Comment by tjogin | Hacker News Reader

Comment by tjogin | Hacker News Reader

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> I have nothing against software stores, but they should be optional not required.

I agree completely. My hope is that AppStore will become optional, rather than the exclusive way to get apps on the iPhone.

But I do think it was a wise decision to start out with the AppStore as the one exclusive way to get on it, and judging from their phenomenal success in both sales and attracting developers, it was probably a smart choice.

Lest not forget, the AppStore makes it extraordinarily easy to buy and download apps. Only by making it the exclusive way to get apps on the iPhone were they able to make sure that users found the experience of buying and downloading apps so effortless that it makes impulse purchases super simple. And, safe! iPhone users do not worry about anything on the AppStore containing viruses or malware.

Now, as what they refer to as a "power user", I'd like to be able to just download any app from anywhere and take my chances. But I understand that Apple has to take more than just my preferences into consideration. I believe it is actually not in their best interest to do that — even though it would suit me better. If I were Apple, I'd keep the AppStore the exclusive way to get apps on the AppStore. I'd work on continuously improving the experience and interaction with developers, of course, but I'd keep it a walled garden, approval process and all.

Pleasing power users such as you and me simply doesn't make sense in the big picture, because it would fracture the developer community. Some apps would be on the app store, some on the web. Users would feel safer getting apps from the AppStore, but as recommendations come from friends using apps from the web, soon enough you'd have regular users downloading apps from the web too. And following that you'd have viruses and malware. While users could still just stick to downloading from the AppStore if they wanted to be safe, Apple would still have to deal with malicious apps, problems and trust issues. This, they just don't need, and pleasing the relatively few power users just doesn't make any sense, considering the sacrifice.

Though I'd be just fine with it, I understand very well why Apple does not prioritize my needs in this.

I am going to stop arguing against Apple, I am loosing all my karma ;)

I don't think its about arguing against Apple, I sure as hell don't feel I'm arguing for Apple. Just allow yourself to see that there are many many aspects to this, it's not as simple as you made it out to be (and it's not just about your preferences, it's about balancing everybody's). If you write fawning fanboy posts you'll be voted down just the same.

Again, I give lot of credits to Apple, but having the Device/OS provider exclusively owning what can get distributed or not on this OS is a big step backwards. True, consoles and closed devices have this model, but Mobile was opening up.

If you step back and look at the consequence of having iStore model (exclusive control on application distribution) in the software industry, you cannot conclude that this is a good step forward.

The fact that Apple made the iStore the only way to distribute application is not about maintaining quality, experience, ..., it is about controlling the distribution. And this control does not exist in the PC world, and was going to disappear in the mobile world.

But point taken, I will be more diplomatic in my answers.

It's called the AppStore.

And of course it's also about controlling quality, are you kidding? Don't reduce this to only being about either one thing or the other — like you apparently love to do — it's obviously a multifaceted issue.

Quality has got to be one of the very primary concerns, Apple would absolutely hate for the iPhone to become a malware infested platform which consumers are afraid to download apps for, always on the look out for viruses, wondering if every unexpected behaviour is the fault of a trojan — like on a certain other platform.

Don't get me wrong, Apple don't just want quality because they're knights in shining armor — they want to make money. And how do you make money? First, make sure your customers feel completely secure and don't hesitate about downloading a new app for even a second. You cannot do that without very high quality apps, distributed in a very secure way. It's not malice, it's a win-win strategy. As has been proven in a plethora of ways.

While the walled garden of AppStore can definitely and be seen as a step backwards, don't you think that the unprecedented amount of apps AppStore makes available for a mobile phone — and the unprecedented amount of developers finally being able to make a living from developing mobile apps — represent a gigantic step forwards?

Once again it's ridiculous to reduce this complex setup to being just one of two things.

Don't be diplomatic. Be open to the fact that things aren't that simple. You'll never understand another's perspective if you don't even make an attempt to.

Ok, we are getting nowhere with your "not as simple & multifaceted" counter arguments. In an argument, don't patronize your opponent, just focus on defending and making your points.

Obviously things are not as simple as they look, otherwise, we would not be talking about it.

Now that this is out of the way. I think that quality is a pretext. Apple could have let developers distribute their application by other mean, and keep the same AppStore quality. The fact that AppStore is the only way to distribute an iPhone app does not make it higher quality. I would actually argue the opposite. If developers had other means to distribute their mobile application, Apple could fairly refuse the "iFart" type of applications and accept only applications that have real entertainment or productivity value.

Also, I know people developing iPhone apps, and while they welcome the additional income, it is not that easy to make a living out of it. Some might, but I do not think it is as big as people think it is.

If you don't think the AppStore approval process squashes bugs then you're simply ignorant about the feedback developers get from them.

Sure, not everybody doing iPhone apps are bathing in cash. But before the iPhone came along, there was no mobile development business to speak of. It barely even existed. Now it's huge. That's not a step forward in your single-faceted view?

ok, this is getting nowhere. You are not reading my comments. You are still stuck with your "multifaceted" counter argument.

Anyway, thank you for sharing your thoughts, they were very insightful , in a multifaceted way.

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