Re: The Great ‘Open v. Closed’ Debate Continues: Google Phone v. Apple iPhone

MikeRT — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 14:14:08 -0000

I'm not sure that the typical "open versus closed" argument even applies to this one because Apple's behavior has just been stupid beyond words in the restrictions that they have placed on developers. I think their goal has been to greatly discourage casual developers from getting involved, but some of their restrictions serve to keep serious developers from being able to ramp up for serious iPhone development. Furthermore, open... closed... it doesn't matter when one considers the arbitrary and capricious nature of the way that Apple selects products that it will allow to be sold on the App Store. Their policy so far, seems to include the principle that if it competes with any of their software, without being radically different, it's not going to be sold through their channels.

All in all, based on Apple's behavior, their platform is not worth developing for. Sure, it has a lot of potential for revenue, but that's only if you are able to figure out everything you need to know without breaking the non-Disclosure Agreement and make it into their App Store. Given the fact that Apple may move into any product segment, at any time with regard to their iPhone, it's entirely possible that your software could find itself in the middle of their crosshairs.

Furthermore, it's debatable as to whether or not a more open platform is really that bad compared to a closed one. Windows actually doesn't have anywhere near the stability problems it used to have because OEMs have begun to rely on mainstream vendors who have the resources to make properly tested device drivers. Most of the problems that people used to have with Windows came from using hardware made by some fly-by-night manufacturer; it's really not much of an issue anymore (and I say this from my new MacBook Pro).

The key to Apple's success been their ability to write good software, not the open-closed nature of their software. Microsoft does the same thing with its development tools; a Microsoft development environment is incredibly hard to beat because everything just works together the way a developer would expect.

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Re: The Great ‘Open v. Closed’ Debate Continues: Google Phone v. Apple iPhone