John on Tech...
A look at technology from MY point of view
Thursday 23 July 2009, 4:18 PM
Ten reasons open-source smart phones will not win out
Jack Wallen in his article suggested that there are ten reasons why open-source smart phones will win out. I think he's wrong and here is my response. The Android and the Pre are the first proper responses to the iPhone and yet they are lacking in many ways. Jack wrote a pretty pro pre / android article I think his enthusiam for the Pre coulded his judgement. Here's why I think he is wrong.
1. Open standards
The iPhone is pretty damn open for a proprietary phone. The SDK is free and anyone can develop for it. To release software it costs a hundred dollars to register but that can be a pretty small investment considering the rewards. There are advantages to following Apple's standards too. There will be some issues to openness - take the UAE software update to the Blackberry that installed spyware on each and every machine - and this was carrier approved! Blackberry are fuming. With open software this kind of thing gets much easier to do. The iPhone has actually worked to create open standards which are adhered to because they are open. The iPod basically killed DRM - Plays for Sure devices met their death at its hand - Apple have consistently pushed open standards over the years when Microsoft's proprietary standards were being heavily applied by both Microsoft and the content providers.
Jack's argument here is conveniently ignoring the steps Apple have taken in this direction. Couple of points to add here. Who handed WebKit back to the community which both android and the pre use? That would be Apple, Jack. Also Open Source does not necessarily mean Open Standards.
2. More applications
Jack is missing the point here. Just because people can develop for free doesn't mean that people will come. One of the reasons that it is easy to develop for the iPhone and iPod Touch is that they are a standard platform. Companies like to fiddle, and phone companies LOVE to fiddle so that their product has differentiation in the market. This sort of thing will make developing for these phones not as straightforward as Jack would like us to think.
"You want a different browser on your iPhone? No luck." Jack fumes forgetting that in his first argument he was promoting open standards with "websites will load as expected" which is what you get from having a standards compliant browser installed.
I think he is discounting that the developers head towards where the interest is at the moment that seems to be entirely iPhone. Exponential growth only comes with exponential customer growth at the moment, and for the foreseeable future that is with the iPhone. The others are making waves but only amongst the geek crowd who see buying a pre or an Android phone as a way of sticking it to Apple.
"But I expect mobile versions of Firefox and Chrome to appear on the Pre and the Android-based phones. That process will continue until one or both of their app stores surpasses the Apple app store." And how does this improve things? Choice does not mean better by default. If one of these browsers is "better" then how is it adhering to standards?
3. Security
Security is a big subject - bigger than 3 sentences, Jack. Firstly, "Apple has already shown that it can be painfully slow at releasing updates for the iPhone." Yes, 3 complete OS updates in two and a half years is painfully slow.
"Because of the open-source nature of the competition, updates will not be so slow to arrive. So when a security hole or flaw is found, the update will find its way to the end user much more quickly." Not necessarily - also because of it's open source nature holes can be discovered by the attacking party quicker too.
"Of course, it is not really just about the updates. The very foundation of the Pre and the Android phone is Linux-based, so they will enjoy a more fundamentally sound level of security than, say, any of the Windows Mobile phones available." By bringing up Winmo you have completely ignored that the argument you have presented about the Pre and the Android are inherent in the iPhone as well.
"And although mobile-phone security has yet to become a widespread issue, with smart phones becoming the norm, it will be soon enough." Yes, well I'm sure that companies like Norton and McAffee will want to get their products on something soon now that Microsoft are giving away virus protection with Windows 7.
There are already a couple of serious security issues for the iPhone - one of which will be demonstrated this weekend in Las Vegas - but again that is for an OLD version of the OS not the current one. But keep your eyes peeled for "world coming to an end on iPhone" headlines next Monday. The other one is the jailbreak issue meaning people are being sent other peoples push notifications. Guys if you break your phone you cannot complain that Apple have done things wrong. Well done you are now the owner of a hacked iPhone. Accept the consequences.
4. Customization
"I have been an iPhone owner since the first-generation device. One of my biggest beefs with this phone is how little you can customize it. It is not theme-able. For a device that is supposed to be the pinnacle of hip, that shortcoming is a setback. With the open-source version of the smartphone, you can be sure you will be able to theme and customize it. Sites have already started appearing, such as Pimp My Pre."
Jailbreak and be done. This is not really that important other than emulating k12 coloring-in books (infant school to those in the UK). There are many sites that offer the same things for Jail-broken iPhones for years now.
"I know this issue is not a deal-breaker for IT professionals. But average users — and they make up the largest demographic of smartphone users — want to be able to personalise the look of their phones."
It must be a total mystery to you as to why the darn things sell at all. The Facebook generation appear to be going with the iPhone as the Facebook App is a fantastic way of keeping in touch.
5. Connectivity
If you are talking about Synchronization then why label it connectivity? But I digress. Microsoft exchange will synch Email, calendar and contacts. Mobile me works pretty well but I can understand if you don't want to shell out for an account. There are quite a few apps on the app store that allow you to move files to and from the device and a cursory Google search came up with plenty of other ways of synchronizing data with the iPhone without iTunes available NOW not in some "matter of time".
6. Cost
Palm are advertising the so-called cost advantage - you can save "UP TO $1,200" if you use both service providers unlimited everything plan - I think they are comparing Sprints 99 bucks to AT&T’s 149. However a lot of people can get away with the 60 buck iPhone plan and that would save an additional $960 on the Sprint plan quoted.
Palm are going all out to point up the additional costs of the iPhone when compared to the Pre and yet people are still buying the iPhone in their millions whereas Palm are shipping them in their thousands. What gives?
7. Multitasking
"The iPhone simply cannot multitask." This is a completely false statement. Play some music on the iPod part of the phone and then start browsing. Multitasking. The iPhone can multitask pretty damn well thank you. What it can't do is multitask third party apps. This is the last remaining Apple restriction in the OS - but hey it's a killer isn't it?
"You want to have more than one application open at once, feel free if you are on the Pre." But be prepared to say goodbye to that battery life. Some people are claiming 3 hours - less than 40 minutes if one of the apps is streaming video. This is actually in place to protect the users. At the moment Apple want the perception of the phone to be fast and with a sensible battery life. That is what you get. Most people do not give two hoots about multitasking. All they care about is does it work?
"The operating system powering both the Pre and the Android is Linux, and it was created for multitasking and networking." And UNIX doesn't allow this? You are muddling a usage decision with a technical decision. It is all about how the device works in the hands of an end user not a geek god.
8. Push Gmail
Push mail is handled pretty damn well on the iPhone. Be it mobile me or exchange server - Gmail not so much. There is no reason for Google to develop this feature for the iPhone and at the moment they seem to be dragging their feet. So much for "do no evil"
9. Developers
"Do you remember that Verizon commercial where the spokesperson has a massive amount of people with him to represent the Verizon network? You can apply the same analogy to the developer network for the Pre and the Android."
Ha ha ha ha ha. Good luck with that. Yes there are a lot of open source developers around the world. JUST BECAUSE they are open-source developers does not mean they will drop everything and develop for phones. This is such a dumb analogy it almost defies any kind of analysis.
"And you can imagine how the collective open-source development community would love to take down the behemoth known as Apple." So it's a vendetta is it?
Apple have a large number of in-house staff working on the OS - we are currently on the 3rd iteration of the OS (with current developers having access to a second beta of 3.1) They, far from being a behemoth, are actually working pretty damned fast if you ask me.
And lets not forget the 100,000 registered developers for the iPhone program. These are people who have ponied up cash to actually develop for the thing - not some lose amalgam of people who are "doing it coz it's right".
10. Creativity
"How long do you think it will be before the open-source community has created a super-light version of Apache to run on the Pre? Imagine being able to carry your own web server around with you. How much geek cred will that bring? And it will not end there."
Well let's see how long your service provider is going to let you get away with that. It's also not like there are no apps that do file serving on the iPhone - I have at least two that let me share files wirelessly with my local network. It's not a big step to do a web server. In fact Slashdot had an article in May about an App that does just that. So not a great or indeed unique step from your imagination to an app that has been available for 3 months already on the app store.
If you really think that the developers for the iPhone "Lack Creativity" then you have another think coming. Before you implement your Pre conversion - why don't you actually spend some time checking the App store to see what the hundred thousand developers are actually up to. If you have an idea then Google it - it will probably lead you to some stuff you just haven't bothered to look for.
Generally the article was written to gee up the developers and make people feel good about themselves. But if you had actually done your homework Jack and bothered to research further and not read from the Pre's playbook (I know you are excited but your excitement has blinded you) you would find that most of the things you are promoting for the Android and the Pre are already here for the iPhone.
PreviousComments on this post
Well played.
1 - Open Standards. Apple has open standards? Then I can use itunes natively on Linux for sure !!! Dont make me laugh.
2 - More Applications : So first applications are not an issue as a lot of them are webbased. Also the smartphones all have an App Store/App market or whatever... they all have a browser.. open or closed source wont change anything here.
3 - Security : Nothing is secure, get over it. Anything can be hacked anytime, no amount of protection will protect you.
4 - The iphone cant be customized unless you void the support/insurance services. Apple never let you customize anything, same goes for Microsoft. Anyone in their right mind would argue that fact!!
5 - My android is synchronized with my Google account like hell. Not sure what the issue is here.
6 - Cost is a big deal, iphone sells a lot ....to people who can afford it.
7 - Well the iphone is still late on that, multitasking is only normal anyway. So still bad point for the iphone because it s not normal yet.
8 - I love Gmail and gtalk. I have no issue with it at all.
9 - There is a major shift towards open source developement. Just look at the 1 500 000 people registered on SourceForge (that number is not recent, it's even more now) . M$ + Apple combined cannot match that.
10 - A lot of iphone improvements came after the press release of android. Apple clearly anticipated the competition from Google and reacted according to it. I would actually just say that there is no monopole of creativity, but it's actually easier for corporates to steal ideas from others and make it their own.
I would conclude that I own an HTC Magic since last month and I showed it to an iphone fangirl, she was really impressed.
The iphone is just 1 phone. Can you remind me of how many Carriers/Hardware manufacturers provide iphones? :p
You could argue it beats the G1, or the blackberry, or Nokia... But will it win against android? Hell no, one strong guy cannot win against 100 people, even weak ones. And see here the problem is that the opensource competition is not weak.
OK my response to you sent ZDNET.CO.UK into spasms and is "under moderation" so I am going to respond in smaller sections to see if it will let me do it.
OK quick response to the Linuxhead.
1 - Open Standards.
"Apple has open standards? Then I can use itunes natively on Linux for sure !!! Dont make me laugh."
You are muddling open standards with open source. you know how to use Google don't you?
2 - More Applications
"So first applications are not an issue as a lot of them are webbased. Also the smartphones all have an App Store/App market or whatever... they all have a browser.. open or closed source wont change anything here."
When Apple did web apps - "It was a disaster that would kill Apple". When Palm does it "it is the second coming"
five words for you: 4Hz polling on the accelerometer.
3 - Security
"Nothing is secure, get over it. Anything can be hacked anytime, no amount of protection will protect you."
I believe that I touched on that in my article. But to reiterate - expect "the world is coming to an end on the iPhone" articles on Monday (July 27th)
4 - Customization
"The iphone cant be customized unless you void the support/insurance services.
Apple never let you customize anything, same goes for Microsoft. Anyone in their right mind would argue that fact!!"
You can roll back any Jailbreaking on any iPhone.
5 - Syncronization
"My android is synchronized with my Google account like hell. Not sure what the issue is here."
As I mentioned - Google your way round it.
6 - Cost
"Cost is a big deal, iphone sells a lot ....to people who can afford it."
Indeed. But let me quote you: "iphone sells a lot"
7 - Multitasking
"Well the iphone is still late on that, multitasking is only normal anyway. So still bad point for the iphone because it s not normal yet."
Nope. iPhone was multitasking out of the box - you are reacting with your knee instead of your head.
8 - Push Gmail
"I love Gmail and gtalk. I have no issue with it at all."
Indeed but NOT the question. Epic fail.
9. Developers
"There is a major shift towards open source developement. Just look at the 1 500 000 people registered on SourceForge (that number is not recent, it's even more now) . M$ + Apple combined cannot match that."
I agree but what makes you think x = y? Just because there are 500,000 developers what makes you think they are ALL going to drop everything now and work on Android/Pre? And IF they did what makes you think they WILL do something better? I mean you can give typewriters to a million monkeys and they will eventually type out the complete works of Shakespeare. Just what makes you think it will happen NOW? Please elucidate.
Hmmm it is the next section that is triggering the spam filter. Some more splitting up will have to be done.
10. Creativity
"A lot of iphone improvements came after the press release of android. Apple clearly anticipated the competition from Google and reacted according to it. I would actually just say that there is no monopole of creativity, but it's actually easier for corporates to steal ideas from others and make it their own."
What are you saying, that a company shouldn't respond to competition? I am actually a developer for the iPhone. All the features that are in the current iPhone OS (3.0) I was using in Jan 09.
"I would conclude that I own an HTC Magic since last month and I showed it to an iphone fangirl, she was really impressed."
Yes I can understand this but some of us don't show girls our hardware to impress them. And this iPhone fangirl - where did it get you? Did she play with your HTC or did she just pass on by?
"The iphone is just 1 phone. Can you remind me of how many Carriers/Hardware manufacturers provide iphones? :p"
That would be just the one. And before we get completely attacked by freetards can I point out that this is exactly why the iPhone succeeds. In general one carrier per area that is covered and I would love to point out just how well Apple is doing with this "limitation".
"You could argue it beats the G1, or the blackberry, or Nokia... But will it win against android? Hell no, one strong guy cannot win against 100 people, even weak ones. And see here the problem is that the opensource competition is not weak."
Indeed - and you think that Apple are not aware of this? A couple of links to make you think. Today's reviews of the Magic II. Here (". It seems like HTC has made a software suite for their next generation of phones, but tacked it onto its current one, and the combo is a bit messy at times. We won't knock them for aiming high, but we don't know how much we enjoy the lag and stutter of the current Hero build.)"
and here ("The myTouch is what we expected from Google the first time around. Time will tell if people are ready to give it a second chance.").
Look I understand your enthusiasm for your chosen handset. Well done. But the issue is that you are letting your enthusiasm cloud your judgement just as Jack did with the Pre in his orginal article.
@moderators - you may want to ease off your spam filter stuff - it shouldn't take five or six posts to respond to a post here.
John,
I believe Apple has a real tight choke hold on yah. You really need to exit your bubble sometimes, there is a whole lot of world out there and not just on your Mac Book Pro….
Its like saying that Ford invented the automobile and they will be on top forever no matter what... You need to step outside once and a while for some fresh air.
Here’s an analogy for yah, remember Apple vs. Microsoft back in the 80’s? Look who is sitting pretty good right now? For crying out loud whos the richest man on earth? Bill Gates!!! You also have to remember that they don’t manufacture any hardware and is till dominating Apple...
Look who’s dominating right now in the Personal Computer world? I can create my own computer and customize it how ever I want to and run any software I want too. This is what you call OPEN STANDARD. Letting the people decide what they want and how they want it and not so much having a dictatorship on what you can and cant use!!
@The Messiah
You have seen Microsoft's earnings today?
I assume you read the news. Apple have 91% of the market for machines over $1,000 in value. That is a pretty large share. For what Apple don't have in market share they have in profit. 36% or thereabouts I believe.
Meanwhile your "dominating the Personal Computer world" company spent 1.4 billion on online investments and managed to earn 700 million.
Hey, Microsoft, give me a dollar and I'll give you 50 cents back on each one you give me and I'll stop blogging. Gotta be cheap for you to do that.
John, we are completely going of track now. I was merely using MS and Fords as analogies and I don’t know what world you live in but we are currently in a recession here in the state so that might have something to do with MS earnings. As far as Apple having 91% of machines over $1000, exactly how many machines are you talking about? 100 mac book pros vs 10,000 PCs, laptops, netbooks and so on..........
"John, we are completely going of track now. I was merely using MS and Fords as analogies and I don’t know what world you live in but we are currently in a recession here in the state so that might have something to do with MS earnings. As far as Apple having 91% of machines over $1000, exactly how many machines are you talking about? 100 mac book pros vs 10,000 PCs, laptops, netbooks and so on.........."
You seem to be losing the plot actually. Nice that you bothered to register to comment.
Firstly, Apple posted their earnings for the last quarter on Tuesday night. They had a profit. Something like 2 Billion profit in which has been added to their cash stockpile which is now at around 32 billion dollars.
Secondly, you are comparing Apple to Microsoft. Microsoft reported their earnings today and were something like 1.25 billion dollars short of their estimates. This has caused a general sell-off of Tech stocks, including Apple, which is a little ironic as Apple are definitely part of the problem.
The point about the percentage claims is that people have been claiming that the Mac has been doing badly - but it seems that netbooks - the thing that Microsoft said would be it's saviour - seems to have holed Microsoft below the waterline.
You are jumping to the conclusion that I am not in the States. This may be a UK site and I may be British but please don't assume that I don't know what the conditions are like here in the US.
"Here’s an analogy for yah, remember Apple vs. Microsoft back in the 80’s? Look who is sitting pretty good right now? For crying out loud whos the richest man on earth? Bill Gates!!! You also have to remember that they don’t manufacture any hardware and is till dominating Apple..."
It's not an analogy. If anything it is a statement of fact. You came in with all the MS propaganda of Bill Gates being the richest man in the world and stuff which was hardly relevant to a rant on Open Source software taking over the world. And I really think you should take a look by what you mean by dominating. But as I say all your points would be valid were it not for tonight's earnings figures. Yes Microsoft are making bucket loads of money. Yes nothing can stop them. BUT the fly in the ointment is that they can't even predict their own earnings for a quarter 3 months in advance. So however well they may have done in the past with their lying, cheating and stealing (convicted monopolists that they are) it ain't helping them in the current climate.
And while we are off track would you like to explain how this fits in with open source smart phones winning or not winning out?
This comment has been deleted at the users request
@ John, I love analogies what can I say. I used the MS vs. Apple analogy because, Android will be the next Microsoft, this i promise you.... I guess you Brits cant read between the lines so there you go! I was merely referring the significance on how these two companies came about and where they stand now. I never mentioned how financially sound they are nor care about that.
Now, back on the subject. Open Source vs. Closed. What does that mean to me? What’s the difference with Symbian, Winmo, and iphone OS? Care to guess? You cant even change the damn wallpaper!! A wallpaper to make it your own… How about pathetic plain static icons??? We’ve seen icon after icon after icons an all previous phones. Apple doesn’t even want you to run widgets? Why? Because they are APPLE!! Since the beginning that’s how they are, APPLE = CLOSED!! Nothing outside Apple will ever run on their OS, except what they approve. Again what they APPROVE!!!! Come on! Back to my analogy, Apple today is no different from when they lost the PC war back in the 80’s they will face the same demise….
@TheMessiah
Easy there tiger!!!
Don't you have a go at all us Brits because one Brit is getting a little enthusiastic about something. Please keep your flame war on track, focused and to the point thereby leaving bigotry to true idiots.
(Which I a gratiously assuming no-one here is!!!)
@TheMessiah
"Android will be the next Microsoft". Microsoft got to where it was in the 80's by ripping stuff off and stifling competition. I Sincerely hope that Google would not stoop that low. I understand what you are saying, which basically boils down to "Android will walk in and take this market". That may be so but the point I was making was that, certainly in the short term, the splintering of the Android handsets will make things harder than you imply. The thing is how do you know IF the App you want WILL run on your device. With screen size changes and differentiating hardware either you will have very specific apps or ones built to the lowest common denominator. The fact is that most people don't want customization at the same level geeks want. They want something that just works and that is why people are getting the iPhone. Apple were the first company to stop including random features that the technologists wanted in a phone and actually start making it easy to use.
The closed architecture of the iPhone can be easily gotten round by anyone who is half technical by jail breaking the phone. You don't need to "free" those who don't want it or don't need it there is very little to be gained fighting in that space.
I understand that the iPhone is the antithesis of what you demand and require. But for the majority of people what it does it does well and more to the point it is outselling other "feature phones" very well indeed.
Hi John,
I'm sorry you've been having problems with your comments and the spam filter. Basically, we allow two URLs in each comment or Talkback post, and this usually works fine. However, it can be a problem when people want to include a long response with a number of links.
In this case, you have a couple of options: 1) make your post and leave it in quarantine for it to be pushed live once it has been checked out. (You can respond to your moderation alert email if you want to make sure this is done, but most quarantined posts are checked within hours of being posted); or 2) post the response and links in a blog (where you are allowed up to 10 URLs) and then post a comment directing people there (though this isn't as good a way of continuing the discussion).
It does mean a wait or a bit of extra work to post a response, I'm afraid. However, we know from experience that spam is a real nuisance, and the filter is effective at controlling this. We think it's a fair exchange. If anyone in the community disagrees -- or has any comment on it -- please let me know, either with a response here or by dropping me an internal mail.
Thanks for you patience and time, as ever.
Karen
First and foremost, I sincerely apologize for my lapse in judgment and should've chosen my words wisely.
Any how, John, you’ve proven a point that I’ve been trying to make since you created this entry in your blog.
“The closed architecture of the iPhone can be easily gotten round by anyone who is half technical by jail breaking the phone. You don't need to "free" those who don't want it or don't need it there is very little to be gained fighting in that space.”
Closed, there goes that word again… Definition: rigidly excluding outside influence, hence – close minded. I know you can jailbreak, but I thought between you and me it was understood, straight out the box without any alterations or modifications to the core system just to change a simple wallpaper to make it your own. They really don’t want you to mess with what they came out with, because what they believe in there little ignorant heads that this is the BEST and no changes are needed, because it might just ruin the image of APPLE….
Here’s a little test for ya, take a stroll to your nearest Starbucks or Peet’s coffee and ask a person with an iphone and ask them if you can take a peek at your phone… You will notice that its identical/similar to your iphone or the next persons iphone!!! Now, do the same and look for a person that has a G1 ( I know this might be harder because its only been out for 9 months) and look at there phone and the next persons G1 you will notice something different, wallpaper are different, icons here or there, widgets showing tweet updates, news feeds, you know why? Because they are 2 different individuals!
“The fact is that most people don't want customization at the same level geeks want. They want something that just works and that is why people are getting the iPhone. Apple were the first company to stop including random features that the technologists wanted in a phone and actually start making it easy to use.”
Again, who are they, to take out features that can make my phone unique and different from everyone else? Are they the GOD of all phones? Can they cure CANCER? Its there way of thinking to make everyone robots or cyborgs and will do the thinking for you, NO THANK YOU!
“The thing is how do you know IF the App you want WILL run on your device. With screen size changes and differentiating hardware either you will have very specific apps or ones built to the lowest common denominator.”
Wow, where have you been? And you’re in the IT biz… I bet you back in the 80’s you would’nt have dreamt of having a phone outside of your house or exploring another country without having to step outside your home! Now look at what we can do, we have cell phones, internet, computers, even clone animals you get the picture – I hope! We are talking about the ever evolving life of technology. This is Google we’re talking about by the way, they will make sure it works!
Off the subject, have you seen or heard of Google WAVE? They are reinventing the way we communicate too! And if you did hear about WAVE, haven’t you noticed it was working on Internet Explorer, Safari, Chrome and soon Firefox!!! Now that’s forward thinking right there!
"Closed, there goes that word again…"
You have a way with words mostly involving changing the subject. I use your word closed in response to a point you made and you then leap to closed minded. It has nothing to do with - I assume when you say "their ignorant heads" you are referring to Apple - Apple stopping people messing with what they have done. There are sound reasons for not customizing which I understand may be lost on you. It has to do with consistancy.
You've explained your point more clearly but what you haven't said why people want this. Go into your front room and look at your TV. Now go to Best Buy or whoever and look at another one of your TVs. They are the same. This is because they do not need to be customized they have a job to do and they do it. You can, for example, customize your car. You can buy an off the shelf vehicle and add chrome and other parts and insane levels of audio equipment to make it unique. That I understand to an extent as in that would be an obvious statement that of your outlook on life. Fine.
The iPhone is a mobile computing device. It has an interface and a set of rules for people to interact with it and this works because of consistancy. I understand that it doesn't live up to your preconceptions of a device that you would use but you are missing the point. Most people do not wish or crave that level of customization. They just want something that works.
"Again, who are they, to take out features that can make my phone unique and different from everyone else? Are they the GOD of all phones? Can they cure CANCER? Its there way of thinking to make everyone robots or cyborgs and will do the thinking for you, NO THANK YOU!"
You are, as you have explained many times, not their target market.
"We are talking about the ever evolving life of technology. This is Google we’re talking about by the way, they will make sure it works!"
Just how do Google ensure that "ABC product" will work with your G1?
I am not arguing that the G1 is a crap phone. It has many issues that have seem to been better implimented in the Pre. It has many advantages over the Pre and in some cases the iPhone.
But the point is I think the closed system is better than the open one. I have presented my reasons why I thought Jack's original article was wrong and you have decided to troll the comments section to make some points, first with analogies - you think that Apple will be overcome with the open systems in the way it was overcome in the 80s with Microsoft Windows. And now with trite comments like "closed systems equals closed minds" and other, personal insults. I happen to think you are wrong.
I understand your enthusiam for your device of choice. I even understand your enthusiam for open systems but the point is the G1 didn't in it's current implimentation do particularly well. Even with the new HTC device it is being criticized for running on older generation hardware.
The point being that Apple's closed system takes out a lot of the vested interests that effect how a product actually works. The Pre is what you get when you take some of the team who worked on the iPhone and let them do it all again their way without the restrictions imposed by Steve Jobs. It is an Open-System lover's dream, Unfortunately it isn't selling in anywhere like the numbers the open source movement would like. And that isn't because of advertising because I see adverts every night for the Pre. Were it the ultra-creepy robot woman or the "Buy us - we're cheap" ads that sprint are running.
By vested interests I don't mean the OS being produced and given away - that's fine - I am referring to the handset manufacturers and the service providers both of whom have reasons for not making even the most open of devices particularly open. How's tethering going on the G1? Depends on your service provider - same with the iPhone. So sometimes the limits imposed amount to much the same whether we are talking open OR closed systems.
Excellent response - way better than mine (on the post itself).
The article seemed to be just a bit of a handwaving tantrum with no real truth. I found it ironic that it was far more religious about not-liking-Apple then even Apple fanboys are religious about liking the company.
Ho hum.
Neil.
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