Apple Loosens Restrictions on App Development

Apple has finally decided to loosen its grip on its app development rules for its mobile devices. They will be relaxing all restrictions on the development tools used to create iOS apps, as long as the resulting apps do not download code. This will please many developers who have been waiting for this.

Earlier this year Apple put in place some restrictions which had made many developers upset. This unexpected move shows that Apple is standing down in this battle between the company and the developers and is letting the people behind all the apps have their way.

The company has also dropped a ban on certain in-application ad serving tools. This will enable developers to once again include Google's AdMob in their apps.

"We have listened to our developers and taken much of their feedback to heart," Apple said in a statement. "This should give developers the flexibility they want, while preserving the security we need."

Apple has also, as a part of this change, published the App Store Review Guidelines for the first time. This will help developers understand how Apple reviews submitted apps, making it easier for them to get their apps right in the first place.

The exact changes are in sections of the iOS Developer Program license, specifically, sections 3.3.1, 3.3.2 and 3.3.9.

A great thing about this change, for developers, is that it allows them to use tools from Adobe to build software for Apple's iPhones, iPads and iPods.

Adobe's current Flash development suit includes a tool for converting apps to run on Apple's platform. However, the company announced in April that it would cease further development on that tool because of Apple's restrictions.

Now, because of Apple's change, it's hoped that they will continue development as they are "back in the game," as a Flash programmer put it.