iPhone: Big trouble in the App Store
Last month, Apple triggered a minor rebellion among iPhone developers when it was revealed that the company was rejecting submissions to its App Store retail outlet without explaining why.
This week the company faces a full-scale revolt. The issue: Apple’s summary rejection of a program on the grounds that it duplicated a function on one of its own programs.
“Apple has gone too far,” writes Paul Kafasis for O’Reilly Digital Media. “Rejecting an application because it might compete with Apple is simply indefensible.”
“If this is truly Apple’s policy, it’s a disaster for the platform,” says Daring Fireball’s John Gruber, one of Apple’s most influential supporters.
“I will never write another iPhone application for the App Store as currently constituted,” writes Fraser Speirs, developer of a popular iPhone app called Exposure. His post is titled “App Store: I’m Out.”
The battle lines were drawn when an Apple representative reviewing submissions for the App Store rejected a program called Podcaster. According to its developer, Alex Sokirynsky, Apple turned his program down on these grounds:
“Since Podcaster assists in the distribution of podcasts, it duplicates the functionality of the Podcast section of iTunes.” (link)
But as nearly every commentator has pointed out, Podcaster went an important step beyond Apple’s program. iTunes requires that you plug the iPhone into your computer to sync it before you can get the latest broadcasts. Podcaster, by contrast, would have let you update your podcast subscriptions directly, using the iPhone’s Wi-Fi receiver.
“I’d buy that app in a minute,” writes Speirs, echoing the opinion of most of the two dozen bloggers who by Sunday morning had weighed in on the issue.
Part of the problem is that Apple’s policy lacks consistency. The iPhone comes with many built-in functions — a calendar, a calculator, a clock and a weather program — that are duplicated by apps the company has already approved.
Moreover, it’s not as if iPhone programmers have another option besides the App Store, a formidable market place that now carries more than 3,000 programs and has racked up more than 100 million downloads (link). Unless they release it as freeware for jailbroken iPhones, there is no other outlet for a program once it has been rejected by Apple.
“If they don’t approve it you can’t sell it,” writes Dave Winer, the developer who pioneered the RSS blog syndication system. “You can’t even give it away.”
[UPDATE: It turns out there is another way to distribute applications. As ReadWriteWeb's Sarah Perez explains, Sokirynsky has turned to Apple's little-used Ad Hoc App Distribution system to make Podcaster available. You can get it here. Sokirynsky is asking for a $9.99 donation, and adds: "The program should work for a minimum of one year but since Apple can turn it off remotely, the 1 year installation is not guaranteed."]
Speirs has called for Apple to issue some “clear and unambiguous rules” about what will and will not be accepted, and to put in place a pre-approval system so developers can get a sense of whether their idea will fly before they go out and borrow money or hire talent or put in long days and nights of coding.
“The sad thing,” writes Chuq Von Rospach, a long-time Apple systems developer, “is [that] it wouldn’t take much effort from Apple to deal with this. A little communication. Not even a LOT of communication, and they could sort most of these issues out.”
Even sadder, Von Rospach adds, “is that they don’t seem to care (or notice).” (link)
Apple (AAPL) has yet to comment on the issue.
Wow.. iPhone no doubt the most talked about phone in the history of mobile handset..
Someone suggested that developers get approval for an app from Apple before it is developed?
That’s great, give Jobs, the greatest technology poacher of all time a chance to rip you off…
Probably why Apple won’t go DRM-less as well (regardless of what Jobs says), they might loose control of their installed base.
Where us the story? I see a lot of hype and a couple developers complaining. Podcaster is a solution looking for a problem.
Podcasts are handled in iTunes efficiently. Why would anyone need it?
Is anyone actually surprised that an app that bypasses the normal iTunes conduit for adding content to an iPhone was pulled? Give me a break.
Both the article and response were a good read. i’d like to see where this goes.
Okay DeWitt, you’re either being obtuse or subtle, and maybe a little of both.
Why does Apple allow duplicate functionality of a clock or a weather program but not a podcast distro frontend? Gee, why not a version of Miro for iPhone then? Hey why stop there? Let’s allow a mobile VLC app and allow stream capture to file.
Enter AT&T.
If Apple allows on-phone podcast distribution, then according to AT&T terms of service (no tether) that would mean that millions of video podcasts will download on 3G networks. Now, even if that were not a sizable chunk of bandwidth being devoured, you still have to consider that AT&T is subletting 3G and that’s where their contractual allegiance is; not end users. (You the iPhone user do not have minimum quality of service guarantees the way a subletting business network does.)
Think about this a bit. Why haven’t we seen some live streaming apps like Qik make it to the app store yet? You think maybe iPhone users might like to stream some live TV to their fiends and family via twitter?
Enter AT&T.
Why would Apple give a crap if you tethered to one of their branded computers with your iPhone? Wouldn’t they WANT to build in this functionality according to the stated goal of “digital hub”?
Enter AT&T.
This is just more telecom/cable BS that we have to shoulder. Why doesn’t the iPhone version of iTunes allow video content downloading?
But but but but……..iPod Touch!
Apple has a reputation to honor, and tends to only goes as far as they are able to “think different”. Getting into bed with the telecoms and becoming an extension of THEIR market vision is not something Apple wants to draw attention to, so the iPod Touch has to be limited in similar fashion (for now).
So you can thump Apple on the skull all you want, and maybe they deserve it after all. Just make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons.
Can’t wait till the class action lawsuits start. Apple has become the big brother they abhored. Hope google buries them.
Podcaster makes what would be a seamless experience, unseamless. It needlessly distracts people who buy an iPhone into purchasing some app they think will be easier, but make their life harder. They, in turn, will blame Apple for such woes.
Interesting that the new ITunes has a nifty little feature that prompts you with songs similar to the one that is playing. Not dissimilar in fact to one of the hottest apps on the Iphone, Pandora. I guess it doesn’t count if you are copying the app,just if it is the other way around
“full-scale revolt”
Sure it is. I’m sure they are all going to band together and pull all of their apps from the App store. Let me know when that happens………
oh my god how i agree with Scott. Wo gives a crap if apple decides to not include an application from ANOTHER MAKER on THEIR PRODUCT?! It is theirrrrr product. Apple can do as they please. Clearly the people who spent the $200 on their Iphone dont give a shit that a certain application isnt on their phone. If that application were that important to the consumer, they wouldnt have bought the product to begin with. Maybe instead of wasting your time complaining, you should have spent your time more wisely on finding a phone that better suites your needs and wants. Apple has done nothing wrong here. The reason why they are on top is because they made a product unlike any other, and very well I might add.
get a grippp.
Apple is doing what they’ve always done. This isn’t new. They protect their brand by notoriously controlling what goes under the Apple name and mostly keeping this development internal.
What is new is the fact that they are allowing developers to create applications at all.
I guess this is an issue because of the open nature of Google. What we will see in my opinion is that many of the Android applications will be faulty or won’t be compatible. It’s very similar to MS in that you have a bunch of developers working on a platform in which people have multiple forms of hardware, etc. There isn’t the purity of Apple.
My point - don’t expect Apple to be Google. Embrace the fact that you have a choice.
Scott Stephens: that’s pretty much the point, isn’t it? There is no policy. Apple is simply rejecting apps on what appears to be a whim.
That would be one thing if a developer could send Apple a proposition for an app for approval, but as things stand, all you can do is build the application and then hope they accept it.
Apart from being a disgusting way to treat your loyal developers (the iPhone NDA fits in this category, too), Apple are making developers wary of creating software for the iPhone, for fear of it being rejected for unexplained reasons.
Spelled out correctly: http://www.roughlydrafted.com/2008/09/15/sdk-333-the-iphone-podcaster-surprise-myth/
This is a clear-cut case of using APPLE’s name in the headline to attract readers. Very lame journalism, if you could even call it that. There must be a true lack of newsworthy material when writers have to start sensationalizing JUNK like this.
ex ped: In this case, however, the word “Apple” was not in the headline.
A lot of Apple supports argue that Apple can do as it pleases with its own Application Store; well of course it can… that’s not the point.
Can/Should Microsoft do as it pleases with its OS, including locking-out competitors (anti-trust not withstanding)?
It’s unforunately if people are too dumb to realize why this is a bad thing… you ALWAYS benefit from having more/better software options. Always.
I don’t care about Podcasts, but lots do and for them Podcaster would be a great option. I do, however, care about watching video on my iPhone, but I dislike iTunes (I don’t want to have to convert my videos). Does that mean that Apple will ban a VLC or Coreplayer port because of so-called “duplicate functionality”?
Choice and competition are good things.
Dugg to front page :)
http://digg.com/apple/iPhone_Big_trouble_in_the_App_Store
Wow, are you kidding, Joe? MS does this kind of stuff all the time. It’s why it’s so reprehensible for Apple to be doing it.
I really dont see what all the IPhone fuss is about. Its really not “all that”.
Interesting comments. I am now convinced that even with this idiocy on the part of Apple, they will continue to do well as they still have their cult following of lemmings. As one who has a MacBook Pro, iMac, iPod, and iPhone I feel I have the right to say that Apple is absolutely WRONG on this point and if their lemmings do not see it they are not as smart as I thouhgt. I use my MacBook because it just works better than others I have had, I bought an iPhone for what I thought would be a great step forward. While there is great technology in the iPhone, so far it has NOT been a great step forward and their arrogance to 1) not allow apps (for whatever reason) to be added to the App Store or installed, 2) to require iTunes to be used for syncing (through a WIRE no less) and 3) and to cripple bluetooth, along with so much else is why I will NOT upgrade to another iPhone and with get a REAL smart-phone that understands how professionals use their phones today and be able to get and use the utilities they need to work with out wires in the 21at century. Again, Apple is sowing arrogance and lack of concern for their customers.
One or two crybabies wouldn’t make a difference when they are thousand willing to bet on a great app and make tons of cash…
the word is Monopoly - if MS did anything close to this they would have 1000 lawyers after them trying to make a buck, where are the lawyers when u need them.
This is absolutely hysterical! What planet are the folks that think Apple is wrong living on? Hey Guys & Gals I’ve got some news for you. There’s one thing you’re overlooking…”It’s APPLE’S STORE!!!” Get it? It’s A-P-P-L-E-S not yours. That means that if you don’t like their policy then why don’t you go out an do all your own marketing, revenue collection, order fullfillment, etc. and pay all your own overhead and grow your product distribution center as big as iTunes. Apple’s under no obligation to have your products compete with theirs. By they way, why don’t you be a little more creative and develop an app that is doing something completely innovative rather than copying (or just doing better) something that Apple’s already providing.
Give me a break!
I am a software developer working for Apple and i have heard rumors flying around that Apple Would soon stop working with “amature developers”. Also that Apple will offer $3,000,0000 to buy a domain name http://www.idevelops.com from this lucky bastard that still to this day refusing their offer. So i wonder what is being cooked up behind those closed door meetings.
All these guys are asking is for a rule book or guide so that they don’t waste time and money. Is that too much to ask? I don’t think so. Perhaps an approval for the proposed app can be given, BEFORE the app is written by submitting the intent of it’s function.
Either way, my iPhone works great, without any problems, and I won’t be trading it any time soon.
For all the supposed credibility that Apple has lost due to this decision, PED has lost even more. Jesus man, “Big trouble in the App Store”? Seriously man, you should write headlines for the National Enquirer!
Do agree with Apple’s decision to reject Podcaster? No. Will I go off half-cocked and swing from (blog) trees screaming at the top of my lungs about the injustice of it all? Not at all. Will it even ruin my day? Nope!
Bottom line…. Big freakin’ deal. I’m sure there will be other apps that get rejected. Such is life.
Me, I prefer to look at the big picture…. The iTunes App Store has given me some INCREDIBLE apps to run on my iPhone. So many choices it is hard to keep up. Not having Podcaster won’t ruin that experience for me one bit. Unlike PED (who’s cup is perpetually half-empty), my cup runneth over!
Your headline is very misleading, its not “Big Trouble” Big Trouble is App Store shutting down, or some sort of virus released. This problem is a minor issue about software program functions. You are losing all credibility Philip. Is EA games going to stop? All the social networking? Office productivity? etc etc? No, we lose one small program on Podcasting. Wow…and I bet this gets ironed out.
There is an important piece of information missing here. If you pay a couple of hundred dollars, you can get a permit to make apps for your own organization. Then you can develop apps and share them on your own devices, as you like.
So this curb on the app store is really only for folks who want to SELL software, or give it away, and not a curb on folks who want to USE software, or develop it for use by firms.
You can still write apps and use them, is my point. You just have to be able to write the apps, and own the devices.
This is a risky policy move by Apple. See, someone at Apple has decided that real programmers do real things, working for real companies. Hence, the best applications will be developed “in house”, and the myriad toys that litter the app store will amuse the kiddies.
Companies will get what many of them really want, which is tailored software that they OWN (and can value on their bottom line as an asset) and which may very well give them a significant competitive advantage over rivals.
The kiddies can still download some widget for free, and use it to put a moustache on a picture of their dog, or whatever. So they will be happy.
So how does this affect the real world?
Not much, from my point of view. If I develop an app that is for the kiddies, I can send it out to the kiddies or not. If I develop an app for work, I can use it AND protect it very, very easily. Apple will help me in this task.
If I develop an app that I want to sell as mainstream software to run on the apple platform, then I need to go speak to my lawyer and convince Apple that they should partner with me.
“Some developers demand Apple try to communicate better, lest they assume the worst of the platform vendor. While that sounds plenty reasonable at face value, given the curatorial demands on the fledgling state of the App Store platform and Apple’s overall reliance on product-plan secrecy, we shouldn’t realistically expect Apple to ‘open up’ anytime soon,” as I explain in:
Free Market = OPEN COMPETITION! Bad Apple! Shame on you! Oh well, face the consequences when you lose business. The ones who buy your product right now liked it because it was “new” and “innovative.” Now you are no better than Microsoft.
Open your code, be smart in doing so, but who cares if the product has the feature or not…competition is competition, and guess what…in the end it’s about money. So who cares? If the product is solid, a customer has a need, and the product is there…let it be sold.
The monopoly, Apple, Must stop now!
Let me tell you why. On the Zune you can get Porn podcast. Do you really thing that Apple wants the same garbage on there system. Content delivery on the Xbox, Zune, PS3, and Wii are all controlled by the company. All of those companies reject games that the consider garbage which considering how much garbage is out who are they to decide.
Ask Garmin when they will allow Tom Toms maps on there System.
Somebody’s pissed because Lord Steve has decided to separate the wheat from the chaff and those poor somebody’s wound up as chaff. That chaff had better not try to write any more apps until Apple gives them specific guidelines, which the chaff is not going to like anyway.
……
Here’s a tip, chaff. Start doing development on the Android platform. You’ll have a head start since the user base is ZERO. Android will welcome all of you with open arms. They’ll accept any freakin’ app you can think of. You’ll have a free and open canvas to pour your amazing skills and talents on. Everyone has already said that once Android hits the streets, it will wipe OSX Mobile off the face of this earth.
…….
Android has no restrictions at all. You can’t go wrong. No app will ever be turned turned away in the Android Store. Why strain your brain trying to figure out whether the overbearing, Apple Caesar is going to give you thumbs up or thumbs down and feed you to the lions. Please, you guys, make Podcaster run on Android since it has no iTunes and you guys will make millions of bucks wirelessly downloading free music to Android handsets. I think that your single Podcaster app can put iTunes and the App Store out of business. Make Apple rue the day they coldly screwed you out of your livelihood.
……
Meanwhile, the App Store will just have to manage to get along without you. The rest of us will be stuck with about 10,000 selected apps a year from now with a user base of about 30 to 40 million iPhones and Touches. All those developers will be totally restricted and managing to keep 70% of their earnings. They’ll be suffering all the way to the bank.
……
Goodbye, Podcaster dudes. I’m sorry I never had a chance to try your wonderful app, but I’m sticking with Apple and wheat and I’ll just have to learn to live with their unfathomable restrictions.
Wow, an unfeeling, self-absorbed entity that has a monopoly on a technology? For a second I thought you were talking about MS; but it’s APPLE? Incredible, the irony
For the few developers that are crybabies and making a big-to-do about a small issue, good riddance if you don’t like it. We won’t miss you.
The developer of the podcast downloader can redevelop that program on any other competing platform. Android comes to mind.
Or the developer can modify the application - adding more features, etc. to differentiate it from iTunes. For example, why not make it a more general media downloader - rather than simply a podcast downloader. Other applications allow you to download podcasts, files of all sorts. You can even download books into various apps. Perhaps by calling it a “podcast” you have crossed the line - compared to being a general media downloader.
The App Store is NOT in big trouble. The App Store is a tremendous success. It sells more apps in 1 month than al of the cellular carriers combined in a year. It went from 30 million downloads in the first month, to 70 million downloads in the second month. I have friend who have downloaded more than 100 apps each. Soon, the App Store will be a billion dollar market, or more.
For those that refuse to develop for it - good riddance. The other developers can just laugh all the way to the bank, thank you.
Not a maelstrom, but rather a tempest in a teapot. When are you ‘bloggers’ and critics going to wake up to the great things Apple is doing to change the future for the better? You sound like infants.
Well, it was probably disallowed because Apple is working on a similar application, or adding the option to its current podcast app.
They probably want to have their own version up and running before allowing an “outsiders.” Still sucks for the developer.
The way I see it if you are able to bypass itunes and directly download podcasts onto the iphone it means that since podcasts are not all stored on apples itunes servers, you are essentially enabling unfettered downloads of literally any sort of audio material that the podcaster cares to put up on his site labelled as a podcast. That may well include any copyrighted material such as album tracks. That makes any such app a p2p client. No way is Apple going to allow this. The record labels not to mention the telcos will be all over Apple if this is allowed. So not only will this sort of an app duplicate itunes functionality it also will enable illegal content to be easily transferred to an iphone.
For this reason I can understand why apple does not allow any such app onto the app store.
At 60 days in I expect that Apple should have the App store running 100% problem free and with 100% satisfaction across every single developer and customer. I am STILL waiting for the ‘I Am Rich’ app to come back to the store and a full press release from Apple apologizing for its removal. I shall not be using my iPhone in protest and holding a sign that says ‘Just say NO to iPhone!’ in Central Park until that happens. This madness must stop.
Hey ped…How about writing an article about something like this…http://seekingalpha.com/article/95281-ce-spending-looks-dismal-but-macs-set-to-hit-new-all-time-high?source=yahoo
ex ped: Done. Thanks for the tip.
I believe the problem is that Apple assumes that developers are smart enough to figure out what Apps are OK and what is not. Directly downloading podcasts over WiFi is a security risk that sooner or later someone will take advantage of.
Im sure Apple will take care of this. The app store is in it’s infancy.
And please stop with the over the top Microsoft comparisons. Apple aren’t even close, and you know it.
APPS STORE IN TROUBLE?? Jobs just announced that 100 million apps have been downloaded! Probably the fastest start in the history of online stores…app writers are making a ton of money, and for each one that drops out there will be 10 to replace them. Some apps are relying on advertising and are not sharing any income with Apple.
The apps that are out there now are amazing and should result in explosive sales of ipods and iphones.
My feeling on this matter is that as long iTunes is the only outlet for iPhone developers, Apple should only be doing censoring for offensive applications. As there is no other sales method, they can’t eliminate all “competing” products just on that point, or there will be nothing but time wasting applications available.
But who am I, just one of their end users…
I think throwing tantrums isn’t going to help. I’ve seen so much junk in the App Store, and I’m glad Apple is getting strict about what they allow. However, I do agree that Apple should be more consistent on what they will allow, and probably communicate with the developers on their projects if they want to control what goes into the App Stores. I to want quality, and I hope Apple continues with their record of offering quality, so developers also need to provide quality if they don’t want to be blocked. I’ve downloaded some free and some paid apps, and love and hate some, and some of them are useless. Though, I don’t like to pre-judge them right off because a developers like an artist grows,and that junk may become something greater, but for right now Apple should watch and monitor what these developer are putting in the App Store, and be more consistent with their rules and regulations. I gather that’s difficult because their are so many developers trying to get something in.
I’m a huge Apple fan - on my third iPod, in the process of purchasing a Mac, trying to get iPhones approved where I work…but I am very disappointed with Apple’s tactics and communications regarding the App store. If I was a developer, I wouldn’t develop for the iPhone for fear that I’d develop something that Apple thought was too good and I wouldn’t be able to recover my investment. Apple has to do a better job a managing perceptions and expectations. I’m starting to feel that they’ve grown beyond the size that they can effectively manage. They’re a behaving like Microsoft - unacceptable. What really troubles me is that I am reading more and more posts where Apple fanboys are becoming disheartened - they still love the specific products, but they are less connected to the core Apple brand - that’s a slippery slope. Apple, fix this immediately before you do real damage to shareholders!
“I will never write another iPhone application for the App Store as currently constituted,” writes Fraser Speirs, developer of a popular iPhone app called Exposure.
well, that explains why exposure is still broken
There is nothing new here. It’s pretty clear in the developer agreement that Apple is the arbiter for app approval and the can do any damn thing they want. There was initially all kinds of mystery around how to get an App into the store. Now that they seemed to be accepting all-comers, folks were smiling. The App store and itunes store has one purpose only - to sell ipods/iphones. The iTunes store policies are just good enough to incentivize music publishers, developers and film studios. I think they will continue to just enough. It remains to seen how/if apple “negotiates” with developers like they do with other content providers. Perhaps developers need to form a union to negotiate with Apple.
“I will never write another iPhone application for the App Store as currently constituted,” writes Fraser Speirs, developer of a popular iPhone app called Exposure.
We will miss you… NOT! Don’t let the frigin’ APP store door hit your fat developer ass on your way out.
Wheres all the apple heads in defence of this? They flock to kiss the ground Jobs walks on, even if it is covered in &^%$
Posted By Sean, Sebring Florida : September 14, 2008 3:01 pm
Right on time… and first to post, a windows user who is probably working in IT (and will be soon replaced by an Apple IT :P ) posting in an Apple related story. Windows support doesn’t keep you busy or your company started replacing the windows staff and already laid you off? LOL
how about writing an article about the exponential growth that the app store has realized in just 2 months? instead of crucifying apple every time they do something that someone doesn’t like. the app store had 200 apps when it opened on july 11th. it now has OVER 3500. you could have set yourself apart from the doom-and-gloom writers if you wrote about that, but you are no better than the rest. it’s a shame really.
I have been a huge apple fan and have used their products almost obsessively. But the neglect of their pro apps, and now MS like attitudes like this, show that unless they turn a corner soon they are headed down a road that makes them very, very vulnerable to other companies coming in and alluring people like me to jump ship… quickly.
As many will recognize, I am a big Apple supporter. However…
It seems to me that Apple should set out a policy that states clearly their policy for rejecting apps. Here is a first cut suggestion as to what it might look like. It is very first draft and I am sure you all can suggest improvements.
All apps will be accepted unless they violate one or more of the following restrictions:
1. have illegal content
2. have clear malicious intent
3. present clear security risks
4. are themselves patently obscene
5. clearly promote violence
6. allow VOIP over CARRIER connections
CLARIFICATIONS:
First – I have listed in the order that I believe will be the least controversial to the most. J
#1-3 should be pretty clear.
#4, 5 – First, these are NOT intended to mean a general purpose app that would allow access to obscene/violent material. Rather they are intended for apps that themselves present patently obscene/violent material. I DO realize the difficulties here. But I think Apple needs to be able to draw the line somewhere.
— What I mean is this, a browser that can access any type of content must be allowed. But if the purpose of an app is clearly to promote violence (e.g. were to clearly advocate physical violence against a particular racial group or groups) then I think Apple would be correct in denying it.
#6 – I am sure many will complain about this. First – it should NOT disallow apps that do VOIP over Wifi. These are legitimate applications. (In fact, I am ready to buy a Touch as soon as Skype is available!)
But to allow VOIP over a carrier provided data link would be akin to going to an automotive shop, insisting on using their space, equipment and tools for no charge, and bringing in your own mechanic. Carriers need to charge for their services and to make a profit. When some people overuse the service and circumvent the carrier’s charges then the carrier either has to charge those users or raise the charges for all customers to cover.
Do I think ATT is overcharging? You bet I do. That is precisely why I have NOT bought an iPhone. BUT, these are the rules. If you do not like the game then don’t get into the playing field.
Regarding Wifi VOIP, however… The purchaser owns the iPhone, NOT Apple or the carrier. What I do over Wifi affects neither, and interference by either is definitely inappropriate.
My suggestion represents my philosophy that when Apple set up the App store as the sole method of distributing apps, they must realize that some of those offered would potentially compete with some of their own software. If they want a true open market, then they need to maintain it as such. Apple’s stated purpose for the app store is to facilitate the distribution of iPhone OS apps. To protect from illegal apps and from malicious apps or those with security risks is a presumed secondary intent. To do anything beyond that is to break trust with both the developer and user communities. That would ultimately be much more harmful to Apple then any loss they may see due to some competition. It would put them precisely in the position of being the Big Brother they so riled against when they introduced the Mac.
IMHO
Oh please Phil! Your headlines for this article are straight out of the Rag Mags at the grocery checkout line. “Space Aliens take over Planet!” I guess a, “For Whom the Bell Tolls” we will never see from you? What a waste of talent…
Wheres all the apple heads in defence of this? They flock to kiss the ground Jobs walks on, even if it is covered in &^%$
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Silicon Valley veterans like to joke that Steve Jobs must be surrounded by a reality distortion field; if you get too close to him, you start to believe what he's saying. Thanks to the success of the iPod, the launch of the iPhone and the renewed interest in the Mac, Apple has made believers out of millions of customers - and made a lot of investors rich. But Philip Elmer-DeWitt believes that an ounce of skepticism never hurts when writing about the company. He should know. He's been covering Apple - and watching Steve Jobs operate - since 1982, first for Time Magazine, then for Business 2.0, and now for Fortune.
Are we going to see similar ad campaigns from Blackberry to iPhone, like we see Mac to PC?
FYI Jobs, GREED KILLS THE DEAL!