The blissfully bitter Mike Cane throws up this editorial by Daniel Eran, in which he echoes a lot of the sentiments our own Vincent voiced about third-party software and the true meaning of being a “smartphone”. Like Vincent, the initial target of Daniel’s ire is ABI Research whose nit-picking attempts to pigeon hole the 
iPhone has called into question the relative value of aftermarket software.
Taking a virtual shopping trip around the much-vaunted variety of add-ons for Windows Mobile, Daniel systematically compares each of the most popular choices with functionality the iPhone supports out of the box. Memory managers, task switchers (that double as app-killers when Microsoft’s inane “close is actually minimise” policy wipes out your RAM), proper web browsers and email apps, the lists add up to over $450-worth of unnecessary or pre-installed iPhone software equivalents.
Drawing parallels with the games industry, he goes on to validate the third-party lockdown as in fact better for app propagation. Rather than a shareware system where the vast majority of copies aren’t paid for, Apple instead can leverage their iTunes store capability to DRM-lock software to individuals. Now if you subscribe religiously to the “DRM is BAD” ethos you might be shaking your head, but when it comes to programming rights a guaranteed return will in turn encourage software developers to a) code more for the platform, and b) charge less for each copy, since they know they’ll always get paid.
“With the iPhone, Apple has built a secure and easy to use online distribution system that copies the success of the video gaming industry instead of the failure of various mobile OS and middleware fiascos. Software is digitally signed to users, which keeps prices low and ensures a real market for software. It’s already been demonstrated to work on the 5G iPod. The existing 5G iPod games cost $5, whereas Palm equivalents cost around $15-20″
It’s a long and interesting analysis, carried out by someone who obviously has a great deal of faith in Apple and the iPhone itself. I’m looking forward to reading his future “Myth Execution” pieces, which promise to tackle security and Enterprise doubts.
I agree, in order to get a Treo or Windows Mobile smartphone to work the way “I” want it to, I have to spend additional money to purchase third-party apps. In the long run it adds up quick.
>>>The blissfully bitter Mike Cane
Brought almost a smile to my mug.
>>>Brought almost a smile to my mug.
I’m glad you said “almost” – anything more would’ve entirely spoilt my image of you, Mike!