It’s a shame, really. A team of developers have partnered to finally bring a legitimate copy and paste solution to the iPhone - one that can actually move data between different applications (previous solutions could only shuffle data within the same app). But as great as it is to see a team of developers work together to overcome one of the iPhone’s shortcomings, it probably won’t see much use.
A few weeks ago, Proximi released a new text client called MagicPad that included copy and paste - a feature the iPhone has lacked and one that many users have been demanding for over a year. Copy and paste was achieved through a fairly intuitive interface, and while it may not have had the same polish that an Apple-designed solution might offer, it got the job done. Unfortunately, all copy and pasting was restricted to within MagicPad.
Now Zac White has developed an open source solution to the issue called OpenClip, a platform that will allow developers to include cross-application copy and paste. OpenClip makes use of a shared space on the iPhone that is accessible to developers and doesn’t break the SDK agreement, though Apple could conceivably reject apps that include it regardless. From Zac’s blog:
Basically, all you have to do to get the benefits is include a few classes and use the very simple API to copy data or paste data. The special part is cross application. Copy a cocktail in Cocktails and paste it into MagicPad (Video of this in action).
There are some limitations. This technically complies with all Apple agreements. It is completely possible that apps that use this wouldn’t get on the App Store. Not for any real reason other than it will eventually step on Apple’s toes. It is also conceivable that the technology this is built on will break in the future. The hope is that the update that breaks this also brings copy and paste support.
But even if the apps do get approval, Apple’s Mail and Safari applications will still be missing copy and paste. And while 3rd party apps are great additions to the iPhone, many users spend the vast majority of their time on the phone either searching the web or using email, where the functionality will still be sorely missed.
That said, the new initiative may well finally spur Apple to release its own solution. It’s uplifting to see these developers work together, but it makes Apple look like a withholding curmudgeon - obviously the phone can do copy and paste, so why not give it to us?
You can read more about the new initiative at MobileCrunch >>
You can see a video about the new initiative at GeekBrief.TV here.
I’m glad developers are getting involved. At the very least this should prove to be a very swift kick in Apple’s butt. I’m going to email all the devs of applications I use to incorporate this.
Still good to see that the developers are working on it. MagicPad was good but it wasn’t useful outside magicpad and now it would be easier to develop the best one now.
this is great it actually works and if apple got on board with safari it would be perfect. The concept seems like a perfect solution so who know maybe Apple if they dont have a nice solution yet could take this guy onboard and use his idea.
MAybe this wont happen but it will happen very shortly or there will b too much flack and I think Apple is getting a little more sensitive about bad PR just look at Mobileme Steve really got public which is good which would never have happened a year ago. So it is all good
AAAARGH when will techcrunch start to play fair with other bloggers instead of being the selfish arseholes that they appear to be.
This story was broken by Cali Lewis on GeekBrief TV (http://www.geekbrief.tv/) so why not give more kudos to her. There is even a great interview with Zac and Cali discussing more about the project. Yes you have added her video at the end of your post but even then you do not give a link to her site.
Finally its clear you did not listen to the audio which talks about Zac using the Apple OS Cut and Paste API so that whne Apple do include C&P the project will be aligned.
The real issue isn’t how and where the clipboard is stored (which is all this seems to address), it’s the physical mechanism, and making something that works in the same way across all apps.
So I agree, this isn’t any solution at all, but might encourage Apple to finally do something.
This is ridiculous from Apple.
Yes they do produce good quality products and they have nice design concepts , but when it comes to dealing with partners wanting to improve their products , they show ugly face.
This is the reason they always had less the 1 % market share , and this is why Microsoft , with all its short-comings have and will maintain more the 90 % OS market share.
Oh Faisal,
You know everything.
Nevermind that Apple’s Market share is now approaching 10%….
But, please… tell us more…
If OpenClip can include it own embedded Safari browser a la Twitterific, that base gets covered, and it’s a big deal. Mail is secondary, but it sure would be nice. Amazingly we’ve gotten along without copy and paste for so long!
At last…
That’s pretty much exactly what I thought about it as soon as I saw that video yesterday. No copy paste in safari and email=worthless
I’m sure Apple has already figured it out… Multi-Touch gesture and all. But, they aren’t going to release it until it’s flawless and bug free. It may take awhile to get it perfect. Steve Jobs probably isn’t satisfied with it yet.
Yeah, they certainly waited for the 3g iphone and mobileme to make them perfect. “It just works” until it crashes or reboots. I can’t make apologies for this company anymore.
For fuck sake, a full article on 1 tiny desirable feature for iPhone, get over it already, it’s not that useful.
Umm:
Let’s bitch about how we don’t have next generation smartphones.
Apple makes a next generation smartphone.
Now let’s bitch about how the iPhone isn’t good enough because it doesn’t have cut and paste (and 20 to the nth other things).
Someone provides cut and paste.
Now let’s bitch that this cut and paste is not good enough because it’s not made by Apple.
[Apple at some point provides cut and paste]
Now let’s bitch that it’s too little too late and Apple should have known better.
(See a pattern here?)
Who wants to read article after article of whiny cocktail criticism? It’s so tired. You probably don’t work for Apple, Google, or any startup and probably couldn’t code your way out of a paper bag (read: you can’t help solve anything). So fucking bourgeoisie.