Twitter User Streams: Real-Time Is Back?

Bwana — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 19:24:20 +0000

At Twitter’s developer conference, Chirp, they announced a new (or old) feature that has caught my interest: User streams. This new API will allow developers to stream twitter activity to end-users in real-time. This was demonstrated at the conference using the web version of Twitter and TweetDeck. As activity occured in the web browser, TweetDeck updated automatically without polling or refreshing.

Seems cool right?

I thought so too since Twitter neutered real-time tracking a while ago and I thought it was back. Then they did a quick segment on the “firehose” and kind of glossed over it. This segment mentioned partners like Microsoft, Google, and Yahoo, but said nothing about how it could possibly tie to this User Stream API.

I got to wondering: Is the User Stream API using the firehose or some sub-set of it? Hmmmm.

At any rate, the technology does look good from the demo, but as with anything Twitter, I will wait and see the final implementation before making a judgement call. You can continue to watch Chirp live on http://justin.tv/twitterchirp.

Update: Added a video of the demonstration at Chirp for you all to enjoy!

iPhone Developer Agreement Bans Jailbreaking [Updated]

Bwana — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 17:50:00 +0000

In the latest iPhone SDK, the developer agreement (which must be agreed to) states that jailbreaking is now prohibited:

(e)You will not, through use of the Apple Software, services or otherwise, create any Application or other program that would disable, hack or otherwise interfere with the Security Solution, or any security, digital signing, digital rights management, verification or authentication mechanisms implemented in or by the iPhone operating system software, iPod touch operating system software, this Apple Software, any services or other Apple software or technology, or enable others to do so; and

(f) Applications developed using the Apple Software may only be distributed if selected by Apple (in its sole discretion) for distribution via the App Store or for limited distribution on Registered Devices (ad hoc distribution) as contemplated in this Agreement.

As I stated previously, this whole brouhaha has been accelerated by piracy of iPhone and iPod Touch applications. This is just another step Apple is taking to thwart jailbreaking. While many want to blame Apple for this, I still blame the pirates.

Update: I’m receiving reports that this wording has been in the agreement for quite a while and may not specifically ban jailbreaking.

Update 2: TUAW confirms the verbiage has been there since October. Nothing to see here, apologies for the confusion. (I hate you Ars)

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Twitter User Streams: Real-Time Is Back?

iPhone Developer Agreement Bans Jailbreaking [Updated]