Jun 10
2
I’m curious to see how this all plays out. You see – I’m an Apple fanboi, with a development background.
My home has housed (over the last 2 years) a G3, G4, iBook, Powerbook, MacPro and an iMac and of course several iPods, and yes, an iPhone too. I added to that list only a few months ago a hackintoshed Dell Mini 10v.
Several friends have been working on building apps for iPhone, as had been my thought too – but along the way Apple’s behaviour came into question. While I strongly agree that it is Apple’s perogative to direct and restrict development on it’s closed iPod / iPhone / iPad platforms, one has to wonder if they’ve miss-stepped.
Read: http://www.reddit.com/tb/ca9za Detailing arbitrary removals of software from iTunes for non-reasons.
Businesses work with their vendors, platform supporters and customers to sell product. But there is a point when that balance shifts. Small businesses require their customers. They build to suit their customers, and their customers dictate what product is promoted and sold.
As the business grows, often the dynamics of sales and volumes shift to favour certain brands or vendors, and customers can generally be swayed by the promise of availability, quality, or price.
The last shift however occurs when a company has such tremendous market share that they can direct what products consumers will buy, and what vendors will supply the product – because the Platform is dominant, and will sell regardless of middleware.
Apple, like the major telecomms has entered that stage. You’ll buy the apps we say you can buy, and you’ll like it. Sadly – this is very true now, because Apples product platform the iPlatform iP[ad|hone|od] serves its purpose so well. With literally MILLIONS of happy customers, the vast percentage of which are not power-users, those few software developers who’ve had applications kicked, deselected, dis-allowed, failed, or otherwise removed from the iPlatform’s iSales tool (iTunes) really have little recourse.
So it becomes a Damned if you do – damned if you don’t for developers trying to navigate the legal requirements for sale on the iPlatform. You invest heavily, and might lose it all, or you might win big – 99 cents at a time.
Now all this isn’t to say I disagree with Jobs. He is protecting his children – and his business. That’s what he’s paid for of course. When challenged over the ‘adult content’ removals from the iTunes store, Steve entered into a personal discussion – something he’s becoming known for doing. He makes some very good points, not restricted to the ‘porn’ discussion, and I for one am now sitting on the fence.
So – are you a developer? Have you considered the options? Where do you sit?
