Comments on: Why Apple is Keeping the iPhone Locked http://www.pixelshell.com/blog/why-apple-is-keeping-the-iphone-locked/ Promoting Web Standards and teaching web design tricks of the trade Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:48:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: Dmitry Fadeev http://www.pixelshell.com/blog/why-apple-is-keeping-the-iphone-locked/#comment-47 Dmitry Fadeev Sun, 07 Oct 2007 22:50:08 +0000 http://www.pixelshell.com/blog/why-apple-is-keeping-the-iphone-locked/#comment-47 I agree absolutely Dave. Keeping things simple and doing the core function well is actually better in my opinion than something that does a lot more, because as you add features, it makes the device/software more complicated to use, and complicated things are less efficient and less enjoyable. The company that made a set of very popular productivity tools (<a href="http://www.basecamphq.com" rel="nofollow">Basecamp</a>), 37Signals, actually use limited features as a selling point. They say they have less features, making their product easy to get into and use—letting you focus on doing your stuff and not trying to master the tool. I think it's a sound design philosophy. If Apple unlocks the phone, people could make some great stuff, and the phone will quickly turn into powerful PDA. Apple doesn't think its ready for a PDA—for whatever reasons. Apple has thought about doing a PDA before (they've had a product called the Newton—now discontinued) and I think they're just waiting for the right time and technology. In-fact I think it is a certainty that they will make a PDA, it's just a question of when. The iPhone is a great phone (and an iPod), but it's not ready to become a fully fledged PDA quite yet :) I agree absolutely Dave. Keeping things simple and doing the core function well is actually better in my opinion than something that does a lot more, because as you add features, it makes the device/software more complicated to use, and complicated things are less efficient and less enjoyable. The company that made a set of very popular productivity tools (Basecamp), 37Signals, actually use limited features as a selling point. They say they have less features, making their product easy to get into and use—letting you focus on doing your stuff and not trying to master the tool. I think it’s a sound design philosophy.

If Apple unlocks the phone, people could make some great stuff, and the phone will quickly turn into powerful PDA. Apple doesn’t think its ready for a PDA—for whatever reasons. Apple has thought about doing a PDA before (they’ve had a product called the Newton—now discontinued) and I think they’re just waiting for the right time and technology. In-fact I think it is a certainty that they will make a PDA, it’s just a question of when. The iPhone is a great phone (and an iPod), but it’s not ready to become a fully fledged PDA quite yet :)

]]> By: Dave Hawkins http://www.pixelshell.com/blog/why-apple-is-keeping-the-iphone-locked/#comment-46 Dave Hawkins Sun, 07 Oct 2007 22:42:23 +0000 http://www.pixelshell.com/blog/why-apple-is-keeping-the-iphone-locked/#comment-46 One of the things I love about my iPod Mini (which I should say is the only Apple product I own) is that it looks slick and only plays mp3s - and a lot more conveniently than most people's phones. Its user inferface has five buttons and a scrolly touchy thing is perfect for browsing tunes but could never be built into a device that also had to deal with phonecalls or email. I love my little Canon Ixus 30 that only takes pictures, my Yamaha AN1x synthesizer keyboard that plays one sound at a time - I love them for much the same reasons: a simple interface designed to do one thing nicely. Big, powerful, versatile devices have their place, just like the computer I am writing on now, but they rarely achieve the charm or elegance of the simple things for individual tasks. I'm sure Apple want people to love their iPhones as much as they love their iPods, and so I think they are sensible to keep them locked up. On the other hand, an Apple PDA designed to be as fat and powerful as possible would be nice too.. One of the things I love about my iPod Mini (which I should say is the only Apple product I own) is that it looks slick and only plays mp3s - and a lot more conveniently than most people’s phones. Its user inferface has five buttons and a scrolly touchy thing is perfect for browsing tunes but could never be built into a device that also had to deal with phonecalls or email.

I love my little Canon Ixus 30 that only takes pictures, my Yamaha AN1x synthesizer keyboard that plays one sound at a time - I love them for much the same reasons: a simple interface designed to do one thing nicely.

Big, powerful, versatile devices have their place, just like the computer I am writing on now, but they rarely achieve the charm or elegance of the simple things for individual tasks. I’m sure Apple want people to love their iPhones as much as they love their iPods, and so I think they are sensible to keep them locked up. On the other hand, an Apple PDA designed to be as fat and powerful as possible would be nice too..

]]> By: Dmitry Fadeev http://www.pixelshell.com/blog/why-apple-is-keeping-the-iphone-locked/#comment-38 Dmitry Fadeev Fri, 05 Oct 2007 19:03:14 +0000 http://www.pixelshell.com/blog/why-apple-is-keeping-the-iphone-locked/#comment-38 I think that's the point. The consumer shouldn't decide. Apple must keep control over the way their device is perceived in the general public. If the public modifies and shapes it to their own needs, the core functions will be extended way out of Apple's control, and the perception of the device will change in the public. People will start buying it for those other functions, over which Apple will have no quality control over. Keeping it under lock is a way of keeping their device simple and on focus—even if it leads to a few frustrated developers. I think that’s the point. The consumer shouldn’t decide. Apple must keep control over the way their device is perceived in the general public. If the public modifies and shapes it to their own needs, the core functions will be extended way out of Apple’s control, and the perception of the device will change in the public. People will start buying it for those other functions, over which Apple will have no quality control over. Keeping it under lock is a way of keeping their device simple and on focus—even if it leads to a few frustrated developers.

]]> By: Myles de Bastion http://www.pixelshell.com/blog/why-apple-is-keeping-the-iphone-locked/#comment-32 Myles de Bastion Fri, 05 Oct 2007 17:35:06 +0000 http://www.pixelshell.com/blog/why-apple-is-keeping-the-iphone-locked/#comment-32 Give the consumer the option to decide for themselves is all I have to say on the matter ;) Give the consumer the option to decide for themselves is all I have to say on the matter ;)

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