the iPhone are now available to developers. Programmers can make use of the phone’s GPS and related location features, hardware-accelerated 3D graphics, and Mac development environment Xcode.

Additionally, Apple announced a new Xcode iPhone emulation tool that allows programmers to test out their projects in a virtual simulator before bringing it to the actual device. Another new feature will be parental controls in the iPhone 2.0 update, allowing users to set filters on things like the Safari Web browser and e-commerce platforms.

During at event at Apple’s corporate campus today, developers demonstrated basic applications from photo manipulation to mobile video games, including a custom version of AOL Instant Messenger.

Alongside the widespread release of the iPhone SDK, Apple said it will be launching an "App Store" that will be available for the device in the next software release. Developers will be able to update applications even after they go up in the app store and all users who already have the program will be notified.

On the financial side, developers will get to keep 70% of revenues earned from their applications on the app store, paid monthly. And to join the developer program it costs just $99.

Apple commented that it wanted the development experience for the iPhone to be a smooth and seamless as PC and Mac development.