Apple has never quite made clear its opinion on iPhone hacking, but everyone has assumed that the company is against it on some level. After all, why would Steve Jobs speak out against third-party apps on the iPhone, and then proceed to not release a real SDK to developers? However, Apple's stance on the issue appears to be different than most of us expected, as PC Mag and Gearlog have discovered that Apple doesn't oppose third-party hacks to the iPhone whatsoever.

The publications spoke with Apple's Greg Joswiak and received some refreshingly candid responses to their questions about the iPhone and iPod touch. Most notably, Joswiak said that Apple doesn't oppose native software development at all, and that the company takes a neutral stance on it. He said that the company doesn't want to stop anyone from writing native apps and will not maliciously write its own software to override anyone's third-party apps. However, if something Apple writes does somehow negate someone's application by accident, Apple claims no responsibility to help or fix that situation. Seems fair.

(Whether or not Apple takes that same stance regarding the famed software unlock of the iPhone remains to be seen.)

This is very similar to Apple's stance on the Apple TV hacks. Apple stated several months ago that it was cool with the hacks as long as people weren't voiding any warranties.

Gearlog writes that Joswiak was careful to note that Apple could change its policy on the hacks to the iPhone at any time, but that for now, things are all good between Apple and third-party developers. He also confirmed that the iPhone and the iPod touch would run the same platform, meaning that people's theories about the iPod touch being able to run iPhone apps appear to be correct.

Edited for a more correct picture of a hacksaw. :P

Update: Apple has clarified several times to Gearlog that the company does not actively endorse third-party apps, rather, they will not actively work against them. However, Apple does say that "software updates will most likely break" third-party apps.