The iPhone3.0 is the next desktop platform | Hacker News Reader

The iPhone3.0 is the next desktop platform

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26 pointsgvagva24 comments

The next generation of iPhone applications will look more like small versions of more complex desktop-like systems, rather than mobile applications.

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Dear lord, did i just spend 5 minutes reading what was 90% almost religious in nature praise with 10% viable information?

This article is patently useless. Let me sum it up for you in 3 sentances. Apple 3.0 sdk = could be good. Android sucks with viruses. The iphone is so superior to everything ever.

I really must start reading the comments here before reading the article. You're 100% right.

In this case I think just the title was enough of a warning.

Not to mention the sensational title. By "the iPhone3.0 is the next desktop platform," the author meant that iPhone apps might look something like desktop apps in the future. That's a big jump from "the next desktop platform".

That's a big jump from "the next desktop platform".

Indeed - but it's a question that a lot of people are pondering.

Still, the OP is correct that this article doesn't really further the discussion.

And the rationale used that Android and WinMo have viruses is a link to a site that seems to sell a product so you can remotely wipe or locate your lost or stolen phone, and doesn't seem to be related to viruses at all. Pretty weak. But that sounds like it could be a useful product for a highly portable device like a phone -- where's a version of the iPhone?

Nonsense.

As an iPhone developer and an OS X developer I can say that it doesn't compare to the capabilities of a real desktop.

The iPhone has serious constraints in CPU, memory and UI interaction that really encourage simple single purpose applications. Try to do anything more complex and things fall over fast.

Not to mention the absurd app store and it's get in to the top 25 of downloads or die stupidity.

To quote the article:

  And, oh, by the way, don’t rant about not having
  background processes (or any other feature, for that 
  matter); I really don’t think that the lack of support 
  for them will hinder the development of this platform.

You are doing what he told you not to do; you're not allowed to point out what's wrong with the iPhone OS. It's perfect in every way. Stop criticizing it.

Heh. Oops.

Apple needs to create a new ranking system. Just going by downloads is garbage, I am sick of seeing stupid single-use (lite) games taking up the Top 25.

Is there no way of looking at my previous purchases/downloads and recommending apps for me? They do it for music, why not iPhone apps?

Totally agree. It's a stupid system that enhances the trivial and marginalizes much of the quality.

There's no recommendation engine currently.

My girlfriend has a neurologic disease (Lyme) that makes it difficult for her to use a normal, full desktop. There's too much "noise" and it can be painful for her. She actually prefers using the iphone because of the fact that you can only run one app at a time.

I'm not disagreeing with you, but I found it pretty interesting that the iphone was actually a superior overall experience for her.

Oh agreed. The iPhone is a revolution in interface design. It contains metaphors I'm eager for on the desktop. It's awesome that it brings computing to more people due to accessibility.

I agree with you but I do believe the iPhone is a far more viable "$100" laptop — or at least has the potential to be.

I'm also happy to see consumers are starting to get irritated with the volume-driven top charts that were copy 'n pasted from the music store. $.99 Music Downloads != Applications. Hopefully Apple will listen and make adjustments soon, because for the past 6+ months they've ignored developer complaints in this regard. It's taken over 6 months to make very minor adjustments to the rating system.

My own anecdote. If I'm lying in bed and I want to check a webpage, twitter, email or even ssh to check something on a server...

... and the choice is between picking up my iPhone, or moving a metre to the desk -- I'll just grab my iPhone.

Not to disagree with your point more generally, but I think the iPhone is operating in a sweet spot -- i.e. not the be-all-end-all, but good enough for a lot of daily tasks.

I don't get it. What does it even mean to be "the next desktop platform"?

It means the iPhone will get so ridiculously unportable that you'll end up leaving it on your desk.

So the next desktop will be effectively single threaded, without the ability to show two windows at the same time?

Seriously, a modern webbrowser is already a more powerful platform than the iPhone. That's why Palm is using WebKit...

Computing's history is one of repeated disruption. But stagnant lately. Netbooks aren't really a new platform - they run all the old software. Not like the jump from Sun Workstations to PCs.

Maybe iPhone/Pre is the next disruption?

Some might say jumping from PCs to Sun Workstations would be better?

Imho, that's true. At one point, the iphone will be fast and powerfull enough that you'll plug it to a big screen and keyboard and won't need a desktop computer anymore. Kinda, the fusion between the mini and the iPhone... thus you won't have any synchronization problem ever again!

Why this new has currently 13 points?

yawn

the iphone3.0 is not the next desktop. it's just the next killer app for the iphone.

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