p2pnet - rss feed: Apple cracks the iPod, iPhone, SDK whip
p2pnet news | Products:- You’ll pay through the nose for Apple gear, and we’ll tell you what to do with it.
That pretty well sums up DRM King Steve Jobs’ business philosophy and yesterday, iLounge’s Jeremy Horwitz revealed details of new Apple plans to core, absolutely, its iPhone and iPod touch software development kit (SDK).
Least controversially, “Apple plans to require that all mobile applications be distributed through its iTunes Store, making the Store a necessary hub for those interested in browsing or purchasing iPhone and iPod touch software,” says the story, going on:
“While one source suggested that a company’s well-trafficked website or product packaging would be considerably more practical places to distribute certain types of software, another source lauded the Store as a logical place for Apple users to locate and purchase applications.”
But Apple is also bent on to formally approving, or denying, all SDK-based software releases for its devices, says iLounge, going on >>>
Our sources confirm that Apple will act as a gatekeeper for applications, deciding which are and are not worthy of release, and publishing only approved applications to the iTunes Store; a process that will less resemble the iTunes Store’s massive directory of podcasts than its sale of a limited variety of iPod Games.
While one source saw this as a positive for major developers, suggesting that Apple will be choked by application submissions and forced to give priority to releases from larger companies, another source disagreed, stating that Apple’s current approval processes for third-party products have resulted in lengthy, needless delays. It is unclear whether Apple will need to approve subsequent bug fixes and feature additions to accepted applications, another issue that could clog the approval system and postpone important improvements.
And to round things off, there’ll be no accessory connectivity, says Horwitz.
SDK developers will be, “prevented from interfacing directly with Dock Connector-based accessories connected to the iPhone or iPod touch - a decision that we are told could cripple development of new accessories such as physical keyboards, traditional add-ons, and more ambitious, creative accessories such as Delphi’s iPhone car control prototype,” says iLounge.
“One source described this limit as a guarantee that SDK-developed applications would be nearly as limited as current web-based ones, while consuming more of the device’s storage capacity. Yet integrated iPhone or iPod touch features such as the phone, Wi-Fi, and camera will be developer-accessible, certainly permitting development of programs that weren’t possible before. It is presently unclear whether Bluetooth 2.0, which is included in the iPhone but crippled to permit only monaural phone call streaming, will be opened to permit stereo audio streaming and data functionality as well.”
The collective impact will be to, “control and stifle third-party development at a critical juncture in iPhone and iPod history, limiting what could be an open, thriving Mac-like collection of applications and accessories to a smaller, more stagnant iPod-like controlled environment,” the story states.
“Consequently, a source suggests, developers who ‘jailbrake’ iPhones and iPods to develop applications will be at an advantage relative to those who use Apple’s official tools.”
Apple will use a March 6 event to, “tout the benefits of the SDK to selected media, analysts, and developers, releasing an incomplete, ‘beta’ version of the kit that was originally promised for February,” says Horwitz.
The actual kit will now ship in June and, “Additional announcements regarding iPhone compatibility with popular enterprise software, including Microsoft Exchange and Lotus Notes, will also take place, in an effort to convince corporate users to adopt the iPhone despite reservations over its on-screen keyboard and e-mail functionality.”
However, Electronista says connected to the same sources which reported early access for select developers —- “sources which have since been confirmed as accurate” —- the new contact claims, “free applications are not subject to the same rules that will guide paid software downloads. In this model, free software is unlikely to be subject to much if any scrutiny by Apple.”
This system will, though, “change substantially for paid apps,” it says, adding:
“In addition to a previously rumored review process and the necessity of sales through iTunes, Apple will reportedly take a portion of the cost of each app. The approach is similar both to its practices with the iTunes Store as well as to conventional mobile application services, many of which collect a share of the sales price as part of their core business models.”
Companies and users now placidly take restrictions and strictures as a normal, and acceptable, part of doing business with Apple, and with using its products.
Also See:
iLounge - iPhone SDK: Apple to approve, distribute apps, limit accs, February 29, 2008
Electronista - Apple may not restrict free iPhone apps, February 29, 2008
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March 1st, 2008 at 9:23 am
Oh, the dear proles are always complaining that they cannot afford the snobbery of Loius Vuitton, Bentley, et. al.
Exclusionary, elitist, restrictive — the list of moanings goes on, and on, and on.
The key is word: envy.
We have an alternative for you: Linux on everything. Open-source, inexpensive, mediocre at best, but no whips.
Cheers!
March 1st, 2008 at 4:42 pm
I remember back in the early days of home computing when Apple was king. Apple computers were great, but if you wanted to upgrade, you’d have to go through an authorized Apple dealer. If a part broke (I had a key break on my keyboard), you had to pay outrageous prices and go through an authorized Apple dealer.
Look who is ruling the PC market now. I guess Apple hasn’t learned anything from the past (Of course I wish Apple would have dominated the PC market, but when IBM opened up their architecture for all the clones, that ended Apple’s reign - too bad it also brought M$ an empire)
March 2nd, 2008 at 8:56 pm
This is a surprise, why? Apple has always been this way, and their users think themselves as some kind of special class of person for using their services. As far as phones go, I wish mine did half the things that the iPhone does, but that doesn’t mean I’m gonna suddenly become one of their so called elite consumers…