Google used undocumented API, admits to breaking iPhone software dev kit rules
They did it. Google acknowledges that they did break the official rules of the iPhone software development kit in the latest version of Google Mobile for the iPhone by using undocumented APIs. What’s wrong with that? Read the full article to find out.
Google admits to breaking the official rules of Apple’s iPhone software development kit in the latest version of Google Mobile for the iPhone. The rule-break was when they used undocumented APIs (application programming interfaces) to use the iPhone’s proximity sensor to prompt a verbal search.
At first glance, Google Mobile can get the job done with the undocumented API. But the problem with that is when Apple updates its software, there’s a big risk that the application code could break. Developers seem to have taken that risk to create a cool feature like the verbal search prompt.
It’s unclear as to how Apple missed that when they approved Google Mobile. Regardless, Google may have to rewrite the code, or change the way they use the proximity sensor.
They’d better. I can already smell the angry mob of iPhone owners, whose smart phones have gone stupid because of a bricked application code. Until then, I guess Apple won’t be releasing updates until Google gets the API problem sorted out, or if the update itself isgeared to fix the problem.
More on the verbal search prompt:
Via CNET