It was only a matter of time till the serious iPhone
SDK rumors started flying, and with Apple's Town Hall event
next Thursday, it's possible some of what we're hearing is right on. If that's the case, prepare to be letdown in a major way. According to iLounge, Apple will be severely restricting access on software for the iPhone and iPod touch, only allowing apps to be downloaded through iTunes, hand-picking which applications will make it to the store, and cutting off developer's access to accessories which interface with the dock connector. Of course, this is just about what we expected from Steve, since he's already
lauded Nokia for its S60 verification scheme. Additionally, the report claims that the SDK we see next week will be an incomplete beta, with the full version rolling out in June to coincide with the WWDC. Thinking of any good reasons to keep
jailbreaking your phone? Yeah, us too.
[Thanks, Omega]
Update: Here comes the
counter-rumor, which has it that only paid-apps are get hand selected by Apple, while free apps would supposedly be open for download. Not clear whether that means free apps simply wouldn't be offered in iTunes, but it's all just hearsay until Apple tells us what's up later this week.
posted Feb 29th 2008 11:23AM
This was expected, let the jail breaking continue!
If this is what it takes to keep the quality of the apps where they should be, then who cares. Some of those jailbreak apps are just ridiculous.
Heh. Spotted this link (featured on the 'Sponsored Links' section of this page):
"There’s so much more you can do when your phone runs Windows. See it all at StartDoingMore.com."
That is so true. I feel for you iPhone users, you make the pretty colors flash but you can't do much else with your iPhones.
So you just toss all of that hard work under the bus just to keep the company line?
Can you imagine if all the OSs on the market forced you to go through a vetting process so your app can work on their system?
No one is forcing you to DL those programs, stupid or not.
That means don't expect seeing customize, emulators, radios etc... on iTunes SDK. Keep the jailbreak coming
On the up side, this is one less reason not to buy an iPhone, since it looks like jailbreaking will continue to be where the true innovation lies. Once a jailbroken 3G iPhone arrives, I'm there -- none of this control-freak Apple crap for me. And if iPhone v2 can't be jailbroken...well, then I guess it's over to Android.
Sorry, kids, but BK's right. After buying my iPod touch a while back, I went looking to see what third-party apps existed so I could decide whether to jailbreak. (Keep in mind that I'm an enthusiastic homebrew user on my PSP, DS, and Nokia Internet Tablet.)
Anyway, the apps are along the lines of the sliding puzzle that shipped with the first Mac 128K. Or Snake, a game that was on the Atari 2600 in 1978. Or this... *thing* with a crude drawing of a tree, and you shake your iPhone or iPod touch back and forth, and the *leaves fall off.*
And those are the *highlights.*
Lest I be marked as a troll, perhaps I found a site with an incomplete listing of third-party apps. There absolutely was nothing in their list worth jailbreaking and installing. There were a very few clever hacks, like iListen, but too few to talk me into jailbreak. It was all proof of concept stuff as far as I could see.
But if there *are* any worth installing, I'd love to know, because I do support homebrew communities. And for that matter, I could see jailbreaking an early iPod touch to get the apps that Apple later added.
So what third-party apps do you people use on a regular basis? Talk me into this.
To Bob S.
3rd party apps worth installing are:
PDFViewer
iRadio
Books (ebook reader)
Chess
NES (NES emulator)
snes4iphont (SNES emulator)
psx4all (PSX emulator)
VNsea (VCN application)
And, there's more appearing everyday.
I'm probably going back to a Treo. Yes, it's old technology, but the fun factor is wearing off of my iPhone, and I miss all the numerous PALM applications that I used everyday and the refined syncing with Outlook Calendar. I was really counting on getting the same functionalities through 3rd parties for iPhone, but Apple appears to be dashing that hope!
Plus, if Apple actually supported these developers with an SDK the apps could probably be a lot better. When you are fighting against the device you trying to make the apps for, and have no support whatsoever, it must be a lot harder.
I agree that there are a lot of crappy 3rd party apps out there, but I consider them as proof-of-concepts, and after all I don't have to install them :)
Apps I use regularly are:
- MobileCast (listen to podcasts without the need to use iTunes, i.e. download them via WiFi)
- Books (eBook application with lots of books to choose from)
- iSolitaire
- iZoo
- Labyrinth (this is a very nice game, and I mostly use it to impress other people with the Touch :)
- weDict (access to local dictionaries of any kind)
- Funambol (sync Contacts with my Thunderbird)
Thanks, phoomp and KyleK; I do appreciate the lists. I have to admit, Books was one of the apps that baffled me; as I recall, it opens only text and HTML, so it can't do anything Safari can't. I use a bunch of emulators on my PSP, but while I appreciate the level of hack needed to get them running on the Apple mobile platform, it's just too awkward. The Nokia Internet Tablet has a decent if slow PDF reader, but that screen's just too small for the format, and the iPhone/iPod touch screens are smaller, so I'm afraid I have to be cynical. And for weDict, I'm an editor, so there's usually a print dictionary around, but I've also bookmarked dictionary.com.
Again, don't get me wrong. I think the scene could develop into a good one someday, and as both of you point out, some of those casual apps are useful to a lot of people. And I think Apple's model is based pretty strongly the T-Mobile Sidekick model; I've used Sidekicks since the day the B&W was released (it's why I'd never consider an iPhone), but T-Mo's stranglehold on control has hurt the platform more than it's helped it. So my sympathies are with the white hats on a lot of levels. But just as I haven't bought a single iPod game because they're just so dull, I haven't yet found the killer app for my iPod touch yet. Maybe someday, but it's looking equally like to be through a licensed, Apple-approved developer as through an app requiring the jailbreak.
I'd like to point something out to those people saying, "well, what's the point - there aren't any worthwhile apps for the jailbroken iPhone anyways."
The reason that there aren't any really clever or useful apps for it is precisely BECAUSE Apple isn't allowing people to develop for the platform officially! As a developer, I'd love to create apps for the iPhone - it's a really sexy device, with a lot of potential - but with the number of restrictions and ridiculous crap that I would currently have to go through (and will likely continue to have to go through, based on news like this), why waste my time?
Apple's made it clear they don't want us developers making useful apps for their platform. We get the message... and so we're not bothering.
this doesn't surprise me one bit. ah oh well, I'll just keep my jailbroken T-mobile iPhone
How is this different from other platforms?
Thanks.
Ever heard of Windows Mobile?
You know what, it just occurred to me that you may have been genuinely wondering how it differed from other platforms.
Basically with a Windows Mobile phone, you can install applications from ANY source, approved or not, all without having to "jailbreak" your phone. Picture it like using an actual computer, you're able to install pretty much anything you want without limitations.
Cheers!
Now, picture this! ...Your phone crashes all the time & constantly needs a soft reset.
Sedition,
Maybe yours does, but mine doesn't.
Ever heard of Symbian?..
Donato
I work at an at&t store, its not like this is some kind of isolated incident. I get countless, and I MEAN countless wimo phones brought in weekly do to crashing, freezing and just plain ol d.o.a. Much of it is do to third-party interaction.
Obvious retort from an iPhone user. (I checked your post history)
My phone (HTC Touch) doesn't crash, and it hasn't been hard reset in weeks. I'm very impressed with Windows Mobile 6, and I have some beautiful applications on it that make using it a dream.
One could expect that allowing users the freedom to modify their phone as they see fit will result in the occasional crash or soft reset. I'd rather soft reset every once in a while than not have the ability to load the apps I want, when and where I want without jailbreaking.
Cheers!
I don't have many problems at all on my Wing. I run two 3rd party applications from time to time. PocketCM and PointUI. They are both BETA apps and I know that they aren't completely stable. PocketCM is getting there, it's a pretty neat app. PointUI still has some major issues. Either way, I accept these faults because it's my choice to install them. This isn't an issue with Windows Mobile, it's an issue with the developers who created these apps. But, without the open platform to do so I would be stuck with a plain vanilla interface that was chosen for me with no ability to customize.
Another option for me is installing customized builds by other developers that make significant changes to the whole OS. Windows on your desktop has always been highly customizable, and so is Windows Mobile. Enjoy your iPhone... it does nothing that my phone doesn't do and hasn't been doing for years.
@ SeditioN:
My circa 2005 HTC Wizard with customized WinMob 6.1 ROM (go xda-developers.com!) crashes maybe once or twice a month, and that's usually when I'm watching native DivX video (mostly with revision3 podcasts) with CorePlayer streamed stereo bluetooth.
I use a 3rd party launcher (SPB Pocket Plus 4), ebook reader (Mobipocket), Opera Mini, Skype and usually have my phone overclocked by about 66% as well.
Wow thanks for the low ranking. :\
I just wanted to know how this restriction by Apple is different from how other platform owners offering up their own operating systems for application development. I don't know the ins/outs advantages/disadvantages of either, so help explain please, without the vitriol.
Thanks.
@ any WinMo haters:
WinMo is only really bad if you have a crappy phone in the first place. A crappy phone as in bad specs, bad hardware, bad screen, etc. Same as it is in the PC world - crappy PC's = bad quality, great PC's = great quality. You get what you pay for.
WinMo itself isn't that bad, but it could use a lot more, which I can expect to see in WinMo 7. But at least you're not locked down on it, and I have the freedom of choice and do not need to Jailbreak just to 'make it work'.
Plus it doesn't help that most of these "M$-products-are-crap" stories are made by MS haters themselves, who like to make up stories based from old issues like SeditioN here.
And as for the people who are trying to tone down this bad news, it's still the truth in the end, whether it's Apple or not.
What a bunch of iCommunists...
You mean iCapitalists? Get your terminology correct.
I thought iCapalists want iFreeMarkets? This is not a free market, this is a dictatorship.
iCapitalists want to make money from anything and everything. iCommunists want to spread the wealth, so to speak.
Everything Apple does is to protect their interests, as all profit generating businesses do. Their first loyalty is to their investors.
Well then this would be a combination. Apple is a control freak company. And Apple is a greedy company. The correct term for such a company is neither iCommunists or iCapitalists, it's simple i -scratch that- Apple.
I think iFascists clearly fits best
iFascists?
Damn you RJ, now i just look as though i don't know what a fascist is.
I'm not happy. ;)
Er... iDictatorship?
Sounds like you kids need to find an iDictionary.
Or iAmSickOfEverythingRelatedToAppleHavingToStartWithAnI
not sure what the hoopla is all about. This just means we all get quality apps?!?
Homebrew is always going to be an underground movement.
The hoopla is because at least one of the iPhone's major competitors, Windows Mobile, doesn't have these kind of controls on software development. Personally I get real twitchy with companies that try to have this kind of control. Not that it's not their right just that I'd rather buy from someone else.
As to the "quality apps" comment, no, that's not necessarily what it means. Despite Apple's propaganda to the contrary, you can be open and have quality. There are tons of quality Windows Mobile apps, certainly more than there is for iPhone at present (SPB produces some really nice stuff). There just also happens to be tons of crap along with it.
If I were Apple, I'd control quality by only putting approved apps on iTunes but not prevent open development and installation outside of iTunes. Kind of like being able to pick up a podcast from a website that isn't necessarily on iTunes.
There's no real reason why Apple has to close down open development to insure quality. Simply state "If it didn't come from iTunes, you're on your own". The non-techies will listen to Steve. The techies will do what they like. Everybody's happy. Sadly, Apple exhibits a real tendency toward over-management of their product.
And it's one thing just to push quality apps to the masses. It's another to purposefully make an iPhone/iPod touch owner go through a bunch of annoying hurdles just to use the hardware they own how they want to.
I hope some Apple zealots will have the balls to boo when/if they announce this BS.
You don't like it then wait a few months when the official apple SDK gets hacked and the home brew community gets to use a better SDK for dev. I worked on one of the third party apps on installer.app. The hacked SDK isn't bad. And... it's free and open.
I am shocked, SHOCKED I tell you.
Maybe it's because Apple continues to give me the shocker. *giggle*
I've had some of my patients complaining about being shocked. Have you been drinking your daily dose of kool-aid and applying your RDF daily (as prescribed)?
Please correct me if I am wrong. But isn't it GENERALLY a good idea to have this sort of device locked down? Otherwise, couldn't a malicious person program a Zuma clone to run happily for an hour before overwriting your firmware and providing you with a free iBrick?
"Please correct me if I am wrong. But isn't it GENERALLY a good idea to have this sort of device locked down?"
Only if that company is Apple and you need to spin this in a positive light.
If it was any other company, it would be a case of them being greedy and controlling.
It's all relative.
Not a problem. Play for 59 minutes then quit it, easy. Next.
I have no idea why you'd think any sane programmer would let 3rd-party apps have access to firmware.
Try looking at this from a support point-of-view. (I work in a call center for a piece of consumer hardware, so...) Would you be anxious to answer the flood of calls and emails from unconsolable people who want *you* to fix or replace their phones because they installed some lousy piece of software from some third-rate developer and it wrecked the operating system, bricked the phone, what have you? I'm not convinced that people who install something they perceive to be "made for iPhone" and it hoses the phone will say to themselves, "Oh well, it's not Apple's fault. It's mine."
On a somewhat unrelated note, I used to work at a telco, and you wouldn't believe the number of calls we used to get from customers who didn't pay their bill for three months once we terminated their service. They were convinced that the ability to make calls was a "right". Granted, that was home phone service and not a device, but when people's ability to make calls is screwed up, they feel very cut off and tend to get nuts about it pretty quickly. Again, if i were to be widespread, I can't assume that most people would think they are assuming any real risk on their own by downloading software from God-knows-where.
I don't think I'm totally alone, being someone who would prefer to be largely assured that what I'm about to download and install won't screw up my device. After all, think about all the people out there who choose not to install a new version of Windows until it's been in circulation for a while/a service pack has been released for that very reason.
I
If a third party app can break the iPhone, then Apple did screw up when making it.
There's no reason you can't have certified apps and still allow people to install third party apps. You could even have a default setting that would only allow signed apps to run.
It's not just a matter of application quality. It also allows Apple/AT&T complete control over what applications you can run. That makes it unlikely you'll ever see apps like SlingPlayer, Skype, or multiprotocol IM applications on the phone. It also means Apple is going to get a cut of all applications, which means programs will cost more, and freeware is unlikely.
I hope they don't get too protective. That will make it hard for some people to get good apps to the public.
I like how Tim Cook, the Apple COO, said a few days ago the developers would "only be limited by [their] imagination."
Apparently our imagination is now run by Apple.
That's our latest product: iMagination.
I'm not so sure about this, maybe its just wishful thinking but didn't apple COO Tim Cook speak just this morning on the issue when he said that the upcoming iPhone SDK will allow developers to "only be limited by [their] imagination" and that Apple wants to keep "the element of surprise." I think the SDK will be better than people think, although maybe not as good as jailbroken iPhones, and continue to improve. I'm sure that Apple will want to make money some way out of it, but as has been said before, is suck a vetting process so bad after all? It's open to debate of course but in my opinion (as an un-jailbroken iPhone user) i'll be glad to get something more interesting on the iPhone soon as i've been getting a little bored lately with simply taking notes and the novelty of the weather app is beginning to wear thin...
I still hold hope for something great!
Indeed.
I like this rumor, however. Better that our expectations be low rather than hoping for the heavens to open up on March 6th.
Guaranteed that Apple filtering 3rd party apps will result in no apps that compete with other Apple products ... ie: no Skype or any non-iChat messenger applications.
You are forgetting that the rumor is stating that Apple controls the content that gets distributed on iTunes. A developer may have the SDK and make some quality apps, but it is completely useless if the end-user isn't able to get it if Apple more or less puts an embargo on native apps that do not meet their criteria.
naturally. ($$$$$$)
I guess iPhone/Touch Apps will be about as successful as iPod games are now.
If I was an app developer I'd continue to focus on the million+ jailbroken phones which probably have the most savvy users and use a different business model.
@E71
"That is so true. I feel for you iPhone users, you make the pretty colors flash but you can't do much else with your iPhones."
It's funny how my WM5 pda can do so much, but I find that I never want to do ANYTHING with it. It's not all about the feature list. Sometimes usability matters more than features.
(BTW, I don't have an iPhone...)
I give it a week, two at most before "ephPhone" or some other iTunes replacement program avoids the whole lock down all together.
Good thing I've got an N95; I've come to love Symbian.
why would they delay it a week if its goin to be a beta version, that don't make any sense
Because they are working on improving the alpha version
Apple, the least user-friendly company in the world. They need to take a page out of Valve's book.
This rumor isn't new. It's been speculated that iTunes would be the storefront for iPhone apps since the begining much like installing games for the iPods.
Instead of the doom & gloom point of view (ie complete Apple lockdown), it might follow a path similar to podcasting so that there is more of an open access to development and distribution. Your app might be reviewed for compliance but you now get to your app semi-pushed by Apple.
Yeah, lets add a middle man.
Now correct me if I'm wrong.
But there's this little-known device, I think it might be called an iPod (I could be wrong), but I hear it's been pretty successful with said "middle man".
Not to mention that said middle-man is now the number 2 retailer of music in the world. Something tells me people...you know, the kinds of people who would buy an iPhone in the first place...like it.
There's always going to be people who buy a product because it has a half-eaten apple on it. But the educated users who want more flexibility can go buy their Windows Mobile or Symbian devices. Or the people who want to be assured they will have access to quality apps, or go through the process of jailbreaking, will buy an iPhone.
It's not apple that needs to get off their high horse, it's the non-iPhone users who think they're above the device, and continue to post on the iPhone articles to stroke their MobilePeen.
Brooks, don't kid yourself man.
Just because the iPod/iTunes does well, doesn't mean that people LIKE using iTunes and the music store for EVERYTHING.
I think you'd be hard pressed to find a single user (except for totally oblivious users) who wouldn't want the ability to open up the iPod/iPhone to other applications seamlessly. Whether you use it or not, it would be very useful.
If this is the way this is going to go its not even worth it. Apple needs to get off their hi horse grow some balls and give people what they want. I would rather have them wait until it is ready then try to do it early. Can anyone say Microsoft? It kind of reminds me of Vista.
Hi horse {waves}
we all knew they were gonna be used by itunes and had to pass through apple, this is nothing new. What does upset me is the fact that its now JUNE, instead of february. ugh
Nothing wrong with that. The last thing I want is some crappy piece of software continually crashing my device.
I really don't care what they do as long as I can get a voicedial app and have flash/pdf capabilities...
Of course, it could just be that Apple is concerned about security and want's to ensure that no malicious software is put on their phones, gets transfered to other phones and generally makes a mess. That's just my thinking. Would you rather have signed, verified software or a bunch of malicious junk that bricks your phone just for fun? I would assume any reasonable person would prefer the former.
Why don't you encourage Apple to tell you what you can and can't run on your computer as well. It's a money and control grab, plain and simple.
Investors are going to be disappointed... This has the momentum to become a really strong, usable platform. If they lock it down too tight, no one will care to develop anything for it (read: iPod games).
There will be development, but only from established developers (Apple approved companies). None of that homegrown innovation that you see on platforms such as the web (and to a smaller degree on jailbroken iPhones) will happen on the iPhone SDK.
And you can bet very few of the apps will be free, unlike on jailbroken iPhones.
Yep. I'm keeping mine jailbroken, thank you very much.
But atleast I have the option to add and then remove that bad piece of software. Because for everyone one bad piece of software there are 3 other good pieces of software out for that mobile device platform you are referring to.
(I know this will be shocking coming from an Apple fanatic, but...) thanks AGAIN, Apple! (Seriously!). That's why we buy Apple products. You whack-a** Windows users say what you want - yeah yeah yeah, we can't think on our own, we have no imagination.....yawn.
Actually, a lot of the reason I -buy- Apple products is I appreciate the quality that goes in to most items, and if this keeps every lousy 'developer' from saturating the market with crap that runs poorly, I'm all for it. This is mainly because the imagination you girls say we 'lack' is actually better spent on family and careers, rather than playing Minesweeper on our iPhone. (Oh my! I can hear the stylus's's's clanking away right now!)
Oooo, shiny!
I am not sure that Apple's hardware/software is less prone to "crap that runs poorly." More apps, crap or not, are developed for Windows because of the market share. As Apple as increased in popularity and released their new OS, more apps are developed for that platform now - and a lot of them run just as crappy as they do on Windows.
I use both platforms a lot as a graphic designer and they both crash enough to frustrate me at the wrong times but they also both get the job done equally as well.
That said, if I happen to need some crappy piece of software to get my work done (and sometimes you do) then I don't want Apple or anyone telling me I can't install it. Hopefully this won't be the case and the iPhone developer process will be smooth. I also hope they keep the development restrictions loose as there are a LOT of useful applications that could be made for the iPhone to make it a real productivity tool.
Right now the iPhone is fun, somewhat gimicky, but not very effective as a business/productivity tool.
Apple is usually so smart, but lately with the iPhone they've made some bonehead moves. People want an OPEN and USABLE mobile device. If the iPhone was more open to developers (not free access or anything, but not rigidly controlled either) then a lot more people would get into it.
If Apple doesn't get smart soon, they're friends over at Google will DOMINATE the market with Android mobiles.
"People" don't want open phones computing platforms. Just some people who visit sites Engadget.
"Real" People (i.e most of the population) want a great phone that's easy to use and stable, with games and a few useful applications running on it, like translator/dictionaries. They don't want to worry about Trojans app that crash their phone or any of that.
Apple controlling the application quality and compatibility is a good thing for most of the population. for the hard core and home-brew, there is always jailbreaking...
Point taken
"If this is what it takes to keep the quality of the apps where they should be, then who cares. Some of those jailbreak apps are just ridiculous."
I agree 100% with this comment. What did you people expect? Apple to give any moron total control over the iPhone? Why would anyone want that? By doing this Apple can guarantee stability which is VERY important, more important than having some lame app that will crash the phone.
Alright folks, first of all, nothing is set in stone because the announcement hasn't come out yet. Next, if Apple does feel the need to lock down some software, and make sure it is "vetted", how is that any different from Nintendo, MS, or Sony allowing people to develop on their platforms? The other thing to consider is that if Apple let anybody develop anything they wanted in the way of emulators etc. it would open them to liablility! There are people lined up around the block to sue Apple and you're asking them to allow more? The reality is that even if Apple did everything you wanted them too, you'd still be unhappy and be whining.
Do they filter software that gets installed in OSX? No, because they are not liable for 3rd party development and what customers choose to install on their computers.
Sure, they might be liable for content that they distribute through iTunes, but Jailbreak and Installer.app have shown that there's no need for 3rd party apps to be distributed through iTunes. Apple just wants to make sure nothing gets onto iPods that might compete with their business models (like Skype, perhaps)
Yes, but you are going to jam up the Genius Bar with your indignant whining when your nice 3rd party app bricks your phone. The business model thing seems valid too, why would you shoot yourself in the foot? I would think that AT&T is more worried about THAT issue than Apple is, but they're partners on this thing so if Ma Bell has a gripe Apple's gonna try to address it.
HA! Once again....Apple SUCKS!
What about "Open Source"? I would presume there is some way for a developer to test code out, hopefully untethered from a machine.
Assuming that possibility (nobody seems to have covered full on-the-street testing, which is a must if Apple wants to lock down for security and proper testing for a release), if Apple decided to lock down on unsigned builds in a way that it is only syncable to iPhones syncing on that machine, then open source projects are still free game to anyone who can build an iPhone app, while non-dev users and even dev users still won't risk unsigned apps getting on without their consent and physical access.
Just an idea. That assumes a lot, and that the SDK build environment will be somewhat easily available, like XCode, and not only for Select ($500/yr) membership or higher. If it isn't Jailbreaking is going to get real interesting, and possibly continue as the unofficial 3rd party SDK.
The market is ripe for change. I remember a small Fruit-Shaped company that had several inovative products a few years ago. The problem was they wanted to much control. We'll the masses decided to go elsewhere.
Apple is to interested in regulated every detail, which will be there down fall again. And with Microsoft try to be the swiss army knife of the world (can do everything but not well), we find that the market is ripe for change. This market isn't loyal any more, they want the most bang for there buck. I'm sure someone will step up and give them what they want. Let's see if the new heavy hitter can make it happen. Come on Andriod and friends.
>prepare to be letdown in a major way.
Sorry but to anyone who has actually been paying attention it is hard to be let down by this simply because it isn't surprising in the least. In fact, it is funny that there is even a question mark in your headline.
great open source applications were the only thing keep the iphone ship afloat and now apple will finally drown its own ship.
iDrown.....drowning with simplicity.
ill keep waiting for android phones, thanks you very much...
The theory is that Apple will safeguard us from dangerous and sucky applications through control.
The first thing this harms is open-source or any application that has ongoing updates. If they have to climb their way through an Apple approval process, they might die instead of flourish. I suppose it will all come down to how much Apple controls the developer's end product.
The second thing that sort of makes me think this is a sad outcome for the iPhone platform is that I like to have my free will. I like my computer and how I can install whatever crap I want on it. Yes, I might screw it up - but that is my choice and I have to live with it if I do.
Where does restriction of choices make sense? Should Apple filter out what they think are bad websites from their browser? Or perhaps they should block media that they don't approve of? At what point does making sure your safe cause you to feel that your liberties are being restricted.
Yes, it is Apple's OS and hardware design, so they can do whatever they want with it. I just miss the old company ideal of "think different" which seems to me more like "think like us" these days.
Maybe Google Andriod will end up being the bomb with a good hardware partnership?
@Brian! "The theory is that Apple will safeguard us from dangerous and sucky applications through control"
yeah! the same way North Korea safeguards its people from sucky applications like freedom. control is the best way!
oh... wait...
I won't stress it until the SDK is out and I've seen how it is. Who knows maybe this is a good thing. Hopefully alot of developers will be on and we can see some quality apps for iPhone, I'd hate to jailbreak it honestly.
Can you imagine Apple allowing the likes of Perian to be developed for the iPhone? or Handbrake, they'd want us all to download the movie from their store, this is where their meglamania with the $%^&^ iTunes Store will be a potential death knell to any real innovation on the platform, as you can bet that any innovation that might cut into their revenue stream will not be approved!
What do they gain by blocking 3rd party apps?
Its not a PSP where piracy is a problem.
Its their stupid fault their Carrier lock protection was so weak in the first place.
yet apple is the consumer friendly company? i get so sick of hearing that when some other company, be it verizon, microsoft, whatever, do this it's given some clever write up on engadget to make them seem greedy, but apple does it and it's just business as usual, with no real negative comments on it.
dont get me wrong apple makes some nice products but i'd love to see an engadget writer say something like 'surprise, apple still screws users' like the do with other products.