[ale] [OT] Are iPhone apps $$$ why Android apps are free?

[Stephen R. Blevins]

Can every contributor to this thread say, in unison, "Vendor Lock-in?" 
*This* is why we push F/LOSS.

Just my $0.02 worth.

Stephen R. Blevins
stephen.r.blevins at gmail.com

On 06/10/2011 11:02 AM, Chris Fowler wrote:
> On Fri, 2011-06-10 at 10:45 -0400, Richard Bronosky wrote:
>> The key reason for this is that you can't even install YOUR OWN app on
>> YOUR OWN device without paying Apple for a developer account. That is
>> wrong. I am diametrically opposed to Apple's policy on this. As a
>> former Apple employee, I have reserved public criticism of the company
>> until it became clear that this policy was not probational. This is
>> not a practice Apple is doing as they introduce something new, with
>> the intention of changing it later. They are steadfast in their
>> position that people should not have the freedom to personalize their
>> iOS devices without Apple's oversight. One of my fears is that MacOS
>> will move in this direction. With the introduction of a Mac App Store
>> and the new Lion OS being much more iOS like, I am really hoping that
>> desktop Linux gets more suitable for daily use. I expect that in 3
>> years (roughly 2 OS release cycles) the Apple desktop will come with
>> the same enslavement as the iPad.
>>
>
> I don't think the App Store for these small devices are all that bad.
>
> I provided an example a couple years ago.  I bought a Windows phone off
> eBay a few years ago.  My intention was to not use it as a phone but as
> a PDA with apps.  I gave up and gave it to an employee.  I got
> frustrated at trying to find applications for it.  There were no
> "stores".  Most web sites that cataloged free or paid programs were
> spammy.
>
> I also got these messages:
>
> "This app not designed to run on this processor"
> "This app not designed for this screens size".
> "This app not designed for this version of Windows CE"
>
> First, it was hard finding an app I wanted.  Once found I had to verify
> that it would run on my device.  Only to be disappointed that I could
> not run it.
>
> This is my only fear of the Android world.  The fear that it becomes so
> fragmented with processors, screen size and resolution, and software all
> over that finding stuff for it becomes a real chore.  Maybe my
> fragmentation scares are unfounded.
>
>
> Currently with Apple there is only two possible screen sizes.  They even
> have examples. "You design a GUI for iPhone this way and for iPad this
> way".  There is no need to do screen size detection.
>
> I'm very interested in Android development since Linux is more of my
> style so I hope to learn about how I can prevent these types of issues.
>
> The one thing I don't like about Apple is how Jobs "deprecates" my
> device to motivate me to purchase a new one.  I have an 8GB iTouch 2nd
> Gen.  I can't run the latest iOS.  I can't do multi-tasking.  There are
> some apps I can't download.   I know this is inevitable with any device
> but I have to wonder if Apple does the prematurely.  They are constantly
> putting out new product and the only way to motivate folks to buy it is
> to obsolete the old.
>
> I would love to see an Android device like the iTouch.  All I see now is
> either a phone or a pad.
>
>
>
>
>
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