iPhone SDK, the New Walled Garden?

Thursday’s announcement from Apple was pretty impressive. I never expected to see such a complete execution of the SDK program. Apple really looked at this from a 360 degree angle and nailed almost everything:

  • App Development
  • Testing and debugging
  • Deployment, distribution and discoverability
  • Business model
  • VC funding for developers
  • Rich developer program and support

Apple’s approach to this makes anyone else look pretty pale. Compare this to Android, Symbian, Windows Mobile or any carrier’s development program. Almost everywhere else one has to deal with various parties and many restrictions before they can get their application on the phone. Apple has really offered a one stop shop to the eager developers.

However for me the fun part kinda stops there. The early excitement has somewhat waned at this point. I am sure you all know what I am talking about. The fact that Apple will not allow 3rd party background processes to run on the iPhone. This means that users cannot switch back and forth between applications seamlessly. Once you switch applications the previous one shuts down. This is a very realistic scenario where users can receive calls, text/email messages while using an application.

They had AIM guys during the keynote speech. They are a perfect example of apps which will be useless in this model. In the current model AIM will only run once you are within the app. If you decide to do anything else, the app will shut down and you are logged out. This is a serious issues for a bevy of 3rd party applications which need background processing. Not everyone is going to write stand-alone games for playing tetris or spore.

From what I have read, the reasons cited are that Apple does not want to have many applications taking over the background processes and making the iPhone slow. In addition they have published a list of limitations for app developers. These limitations maybe straightforward but the underlying message is that Apple is the overall “GateKeeper”. They control what goes onto your iPhone.

This is exactly the part that isn’t sitting well with me. The more I think about the subject I am starting to draw parallels between Apple and the big bad carriers. Within the proposed model Apple retains control of how the 3rd party application runs, what it provides, how it does business and how it is distributed. What happens if a 3rd party developer wants to write a RSS reader supported by advertisements? It will have to run in the background, probably use good amount of the bandwidth and will be free (supported via ads). Such an app will violate many of Apple’s rules.

Is Apple the new carrier? Is Apple’s iPhone SDK the new “Walled Garden“? Let me know what you all think.

In conclusion I must say that I am surely impressed by the overall SDK program. However not quite impressed with the direction of the SDK. I think the user should be in control. Ultimately they get to decide what gets installed on their iPhone. Once Apple sells the device they no longer should control what runs on that…

March 8th, 2008 in Apple, Mobile

Viewing 6 Comments

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    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.
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    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.
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    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.
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    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.
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    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.
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    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
 

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