iPhone: What do I expect in the SDK

It will be a beta. Apple has had only a few months to put together the SDK, assuming a late February release date. Given the complexity and extent of the iPhone OS, the SDK will continue to be developed significantly even after the first release

It will contain an Interface Builder. I don't think I'm going out on a limb to suggest that there will be a simple GUI layout tool for the iPhone similar to the existing one for the Mac.

It will use Objective-C 2.0. Although all the current third-party iPhone developer tools are based on Obj-C, there's no reason Apple wouldn't go with Obj-C2 for the iPhone.

It will provide access to most of the iPhone frameworks. Although Core Telephony may be a point of contention, I suspect Apple will provide real access to the most if not all the standard frameworks rather than create a safe "sandbox" approach.

It will use iTunes to install programs. I have no idea whether Apple will have to pre-approve these apps and whether they'll go with a podcast/Dashboard widget approach (submit your app, no monetizing onsite) or an iTunes music approach (full approval, monetizing).

The apps will run in user space. I can't imagine that Apple will continue to let us run applications as root. One can hope the option will be there but I suspect control will win out over flexibility.

The SDK will be made available to Select and Premiere ADC members. Okay, I know this one is going to be the most controversial prediction. In the past Xcode has been available to all ADC members, free and paid. I'm not sure how Apple will play this but I won't be surprised if the SDK is paid-only.