On Feb 10, 8:40 pm, Casper Bang <[email protected]> wrote:
> Yeah and also makes sure you can not install apps which:
> - duplicate functionality (browser, messenger, podcast client)

I am fine with the apps that are on there.

> - do not conform strictly to Steve's HIG

This is great - I like to be able to quickly use the apps.  On
Windows, developers feel the urgent need to re-invent basic UI
concepts over and over.  For instance, some fine folks at Skype
thought it to be a good idea to create their own window style on
Windows that adds a forth icon besides min/max/close - it switches to
"compact mode" which hides the entire right pane - and make this the
default setting.  This is "triple-bad": It's on by default, you easily
click on it by mistake, and it does something that normal users can't
easily recover from.  I spent about an hour with a remote desktop and
my mom, trying to figure out why Skype didn't work anymore - I had
switched this off, so I didn't see it on my machine.  Whatever
protects me from such nonsense is fine with me.  But then again, I'm
German, so I'm draw to order and authorities.

> - provides alternative communication (SIP/LAN)
> - tethers

I can only speculate here but I think it's the mobile carriers that
put these restrictions in.  Here in Germany, my iPhone data contract
has a clause in there that forbids using VoIP on the phone.  And a
Nokia phone I bought through Vodafone - the top-end N95 back in Spring
2007 - had the VoIP client disabled for the same reason - the carries
want to you to pay for calls and use their voice plans, not cheap or
free VoIP calls.  Apple/AT&T apparently now allow VoIP calls over 3G
(http://www.geek.com/articles/mobile/skype-says-3g-voip-calling-on-
iphone-coming-soon-talks-skype-for-ipad-2010024/), but I have no idea
when that will be lifted here in Germany.  I would also have to pony
up around 20 Euro/month for tethering in addition to the regular
iPhone data plan - again, I think it's to get more revenue per
customer, not for any technical reason.

> - pushes a political agenda

What do you mean?

> - mentions competing phones

Stupid move by Apple.

> Do you really believe Apple does this just to protect you?

Apple wants to be in control, always, so they only give up control if
they have to (complaints, competition).  That's the downside.  The
upside is that they produce beautiful devices that work better than
their competition for the 80% or 90% that do not want to have three
podcast clients on their phone or SSH into their phone.  That's the
upside.  I would argue that one reason for the "locked-down-ness" of
the iPhone/iPad is that devices generally just work better if users
can't mess around with them too much (less ways to configure yourself
into a corner, less UI needed), which is why corporate computers are
typically locked down so much that it makes the iPhone look like the
hacker's tool of choice.

> It's fine by me if you prefer this model. However I am not a kid and I
> prefer to see the Amazon rather than a walled garden.

I would restrain from calling somebody a kid just because they don't
share your opinion.

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