"So they have to do whatever they need to do in order to maintain control over the product. They can truthfully not deliberately break apps directly while doing stuff to the system which makes them incompatible."
Yes, I guess that the fragility of the system would explain why it is necessary to delete any ringtones a person has put on the phone themselves. E-mails or notes on your iPhone critical of AT&T or Apple will be deleted in the next update, as they too could create mayhem.
To the person who wished me the same as I wished Greg, I can only say the same to you. Well, actually I don't wish it to Greg (or you); I just hoped that my example would make something clear. I'm a big macfanboi. My will, written in the days when Apple wasn't doing well, states that most of my earthly possessions are to be spent on Apple computers to be donated to schools. I think the teachers will appreciate that my heirs will not come in every now and then purging them, deleting the teacher's and kids' work. If my previous example didn't work, I hope this one did. It is possible to be a macfanboi and be critical.
Bert
Network World: iPhone gets VoIP tryout
#16
Posted 30 September 2007 - 06:08 AM
Yeah, it's possible to be a Mac fanboi and be clueless about the realities of software licensing, and to feebly throw up irrelevant analogies about cars. Apple owns the software. We customers don't. We agree to terms contained in the software license agreement when we click on the "agree" button upon activation. If you didn't read and understand that agreement before you clicked on "agree" that's when at least some of the cluelessness started--at least for the iPhone. You may have compounded your cluelessness from prior "agree"-button-clicking for other software products such as iTunes, Quicktime, and OS X. If you don't like it, you may wish to amend your will.
And just because your precious ringtones may have suffered a cruel fate is no reason to accuse Apple of heavy handedness. The bigger picture is far more important than not being able to annoy people with cute jingles. Threats of law suits are distinct abuses of the system in this case where a company is simply defending its rights to protect its intellectual properties.
As I've said elsewhere on this bloated thread, the iPhone is a nascent product. Just as OS X in its early days was criticized for being a beta, there are admittedly numerous things about the phone that need refinement or that are simply missing. In the case of OS X, its early adopters were rewarded with a new operating system which went through steady and frequent improvements to what we have today. It's been, what, six years or so? A long time, perhaps, but it's a complex product which has had to evolve along with many other factors including changing technologies, changing economies, customer feedback, etc. Just as Steve Jobs said in his keynote announcing the new OS, Apple bet its very future on OS X, and we all can now see the results of that strategic move.
The iPhone is also a complex product, if on a somewhat smaller (on second thought, maybe larger!) scale. It doesn't stand or work alone like a hammer or a toaster. It's a combination of hardware and software, and it also relies on coordination with and numerous technologies of AT&T and now other European service providers.
Any in-depth or more technical explanations these companies may offer as to why they don't want unauthorized third parties messing with the product would most likely fall on deaf ears. So at this still early stage their only resort is to protect their intellectual properties.
As far as I'm concerned, Apple has been more than reasonable in first offering 3rd parties the possibility of developing Web 2.0 apps for the time being. Though this is admittedly not the same as on-phone apps, it's at least a preliminary step toward greater functionality while Apple can work out just how they will eventually allow more direct access.
Second, I think Apple's price drop accompanied by its $100 store credit for early adopters was good in that it eased the monetary jolt for us while it boosted sales to other purchasers--a timely move which will bear even more fruit as the holiday season approaches. With healthy sales, Apple gets to spend more time and money on further development as well as have more input and feedback from a broader customer base so that any enhancements and improvements will be all the better tuned to what is really needed and wanted.
And third, judging by the relative level of "emotional response" this iPhone product has generated, since its initial announcement and subsequent advertising prior to its release, since the large numbers of early purchasers, since its price drop and growing sales, since its announced co-marketing plan with Starbucks, since its incorporation of WiFi iTunes, etc.; we are witnessing a veritable revolution in not just telephony, but in the establishment of a new technology product category, as well as a new cultural phenomenon.
The iPhone has already changed my life. I remember the day (June 30th), because I had just bought my iPhone the day before, I was in a mall, and someone asked me directions to a restaurant. I found myself about to suggest they call directory assistance, when I realized that I was carrying my iPhone and could use its map function to find the restaurant. While the person's daughter was going, "Cool! An iPhone!", her father and I looked at the "pushpins" on the map of the restaurant locations nearby. I tapped one and then tapped its phone number and handed him my iPhone so he could talk to the establishment.
Since then, I can't count the number of times I've used the informational functions of the device to make my daily actions and activities more efficient and pleasurable.
So knowing all of this and reading all of the whining and commotion here, I can pretty much conclude that you people are seriously missing the point. If these words have not swayed any of you at all, then I leave you to your plight of ignorance and misery.
My iPhone is ringing with a built-in ringtone! Gotta go. . .
And just because your precious ringtones may have suffered a cruel fate is no reason to accuse Apple of heavy handedness. The bigger picture is far more important than not being able to annoy people with cute jingles. Threats of law suits are distinct abuses of the system in this case where a company is simply defending its rights to protect its intellectual properties.
As I've said elsewhere on this bloated thread, the iPhone is a nascent product. Just as OS X in its early days was criticized for being a beta, there are admittedly numerous things about the phone that need refinement or that are simply missing. In the case of OS X, its early adopters were rewarded with a new operating system which went through steady and frequent improvements to what we have today. It's been, what, six years or so? A long time, perhaps, but it's a complex product which has had to evolve along with many other factors including changing technologies, changing economies, customer feedback, etc. Just as Steve Jobs said in his keynote announcing the new OS, Apple bet its very future on OS X, and we all can now see the results of that strategic move.
The iPhone is also a complex product, if on a somewhat smaller (on second thought, maybe larger!) scale. It doesn't stand or work alone like a hammer or a toaster. It's a combination of hardware and software, and it also relies on coordination with and numerous technologies of AT&T and now other European service providers.
Any in-depth or more technical explanations these companies may offer as to why they don't want unauthorized third parties messing with the product would most likely fall on deaf ears. So at this still early stage their only resort is to protect their intellectual properties.
As far as I'm concerned, Apple has been more than reasonable in first offering 3rd parties the possibility of developing Web 2.0 apps for the time being. Though this is admittedly not the same as on-phone apps, it's at least a preliminary step toward greater functionality while Apple can work out just how they will eventually allow more direct access.
Second, I think Apple's price drop accompanied by its $100 store credit for early adopters was good in that it eased the monetary jolt for us while it boosted sales to other purchasers--a timely move which will bear even more fruit as the holiday season approaches. With healthy sales, Apple gets to spend more time and money on further development as well as have more input and feedback from a broader customer base so that any enhancements and improvements will be all the better tuned to what is really needed and wanted.
And third, judging by the relative level of "emotional response" this iPhone product has generated, since its initial announcement and subsequent advertising prior to its release, since the large numbers of early purchasers, since its price drop and growing sales, since its announced co-marketing plan with Starbucks, since its incorporation of WiFi iTunes, etc.; we are witnessing a veritable revolution in not just telephony, but in the establishment of a new technology product category, as well as a new cultural phenomenon.
The iPhone has already changed my life. I remember the day (June 30th), because I had just bought my iPhone the day before, I was in a mall, and someone asked me directions to a restaurant. I found myself about to suggest they call directory assistance, when I realized that I was carrying my iPhone and could use its map function to find the restaurant. While the person's daughter was going, "Cool! An iPhone!", her father and I looked at the "pushpins" on the map of the restaurant locations nearby. I tapped one and then tapped its phone number and handed him my iPhone so he could talk to the establishment.
Since then, I can't count the number of times I've used the informational functions of the device to make my daily actions and activities more efficient and pleasurable.
So knowing all of this and reading all of the whining and commotion here, I can pretty much conclude that you people are seriously missing the point. If these words have not swayed any of you at all, then I leave you to your plight of ignorance and misery.
My iPhone is ringing with a built-in ringtone! Gotta go. . .
#17
Posted 30 September 2007 - 11:46 AM
"
Yeah, it's possible to be a Mac fanboi and be clueless about the realities of software licensing, and to feebly throw up irrelevant analogies about cars. Apple owns the software. We customers don't. We agree to terms contained in the software license agreement when we click on the "agree" button upon activation. If you didn't read and understand that agreement before you clicked on "agree" that's when at least some of the cluelessness started--at least for the iPhone. You may have compounded your cluelessness from prior "agree"-button-clicking for other software products such as iTunes, Quicktime, and OS X. If you don't like it, you may wish to amend your will.
And just because your precious ringtones may have suffered a cruel fate is no reason to accuse Apple of heavy handedness."
1. I work in the IP business. Clients still pay, so I guess I do have a clue.
2. I don't have a iPhone, so no ringtones of mine have suffered.
I think it is safe to deduce that
- I'm a bad teacher because my example failed to bring a message across
- it is a bit hard to discuss this topic levelheaded.
Which brings the discussion to an end.
Have a nice day.
Bert
Yeah, it's possible to be a Mac fanboi and be clueless about the realities of software licensing, and to feebly throw up irrelevant analogies about cars. Apple owns the software. We customers don't. We agree to terms contained in the software license agreement when we click on the "agree" button upon activation. If you didn't read and understand that agreement before you clicked on "agree" that's when at least some of the cluelessness started--at least for the iPhone. You may have compounded your cluelessness from prior "agree"-button-clicking for other software products such as iTunes, Quicktime, and OS X. If you don't like it, you may wish to amend your will.
And just because your precious ringtones may have suffered a cruel fate is no reason to accuse Apple of heavy handedness."
1. I work in the IP business. Clients still pay, so I guess I do have a clue.
2. I don't have a iPhone, so no ringtones of mine have suffered.
I think it is safe to deduce that
- I'm a bad teacher because my example failed to bring a message across
- it is a bit hard to discuss this topic levelheaded.
Which brings the discussion to an end.
Have a nice day.
Bert



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