March 6, 2008 12:00 PMApple today announced the much-anticipated iPhone SDK (software development kit) at a special press only event at Apple headquarters in Cupertino, California. The iPhone SDK provides developers with a set of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) and tools to create innovative applications for iPhone and iPod touch.During the event, Travis Boatman, vice president for EA Mobile, showed off Spore, a multi-platform god game designed by The Sims' creator, Will Wright. Boatman controlled the game via the accelerometer found in the iPhone.Sega also showed off an iPhone game, Super Monkey Ball. The game also used the accelerometer to control the gameplay. According to the Sega representative showing off the demo, the game is a full version of the console version, not a scaled down cell phone game.Apple also showed off its own game for demo purposes. In a matter of two weeks, Apple engineers wrote Touch Fighter, an OpenGl space game which uses the accelerometer to control the ship and tapping on the screen to fire.The upcoming iPhone 2.0 software release will contain the App Store, a new application that lets users browse, search, purchase and wirelessly download third party applications directly onto their iPhone or iPod touch. The App Store enables developers to reach every iPhone and iPod touch user.Developers set the price for their applications—including free—and retain 70 percent of all sales revenues. Users can download free applications at no charge to either the user or developer, or purchase priced applications with just one click. Enterprise customers will be able to create a secure, private page on the App Store accessible only by their employees. Apple will cover all credit card, web hosting, infrastructure and DRM costs associated with offering applications on the App Store. Third party iPhone and iPod touch applications must be approved by Apple and will be available exclusively through the App Store.Electronic ArtsTransGamingSpore
