GyPSii, a Netherlands-based company, sent out a press release today announcing the availability of its geo-location and social networking service on the iPhone. Though currently the service runs through a web site, the most interesting bit was buried in the press release.
GyPSii also confirmed that it would produce a “native” version of its application using Apple’s Software Developer Kit (SDK) which is scheduled to be launched later this week, providing seamless access for all Apple users, from the desktop, to the iPhone.
Now does GyPSii know something we don’t? Apple has a special event slotted for March 6 and there is a good chance, if the GyPSii guys are right, that it might be the launch of the SDK. There have been rumors floating around that the iPhone SDK is going to be delayed for a few more weeks. GyPSii CEO Dan Harple is quoted as saying:
We’ll work with the SDK as soon as it becomes available and then we will be uniquely offering both web and native versions of our application for iPhone users.
In case you are curious to check out the app, visit their mobile page. Or see the demo here.
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3 trackbacks so far
9:32 AM PT
[...] iPhone SDK This Week? So Says GyPSii - GigaOM [...]
12:00 PM PT
[...] has obtained early access to the SDK and is creating its own iPhone application. Similarly, Om Malik blogged today that Netherlands-based GyPSii announced it will develop a native version of its geo-location and [...]
2:29 PM PT
[...] GigaOM thinks so [...]
7 comments so far
9:16 AM PT
iPhone SDK has already been broken long time ago - and is already quite well documented and available - otherwise how books like this one would be ready for print long before apple released the SDK?
(link)
… even before Apple announce its SDK? With a little bit of effort its easy to find fully documented iPhone SDK (e.g. check (link) ) - what apple is going to “release” in a few days will be 99% exactly whats out there already.
So its easy for companies like GyPSii to write “apple native apps” even before apple iphone sdk release - they know that the “official SDK release” wont bring nothing new to the game because cards are already shown to everybody!
11:10 AM PT
Umm… if you look at the Apple press invite, it clearly talks about the fact that the SDK roadmap will be revealed tomorrow. There’s an even a graphic that shows a road sign with the words SDK on it. Why are we speculating if there will be an SDK or not? Looks to me like GyPSii is just front running their PR ahead of tomorrow’s announcements…
1:49 PM PT
For what it’s worth I have recently blogged about the SDK from the perspective of the best practices, workflows and building blocks already supported by the iPhone/iPod touch.
Might provide some fodder for thinking about where the application landscape is headed — subject to what Apple ultimately chooses to open up in terms of APIs and tools that support same.
Check it out if interested:
Mobility 2.0 and the iPhone SDK (link)
Mark
10:07 PM PT
Hi,
I was hoping that someone could help me understand what the SDK is? Not tech smart but want to buy an iPhone. Does this mean that I still have to buy an unlocked iPhone?
If so, will i be able to do all the updates or will it do something to my iphone? how important are these updates anyway?
9:59 AM PT
Hi Taimur,
An SDK allows developers to built applications specific to a device. In this case, the SDK will allow developers to build applications for iPhone/iPod touch.
The goodness of that is that whereas today there are very few “official” applications that run on these devices (but plenty of web applications), soon developers will be able to build applications that run locally on iPhone and touch devices, which just means a lot of potential for innovation of applications that can take advantage of touch screen, rich media functions, etc.
If anything, many of these applications will be commercial so folks will want to sell their innovations.
This is completely independent of the locked/unlocked issue (I am assuming when you say unlocked you are talking about carrier alternatives ).
Hope this helps.
Mark
7:03 PM PT
The SDK sure changed the playing field…I don’t think anyone had all the answers, as usual.
5:32 AM PT
Gypsii is not a compelling application, users need to use GPRS or 3G to upload the images to the website. Not many users will be keen to spend their own money to upload images.
Gypsii is just trying to be like Apple, to get money from the telcos.
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