Headline Feeds
The biggest news in the Apple-focused blogosphere this week came courtesy of the Google/HTC/T-Mobile G1 smartphone. Can it kill the iPhone? Most Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) fans don't seem overly worried, but it does have a couple of attractive features, like a slide-out keyboard.
Coming back around to Apple and its iPhone App Store, the company has been cracking down with its non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) with third-party developers who get rejected. Plus, hints in the channel are rising -- are new MacBooks on the way?
The Googly G1
Posting on the Cult of Mac blog, Pete Mortensen cuts to the chase with his "Android's Shortcomings Proves Brilliance of iPhone" post. He writes, "The T-Mobile G1 comes up tragically short in the race to launch a widespread, modern mobile OS to prevent the proliferation of Windows Mobile. As Steve Jobs has learned, if you want to do something right, you have to do it yourself."
Mortensen's key points were about what the G1 couldn't do -- it has no built-in Exchange support, no desktop syncing, no video playback, a "comically variable UI (user interface)", no multi-touch on the touchscreen, no headphone jack, lousy music menus, and more. Still, Google (Nasdaq: GOOG), with its Android OS, may not even be gunning for Apple at all -- though its place in the world is still very much up in the air.
"Windows mobile is Android's real target, and when they've revved it a few times Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) will have a hard time convincing handset manufacturers to pay for a winmob license. I wish Google well with Android, but the iPhone stands alone, the haters will continue to list stuff that it doesn't do, completely missing the point," commented Hari Seldon on the Cult of Mac post.
However, the G1 and Google's Android are more likely to compete against Apple's iPhone, according to Ken Dulaney, a vice president and analyst for Gartner's (NYSE: IT) mobile and wireless practice. "It won't compete with RIM (Research In Motion). Android is for consumers, not for business," he told MacNewsWorld.
On Cnet.com's The Digital Home blog, Don Reisinger writes, "I think Android could be a major hit in the cell phone space, but the G1 won't be able to stand up to Apple or RIM. It's too underpowered and its obvious omissions tell me T-Mobile and Google rushed it before it was ready."
A commenter with the handle ovidio_do_basto also noted the difference between the promise of Google's Android and the first case it's locked up inside, posting, "One of the main factors that people seem to be overlooking is that this phone isn't that appealing from an aesthetic point of view. Like the Zune, it looks outdated, and clumsy. Part of the success of the iPhone is the integration and reciprocity between look-and-feel and functionality."
The G1 does, however, have a few excellent features, including the ability to run multiple applications at once -- multi-tasking. "iPhone does not multi-task," Chris Hazelton, research director of the mobile and wireless practice for The 451 Group, told MacNewsWorld.
"As you switch applications -- especially third-party apps -- you close that app, you lose data. This also prevents security applications necessary for enterprise IT departments who want to manage enterprise devices to manage iPhone. But since G1 is background-enabled and open source, developers can create and offer this service, which will drive Android further into the enterprise than iPhone," he added.
The slide-out physical keyboard also has the potential to appeal to users who don't like the iPhone's touchscreen keyboard. Still, third-party applications may become the key.
"Android's success will really depend on the viability of Marketplace ... Google Marketplace will offer several advantages over Apple's App Store -- no governance over applications -- instead community governance and ranking of applications by users. Initially, it will have only free apps, but the absence of an Apple approving or denying -- an open source model -- applications could increase interest by developers hesitant or unable to work with Apple," Hazelton noted.
Meanwhile, Back at Apple HQ
While the pretty surface and easy use of the iPhone App Store has made it a raging success, some developers aren't so happy. Some submit applications for approval and wait weeks without any response. When they do hear back, some say all they get is a maddeningly vague rejection.
AppleInsider writes about Almerica, the creator of a rejected "Podcaster" application that started selling it on its own using an ad hoc distribution method outside of the Apple App Store. Apple has apparently cut off that method of distribution too, generating a generally angered response from commenters.
"Apple behave, you're really pushing it now. Please respect your developers," noted Ireland.
"Absolutely disgusting," added mr_cazorp.
Not all were upset, though.
"I have absolutely no sympathy for Almerica. As an iPhone developer, I don't feel any disrespect from Apple. I understood the rules when I signed up," commented iPhoneCoder. "The ad hoc provisioning method was not intended to be used to sell software outside of the App Store. What Almerica is doing is disrespecting iPhone developers. Potentially causing Apple to disable Ad Hoc provisioning in defense and thereby making it difficult to beta test software outside of the developers own hardware."
And Then There's Those Pesky Rejection Letters Again
In his "Effin' NDA now applies to rejection letters, too" post on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW), Robert Palmer noted, "In response to the negative publicity surrounding some recent, high-profile rejections from the App Store, Apple is now reminding developers that the rejection notices themselves are covered under their non-disclosure agreements."
Most seem to agree with the general tone of the title of the post.
"I've been defending Apple to a degree so far, thinking every small step, while anti-consumer, was logical, but this is too far. Apple is clearly drunk on power. I understand blocking stuff that may cause problems and things that violate the AT&T (NYSE: T) contract, but now it just seems arbitrary. If it stays like this, Apple deserves to have every iPhone jailbroken," commented Tim.
"That seems incredibly inconsiderate and insecure of Apple to censor the only information regarding what kinds of things can be rejected. The only reason for doing this would be to hide unreasonable rejections that would cause bad press," sonicwind added.
So, yeah, a lot of Apple bashing going on by a lot of commentators who are generally pro-iPhone and pro-Apple -- hard to say how this one is going to shake out.
MacBooks Getting Closer?
As Mac-lovers look for any teeny-tiny hint of activity that indicates a new Mac announcement is imminent, the latest clue comes from MacRumors.com.
"According to an anonymous report, six new Mac placeholder SKUs have appeared in Future Shop's inventory system. While we've been unable to independently verify this at this time, the placement of early 'placeholder' part numbers is consistent with inventory practices of some major retailers," MacRumors.com editor Arnold Kim wrote, sparking a storm of hopeful comments.
"So would the six placeholders represent the 3 Macbook models and 3 Macbook Pro models?" commenter 11800506 promptly asked.
"I can only hope!" 840quadra responded, adding. "I am in the process of selling my Macbook, and am hoping for a lower price optioned pro that I can move into, all while getting more features at the same time."
Just for the record, October 14 is the latest consensus guess on the announcement date for new MacBooks. As is usual for the Apple world, only time will tell.
