14 DAY TRIAL // The second beta of the new iPhone 3.0 SDK is now available, developers have confirmed. According to 9to5mac, the fresh beta complements iPhone 3.0 Beta 2 Build: 7A259g, which weighs in at 228 MB.
Also new in OS 3.0 Beta 2 (this time MacRumors reveals), is the ability to display 11 pages of apps (180 apps total) on an iPhone and iPod touch. The currently shipping version of the iPhone firmware - 2.2.1 - only allows 9 pages of apps for a total of 148 programs. “While the distinction may seem small, many users have already run into the 148 application limit in their day to day use,” the site points out. Naturally, the two releases include the usual laundry of bug fixes and improvements. The source also notes that Apple was previously rumored to offer more robust application support in future versions of the iPhone OS.
“With a rich set of over 1,000 new APIs, iPhone SDK for iPhone OS 3.0 beta provides you with an amazing range of technologies to enhance the functionality of your iPhone and iPod touch applications,” Apple said, addressing the vast developer community upon the initial release of iPhone 3.0 beta. “New APIs also provide support for applications to communicate with hardware accessories attached to iPhone or iPod touch.”
Included in these APIs, according to Apple, is the ability to leverage the purchase model of the App Store within apps. In-App Purchases will allow developers to offer subscription content and provide the ability to sell new content and features in a simple and secure process, as revealed by Scott Forstall, Apple's SVP of iPhone software at last month's iPhone software event. Also, devs will be able to create peer-to-peer games for iPhone and iPod touch by using Bluetooth.
In order to download the iPhone SDK 3.0 beta, you need to log in with your Apple ID. You must be enrolled in the iPhone Developer Standard or Enterprise Program to access the development resources for iPhone OS 3.0 beta, according to Apple. Developers will need to run at least Mac OS X 10.5.5 to be able to use iPhone SDK 3.0.