[estumpges]

Thanks for this article Rob. For the most part, I fully agree with what you said. I think it's important that Apple's customer base demands that Steve Jobs take immediate action to put to rest our deep concerns about the iPhone platform. The reason most Apple customers are so loyal is that Apple has traditionally been very good at delivering what people want through awesome hardware and software. As a result, we've all come to have very high expectations of what Apple can deliver.
With the iPhone, it seems like Apple may be alienating many of its most loyal customers (first with the price drops and now by locking down the platform and bricking many phones). I regained much faith when Steve Jobs generously chose to offer early iPhone owners $100 of store credit. I am also hopeful that he will realize that locking down the iPhone is a counterproductive move. If the iPhone fails as a product, that will have huge repercussions for Apple as a whole, so ultimately I think it Jobs will have no choice but to make the iPhone a success. If users demand 3rd party apps for the platform, I think he will eventually have make that a reality. In the meantime, his decisions appear to be having a damaging effect on the future prospects for the iPhone platform.
Personally, I don't own an iPhone yet, but I as with most everyone else, I see huge potential in the iPhone platform. As a loyal Apple fan, I promote the iPhone whenever I can but it's really difficult to defend Apple's decision to cut off 3rd party development and brick many of their phones with a software update. It would be more understandable if Apple simply restored the iPhone to it's original ATT service instead of completely shutting it down. The great thing about the iPhone is its interface. I've used it and I think it's incredible. Everyone I know who's used it also is very amazed. However, many people won't even try one out because of all the bad things they hear about it in the media. I can see why Apple's partnership with ATT requires that they do their best to prevent people from hacking their phones to run on other networks, but honestly, most people won't be willing to buy a phone from a company that is so committed to locking down the platform that it will brick a three month old phone. Even though Apple may/probably will reverse its decision on 3rd party apps in the future (as did following the iPhone price drops), the damage is already done. It only takes a few widespread negative stories about a product to permanently damage its future sales. I'd say right now Apple is walking a very fine line with the iPhone.
I believe that Jobs owes us another open letter that apologizes for the iPhone's locked down nature and further explains Apple's relationship with ATT. He should also give some hints as to the direction the iPhone/iPod Touch are heading in order to keep people from jumping off the Apple bandwagon. Finally, he should come up with a plan to officially open the iPhone to 3rd party development. I think that perhaps if Apple wants to keep some control over the quality of software available for the iPhone, an "iPhone Store" might be a good idea. However Apple would have to make the software development kit free and allow developers offer their software as free-ware if they choose. If necessary, Apple could demand a small cut from developers who want to sell their iPhone software on the store. What do you think? Could this be a compromise that would satisfy everyone?
I have tremendous respect for Apple and for Steve Jobs in particular but I understand that nobody's perfect. Every once in a while when Steve makes a poor decision it's up to all of us to let him know. The iPhone/iPod Touch platform is currently an amazing base but it could still prove to be truly revolutionary if Apple would only open up the platform and continue to add relevant features through software update (copy and paste instantly comes to mind).

[parka]

Maybe someone can correct me if I'm wrong here.
With the web browser, developers can just simply create Internet Applications for their users. E.g. Like Flickr, Google Maps, MSN Web Messenger, Meebo, Digg.
Using technologies such as AJAX, users can practically have everything, without the need to install anything onto the iPhone.
Downside is all these Internet Applications probably can work only when there's a connection around.

[griffman]

That's one big downside indeed. Another is that you must launch Safari, open your bookmarks, navigate to the app in question, and hope that the site is up and running. Another is that you can only have eight pages open at once, so there's a limit to how many apps you can have close at hand. (With the SummerBoard app installed on my iPhone, all the apps show on the main iPhone screen -- it scrolls.) Another is that when you put an app into the background, it may not actually keep running. Another is that, as good as AJAX and the web interface are, they're still nothing compared to developing your own interface that does exactly what you want it to do, without the constraints of a web page.
-rob.

[Nobody]

Can anybody give me a valid reason why Apple SHOULD open the iPhone to developers?

[griffman]

Making the iPhone appealing to more potential customers isn't a valid reason? As Jason pointed out in his posting today, Apple will never develop all the apps that every potential user could ever want -- just like on the Mac. Third parties will fill that hole, and make it so there's no potential user who wouldn't at least consider an iPhone.
-rob.

[Craig_A]

I don't know... the Newton was as open as open could be, and had some really brilliant 3rd party software and hardware support. Including a fair amount of decent freeware.
We know how well that turned out. And I have four of them, including the one I paid full price for the first week they were available. And a copy of the Newton Toolkit (for software development). Make me an offer. /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[trip1ex]

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I also don't buy that supporting 3rd party apps will increase the audience for the phone. It's likely many customers will be [censored] off from dealing with 3rd party apps and [censored] off at Apple if one causes their phone to break. Apple also will not be able to move forward as fast if they have to support an army of legacy 3rd party apps going forward. Don't forget why Apple was so successful with the iPod. Ease of use.
My parents and most folks I know just have regular phones. I think the iPhone as it stands would be massive upgrade of features for them. I don't think Apple needs all this and the kitchen sink to sell these folks, who represent the mainstream, an iPhone. I mean you guys quickly forget what makes Apple Apple. Really I think they are setup perfectly to make these types of consumer electronics devices for the digital age. They have the right combination of software/hardware experience.

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That's fine, but no one's saying Apple needs to force anyone to use third party applications. Sure, iPhone might be the best selling "smartphone" right now, but there are still millions of people buying Palm, RIM, WM, and Symbian devices who Apple could target if they opened it up to development.
Sure for some (many, most?) people, a phone is like a DVD player or Tivo, but for many, it is like a PDA. Also, many "switchers" might be interested in doing some of the things they were used to doing on their phones that supposedly were 5 years behind iPhone's technology.

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Yeah, but we're now going in circles. I say the 'geek' crowd is small. You say well it's something. As so it goes.
Unfortunately for you I think Apple has a market in mind for the iPhone and it's not the corporate IT or geek market.
It's mainstream joe. The iPod crowd.
I'm not sure anyone can be everything to everyone and I think it's no different with the iPhone.
I think Apple has chosen a closed system to protect potential money streams, to satisfy AT&T's desires, to move forward with iPhone development as fast as possible, to provide an easy to use stable user experience and to ensure every user has an enjoyable experience.
I think it's more likely that if you want every little app and feature no matter how useless or useful or how hard to use then you should stick with a different smartphone.
If you want a smartphone that is more akin to a consumer electronics device that you can just pick up and use then it's the iPhone.
I think it's a big step to officially support 3rd party apps because Apple is going to get the brunt of the complaints from 3rd party apps and they won't be as nimble going forward.

[grimjim]

[1.1% of 10 million target iPhone sales is an additional millionish iPhones, which is another $400 million to Apple, along with whatever take of $60 million a month they get from AT&T. And that's if 1.1% is correct; based on the poll results I linked to, and the commentary here, I expect the actual figure is higher. Why walk away from such meaningful revenue? - rob]
All these figures are inflated by a factor of 10. One percent of 10 million is 100,000, not one million. The revenue in question is $40 million, and the AT&T figure is $6 million.
I have no opinion on the issue at hand except that, all else being equal, the notion of opening up the phone seems reasonable. But if the interest and potential revenue to Apple is no more than 1%, then the urgency of releasing an SDK is not great in comparison to other needs, like rolling out the phone successfully worldwide.
Given that the first goal Apple has to achieve is to roll the phone out in the rest of the world, the reality is likely to be that the third party software issue is not urgent enough to matter to Apple.
By closing the platform, Apple is giving the phone a hell of a shakedown. It pleases me to know that Apple can in fact keep such tight control of the phone, since I am trusting so much personal data to it. It won't particularly bother me if Apple lets this go on for a while.
The ability to use the phone as anything other than the Apple phone I bought is not imporant to me. I have a computer to do all the other things.
Ringtones are like burning money for nothing, as far as I'm concerned. I don't even let my phone ring. With the iPhone that works fabulously well, since the screen always tells me who's calling anyway.
The points that the Macworld editors are making are good even if there are only a few people who would use the third-party apps. But I think it's too early to expect Apple to respond.

[d00d]

How about so I can watch my Slingbox on it? How does that grab you?

[macbookfan]

Hmm...seems like each news story concerning Apple these days is making them look more and more like the Microsoft of the 21st century. What happened to the friendly underdog tech company I used to know and love?
1. Ringtones.
Not too long ago, Apple announced the availability of ringtones for the iPhone. That's awesome. Except I have to pay another $.99 for a song I already own, assuming I purchased it from Apple via iTunes. Why, Apple? Why?
2. iPhone Update.
Forget about those people who unlocked their phones. What about the tons of loyal (and legal) AT&T users who installed 3rd party apps BEFORE Apple even issued a warning about them? Many of them updated and are stuck with bricks. Now they have to plop down another $400 to get a working phone. I understand if Apple is trying to protect the integrity and security of the iPhone platform, but alienating many of its users is not a way to do it.
3. Sudden iPhone Price Cut.
No explanation needed. Still feeling a little burned from this one.
4. Boot Camp Expiration.
Come on, Apple. This is cruel and unusual. As if the iphone price cuts, bricking updates and "pay-up twice" ringtones weren't enough, now you have to tell me my Boot Camp beta will expire at the end of this month and I will no longer be able to use Windows unless I buy Leopard.
Seriously, is anyone else concerned? It seems like Apple is slowly gaining more and more control of its products (after we've already purchased them), yet they are also supporting their users less and less.

[grimjim]

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Hmm...seems like each news story concerning Apple these days is making them look more and more like the Microsoft of the 21st century. What happened to the friendly underdog tech company I used to know and love?
1. Ringtones.
Not too long ago, Apple announced the availability of ringtones for the iPhone. That's awesome. Except I have to pay another $.99 for a song I already own, assuming I purchased it from Apple via iTunes. Why, Apple? Why?
2. iPhone Update.
Forget about those people who unlocked their phones. What about the tons of loyal (and legal) AT&T users who installed 3rd party apps BEFORE Apple even issued a warning about them? Many of them updated and are stuck with bricks. Now they have to plop down another $400 to get a working phone. I understand if Apple is trying to protect the integrity and security of the iPhone platform, but alienating many of its users is not a way to do it.
3. Sudden iPhone Price Cut.
No explanation needed. Still feeling a little burned from this one.
4. Boot Camp Expiration.
Come on, Apple. This is cruel and unusual. As if the iphone price cuts, bricking updates and "pay-up twice" ringtones weren't enough, now you have to tell me my Boot Camp beta will expire at the end of this month and I will no longer be able to use Windows unless I buy Leopard.
Seriously, is anyone else concerned? It seems like Apple is slowly gaining more and more control of its products (after we've already purchased them), yet they are also supporting their users less and less.

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The Apple-is-Microsoft comment has become The New Thing To Say.
Ringtones: There are a bazillion posts already online about why Apple has to charge. It's a policy of the record companies. Look up Macworld's articles on this.
iPhone update: I have not read that a lot of still-locked phones got bricked. They lost third-party apps.
iPhone price cut: I hated that one but it was inevitable, as a lot of people pointed out.
Beta of Boot Camp: Boot Camp is a free program. Did you think it would be free forever? The beta version of OS X stopped working when OS X came out. Same principle. This is not new.

[hillstones]

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"And if you worked for any other company, you would be FIRED on the spot for installing unauthorized software on something that was provided to you by your employer."
If that statement were true, I would have been forced to fire 99.5% of the employees in my last company, all of whom had some form of unauthorized software on their machines. But since the things they added weren't illegal -- no Kazaa, etc. -- and seemed to help with both productivity and morale, we let them have their music players, slideshow viewers, theming applications, and other such toys.

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I guess your prior employer had no clue about security software to prevent unauthorized software. I don't know how they can be more productive with their music players, slideshows, and other toys. I can guarantee you that most companies will fire an employee if they are caught installing unauthorized software, especially if it crashes the network, crashes proprietary software for running the business, or introduces a nasty virus.
I guess Macworld doesn't care if you break their $600 iPhone.

[Nobody]

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Making the iPhone appealing to more potential customers isn't a valid reason? As Jason pointed out in his posting today, Apple will never develop all the apps that every potential user could ever want -- just like on the Mac. Third parties will fill that hole, and make it so there's no potential user who wouldn't at least consider an iPhone.
-rob.

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Which potential user? The ones who likes messing around with every gadget and device that they can get their hands on? Or the ones who just wants a phone that works?
Geeks are not the only "potential market" out there. If Apple only catered to your idea of potential market they wouldn't have had the kind of figures they have right now. Why didn't Apple put a radio in every iPod or made it into a voice recorder? There was a potential market there. I think you and there rest of those calling out bloody murder over this are shortsighted. You're not the only potential market Apple is looking at, Rob.

[zensunni]

I'm one of those in the 'won't buy now' category. Previously, I was debating whether to buy one when they reach the UK shores. I was mostly hoping it would be open buy then; failing that, that opening it myself would be tried and true and well documented. Now that Apple is going out of its way to impede this (welcome to the M$ club, Apple), I'll steer clear.
It's funny that the original argument against opening it was 'we want to protect the users cell phone experience; we don't want third party apps crashing it during a call' turned out to be a bunch of hogwash as I always knew. The iPod touch is here; but it's also closed, and there's no cell phone 'experience' to protect. Now, as this article accepts, we all seem to acknowledge it's all about protecting Apple's and its partners bottom lines.