I can't believe this is actually being discussed in technical circles seriously. The limitations around the iPhone SDK are more certainly NOT technical in nature - phones (both smart and otherwise) have had background processing and multitasking for years and has never caused any problems.
Doesn't anybody remember last year's mantra of "the web is the only SDK you need"? The same people that believed that line of BS, and now spreading this updated BS.
Apple is a control-freak company and these decisions are purely political. Jobs & co only wants you to do with the phone what they like, not what YOU want, its just that simple.
Since reading this bit by Cringely last Autumn, I can't help but think of a lot of Apple's output through the prism of "being alternately seduced and tormented"; e.g. the iPhone SDK which is only supported for use by recent customers of Apple's (Intel) personal computers.
Doesn't anybody remember last year's mantra of "the web is the only SDK you need"? The same people that believed that line of BS, and now spreading this updated BS.
Apple is a control-freak company and these decisions are purely political. Jobs & co only wants you to do with the phone what they like, not what YOU want, its just that simple.