It’s started! My study path on iPhone Development. (展開了！我的iPhone程式開發學習之路)
Finally, I’ve decided to join the iPhone Developer Programs. Since the announcement of iPhone OS 3.0 beta, I tried to explore the information on iPhone App development. Since the learning resources are rare, I ordered some books about iPhone / Objective-C Programming on Amazon and DangDang. Before the books arrived, I found some e-books for my preparation. However, at that moment, I still haven’t decided that should I join the iPhone Developer Program or not.
So, what’re the differences between iPhone Developers and free members? The most obvious difference is: iPhone Developers can put their App on real iPhone / iPod touch for testing, while free members can only do their testing on the simulator. Also, iPhone Developer can submit their apps (both free and paid apps) to the AppStore. And don’t forget these: The Developer Forums and iPhone OS 3.0 beta SDK and firmware are also exclusive for iPhone Developers.
US$99 for entry, just like the subscription price of MobileMe, around HKD$65 (US$8.25) a month, seems not very expensive, especially when we know about the Microsoft Marketplace for Mobile and Google Android Market. If we compare their chrages, supports on SDK, the sale opportunities…etc., Apple AppStore worth for the $99.
Now I’ve paid for it. It should push me more on my study path. Let’s go from today!
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終於下決心加入iPhone Developer Program了。自iPhone OS 3.0 beta發佈起，我便很積極探索iPhone程式開發的資料。由於學習的資源不多，較早前我在美國Amazon和中國當當網訂購了一些iPhone / Objective-C語言的書籍以供學習和參考。由於貨運需時，這段期間我亦在網上找了一些eBook閱讀，好讓我預先開始學習。可是，對於是否加入 iPhone Developer Program，我卻遲遲未作決定。
iPhone Developer Program和免費的iPhone Dev Center會員有什麼分別呢？最主要便是正式的iPhone Developer可以將自己開發的App放在實機的iPhone上跑，而非只在電腦上的iPhone模擬器測試；同時，iPhone Developer亦可將App放上AppStore；當然亦不少得如iPhone Developer Forum和Download最update的OS / SDK beta（例如今次iPhone OS 3.0 beta和SDK）。
US$99的入場費，就像買一年Web Hosting或MobileMe服務的價錢，除開後每月約$65港元。這樣看來其實不算太貴，尤其當知道同樣要收費的Microsoft的Marketplace for Mobile和Google的Android Market，從收費、SDK支援、銷售機會等因素綜合比較起來，Apple AppStore已十分超值。
既然付了錢，就更應可推進我的iPhone編程學習之路。從今天起，努力往前進發。
