Did Apple use the same iPhone/iPod platform on the iPad to cash in the App Store?

[dagomike]

The game isn't

iPad -> Apps = $$$

it's

Apps -> iPad = $$$

Apple has a proven winner in the app store, so it makes sense to leverage that for the iPad.

As far as all the other stuff, I'm conflicted as I like not worrying about malicious apps, or even buying completely broken apps with no recourse. I think a phone is a completely different animal than a computer. On the other hand, I think developers should be able to sell apps directly to customers.

 

[Compile 'em all]

Im not talking about profit, I'm talking about control. Apple can control, through the app store, what content is used on iPhones and iPads. A great example is sexual content. Though I find porn immoral and destructive to relationships, the libertarian in me says that no one has the right to deem it appropriate or inappropriate for others. Apple has decided for its customers that sexual content is inappropriate (though likely because they don't want it visible in the app store, something an outside "market" would prevent).

Would you care to provide an explanation for me as to why you think this type of control is a good thing?

Ever heard of malware?

How about if I write an address book app which actually uploads your complete phone book to a remote server instead of doing whatever the description says? A twitter app that takes your username and password and sends it to some server in russia instead? A free app that does nothing but try to crash your phone?

For example, an iPhone developer MUST display the "this app will use your location...etc" dialog before using core location services. Failure to do so will get your app rejected.

While most apps can't really harm your iPhone cause they are sandboxed, the tight control provides a generally decent phone experience and your users expect it to behave so.

You guys keep on complaining about the app store and Apple's control, and google's android market is suffering from exactly the opposite.

 

[KyleKlink]

The game isn't

iPad -> Apps = $$$

it's

Apps -> iPad = $$$

Apple has a proven winner in the app store, so it makes sense to leverage that for the iPad.

As far as all the other stuff, I'm conflicted as I like not worrying about malicious apps, or even buying completely broken apps with no recourse. I think a phone is a completely different animal than a computer. On the other hand, I think developers should be able to sell apps directly to customers.

I get the financial aspect, I really do. The issue of control is what I have a problem with. Apple should not decide for me what apps are appropriate and which are a waste of my time. If they want to do so through the app store that's fine, but only if I have another option for where to get my apps. If the app store is the only source (as it is now), then controlling what apps are available for sale and which are not is wrong.

I'm not saying this hasn't been successful, because it looks like it has. There are hundreds of thousands of people out there who will buy anything Apple sells and declare it "innovative" and "magical" just because it was made by Apple. Then there are clear thinking people who think the market for apps should be open, and they will shy away from the iPhone and iPad until it is. Opening up theses devices for apps outside of the app store wont affect the fan boys' adoration, but it might increase sales to those who find themselves in the second group.

 

[125037]

Can you please elaborate on what do you mean by running snow leopard on the iPad?

You have a multitouch device and a desktop interaction-based OS. How on earth do you expect people to use it?

You don't just "slap" an OS on a device and call it a day. Apple created an incredible multitouch-based OS that is the iPhone OS. When time came, it was only logical to use it to run on the iPad.

I still can't wrap my mind around why people would expect otherwise. How would YOU use a desktop OS on the iPad?

iPhone OS on the iPad IS snow leopard for multitouch.

Kinda like the Blackberry Storm I suppose. Tapping on something highlights it to show what is selected and then click (actually push the screen down) in order to open it. I could care less about OS X on the iPad though, I'm just saying.

 

[KyleKlink]

Ever heard of malware?

How about if I write an address book app which actually uploads your complete phone book to a remote server instead of doing whatever the description says? A twitter app that takes your username and password and sends it to some server in russia instead? A free app that does nothing but try to crash your phone?

For example, an iPhone developer MUST display the "this app will use your location...etc" dialog before using core location services. Failure to do so will get your app rejected.

While most apps can't really harm your iPhone cause they are sandboxed, the tight control provides a generally decent phone experience and your users expect it to behave so.

You guys keep on complaining about the app store and Apple's control, and google's android market is suffering from exactly the opposite.

I refuse to accept that there is no way around this. If Apple is the innovative and magically company they claim to be they should be able to find a way around this without restricting the content they make available for users.

How do you explain Apple removing sexual content and political apps that were not malware or a threat to anyone's security?

 

[ViViDboarder]

I think it's rediculous that nobody has had any logic to go against having two resources for Apps... the monitored Apple App Store and a 3rd party source for apps.

If you want to play it safe, nobody would be stopping you. As for me, I know better than to install malware.

 

[yyy]

iPhone OS on the iPad IS snow leopard for multitouch.

Actually, iPhone OS on the iPad is a limited, watered-down version of snow leopard with multi-touch support.

If you want to add multi-touch support to snow leopard you'd have to preserve almost all of the basic features it has, especially multi-tasking.

 

[flyguy206]

Get nothing in return?! They sold the hardware, my friend. They made money there, didn't they?

Why doesn't Apple lock down the Mac, too? Developers are out there making money off of Apple's products by writing software for the Mac and selling it without sharing their profits with Apple.

Lay off the kool-aid.

Do you understand that apple is in business to make money for apple? If you don't like the app store make a web app.

 

[Nausicaa]

As someone already mentioned, I don't think Apple really makes a ton of money from the app store, at least not relative to their bottom line.

The decision to use iPhone OS and the app store for content delivery has more to do with selling hardware units. The app store provides exclusive multitouch content which can't be found on any other device, and this has probably been the key competitive advantage driving Apple's success with these multitouch platforms.

Had they developed a tablet for MacOSX, most people would not be interested in the product because their desktop or laptop already runs the exact same applications, and runs them better because the content was designed around that type of hardware. iPhone OS is clearly powerful enough to run software that most users find highly desirable, and it provides a great, unique user experience.

The fact that you can only buy iPhone OS apps on the app store seems to be a decision rooted, first and foremost, in Apple's ability to test the app and make sure it runs well on the device, which is a win for consumers. Secondly, it's a win for developers that every iPhone/iPad user out there knows exactly where to find their apps. Together, this means more apps will be developed for the platform and they will achieve a maximum rate of sales.

I for one am glad Apple works this way. I'm constantly amazed at how streamlined and functional the iPhone OS ecosystem is. Apple isn't your government, all this talk about 'locking' content and techno-democracy mumbo jumbo is ridiculous. Our rights aren't being violated. It's all about the user experience.

 

[KyleKlink]

The fact that you can only buy iPhone OS apps on the app store seems to be a decision rooted, first and foremost, in Apple's ability to test the app and make sure it provides a solid user experience, which is a win for consumers. Secondly, it's a win for developers that every iPhone/iPad user out there knows exactly where to find their apps. Together, this means more apps will be developed for the platform and they will achieve a maximum rate of sales.

Sure it is.... /s

Explain to me why Apple removes apps containing sexual content and some apps that contain political content? These apps functioned just fine on the iPhone. Im still waiting for someone to take a swing at this for me.

 

[125037]

As someone already mentioned, I don't think Apple really makes a ton of money from the app store, at least not relative to their bottom line.

WHAT!? Apple generates a hell of a lot of money from the App store. In respect to the total revenue of all their products it makes no huge dent that is for sure but the App Store alone makes millions.

 

[KyleKlink]

Do you understand that apple is in business to make money for apple? If you don't like the app store make a web app.

Oh, okay then. If it's all about making money then yeah, Apple should be available to filter for me which content they think is appropriate for me.../end sarcasm/

That is an absurd response. Im not asking Apple to give up profits or hand stuff out for free. Im asking Apple to show a bit of respect for their customers and stop thinking that they need to hold our hands all the way.

 

[Nausicaa]

Sure it is.... /s

Explain to me why Apple removes apps containing sexual content and some apps that contain political content? These apps functioned just fine on the iPhone. Im still waiting for someone to take a swing at this for me.

So you're going to sit here and insist, despite the numerous other reasonable explanations to your question, that Apple bases it's business decisions on their ability to stop sexual content from corrupting your mind? Please.

 

[diabolic]

Explain to me why Apple removes apps containing sexual content and some apps that contain political content? These apps functioned just fine on the iPhone. Im still waiting for someone to take a swing at this for me.

Maybe they don't want political apps cluttering up the app store. Probably a good business decision.

Sexual content is an easier one to explain. They want the average user to have a certain experience while using their store.

Ultimately they have every right to be arbitrary in their decisions on what is allowed in their store. They may face consequences of developers going elsewhere, but I think the controlled environment is working.

 

[KyleKlink]

So you're going to sit here and insist, despite the numerous other reasonable explanations to your question, that Apple bases it's business decisions on their ability to stop sexual content from corrupting your mind? Please.

Sexual content is merely an example. If I want an application to notify me every 60 minutes with a picture of a topless woman, this is completely legal. Why should Apple determine for me that this is inappropriate?

You're not seeing the bigger picture here.

 

[KyleKlink]

Even if we want to assume that Apple has no ill intentions with their app store-only approach (which I disagree with), they must recognize that since they are the only source of apps for these devices they must be willing to accept things that they don't deem appropriate. The simply solution here is to allow users to download apps from other sources. Then Apple can remove whatever the hell they want from the app store. Problem solved.

 

[flyguy206]

Oh, okay then. If it's all about making money then yeah, Apple should be available to filter for me which content they think is appropriate for me.../end sarcasm/

That is an absurd response. Im not asking Apple to give up profits or hand stuff out for free. Im asking Apple to show a bit of respect for their customers and stop thinking that they need to hold our hands all the way.

If you don't like it don't buy it.

 

[ViViDboarder]

Ultimately they have every right to be arbitrary in their decisions on what is allowed in their store. They may face consequences of developers going elsewhere, but I think the controlled environment is working.

Ugh! Still nobody is addressing the 2 store argument! I'd be nice if there was another place ON THE iPHONE developers could go.

No, Apple doesn't have to. Yes, it's Apples store so they can say comply or GTFO.

Fact is, it's not in the consumer's best interest. It's all in Apple's best interest. That's fine. They are a business. People should just admit that.

If you don't like it don't buy it.

If it could not be jailbroken, I wouldn't have. I jailbroke and now I have the clean App Store, which I do use, and Cydia, which I use as well to distribute apps that Apple would not approve and where I don't have to pay them.

This is also why my next phone is going to be Android. If I can't guarantee the next iPhone will be jailbroken, I will not buy it. Which is a shame because I do like the iPhone. I'd just like them to cater to the consumer a bit more.

 

[KyleKlink]

If you don't like it don't buy it.

I haven't, and wont. And I'm not alone.

 

[MikhailT]

Even if we want to assume that Apple has no ill intentions with their app store-only approach (which I disagree with), they must recognize that since they are the only source of apps for these devices they must be willing to accept things that they don't deem appropriate. The simply solution here is to allow users to download apps from other sources. Then Apple can remove whatever the hell they want from the app store. Problem solved.

Never will happen for iPhone, I can see for iPad but they're not going to do it.

If you want to download the apps from other source, go jailbreak it. I'm sure iPad will be jailbroken sometime. The fact of the matter is, Apple has the right to determine what can get on their devices, if you don't like it, go buy something else. Apple won't care about losing you or 10,000 customers like you, they already got more than 100K customers right now. They can handle losing 10-50k to gain 1-20m customers.

As someone already mentioned, I don't think Apple really makes a ton of money from the app store, at least not relative to their bottom line. .....

Don't confuse iTunes with the App store. They barely make money off iTunes's content but they make far more with the App store. Remember Apple makes 30% off every paid app sale, they don't have that with the content in the iTunes.

 

[ViViDboarder]

Never will happen for iPhone, I can see for iPad but they're not going to do it.

If you want to download the apps from other source, go jailbreak it. I'm sure iPad will be jailbroken sometime. The fact of the matter is, Apple has the right to determine what can get on their devices, if you don't like it, go buy something else. Apple won't care about losing you or 10,000 customers like you, they already got more than 100K customers right now. They can handle losing 10-50k to gain 1-20m customers.



Don't confuse iTunes with the App store. They barely make money off iTunes's content but they make far more with the App store. Remember Apple makes 30% off every paid app sale, they don't have that with the content in the iTunes.

Yea, but when I buy the hardware what rights do I get? They should not be allowed to prevent jailbreaking, IMHO. If they did nothing to prevent jailbreaking phones then I'd have no problems.

 

[KyleKlink]

Yea, but when I buy the hardware what rights do I get? They should not be allowed to prevent jailbreaking, IMHO. If they did nothing to prevent jailbreaking phones then I'd have no problems.

Let users use the hardware as they please, that's the solution. But Apple will never do this because it is painfully clear that the intention is to control what their users are doing on the iPhone and to squeeze every single penny they can from the customer.

Im not Apple hater, nor am I a fanboy. But there are times when the business practices of Apple are simply indefensible. It might make them some additional coin, but they do so at the expense of their customers' rights.

 

[goobot]

Let the app store remain filtered, then. But open up the ability for iPhone/iPad users to download and install content from other sources. the main problem is not that the apps within the app store are being filtered (though that is a problem), but rather the problem is that it is the ONLY source for apps.

thats called jailbreaking

 

[Nausicaa]

Sexual content is merely an example.

The only example, evidently, you can come up with. You're the one who isn't seeing the bigger picture. There are plenty of 'mature' apps on the store. I'm aware that some apps with sexual content were removed, but I couldn't for the life of me name a single one. They were probably **** to begin with - mere photo albums of nude ladies. Your fixation with them is perplexing. The point is, centralizing app availability in one marketplace results in a better product and offers many benefits to consumers, developers, and in turn Apple as well. Their profit margins and stock price seem to confirm this.

Aside from getting crappy softcore porn apps that may or may not brick your iPad, what are the advantages of having two stores? You might respond 'consumer choice', but out of every iPhone owner I know, myself included, not a single one laments a lack of options on the app store.

 

[Nausicaa]

It might make them some additional coin, but they do so at the expense of their customers' rights.

:lol:

I assure you, none of your rights are being violated.