DISQUS

Abhishek Tiwari: iPhone SDK, the New Walled Garden?

  • Sean Gilligan · 1 year ago
    Abishek,
    Apple likes to keep people waiting. Or at least to promise less than they deliver. They original said, there will be no native apps. Now they're saying no background apps. They would rather err on the side of too little than the side of too much. My prediction: They'll add it later once they have a better mechanism for protecting the system from runaway apps.
  • Abhishek · 1 year ago
    Sean,

    Yep your assessment is correct. Historically they have done that.

    However I still am concerned about the AppStore model where they control the applications and the business model.

    Ideally a user should be able to download an application from anywhere and run it however they want. A true open device will hand the control to the end user.
  • Adam Freeman · 1 year ago
    I just wrote an application for the iphone that I think is pretty cool but it is not getting any exposure on the app store. They decide what to put in the 'What's New' section and since my app is not in there and never has been, not many people know about it. I think if more people knew about it then it would be selling a lot better. It's a little bit frustrating because I know my app is a lot better than most of the crap out there but what are you going to do? Adam
  • raj · 1 year ago
    Abishek,
    The end user is not usually smart enough to pick the right app. I see this always happen on the PC where users end up with a bunch of application which slows down their PC. Have you every looked at the task manager and tried to identify what the processes running really do?
    With great power comes great responsibility and i am not sure the end user is responsible to make the right app choices.
    .
    It is very easy to write an application which drains the battery and makes the device sluggish.
    I can bet that most ruby on rails or java server side programmers lack the skill to write a well behaved mobile application but does not lack the enthusiasm to write one.
    Apple and other cell phone companies need to protect their platforms from these poorly written application.
    Looking forward to your thoughts on this.
  • Abhishek · 1 year ago
    Raj,

    Thanks for quoting the line from Spider Man. I do get your point and must say that I kinda agree with it.

    Most users don't know how an application will behave on the handset. On PCs it maybe okay but mobile handsets is another story.

    However at the same time I don't like Apple being the sole gatekeeper controlling the access. It gives Apple the complete power to deny access to anyone who remotely does not meet their criteria.

    Here is what I propose. Apple should continue to offer the AppStore solution. Developers can host their apps for discoverability and distribution on AppStore. However Apple does not prevent any application from running on the iPhone. Apple should merely indicate the type of application and provide user's a warning system. This is very much like the movie rating system. Apple can have an application rating system in place.

    Most users can utilize this system to download and install applications. If an app has a bad rating as bandwidth hog or spam friendly, Apple can mark it so. User's then can avoid these apps if they choose to. On the other hand Power users (you and me) can still continue to download applications without any hiccup.

    Other similar approaches can be taken. End of the day I don't want Apple to be yet another gatekeeper standing in front of the walled garden. Otherwise I don't see any difference between them and the carrier. Bear in mind carrier's use the same reasons (as Apple) to prevent apps on their handsets.
  • Apple Mac Computers · 9 months ago
    The features of the Apple Iphone seem to be promising. I heard that one cannot forward smses from an Iphone. Is it true? Is the Iphone user friendly? All Iphone users out there, please send in your feedback.
  • how to become a ninja · 6 months ago
    I see this always happen on the PC where users end up with a bunch of application which slows down their PC. Have you every looked at the task manager and tried to identify what the processes running really do?
    With great power comes great responsibility and i am not sure the end user is responsible to make the right app choices.
  • Guangzhou Tour · 1 month ago
    That Sounds interesting, I agree with you.Please keep at your good work, I would come back often.*
  • Dog Breeders · 1 month ago
    I read lot of articles on iphone. Among them this one is great. It is so much informative. I want more article from you.
  • Kittens · 1 week ago
    It is very easy to write an application which drains the battery and makes the device sluggish.
  • Salmon Oil for Dogs · 4 days ago
    I have seen so many articles on iphone in internet. But I can't apply those as I don't have any iphone.