iPhone WebApps Appearing on Apple's Downloads Feed?

Cleve Nettles
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October 10, 2007
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http://www.apple.com/webapps

Bookmark it now - it doesn't work yet but it will very soon. Apple will be unleashing this new webpage devoted to Webapps. Apple's web team is gearing up to put the iPhone applications built with the Web 2.0 "SDK" on their new software page that will function in much the same way as the current software downloads page. In fact, it is likely that the two pages will be integrated.

Thanks to a commenter, we found a few webapps in Apple's "recent downloads RSS feed". However, when you click on the link the feed provides to you, you end up at a unused page at Apple...at least unused for the moment - http://www.apple.com/webapps/

This isn't huge news as we've known about Web Applications since the iPhone was announced. However, it is a big deal to have a one stop shop for all of the iPhone/iPod touch applications. We expect it to be like a web 2.0 version of Installer.app on the iPhone. There also may be a full Safari version for use on Laptop/Desktops running full browsers. The functionality would work in the same way that the Quicktime movie trailers pages browser sniff and push a page based on the platform.

As content is currently being pushed into it, look for this page to pop up in the next few days...

To see what we are yapping about, click here. Search within the fields for "iPhone". You should get a few hits but all of the links are broken. Thanks again to our eagle-eyed readers for the tip!

Comments (18)

9to5Mac Noob | October 10, 2007 - 4:25am

Nice Find!!!

Looks like 9to5mac is one step ahead of Apple again :P

One thing I don't understand though. Will this page be formatted for iPhone or like a normal webpage...or both?

9to5Mac Noob | October 10, 2007 - 2:36pm

Apple will be a total flop if they try to continue freezing unlocked iPhones.

9to5Mac Noob | October 10, 2007 - 4:00pm

That's a pretty black and white comment. I think Apple could kill the iPhone completely and still not be a total flop...

Did you not get your way again???

macmanager (not verified) | October 19, 2007 - 4:04am

It Works!!! the webpage is up and running.

9to5Mac Noob | October 10, 2007 - 5:24am

Yes, and it looks like Apple got hip to it, because the link doesn't work anymore.

admin | October 10, 2007 - 5:25am

the link hasn't yet worked but the feeds in the RSS from the download page point there

9to5Mac Noob | October 10, 2007 - 6:49am

This is brillant !

9to5Mac Noob | October 10, 2007 - 10:21am

Wow! This is a real technological breakthrough. I never imagined it would be possible to download a web application! After you download it, do you still need to run it in the browser?

9to5Mac Noob | October 10, 2007 - 10:37am

iPod Touch applications! THANK YOU! And thank you 9to5 mac, you guys are great! Now lets just hope the rumors you started about the thin macbook are true, and are comming true this month, cause I need a new computer, and I want a redesigned macbook, not just a faster macbook! Will you let us know what your sources are saying!?! PLEASE! I trust you guys!

9to5Mac Noob | October 10, 2007 - 12:47pm

How is this great news? All Apple did was go out and grab all of the web 2.0 apps out there. Applists.com already this, and it works great right on the iPhone. This just seems like a lazy move on Apple's part.

9to5Mac Noob | October 10, 2007 - 1:07pm

over 500 web apps listed at http://www.appsafari.com already

9to5Mac Noob | October 10, 2007 - 11:02pm

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nicolecomtois (not verified) | October 11, 2007 - 11:56am

Hey, That web page is up. There is a link to it on the apple iphone page. It's pretty cool. Take a look!

Scott (not verified) | October 11, 2007 - 12:23pm

There's a bunch of listing there as of 3:23 ET

http://www.apple.com/webapps/

admin | October 11, 2007 - 4:28pm

oh snap! we were right again ;)

macmanager (not verified) | October 13, 2007 - 10:44am

the link is working now.apps are there and available.

BestPhoneApps (not verified) | October 13, 2007 - 8:22pm

I'm not really put out not having native apps for the iPhone, since A) I'm currently locked in to Verizon without an iPhone yet, and B) I own real computer for real apps.

I think Apple's strategy of only web apps is understandable, at least for the time being while they establish themselves in this market.

I do think the Apple webapps page lacks some flare, especially on the iPhone.

There are already several similar compendiums, e.g., iPhone Application List; and many more that allow you to catalog your favorite sites, e.g. AppMarks.

I run a site that links to 11 of the best phone apps, http://www.bestphoneapps.com/

I also run a site with more than a dozen useful searches that aims to be the best phone page, http://www.bestphonepage.com/

Andy Sedgwick (not verified) | November 19, 2008 - 9:31am

This is obviously Apple's strategy of enticing consumers to purchase their iPhones, so that they could try the phone's various apps. Smart actually, since a lot of users do not know where to look for such apps or are simply too lazy to do so.