I’ll finally say it: I’m disappointed with Apple.

Since before it was cool, I’ve wanted a device that consolidated all my pocket gadgets: iPod, phone, PDA, etc. More than a year and a half ago, Apple finally introduced the long-rumored iPhone: everyone’s dream device, promising convergence, productivity, and the sheer joy users and developers have come to expect from using an Apple-designed user interface.

I didn’t buy one when they were first announced, in large part because of the wallet-busting $600 price tag, and in small part because there was no official way to develop or install my own applications and games on it. When I had my Palm, I’d become rather attached to SimCity and Pocket Quicken, and the thought of being able to carry Real Software with me wherever I went was very exciting.

When the SDK was announced nearly a year ago, the stage was set, and with the 3G iPhone came subsidization. Finally, an iPhone was nearly within my financial grasp.

Then this mess happened. First, Apple inexplicably kept all developers under an NDA, which had the (however unintended) effect of stifling collaboration and developer assistance, traditionally very important processes when writing software for a new platform.

Second, Apple has now decided that not only will their App Store be the sole source of iPhone software, but that they reserve the right to bar any software from the store they see fit. The gist of it is that a prospective developer (let’s call him, oh, I don’t know, Daniel) can conceive an idea, spend six months of his free time pouring his creative energy into it, submit his software for distribution, and be denied the fruit of his labors without any warning or real explanation.

I usually try to give Apple the the benefit of the doubt. But I was excited about using and possibly developing for (should I find any holes to fill) the iPhone. This doesn’t exactly make it sound like fun.