“No matter how cool [Apple’s iPhone] exchange support and the enterprise play is, that news is dwarfed by the other, much more important announcement – the iPhone SDK. The powerful platform that Apple uses to create beautiful applications for MacOS and iPhone is now completely open,” Alex Iskold writes for ReadWriteWeb. “This platform is a game changer.”
“Since the early days, Apple embraced a language called Objective-C – an object-oriented flavor of the popular procedural language. When Jobs returned to Apple, one of the early smart decisions was to ditch the old operating system in favor of Unix,” Iskold writes.
MacDailyNews Take: Actually, that’s why Apple bought Steve Jobs’ NeXT; for the Unix-based OS. So, the decision actually predates Jobs’ return, although, obviously, it was Jobs who somehow convinced dumbass Gil Amelio to do something completely different for once and actually make a smart decision.
Iskold continues, “This move allowed Apple to instantly tap into serious programmers while retaining a beautiful and simple UI… Smart, disciplined and mature.”
“Not all platforms are made equal,” Iskold writes. “First compare this offering with what Microsoft offered for Windows a while back. Redmond’s convoluted APIs, COM, OLE, and ActiveX still make developers shake their heads. Instead of cultivating elegance and simplicity, Microsoft pushed for complexity. Why? Because it kept exclusivity, kept people learning new weird stuff, kept people getting new certifications. But Apple’s culture and code is rooted in elegance and extreme simplicity.”
Iskold writes, “Apple has made this play flawlessly. The enterprise and SDK solutions will go hand-in-hand to propel the iPhone to be THE handheld device of the future. Ironically, the PC just got its final blow not from a MacBook (which has been on the rise too!), but from a small new computer. Apple got its revenge elegantly, relentlessly and creatively. The next era of computing will be dominated by Apple. Is this a good thing? Likely yes, and it is surely better than one dominated by Microsoft.”
Full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “since1985” for the heads up.]
MacDailyNews Take: “Why would he do that? He has to know that he can never win.” – Bill Gates on Steve Jobs’ return to Apple, as told to Robert X. Cringely during an unpublished 1999 interview for Vanity Fair.
Upwards of 95% of Windows users have absolutely no awareness of stories like this and they absolutely don’t care and would never consider switching to a Mac – still seen by them as a toyish alternative to a real computer.
I know of what I speak – I’m surrounded by several hundred of these people every day at the office. If you say to them they are using an OS-limited platform, they just look at me like I have just spoken some kind of nonsense.
Jobs said, “For Apple to win, Microsoft does not have to lose.”
He did not say that they would not lose, its just that they do not have to. LOL
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Microsoft keeps shooting itself in its own foot. A billion here, a billion there. Hey if they kept all in the bank, at some point they could make billions just in the interest. Then they could give MS stuff away (people might not take it, but ,, well you see.
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Microsoft also has the option to take a big breath and develop a good OS. A new OS. An OS that is not focused on keeping MS in power only.
They could, but you and I know that they most likely will not. LOL
en
bioness
Interesting thought. If HP wakes up, they might realize they already have an OS that can replace Windows, applications and dedicated followers. Open VMS would make a great replacement OS for Windows. In many ways Windows is just a subset of Open VMS for personal computer market. As Apple found Next as starting point of MacOSX, MS or HP can use VMS as starting point for Windows OSX, or may be OSL.
Microsoft keeps shooting itself in its own foot. A billion here, a billion there.
$45 billion for a has-been portal…
I examined 10 factors that put Apple in an unassailable position in the mobile platform wars and reviewed the weaknesses of iPhone competitors in:
Who can beat iPhone 2.0?
http://counternotions.com/2008/03/10/iphone2-competitors/
Yup, just what I was thinkin’ ChrissyOne. The Gilster filled in pretty well after the disaster that was “The Diesel”.
Remember, no matter where you go – – there you are.
@ Macromancer
Well if you’re referring to me doing that the other day, then
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@ Ampar
Re: Scully
Oh the fetid stench of Scully…
Who r u callin dumbass?
“John Sculley tops the list. I’ll bet he still has the taste of Bill Gates in his mouth.”
Ewwww!!!!!!!
The next era of computing will be dominated by Apple.
I don’t think so, don’t flame me, hear this Mac user out
Apple does not play in the “low margin” computing business where most of the computing buys are made.
Microsoft is using Windows as a loss leader in some cases to push Office and their other worthless software.
Dell and HP make PC’s that are stripped down and customizable for the huge business market, saving huge amounts of money. Apple only sells premium or near premium machines that make the most profit, not touching machines that will only add a few percentage points in profit.
Most of the software of the world is still Windows based, which reinforces the cycle of buying Windows machines which reinforces training in Windows in schools and so on.
One can customize most any Windows box, but only a few models of Apple boxes.
The list goes on and on and on. But unless, by some freak chance in hell. That computers can be made so inexpensively that they are disposable, that Apple will shine like the star it is.
By the way
I’ve got to test the new AT&T;3G with my laptop. It’s fast!
So expect a new 3G iPhone and even a MacBook Air with AT&T;3G.
Should be awesome!! If you can afford $3000 and $100 a month that is.
@Mad Mac Maniac
Apple already dominates this era of computing. It merely depends on your metrics. If you measure by “market share,” Apple is within spitting distance of HP or Dell – and gaining ground rapidly. Apple’s market share is always measured against Windows. That’s ludicrous.
More importantly, Apple dominates in “mind share.” Everything we’ve come to expect from computers can be traced back to Apple bringing that functionality to the market. The whole world of tech is waiting with bated breath for the next Apple announcement. When Steve Jobs farts, the press looks for clues in it.
“Market share” is a useless and meaningless yard stick. Apple has complete freedom to innovate, no debt, $20 billion dollars in the bank, and the whole planet leaning forward to see what their next move will be.
I’m not sure how you measure domination, but I’d settle for that if it was me.
@too much coffee
“A new OS? Maybe Linux will finally be fixed by a commercial group, like HP and others. Certainly the Linux geeks are not going to do it – they actually believe desktop computing on Linux is ok – even though its like buying your car with no doors.”
I suspect you’re right. In fact, as we know, Dell are already dabbling their toes in the water. They don’t really push what they’re offering — do they not want to antagonize MS too much, one wonders? — but it’s there:
http://www.dell.com/content/topics/segtopic.aspx/ubuntu
But I can imagine that the OEMs might be getting a bit sick of acting as MS’s cash cow. The big OEMs — particularly HP — are none too pleased with MS right now, because MS promised them Vista would mean lots of sales of expensive new high-end machines and they’d target their specs and advertising to ensure that. *BUT* … MS the went back on the deal, doubled-crossed HP, and struck a new deal with Intel to say that low-end processors were OK for Vista, so that Intel could meet its targets.
Dell’s pissed off with MS’s Vista nonsense, too. See here:
http://www.nytimes.com/idg/IDG_002570DE00740E18002573FE006B7266.html
So, yeah, I can imagine some of the OEMs would dearly like to move to Linux and stop getting shafted by MS. Antagonizing MS is a big risk, though, as so many of the OEMs’ customers, not knowing any better, expect Windows and so they have to have it for them. MS can make the terms under which they let the OEMs have Windows very, very painful indeed.
“desktop computing on Linux is … like buying your car with no doors.”
That’s something of an exaggeration. If it’s coming pre-installed no way will it be like that. If you download a Linux distro and burn it to CD yourself then try to run it on X random hardware then, sure, you might find it won’t recognize your display or something. And what average user wants to edit config. files by hand? But when an OEM distributes Linux it makes sure it runs OK on the hardware it’s selling you. It’ll be set up and ready-to-go. And adding new software is as easy as running a package manager.
Of course, the window-manager and — importantly — the desktop-environments usually installed with Linux distros (GNOME and KDE) are a fair way short of what Apple’s currently offering in looks and usability. But that’s another discussion. Here we’re talking not “Are the doors on the car?” but “Would you prefer a Volkswagen or a BMW?”. If you want really slick, really good-looking, really usable, sure, you buy a Mac. But a modern Linux distro that’s deliberately oriented towards ordinary users, like Ubuntu, is pretty good — certainly comparable with Windows in use and probably slightly quicker on the same hardware.
Companies go through many stages of evolution. One model goes as follows:
Start-up > Market Orientated > Optimised (Portfolio) > Turn-around > Liquidation
The most successful companies find their way into the ‘Optimised (Portfolio)’ stage and then make every effort to remain solidly in that stage as risk can be minimised for maximum value extraction. Where they do overshoot into Turn-around, if they survive the severe cut backs and re-orientation, they generally re-enter in the latter stages of Market Orientated.
Each stage requires a different style of leadership:
> Start-up – Entrepreneurial
> Market Orientated – Niche
> Optimised (Portfolio) – Portfolio of products, services and businesses
> Turn-around – Financial Controller
> Liquidation – The Corporate Auctioneer and Gravedigger
However, there are good leaders and bad. And mixing styles doesn’t work e.g., the Financial Controller style isn’t exactly going to make a start-up jump. This is even before factoring in the personal traits of the CEO.
Over the long term, we’ve seen Apple go through the first four stages. The two Steves started the business up. Scully was brought in to get traction through marketing (his approach being to go ‘grey’ and create ‘boxes and towers’ to suit business and to compete more closely with traditional peecees); lost SJ; and then moved Apple into the Optimised (Portfolio) by introducing the Newton. Unfortunately, as history shows, this move was premature and Apple started to hemorrhage leading to the appointment of Mr Amelio.
Gil Amelio is the true unsung hero in all this. If he hadn’t pulled off the gargantuan task of helping Apple survive day-to-day and more to the point, bring back SJ, the iPod, iTunes, iPhone, MBA, this bulletin board and all the above opinions (as well as my tuppence worth) wouldn’t exist!
The best thing is that Gil as a leader in the Turn-around stage not only knew what to do but also knew HIS limitations as a turn-around specialist to know when to step out and hand off the company to someone better equipped to carry it forward! Remember, SJ in the meantime had also matured as a leader so was caming back to Apple with lots more in leadership skills to carry Apple forward.
And as you all know, SJ came back with a plan (some say based on Gil’s white paper) that killed the grey boxes and the Newton (I was gutted when he did this but it made sense) to place Apple right where any CEO would give his eye-teeth for his company to be – the Optimised (Portfolio) stage. In Apple’s case this mainly comprises a limited number of ‘platforms’:
> Software – MacOSX, iWork, iLife etc
> Hardware – MacPro, MacMini, MacBook, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iPod, iPhone, iTouch, AppleTV and all the connectivity/WiFi stuff
> eCommerce – iTunes (and a lot more to come)
SJ has set a course for Apple where it competes with all and yet with none. Since no other competitor to Apple (not even MS) delivers all the above and they are unable to create ‘multiple touch-points’ with a consumer as effectively as Apple. One other company that does this fairly successfully is Virgin which has created ‘multiple touch-points’ with its customers through the record stores, financial services, health clubs, airline etc. The real challenge with this strategy is ensuring high quality and consistency which explains SJ’s meticulous, verging on obsessive, attention to detail and his controlling nature. Hence the notion that Apple is really competing with itself – the one that existed 24hrs ago.
As I’ve said in prior posts, Apple understands Purple Cow to the extent that now it, itself, is a Purple Cow! Think that one through Seth Godin!
My tuppence worth.
” If you say to them they are using an OS-limited platform, they just look at me like I have just spoken some kind of nonsense.”
You have, Macs can’t run OpenVMS, Unicos or a dozen other OSs. Say what you mean, PCs can’t run OS-X. If you don’t want to run OS-X (like many people) then it’s not a problem.
Don’t expect people in the real world to understand MDNs catch phrases.
Well if 97.5% of computers are using windoze they have a way to go as 100% of the world’s working computers use electricity.
I like it when someone uses reason and passion in the same sentence. I have to admit, Windows users must be super-passionate about hate, isn’t that what the operating system is about?
Then again, you only need about 2.5% of the world’s population to be passionate about love to keep the planet from near total destruction.
And finally for this little gem “Now we can move on to how the Zune will destroy the I-Pod.”
Yes, please do move on to it. You have been casting the “wait until the zune catches up” for so long that even the boy that cried wolf doesn’t believe you any more.
Your potential. Our passion.™
@ Mad Mac Maniac
If you consider cost of ownership and operating costs, Macs have already passed the cheap windows boxes on that score. The HP’s and the DELL’s wrung the cost out of the supply chain and took big hits on the loss leaders and tried to make up the difference on teaser home computer buyers. Mean while product failures rose through the roof but luckily trhey were able to sell the big corporations what seemed at the time to be lucrative service contracts. That is until the crap they were selling broke so often and needed so much phone support they shiupped all that stuff to India to maintain the profit margin and the quality of service and support suffered also.
The HP’s and the DELL’s long ago shifted the focus to the high end server market and populated a lot of server farms to fule the dot com boom. When boom went bust there was a lot of inventory going for pennies on the dollar which took some time fot rhe industry to flush out. But even when Apple was still slinging hot G5’s the cost and power of the Mac product line was arguably better than what Intel was offering in the server market at the time and way cheaper. If IBM had not reneged of the roadmap there might have been a multi core G6 copper based 45nm processors runniing at 4 Ghz by now.
I think someone needs to get zune tang a breath mint or two… he is speaking out his ass again.
You are one ignorant dumbass. I bet it’s ballmer himself or a ballmer prodigy.
Ballmer and prodigy should never be used in the same sentence. Now Ballmer and PROTEGE makes sense…
Oh, and Zune Tang snares another hapless victim…
The whole idea of Apple dominating the, “…next era of computing…”, is something we can still only wish for – as well as buy Macs and other Apple products of course.
Also, I hope that “domination” this time around does not mean getting much more than 50%± market share. It’s a constant in nature [and certainly the business world] that when one species rules by to high a margin then no one really benefits, including the overly dominate species, (as I hope MS is about to prove). I want to beleive that Apple can get a good chunk of the market before uncle Stevo leaves (if that’s what Apple is trying to do – which is still a question), but I hope it gets there with good healthy competition fully in-tow.
ROFL, man you fanbois can buzz around from one logic point to the next, totally skirting the real world. Thats it, keep spewing the party line. der Fuhrer Jobs would have it no other way.
When you start thinking on your own then you can start understanding the real issue that is the PC market and the monopoly that is Microsoft!!!