iphone 3.0 SDK costs money?

**jAQUAN** · 03-19-2009, 12:48 PM

http://developer.apple.com/iphone/program/

I wonder what the motive is here. Does apple think that their app purchases are going to drop off to such an extent that they need to make up the difference from developers?

I'm just about to write my first app but I'm not sure I want to shell out the money to have 3.0 features.

**PAlexC** · 03-19-2009, 01:19 PM

$100 is a nominal fee. Probably just helps to pay for the app approval and management process, keep the non-serious folks away, like the I Am Rich guy.

Could also have to do with licensing arrangements they have for video codecs or the new GPS APIs.

**asheep_uk** · 03-19-2009, 03:01 PM

The normal SDK is free, so I'd imagine that it will be free when out of beta?

**jAQUAN** · 03-19-2009, 04:45 PM

That's what I'm thinking (hoping) asheep.

**sstalder** · 03-23-2009, 10:55 AM

It's $99 to enroll to get a 'developer' license. Once you are a registered developer you will receive all SDK and beta SDK's for free.

**Dark_Opal** · 03-24-2009, 12:40 PM

The current release of the SDK is free. The 3.0 version is free to currently registered developers. since it is still a beta release it won't be released free to the public yet. Wait until iphone OS 3.0 is out and it'll be free. $99 is just the fee to sign up as a developer. I'd suggest downloading 2.2 instead and building the app before signing up. At least that's what I did way back when (see the link in my signature

). If you make anything near a decent app you'll earn back the $99 during the first day anyhow

**jAQUAN** · 03-24-2009, 12:46 PM

well 3 good apps and this becomes a free phone.

/thinking cap

**Dark_Opal** · 03-24-2009, 12:51 PM

Indeed, my mac and iphone have paid for themselves several times over

The SDK's quite good, if you're happy with Objective C, and the new one adds a tonne of really cool new features, so there should be a lot of interesting new apps coming out with the launch of 3.0. I've got a few planned as well. Just be aware there will be times where you will want to tear your hair out :P

**gerbick** · 03-24-2009, 01:08 PM

I just wanted to chime in and say that I absolutely hate Objective C. Carry on...

**jAQUAN** · 03-24-2009, 05:17 PM

[(too) loves:you objective:C]

**argonauta** · 03-24-2009, 09:37 PM

I almost bought a macbook and an ipod touch G2 today, thinking the same way (they'll pay themselves after a couple of apps)...but, intelligence kicked in and told me to first play around with the sdk on my old powerbook g4 (it was easy to install with just few tweaks).

However, I'm not sure, but it looks like it's not too easy to make money with apps. I think it's really difficult to have a popular app if it costs more than .99 cents or if it's really really useful. There's a lot of crap there, too, so it is difficult to find good apps (I've read somewhere that there are over 100 new apps every day). The main problem that I have is that I try to think about any good app, and got no idea.

**gerbick** · 03-24-2009, 10:42 PM

heh... I got a Mac Mini and a spare iPhone... and an Unity 2.5 license

**jAQUAN** · 03-31-2009, 07:32 PM

Originally Posted by gerbick

I just wanted to chime in and say that I absolutely hate Objective C. Carry on...

I just have comment, from what I've learned so far, Objective-C is like a womans train of thought. I just don't see how the extra labor makes it a modern language yet.

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