Apple's iPhone SDK Second Beta Released

Apple sent an email to developers in its program informing them that the second beta was available for download on the company's Developer Connection web site.

"The second beta version of the iPhone SDK includes Interface Builder, Xcode IDE, Instruments, iPhone simulator, frameworks and samples, compilers, and Shark analysis tool," the site reads.

Interface Builder is "an application for designing and testing user interfaces. Developers can use Interface Builder to create user interfaces that follow the Mac OS X human-interface guidelines by dragging user-interface elements from a palette of predefined controls and dropping them into the window or view they are configuring," according to Apple.

Apple released the SDK on March 6 with great fanfare, demonstrating for reporters and analysts how it would enable developers to catch the iPhone wave while retaining control of the platform. Applications must be distributed via an Apple-controlled App Store and Apple will take 30 percent of the revenues to cover its costs.

More than 100,000 copies of the first beta of the SDK were downloaded by would-be developers in the first four days it was available, according to the Cupertino, Calif.-based company, although several developers who applied to participate in the program were declined by Apple via email.

"The iPhone Developer Program will initially be available to a limited number of developers in the U.S. and will expand to other countries in the coming months," the Developer Connection site reads.

The final version of the SDK is expected to ship in June with the next software release for the iPhone which will make it compatible with Microsoft's Exchange e-mail platform. Users had criticized the iPhone for its inability to run Exchange, saying it kept the smart phone from being a viable business tool.