The iPhone Will Be a Closed Platform

They didn't say they were going to be the dole architects, just they were going to moderate the content allowed on the device.

They didn't say they were going to be the dole architects, just they were going to moderate the content allowed on the device.

I hope this comes true, and that the moderation isn't too extreme.

Something on the lines of: anyone can build apps but apple has to screen them and give it a green light. Instead of the iPod games which are: We come to you if we want something from you, and we say what gets made and what doesn't. or worse.

I prefer it to be a completely open platform like the Treo but I seriously doubt it will be like that. I can see some reasons why Apple would want some control over the applications. For me this control it's a given, at least in the beginning. The best balanced approach to this is to let anyone develop for it, with the necessary guidelines, and show in iTunes or wherever the apps that Apple approves, but let advanced users install whatever they want at their own risk, (The installing could be done via terminal commands so there is a technical barrier, and not only a warning or something like that)

I think it's great, both for developers and Apple. The only problem is for "homebrew" stuff, for which there will certainly be some kind of hack, eventually.

What this really sounds like, is that Apple is the publisher, and other developers can create the software. It's a great system: developers can create great software, and then they bring it to Apple. What's nice is Apple will certainly help improve the code (they'll have teams, I'm sure, dedicated to stuff like that), then they'll make sure it's worthy/improve it so that it works perfectly with the iPhone, and then it's released. Apple is doing this to keep the good quality they are known for. And let it be said that if another dev can create the same quality app, it will probably be a no brainer for Apple to release the product.

It'll be like iPod games: some are straight from Apple, others are from EA and Apple made sure they were the right quality for their iPod.

It's very close to a perfect system for consumers: if something is craved (a certain app), SOMEONE will develop it (Apple or other party) and faced with an opportunity to enhance their product, Apple will use another company's code and certify it, or make their own.

Like I said, the only ones who could lose are the little devs that code from home, like college students, but eventually there will be a way to get their stuff on there.

-Urby

If it is in fact, developers developing software and then getting it, lets say, CERTIFIED by Apple to run on their hardware, then I agree, this plan sounds pretty good. In my opinion, there is MORE to this than just Apple wanting to perform quality control on the apps that go on this phone. Depending on how well Jobs thinks this device will perform on the market, this might just be another excuse for charging would-be developers ridiculous royalties or liscensing fees for developing apps on the platform. As he said so himself, he doesn't want this to turn into a device with "computing" powers, he wants it to stay a "phone", and this is where I think he's going wrong. This device is not the greatest combination of a media player and cell phone, mainly due to its meager storage and lack of expandibility. However, it has tremendous potential in taking the smartphone/pda market by storm, where this device has a never before seen combination of features that fit the bill. As I said, it is too early to determine how Jobs will moderate what goes onto this platform, but I hope that when the iPhone is released, he'll try to steer its development in the right direction.

The reason to why i do not like this is because i bet apple will sell you apps instead os making them avaiable.

yeah Forky, and there lies the crunch. "Apple will sell you apps..." says it all. You pay $lots of the phone, but if you want it to do something else you have to shell out for that too.

I think this is a bad move, at least from a European perspective where Nokia Symbian etc are kings. People expect a phone, yeah, but they also expect to be able to install whatever they like on it (within the framework). People will buy the iPhone for the coolness factor... then, when it comes time to upgrade, I bet they'll go to the next big LG or Samsung or something, out of sheer frustration.

Just my 2c.

I am European too.

I love to try apps Install remove install again. i see that i won't be able to do that with the phone. But i i am wrong then all right for me.

We all know Apple's real motive for disallowing third-party apps is due to their recent tight relationship with Cingular. The last thing they want is for somebody to develop an app that could make VIOP calls like current Skype phones do. People would be making calls at airports, cafes, malls, and the countless other places that have public WiFi, saving tons of money by using the internet to place calls as opposed to running up their cellphone minutes.

It's unpreventable that eventually somebody will hack the iPhone to allow VOIP capabilities and other things, but as a consequence, they'd also lose the beautiful iPhone GUI. It's just like what happened to 5th gen iPods. Either stick with what Apple gave you, or install an ugly Linux hack.

i have a feeling that the apps will end up on a torrent so if people are worried about money then there will always be a way to get something for free, especially software.

Mr. Jobs is wrong, the last things I really want are companies telling me what I want. I definitely want to mod, customize my devices like the way I want to.

i have a feeling that the apps will end up on a torrent so if people are worried about money then there will always be a way to get something for free, especially software.

We're still waiting for the iPod games to be released without DRM. Easier said than done.

I think it's a bad business decision but i'm sure they will sell millions regardless. If I can't use this device to replace my PDA and the medical programs I use on it then there's no point for me to buy an iphone. (I know i'm coming from a very selective market with medical technology and that this device will do very well in the corporate world)

We all know Apple's real motive for disallowing third-party apps is due to their recent tight relationship with Cingular. The last thing they want is for somebody to develop an app that could make VIOP calls like current Skype phones do. People would be making calls at airports, cafes, malls, and the countless other places that have public WiFi, saving tons of money by using the internet to place calls as opposed to running up their cellphone minutes.

 

It's unpreventable that eventually somebody will hack the iPhone to allow VOIP capabilities and other things, but as a consequence, they'd also lose the beautiful iPhone GUI. It's just like what happened to 5th gen iPods. Either stick with what Apple gave you, or install an ugly Linux hack.

What is Apple or Cingular going to do when the phone gets to Europe?

There is no such thing as cingular here, and I somehow doubt that Apple will not partner up with more than one service provider in Europe

Um, if im gonna spend $500 on a cell phone, i want it to make phone calls. So im not gonna install apps on there that may screw it up. I agree with jobs.

What is Apple or Cingular going to do when the phone gets to Europe?

 

There is no such thing as cingular here, and I somehow doubt that Apple will not partner up with more than one service provider in Europe

Jobs said in his keynote that Cingular will be the main provider for U.S. He did not say they would be for europe or asia.

We all know Apple's real motive for disallowing third-party apps is due to their recent tight relationship with Cingular.

I don't think it is that simple, the iPod is not an open platform either and we know that has nothing to do with Cingular.

So im not gonna install apps on there that may screw it up. I agree with jobs.

This is {censored}, it is like saying you need to close Macs to third party development because apps might stop you from sending email.

See this: http://arstechnica.com/journals/apple.ars/2007/1/12/6597

I think it's a bad business decision but i'm sure they will sell millions regardless. If I can't use this device to replace my PDA and the medical programs I use on it then there's no point for me to buy an iphone. (I know i'm coming from a very selective market with medical technology and that this device will do very well in the corporate world)

Apple can always open up the iPhone later, but closing it after it is open is impossible. This is a good business decision (that I do not particularly like) for now.

Apple may well very let select companies develop apps for the iPhone, much like how video games are developed for consoles (where it is not a free-for-all).

Yeah, like im going to spend 500 $ on a iPhone so just that i can phone, dude dont you think i can get a better deal if i want a phone for just phoning?

I don't want just a phone. I want a handheld pc that also phones. I want to be able to hack it, use ssh and terminal services to run my network from the beach, and install crossover so I can play half-life.

I get it as a business decision, but customizing is half the fun, and the ability to run cross platform is the reason I bought a mac in the first place. If I want to spend $500 on a phone, I want to to be able to hack away at it, and then when I break it (which of course I will), reload it from scratch.

Will wait and see. Just recently bought a treo, so I won't be able to think about a new phone for at least a year anyway. Hopefully by then someone will have figured out how to hack it open.

If you want a mini phone computer go for a treo or a winmobile 5 phone, im just selling mines, they are {censored}, and downloaded apps are nearly everyone {censored}, and everything hangs at least one a day, in some cases in middle of an important call.

i dont want homebrew apps. i want perfection.

im going with iPhone lets see if i can find a very usable phone there.

BTW i hope i can get an ebook reader...

thats for me the only missing thing.

You are correct. Used to have a SX-56 (Tmobile Pocketpc) which I loaded custom roms on. It was a pain in the ass, but hacking on it was fun. I suspect the iphone will be my next one -- open or not -- but the key for me is being able to load ssh, vnc or remote desktop, which I used on my treo on a daily basis. But I have to recognize that I don't qualify as a normal user.

Let's have a phone that runs OSX and not have a an open third party development. Why call it the iPhone then? What not call it the Crippled iAppliance that could of been great. I still want to get one because I would like a cool video player that's not from the existing iPod line, but I would of loved a third party IRC Chat program on the phone or the ability to run my own AppleScript Studio apps for features that the phone won't include out of the box. Looks like it will be like the other cell phones and you have to pay through the nose for every little feature like making a call or jotting down a note on the phone. Steve Jobs does not show any confidence in third party developers. This could really cause a backlash in even the Macintosh community. Why should we slave away writing Apps for the Mac then if Steve thinks the computer might now work after that? Steve get a clue! You are really starting to look like an -ss. Why did you tell use it would run OSX? No developer tools? No XCode for the iPhone? Man this does sounds like a 1984 Mac all over again. I will try to reserve anymore judement until I get to test drive one in my hands.

gt

In Steve's mind nothing has changed since 1984.

Apple has always made money by selling hardware platforms only Apple controls. No difference this time around. The good thing is, that this control results in working devices and in the case of a phone that is certainly an advantage, moreover this strategy will also reel in huge $$$ once Apple has made the sale.

The bad thing is that Jobs doesn't appreciate that digital geek users, which by definition would be the early adopters of a device like the IPhone want to be able to tweak their devices to their own needs and be able to tinker and program around on it and Jobs doesn't think that is in his and Apple's best interest.

But more and more users are like that so here is only one solution appropriate ----> InsanelyIPhone ---> and run some linux (bsd) os on it.

No this could prove to be a major showstopper for the IPhone...

if we are talking osx on the phone i am looking forward for this realease. People has made dreams come true on this forus/comunity and i think the iPhone is going to be a fu***ng good platform for funn. Think about it. OSX = unix. If the phone is based on this, the there is going to be a lot of cool moods i the future (Sory for the bad english)