“While third party software development offers all kinds of tantalizing potential for the new mobile, there are a half dozen reasons why Apple may not ever deliver the iPhone fully open to third party development, following the model of gaming consoles,” Daniel Eran Dilger writes for RoughlyDrafted.
“Will Apple give third party developers the keys to its new vehicle and allow them to drive off with the value it has created? It hasn’t yet, and there are a number of reasons to think that Apple won’t,” Dilger writes.
Among other things, Dilger covers:
• Web apps via Safari offers a good enough alternative to serve more than 80% of most developers’ needs
• Possible Apple-certified third-party online software sales via iTunes (see: iPod games)
• Apple may be able to establish a viable mobile platform without needing to fully open it to third party development
• Depending upon large third party developers can cause grief (see: Microsoft Office for Mac)
• Open Application Programming Interfaces involve complex management and maintenance and can create legacy issues (see: WIndows)
• A closed hardware platform offers Apple extreme flexibility for the future (see: iPod)
Dilger discusses “Six Reasons the iPhone Will Stay Closed” and much more in his full article here.
“Why Apple may never open the iPhone”
One word….Super Glue
“”Why Apple may never open the iPhone”
One word….Super Glue”
so the entire iPhone repair class is a how to use duct tape coarse?
Originalrecipes
So why does Apple even bother to make an iPhone? It’s sheer stupidity to even build such a product without 3rd party support.
Yes, because handheld devices have benefited immensely from a vast richness of third party apps that so brilliantly expand the capabilities of existing handhelds.
Yes. That’s sarcasm. When it comes to phones and handhelds, the landscape of third party development is a desert of overpriced shareware shit and nearly useless first party craplets.
Out of the gate, the iPhone has a capabilities that crush dozens of competitors that had a 15 year head start. And Apple isn’t even done adding functionality yet.
No, Shen, that would just be silly.
The answer is….MORE Super Glue.
Amazing how the Steve RDF has all you fanboys messed up. Its been over two months and you guys keep hoping for this so called update. Well Ive seen the update, 1.02 and you guys got nothing to show but bug fixes. Its amazing how you tolerate such inferior devices and support because of an Apple Logo. Every Winmobile device you choose easily blows away the iPhone feature by feature. Its just amazing how blind you users are. 600 bucks can’t even search or copy and paste. LOL
You know, for the most part, Web apps can replace a lot of the programs on my Treo 650 (I’m getting my iPhone today!!).
But there are certain things I think which are more appropriate to built-in apps. For instance, how about a Car Mileage program? I’d like one on my iPhone so I can keep track of how much gas my car is using each time I fill up. Is there a Web program for that? Where is the data kept?
One day some Apple employee will want this too and we’ll get it. Sadly that’s how this process will have to work. I’d prefer if the iPhone were opened up to everyone to develop, but I guess that’s not to be…
@Originalrecipes,
You blew it with “Every Winmobile device you choose easily blows away the iPhone feature by feature.” Because the reality is that every Winmobile device you choose is absolutely excruciatingly painful to operate.
And to think you almost had it there.
@justified
Do you see the problem here? Its not about how incapable you are with using a high level device, its about how you guys like pretty shiny things over usuability. Im sorry that yourr not intelligent enought to use a Winmobile device, maybe you should take some lessons on how to use its full power rather than complaining how it makes your head hurt because its so advanced. Ballmer will never release a dumbdown iPhone for Mac usersike you. You guys just need to step up to the plate.
I see. You’re just a boardbitch. You say nasty things to people even when they’re civil with you.
You’ve revealed yourself as a pointless boob who, from this point forward, will not—cannot—be taken seriously no matter your comment.
Pity.
If you want to continue to troll this board and attack others for no reason other than your own entertainment, you might want to change your handle.
Windows Mobile (or whatever they call it this year) is worse than Windows Desktop (any version except maybe ME). I have an iPaq 3800 that sits lonely in a drawer because it crashed so much that I had to have an up-to-date back up on an SD card with me at all times in order to have my data available. I even bought a software update for it that did absolutely nothing as far as I could tell. Everyone that I have talked to since then has told me that their WinMobile devices still crash on a regular basis.
My Treos were better, no data loss, but still buggy and the 700p actually crashed more than the 650. I liked a few of the 3rd Party apps, but the things had microscopic amounts of memory. SD cards are only just now getting to functional size for anything but MP3 players and cheap digital cameras.
The iPhone is not perfect, but it’s by far the best phone that I’ve ever owned already. If Apple adds more features it’s a bonus to me. There are a few that I’d like to see brought to the platform, but nothing that I can’t live without. I’m betting that Apple will eventually open up development, but probably not until after Leopard has shipped. I’d even bet that the next major version of Xcode will be where they open it up. Apple wants to push OS X development to 10.5 and beyond along with the wider use of their developer tools, and that would definitely be the most strategic way to do it.
@ Originalrecipes
I believe that the real update will be after Leopard is ready. Remember, Leopard was delayed so that the iPhone would make its launch date. The iPhone is based on OS X.
@originalrecipies,
TRULY smart people stay away from Windows Mobile.
Thanks for playing.
Wow people are ignorant.
This article explains everything. Apple doesn’t want to make another PDA, they want to revolutionize the cell phone market. I can’t believe people want to start spending money for apps that are already free online (LOOK FOR THEM, THEY ARE THERE). Skype and other VOIP apps would be a waste of money, because it’s already a phone, you have a contract, YOU WANT TWO? Apple recognizes that mobile devices should be a source of information and some input, NOT like a desktop. The iPhone emblemizes the phrase, “Information at your fingertips.” Notes and email takes care of my daily needs for input. In no way am I going to MAKE a spreadsheet, powerpoint, or pdf on my phone, it’ll look like crap. Apple doesn’t release any products without considering the consumer. SURELY, they’ve gotten a handle on this issue.
@Tommy
Daniel Eran was a nom de plume. His full name is Daniel Eran Dilger, as I understood it.
Whatever his name, the guy gets it spot on the mark, though I confess there is no way I could really argue with his historical analysis without doing an awful lot of research for myself!
RoughlyDrafted.com is the most essential read for any Mac user.
And I fully support the iPhone being closed down.
@Original Recipes
You are just so sad, so deluded, so utterly mistaken, that you deserve nothing less than a happy and complete Vista life.
Oh glorious is the reign of our most high Jobs who brings us such wonderful toys. May the cult product master get even stronger and manipulate even more folks into seeing the WAY in parting with their hard earned cash or resorting to crime to satisfy their lust for technological hardware or selling them for crack cocaine.
May the strong arm robbery of iPods continue, the shiney white buds being a obvious sign of a great wealth burried deep in one victims pocket for exploit by the strong.
Pray with me fellow cult product breathen of Jobs, in the glorious and fruitful reign of our leader, that he may exploit more and more minds to the WAY OF APPLE.
Ahhhh, hmmm praise Jobs
Ahhhh, hmmm praise Jobs
Oh dear brothers of Jobs, mind not the ways of the others who have lost their way following Jesus, Mary, Buddah, Smith, Jim Jones and all the OTHER FALSE MESSENGERS OF GOD.
There is only one TRUE Messiah and he is our LORD STEVE JOBS. We will pay him for overpriced hardware that doesn’t meet our needs, but the needs of our leader Jobs for more wealth.
WE WILL OBEY THE ONLY TRUE LORD JOBS, in the hope that we may enter the TRUE GATES OF HEAVEN AT One Infinite Loop in LOVELY SMOG INFESTED CUPERTINO CALIFORNIA.
Actually many have tried to enter heaven falsly, with a copy cat id card easy manufactered at home, fakely waived at the door handle and brazenly follow people into the inner chamber at slightly before 10 AM weekdays. BUT TO NO AVAIL, AS a burly security guard will throw such trash into the street to wail at their inflictions, since passcodes are required to enter specific rooms of heaven created by our lord Steve Jobs.
So dear breatheren of Jobs be prepared to meet the following dangers on your quest to enter the holy gates of Heaven and purge yourself of any sin, with the convient excuse that your a “guest” and were attempting to enter the holy corporate store to purchase one of a kind Cupertino heaven merchandise.
Guest parking in the front of heaven for only the most dedicated of loyal followers of Jobs wishing to enter the holy gates.
Go my brethern, seek valitiy in your God, meet the Lord Steve Jobs in person and tell him your innermost secrets…worship at his alter…give him all your money for nothing to enter his blisss…
Just pull out the cult thang. Why are you upset that we don’t agree with your computing choices? Are you surprised that a Mac site has good things to say about Apple?
Are you threatened that People here say bad things about the software company that you love so much?
Face it fanboi, anti Windows statements wouldn’t bother you, except that your personal identity is FAR too tied up with a company that doesn’t really care about you.
I guess its easier to believe that Jobs is a Svengali than it is to understand that thoughtful people can make different computing choices.
How freaking stupid are you?
@Loyal Followers of Jobs! (a.k.a. Originalrecipes)
Be careful. You could choke to death on that anger.
(“boardbitch” That’s funny!)
If they don’t open the iPhone, why are they charging for a battery replacement?
Cult or no, the iPhone is still going to rule the cell phone market. Come back here in a year and we’ll see where we are at.
As for me, I’m buying as much AAPL as I can afford.
Where are you investing your $$$?