Now that iPhone is on stage, lots of developers are complaining about how closed the platform is. I read lots of stupidities like using its UNIX base to hack it and install Linux. But who really cares about being a closed platform? Geeks I guess, but certainly not users.
The mobile business is very complex with lots of actors in the place, manufacurers, third party developers, content providers and operators. These people all interact to provide a service to users. What is the result? Pathetic. We all know that current phones and services are a pain to use, badly integrated and totally incoherent.
Controlling the platform from hardware to software has always been the Apple success to user experience. It has been important on the Mac and its even more on mobile. Third party applications will be available but only through Apple approval as in the video game industry. Developers can’t sell games without approval of the platform maker — this process ensure quality.
Keep in mind that most people don’t care about downloading new applications, only 4% of people in US have actually downloaded something and will keep using the basic features of the device. If they are not happy with them, they simply buy a different handset.
Apple didn’t say anything about J2ME standards and I’m pretty sure there is no piece of it. The MIDP standard is far from being exhaustive and as it is, it will take years for manufacturers to agreed on something great. MIDP 3.0 is on its way and its not very exciting either. The problem is that manufacturers and operators doesn’t share a common vision of a final product, they just agree on features and not how to integrate the best possible service with the best possible platform for users sake.
Apple did it, they cut every existing standard to propose users with the best device that can be done no matter what’s inside. That’s why the iPhone is so different from other handsets on the market, there is nothing close. Apple cares about its users. Operators and manufacturers don’t, they just “care” of each others.
Speaking about iPhone software, Apple will certainly provide full OS upgrades like they do on Macs and iPods. Just plug the iPhone in the dock and you’ll have a new version of the OS. iPhone is just release 1.0 so I guess Apple may open it later, when they have enough market share.
Finally very few people talk about Web 2.0 on the iPhone. Now that Safari is included, Web 2.0 sites will be accessible — as multi-touch is close to a mouse user experience. Web 2.0 developers will be able to build a lightweight version of their service dedicated to the iPhone.
Yes, the iPhone is a closed technology and it will be good for users because somebody cares. Like the videos for iPod, we’ll see specific web content dedicated for iPhone and through OS upgrades we’ll benefit from the best Apple can do. Will Apple standardize some of these features as mobile standards? Who knows but the iPhone will for sure be a great device to play with and people will love it.
UPDATE 1: John Gruber from Daring Fireball wrote some good points about OS X running the iPhone.
UPDATE 2: An interesting article from Andy Ihnatko from Chicago Sun Times about iPhone useability.
CTO at
Comments
> But who really cares about being a closed platform? Geeks I guess, but > certainly not users. >
iPhone sounds more like a computer with some telephony capabilities. Moreover iPhone looks like a mobile Mac with a small size. As a Mac user, I was ready to buy some cool applications; Apple is not the only company to develop some cool Mac applications. I was really surprised when hearing that Apple won’t allow any third-party to develop for their platform; no technical certification requirement or whatever. Actually they lost me. Why? I don’t understand the marketing reason of such a statement… “For user’s sake”. My goddness! Do you mean that is not safe to run third-application on an OS X operating system? I don’t buy this. Well, the machine is cool, user-friendly, but there may be some marketing eccentricities out of there (customer contract is one other) that I won’t be surprised to learn Apple changing this vision in a couple of months.
For geeks, there is some opened solution: http://www.openmoko.com/.
lythanhphu17 January 07 at 7:10 am
> But who really cares about being a closed platform? Geeks I guess, but
> certainly not users.
>
iPhone sounds more like a computer with some telephony capabilities. Moreover iPhone looks like a mobile Mac with a small size. As a Mac user, I was ready to buy some cool applications; Apple is not the only company to develop some cool Mac applications. I was really surprised when hearing that Apple won’t allow any third-party to develop for their platform; no technical certification requirement or whatever. Actually they lost me. Why? I don’t understand the marketing reason of such a statement… “For user’s sake”. My goddness! Do you mean that is not safe to run third-application on an OS X operating system? I don’t buy this. Well, the machine is cool, user-friendly, but there may be some marketing eccentricities out of there (customer contract is one other) that I won’t be surprised to learn Apple changing this vision in a couple of months.
For geeks, there is some opened solution: http://www.openmoko.com/.
lythanhphu17 January 07 at 12:10 am
The iPhone is certainly not a computer and that’s not because it runs an operating system that is can be qualified as one. Look at gaming console, truly complete computing system but closed.
If you don’t share Apple vision of the digital market then don’t buy one and continue making software for other handsets.
As I said, Apple may open it but later but it’s not that important after all. If Apple provide all stuff people need, who cares? And looking at the iPhone, it got everything people need.
Frederic Brunel17 January 07 at 4:02 pm
The iPhone is certainly not a computer and that’s not because it runs an operating system that is can be qualified as one. Look at gaming console, truly complete computing system but closed.
If you don’t share Apple vision of the digital market then don’t buy one and continue making software for other handsets.
As I said, Apple may open it but later but it’s not that important after all. If Apple provide all stuff people need, who cares? And looking at the iPhone, it got everything people need.
Fred Brunel17 January 07 at 9:02 am
Are gaming console closed platforms? Your comparison with gaming console is somewhat pointless. Their hardware are closed, indeed, but established game developers are allowed to develop on gaming consoles. That’s not the case with iPhone; there is not such a program planned for the moment.
Talking about the “Apple’s vision” is a bit early at this stage, and, once again, I won’t be surprised to learn Apple changing his current marketing position in a couple of months and opening their device to third party development, which will certainly lead to a better market penetration, a better product adoption, and therefore more business. And, indeed, I won’t be surprised if you comment such an event with your usual magic “I knew it! I’ve told you! It was so obvious!”… :-p
lythanhphu19 January 07 at 7:43 am
Are gaming console closed platforms? Your comparison with gaming console is somewhat pointless. Their hardware are closed, indeed, but established game developers are allowed to develop on gaming consoles. That’s not the case with iPhone; there is not such a program planned for the moment.
Talking about the “Apple’s vision” is a bit early at this stage, and, once again, I won’t be surprised to learn Apple changing his current marketing position in a couple of months and opening their device to third party development, which will certainly lead to a better market penetration, a better product adoption, and therefore more business. And, indeed, I won’t be surprised if you comment such an event with your usual magic “I knew it! I’ve told you! It was so obvious!”… :-p
lythanhphu19 January 07 at 12:43 am
Yes gaming consoles are closed. Maybe I can develop something if I manage to get a free development kit but I won’t be able to publish the game without platform maker approval… I don’t seem much difference with the iPhone.
Concerning Apple vision, it’s not a new one, it’s been the same for years. Let see in a couple of months.
Frederic Brunel19 January 07 at 12:41 pm
Yes gaming consoles are closed. Maybe I can develop something if I manage to get a free development kit but I won’t be able to publish the game without platform maker approval… I don’t seem much difference with the iPhone.
Concerning Apple vision, it’s not a new one, it’s been the same for years. Let see in a couple of months.
Fred Brunel19 January 07 at 5:41 am
I’ve never much cared for the one-size fits all concept. I suppose I’m part of the 4% that you mentioned. Perhaps if given the choice, you’d find that people really do like to have control over their devices. Methinks that Apple products will always be niche, due to these problematic design philosophies. What is interesting tho, Apple has borrowed KHTML (rendering engine from Konqueror), and FreeBSD (framework for Darwin), but they insist upon closing their architecture and not allowing developers to be creative on their hardware platforms. Have you ever thought what Apple’s desktop market share would be if they had not killed Power Computing?
Lastly, I’d put my Treo650 up against the iPhone any day
AG1 March 07 at 7:24 am
I’ve never much cared for the one-size fits all concept. I suppose I’m part of the 4% that you mentioned. Perhaps if given the choice, you’d find that people really do like to have control over their devices. Methinks that Apple products will always be niche, due to these problematic design philosophies.
What is interesting tho, Apple has borrowed KHTML (rendering engine from Konqueror), and FreeBSD (framework for Darwin), but they insist upon closing their architecture and not allowing developers to be creative on their hardware platforms. Have you ever thought what Apple’s desktop market share would be if they had not killed Power Computing?
Lastly, I’d put my Treo650 up against the iPhone any day
AG1 March 07 at 12:24 am
Hi.
I think mobile phones don’t have to be “portable computers” and Apple clearly said that it’s not. In that case have only Apple branded software is not a problem.
I used to have a Palm and tried a lot of software on it but finally I remove everything to use only built-in software… Far enough for my daily use and far enough for most people.
Same thing apply for a phone, most people don’t look further than what is shipped with the device. If it’s good, people won’t look for anything else.
Frederic Brunel5 March 07 at 3:59 am
Hi.
I think mobile phones don’t have to be “portable computers” and Apple clearly said that it’s not. In that case have only Apple branded software is not a problem.
I used to have a Palm and tried a lot of software on it but finally I remove everything to use only built-in software… Far enough for my daily use and far enough for most people.
Same thing apply for a phone, most people don’t look further than what is shipped with the device. If it’s good, people won’t look for anything else.
Fred Brunel4 March 07 at 8:59 pm
You guess what?… :-p
“iPhone SDK, iPhone SDK! Wherefore Art Thou iPhone SDK?” [http://daringfireball.net/2007/06/whereforeartthouiphonesdk]
lythanhphu2 June 07 at 7:15 am
You guess what?… :-p
“iPhone SDK, iPhone SDK! Wherefore Art Thou iPhone SDK?”
[http://daringfireball.net/2007/06/whereforeartthouiphonesdk]
lythanhphu2 June 07 at 1:15 am
Well, I think you should read better.
First, nothing in the article of John Gruber announce any SDK for the iPhone. It’s only a vague rumor.
Second, I never said it will never be open but shipping a good product for user is all Apple need. Opening it to developers is not a good idea for now.
Frederic Brunel2 June 07 at 7:55 am
Well, I think you should read better.
First, nothing in the article of John Gruber announce any SDK for the iPhone. It’s only a vague rumor.
Second, I never said it will never be open but shipping a good product for user is all Apple need. Opening it to developers is not a good idea for now.
Fred Brunel2 June 07 at 7:55 am