Steve Jobs intervenes, approves Knocking streaming video app
A persuasive e-mail from an iPhone developer to Steve Jobs helped Pointy Heads Software get its Knocking Live Video—the first official iPhone app capable of streaming live video over 3G and WiFi connections—approved for sale in the App Store. The app relies on a private API—well-known among iPhone developers—to enable its video streaming feature, so its approval is a good sign for other companies developing video-based apps. It’s also a good sign that Apple is taking developer complaints with the App Store approval process seriously.
Knocking Live Video uses an interesting take on streaming video. Unlike Qik, which is designed to stream video to multiple clients, Knocking streams from one iPhone to another. (It should be noted that the iPhone version of Qik wasn’t approved with live streaming—it can only upload the video to Qik’s website after recording for later streaming.) You simply launch the app and “knock” another iPhone user with Knocking Live Video installed. That user will receive the “knock” via push notification. Once answered, you can then stream live video directly to them. An iPhone 3GS or iPhone 3G is required to transmit video, but other iPhones and iPod touches can receive and view the stream via WiFi.
