Comments on: Why iPhone developers should defect to Android

Don Reisinger thinks Android can be a refuge for rejected iPhone developers. Even better, he thinks it could make Apple change its ways.

[CrashPad63]

You know most of you folks in here outta go in politics. You can spin anything! Now a voice from the hick section. This is crap. Apple is doing exactly what they did before, and we all know what happened then. That is they give us what the "think" they know is best for us consumers. The sheer arrogance of this attitude boggles the mind.
And most in here are defending this? This is just unbelievable. Hold Apple to task on this. Make them bring out products we want! Demand they stop this foolish charad "for our protection" They tried that before, it didnt work. Microsoft beat you with "good enough" and are beating you again. Jobs wake up!

[canettijazz]

The reason why developers won't abandon the iPhone is $$$. The potential to reap significant profit from is a huge driving force. From developer feedback, the iPhone development tools are very useful and helpful.
Don't know if it can be said that Apple has had a great relationship with developers pre-iPhone. Microsoft probably has better developer programs and richer tools. That being said, I definitely see and agree with Apple's stance to control what can/can't be installed onto the iPhone. The worst thing that could happen would be if there were rampant worms, viruses, and spyware targeting the iPhone. Apple probably wasn't prepared for the volume of applications being submitted. This means Apple is essentially performing QC testing for each app.
What Apple can do to improve is:
1) allow discussion, seminars and publishing of books on the topic of iPhone development.
2) give developers guidelines for app acceptance criteria.
3) following Apple iPhone software updates, allow fastracking iPhone app updates that are broken following an Apple update

[w i n t e r m u t e]

The author states that Apple is being heavy handed for removing some apps from the online store, like NetShare by NullRiver. News flash: NullRiver's NetShare goes against AT&T's user agreement by allowing data tethering on the iPhone data connection without paying the extra "data tethering" fee. If Apple allowed this, they would have hell to pay from AT&T.

The author further complains that Apple prevents some apps from being sold... uh... yes... it's called screening and ensuring the privacy and integrity of user data in the system. Apple would surely make more money from the sale of iPhone apps if it allowed ALL apps to be sold and didn't bother to take the time to screen things... but then we'd have a ton of crapware and spyware being sold to iPhone users.

This article isn't newsworthy... it's just junk.

[w i n t e r m u t e]

The author states that Apple is being heavy handed for removing some apps from the online store, like NetShare by NullRiver. News flash: NullRiver's NetShare goes against AT&T's user agreement by allowing data tethering on the iPhone data connection without paying the extra "data tethering" fee. If Apple allowed this, they would have hell to pay from AT&T.

The author further complains that Apple prevents some apps from being sold... uh... yes... it's called screening and ensuring the privacy and integrity of user data in the system. Apple would surely make more money from the sale of iPhone apps if it allowed ALL apps to be sold and didn't bother to take the time to screen things... but then we'd have a ton of crapware and spyware being sold to iPhone users.

This article isn't newsworthy... it's just junk.

[Prince2k3]

I for one don't think google phone will sell well... its so ugly looking. Why is it bulky? HTC should have made that phone look really nice. I've seen the Touch HD and others and the a nice looking phones. iphone is a nice looking phone with a nice interface. I've seen old people buy it because its appeals to them and it has nice easy to use then an atm machine features. the iphone user base is high why not develop for it. Why must people always go against the grain if it doesn't suit you then theirs complaining and then you bash. if you don't like it don't develop for it. don't complain if you can't handle development rules and regulations for a specific platform go somewhere else. I like both platforms and I will develop for both its fine, just hate the first gen G1 look. developers complain to much just do it and shut up or don't do it and still shut up.

[gggg sssss]

hard to text and drive on a touch screen in california. The HTC keyboard is much better

[groupeone]

A good friend of mine runs a small software development company, and they are a new developer for the iPhone. A week ago, they submitted their first app to the Apple iTunes App store. Today, it launched on the store. When I asked my friend about the experience, he replied, and I quote:

"Problems? None whatsoever. I found the experience of developing and submitting our app to iTunes to be straightforward and without any problems. So long as you really think through in advance what your objectives are, and follow Apple's published developer guidelines, anyone should have no problems at all. We're already making money. So I am happy!"

Is Apple's process perfect? No. Is Apple trying to protect its iPhone and iPod Touch users with stiff standards? I think so. From a developer (not a columnist) perspective, so long as you do your homework and follow the rules, in a week's time, you app can be making money.

Memo to Don Reisinger: next time, do your homework, and talk with developers who are successfully doing business through the iTunes App Store. You might come away with a different perspective.

[propellerhead3]

Ya right, and in a few years Google can hire some 10 year past his prime actor to help explain why every time you try and make a phone call you have to reboot your phone.

[Ian Kirkland]

@ mknopp: " Most posters here are looking at this completely from the user side, but think about this from a developer's perspective. A developer could spend hundreds of man hours developing an app for the iPhone and then for little to no apparent reason have it rejected by Apple."

In the NDA and the SDK there are statements about the kind of apps apple will not accept. Admittedly, they are general but I think if your app generally fits in one of those categories you may be wasting your time.

If I spent hundreds of hours writing the whoopy cushion app that was not allowed on the app store I think I wasted my time but not because Apple banned it. Just like the flashlight apps of which there are at least several, it should be said that they are pointless because the screen is already soooo bright!. They are on the store because they are harmless.

[bdkuchera]

Google is a monster of all monsters. Apple is actually going to be one of the few companies that might be able to defeat a massive new standard that is on the way (android). If Apple stays the course, they can win a good piece of the pie by what Steve Jobs has always done (keep it all in house). Even though that is rather megalomaniac and how Apple has always been, with an adversary like Google, I see this as the only chance for Apple to make it. That is unless Apple just gives up on software and becomes a hardware manufacturer that runs only Google software. That's not Apples game. It's literally the only thing that is going to keep them in alive in a world of device convergance.

I hope Apple stays the course with their products, but makes them cheaper and better supported. Google should do its own thing. Crossing that doesn't help I think. Apple, no matter how you look at it, is the best underdog out there ---um---unless Atari comes back, which would be really cool if you ask me.

B.D.Kuchera

[lacfnc06]

Google has done an amazing job so far communicating with its developers and i hop they will continue to. The sdk download site, since it was created, has had ample amount of useful information for developers. The fact that they held the developer challenge, not only allows, but brings in, many developers to the android platform. if i was a developer, i would much rather develop for an open OS in the works (android) that is offering me a lot of money if i do a good job, than for a very popular OS that i could possible be rejected from (iphone), and that would make me A LOT less money than what google is offering me just for making the app.

what i don't understand is apple's thought process. many apple products lack key features that would really make a lot of people happy. for example, the app store needs not only a way of knowing app requirements, but also a rating system; also, the ipod doesn't have a radio!!! it would be very easy to put a radio in their devices. BUT apple's overall goal is to have control over everything that is done, in the short run thats good, but in the long run, they could easy fall behind other major companies. apple doesnt have they right things for their app store because they want to let people know that they're way above the developers and users. the reason for no radio in ipods, is because apple wants everybody to but songs from itunes. if there was a radio, people could opt to listen to the radio more often than listening to songs purchased from itunes.

well, this is just MY OPINION. i'm not saying its right, but its WHAT I THINK. i dont want people commenting on this with stupid comments disproving what i'm saying, when in reality they dont know what they're saying and they're embarrasing themselves

-lacfnc06

[trd1282]

talk about putting lipstick on a pig....

[vishakha_ate]

the iPhone was a hit before the Apps store. it going to take a lot more to get developers to ignore such a remunarative market

[AppleSuxLeo]

Apple...be afraid...be VERY afraid of Android and Amazon MP3/MySpace Music !
A warning shot has been fired across the bow of Apple , with a huge follow-up salvo to follow.

[ktawlks]

For all you making the argument that Google's open platform is opening up for attack and that they don't have any filtering of malicious software you should really read around or search before you decide to make outlandish statements. There are 2 articles to take immediate note of, One of them having direct quotes from Larry Page (if you don't know who it is, google it, haha). There will be security in place and the ultimate issue which everyone ignores is the whole apple not communicating. Tired of being told how amazing apple is when they refuse to do simply things.

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/23/radical-openness-on-the-google-phone-at-least-for-now/?hp

http://itmanagement.earthweb.com/secu/article.php/3714096

[swiggins]

your 100% wrong. Apple KNOWS Apple. That is exactly what made them what they are today. I have been using macs for 15 years and there was a time when you couldn't even send an attachment in email to a PC user. Mac is their own little club which happens to be a big little club now. A REALLY BIG little club in 2008. Part of what brings people to the iphone and ipods (still waiting for Zune to be an ipod killer) is how effortlessly it works with imacs and other macs. You just don't get that ease of use with PC's know matter what YOU think.
Developers go where the money is, and the money is now coming from Apple products. People just DON"T want an android. Sure you will have tech heads and PC nuts buy it, but that's it. . . . it's NOT going to do any more than the zune or in gaming the psp (which by the way 3rd party devs are now abandoning for the same reason)
I like macs quality control and I also like the fact that they don't let just ANYONE into the dev club, I really hope it stays that way, for quality control purposes.

[ktawlks]

You obviously missed the entire point of the article. This is about the developer not about your terrible attempt to make your ignorant view known and your clear ignorance of the terrible management of recent Apple. Along with the complete void of any sensible communication.

[geezzerr11]

by the looks of it the apple fanboys are just swarming to this article. How many of them would buy a car if the seller told them they could only drive on Sundays and buy Iraqi sourced gasoline? If they didn't the seller would personally break their car for themnot many I'll bet but they're willing to do as they're told by Apple.
No doubt there is money to be made selling a few exclusive products at exorbitant prices Apple)but there's more to be made selling many products with a small profit on each like MS.

[saulfuckenhudson]

I LOVE SLASH LOL WHO ELSE?????????????

[n0th3r3]

It's a double edged sword. You get more competition but you get a lot of crap people can do without. I'd say for every one really brilliant and innovative idea you're going to have hundreds if not thousands of bad ones, and I'm not convinced virtually no scrutiny is a good idea from a security standpoint, especially while I'm sifting through hundreds of programs trying to find the worthwhile one.

[Earl Benzar]

Reading some of the comments, is it true the author is a Google employee? If that is true, this is a serious conflict of interest and you should clearly have that disclaimer. Where is Cnet's journalistic integrity?

BTW, your article failed to convince me to stop developing for the iPhone.

[ckurowic]

Apple doesn't say much to the rejected "developers" because saying "Go home, you suck, your application sucks, don't quit your day job" isn't very politically correct. Most of the rejected apps are total junk, who the heck wants a "pull my finger" app? Come on, you are not a developer! You are some punk who knows how to slap together some code with a picture and a fart sound, woooow. You really think you are on par with developers like Laminar Research? Get real.