An online coder going by the name ‘Sparks’ is readying a new application called PXL for release. PXL is a Mac OSX application that can easily install custom applications on the iPhone. In addition, it automatically handles all the work of ‘jailbreaking’ so that normal users don’t need to know anything about using Terminal or SSH to install custom iPhone software.
PXL consists of two pieces. First, the PXL desktop application talks to the phone and keeps track of available software. Second, PXL installs a small server application on the iPhone to manage talking back to the desktop and handle the installation and removal of software.
When completed, PXL has the potential to bring homebrew iPhone applications into the mainstream. By removing the technical barriers, anyone will be able to install software with a few clicks.
Sparks is aiming to release the first version of PXL on Sunday. Check back for updates.
August 10th, 2007 at 4:40 pm
That UI is not final, and only the package-details view is definitely staying. But the hard work (iPhone PXL service) is done, and a nice GUI is all that is left; that package list was read from my iPhone in the screenshot.
I probably should rename that client app ‘Pxl Perfect,’ simply because having both system and a client app sharing a name could be confusing! PXL’s protocol/format will be documented and left open; it should hopefully be easy for other people to write PXL-enabled programs which manage/install applications on Windows, or in other iPhone-management tools.
August 10th, 2007 at 5:07 pm
I hope it’s available for Windoze, since I’m not fortunate enough to own a Mac yet.
August 10th, 2007 at 7:05 pm
plz will this work on Windows vista
August 10th, 2007 at 8:20 pm
[…] in beta and is a free download. Let’s hope these guys get together with Sparks from PXL and the other package management app developers and agree on some […]
August 10th, 2007 at 8:41 pm
scottywz - Another programmer is using the PXL standards I came up with and writing a Windows version as well.
August 10th, 2007 at 9:14 pm
scottywz - Another programmer is using the PXL standards I came up with and writing a Windows version as well.
COOL WIN WILL IT BE OUT DO YOU KNOW YET I WOOD LOVE TO PLAY NES ON MY IPHONE
August 12th, 2007 at 3:56 pm
Where is it?