Buzz Out Loud Lounge forum: Web Apps for iPhone & iPod Touch on web only?

to work. they are just webpages that have been formated to look like a native iPhone app (black glossy top and bottom bars, gret gradient backgrounds, the correct width and height to just fill the iPhone screen etc). They look nice enough and some work pretty well (Signal is one I was even willing to pay for) but they are really no substitution for a real 3rd party app. For one you won't be able to ue any of them while in airplane mode. And there is always that annoying lag when using them over EDGE.

I for one am eagerly awaiting Google Gears type iPhone app that will give me quick access to Google Calendar (as well as mail, docs, etc) when online or offline. Sort of the best of a native app combined with the best of a web app.

after Apple releases the software developers kit (SDK) that they have promised for February.

Until then the only native apps you get are ones that Apple gives you when you buy the phone (or occasionally through software updates) or the ones you can install yourself when you hack the phone.

If you are not comfortable with the risks that come with hacking the phone (potentially making the device unusable or voiding your warranty) it would be wise to wait for the official apps coming in the future.