Joe Hewitt, the man behind Facebook’s very popular iPhone application, has quit working on the project because he philosophically opposes Apple’s review process, reports TechCrunch.
Hewitt’s statements illustrate just how much the web and mobile are overlapping — and ultimately — colliding. As a former web developer, there was no one gatekeeper that said whether his work was worthy of the internet. Compare that to long-time mobile developers, who have been fighting carriers for years and see Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) as a breath of fresh air. Hewitt tells TechCrunch: “I am philosophically opposed to the existence of their review process. I am very concerned that they are setting a horrible precedent for other software platforms, and soon gatekeepers will start infesting the lives of every software developer. The web is still unrestricted and free, and so I am returning to my roots as a web developer.”
Google (NSDQ: GOOG) has chosen a completely different path than Apple and does not review any applications submitted for its Android platform. Will that force Apple to be more open in the long-term? Will all platforms go the way of the web? Or do web developers, like Hewitt, need to be prepared for the new reality that is mobile?
Crybaby. There are LOTS of systems where you can't just release what you want when you want, and you have to go through certification. In addition to mobile devices, video game platforms require certification as well.
And don't even try to write something serious, like medical software, or work for a company that makes satellites.
This sounds silly, however need some perspective.
Well, many of us do not like restriction… freedom is a virtue, but not at the cost of user experience. I am not a blind fan of Apple, I too poke when really required, but if Apple cares for the end user experience, then they should filter all kinds of misadventures everyone throws at users ( I hope that is the motive). Then some care is always welcome. Whereas Google, whose single minded motive is to generate more web-crap and sell some ad space to clueless businesses who do not even check the efficacy of their ads (God save these old-world idiots!). On the other count Google has no clue on software, look at the Android fragmentation that is already happening. It is a nightmare not only for developers, but also a bigger annoyance for the end mobile users. Now a days who has patience (more importantly competence) for any disciplined work? most are seat-of-the-pants, know-all guys without a clue.
Philisophically speaking, Joe Hewitt does make a good point.
It is somewhat ironic that Jobs and Wozniac were Telco hackers in their youth and now Apple is the best example of a Telco walled garden. Proper exploitation of vertical markets is very profitable and Apple has done an exceptional job thus far. The walls will inevitably crumble however, as the Nokia's and Samsung's of the world will not let such a competitive advantage prevail…..
nor will the hackers of the world…..
it should not be lost on people that ringtones were born as a hack!…..
the odds are the next big thing will have the same pedigree and ironically it will probably be an iPhone hack that sparks it.
And Google will probably buy it.
@keith – "now Apple is the best example of a Telco walled garden" Rubbish. I would hazard a guess that the real best example of a walled garden launched probably 100 apps in the last 10 years and at best, 5% of people were using them. Apple have launched 100k+ apps in 1.5 years and perhaps 100% of iPhone owners are using the apps.
@Scott- your observations about failed walled gardens run by Telco's themselves only highlights the applicability of my "best example" statement.
The app store is a walled garden without question….. so what exactly is "Rubbish" about my statements.
Walled Garden does not mean " failed strategy" it means quite simply a vertical market strategy with a gatekeeper. Quite happy to debate the inevitable death of vertical markets and the futility of gatekeeping, not here on the other hand, to debate the indisputable and thesis worthy failures of Telco marketing. :)
Apple does have some pretty shady approval policies. Sometimes when they don’t approve apps, they won’t even really tell you why. Because they pretty much don’t have to!