SAN FRANCISCO — By creating games and other programs for the iPhone, software developers hoped to find millions of new customers. But they didn’t expect to feel muzzled. The software development kit that Apple distributed to programmers bound them to not discuss the process of creating iPhone programs.
As a result, iPhone developers and businesses that cater to them say they are prohibited from asking technical questions or sharing tips. Conference organizers are trying to figure out how to plan sessions for iPhone software developers, publishers are sitting on how-to manuals, and software developers are forced to make iPhone applications in an information vacuum, without the help of a developer community that is used to sharing tricks of the trade.
“We can’t talk about our problems,” said Jeffrey Long, a developer for Banterability who is working on a satellite radio program for the iPhone. “At the same time, we can’t talk about the problems we’ve fixed.” Apple did not return calls seeking comment. Los Angeles Times; AP file photo
