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iPhone Developers: Mixed Feelings About iTunes Distribution

Monday, February 18th, 2008 at 2:00 PM - by

Apple's SDK for the iPhone will do more than enable iPhone developers to write native software, according to Wired on Friday. It may also enable Apple to expand on its iTunes as a media distribution center, and that has some developers concerned if that's how Apple forces them to go.

"I think a lot of developers simultaneously see this as the best thing and the worst thing in the world," said Daniel Jalkut, the developer of the blogging tool MarsEdit.

The concern is that if Apple makes iTunes the only venue for the distribution of iPhone native applications, there will be a loss of control by developers. A lot of trust in Apple is required.

Even so, the ability to dock an iPhone, purchase and download an application has a lot of appeal. Apple has turned iTunes into a world-class media distribution system, having sold for than 4 billion songs. Some estimate that 20 percent of the U.S. population buys its music in iTunes.

"From a consumer perspective, the experience of looking for and purchasing software for their devices will come from this one unified and familiar platform, and that adds a lot of value," said John Chuang, an economics professor at the University of California.

Despite the plusses, developers still have issues about whether iTunes will inhibit competition, whether the licensing terms will dictate the kinds of applications available and even the eligible developers, and whether will other channels of distribution will be prohibited.

Bryan Gardiner wrote that it's unlikely Apple will muck up its relationship with developers, and Apple will want as many new natives apps as possible. In addition, a few killer apps could propel the iPhone even further than it gas gone so far. Even so, the new scheme likely won't make 100 percent of the developers happy.

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A guest said: (hide)

Mon Feb 18, 2008 3:57 pm

"From a consumer perspective, the experience of looking for and purchasing software for their devices will come from this one unified and familiar platform, and that adds a lot of value," said John Chuang, an economics professor at the University of California.

I couldn't disagree more. It adds a lot of value to iTunes, but it adds no value to the consumer to limit the distribution of iPhone apps to just Apple's own site. This is just another example of how unwilling Apple is to let users do what they want with the devices that they have purchased. What would truly be add a lot of value would be iTunes distribution AND an open platform. Allowing people to get applications from a central location will add value, of course, but not as much value as that and allowing users to get software direct from producers. It produces a more intimate relationship between the development team and the users, and allows development to incorporate feedback faster with a shorter iteration cycle. That is what adds "a lot" of value.

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Small White Car said:

member since 02 Jul 2004 with 1960 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

Mon Feb 18, 2008 4:36 pm

Anonymous wrote:
but not as much value as allowing users to get software direct from producers. It produces a more intimate relationship between the development team and the users, and allows development to incorporate feedback faster with a shorter iteration cycle.

Please explain.

The developer works on their software and posts it on a website viewable by browsers like Safari or IE.

vs.

The developer works on their software and posts it on a page viewable only by iTunes.

Ok...what't the difference? How is one more "intimate?" How does one lead to "shorter iteration cycles?"

Those sound like good things I guess, but you've offered no thoughts on how one of those methods leads to more of those things and the other to less of those things.

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TosaDeac said:

member since 05 Feb 2008 with 16 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

Mon Feb 18, 2008 5:19 pm

I think in general this iTunes distribution of iPhone software is not going to appeal to all those out there that are hardcore about customizing their iPhones through jailbreaking. They will view it as just another way Apple is keeping them under their thumbs. But for those of us (and although there have been a large percentage of iPhones sold specifically with jailbreaking in mind) who love their iPhones the way they are will benefit from a controlled distribution of programs that will work and be safe to use without (as much) fear of crashing out the whole device. It also will make distribution much further. In general I would have to think that companies that go through the process (however stifling they view Apple's restrictions) they will sell their product much more than if they tried to do it on their own. Every single iPhone owner will see the program that is offered on iTunes, but only a small percentage will find it on some random website dedicated to that program only.

What I also never understand is why people think it is their right to modify something they purchased to suit their needs? If it doesn't fit your needs, then find something else or just deal with it! If you want to customize, then go ahead, but at your own risk, and don't expect Apple (or any other company for that matter) to fix your product when you screw it up!

I'll keep using my boring old factory edition iPhone now and look forward to whatever "legal" programs are out there when they come out.

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A guest said: (hide)

Mon Feb 18, 2008 7:03 pm

Quote:
What I also never understand is why people think it is their right to modify something they purchased to suit their needs?

That is just a daft statement.

Of course it's their right. Some people are adventurous and like to explore the possibilities of their toys.

Personally, this SDK will probably finally get me buying a Mac.

I am itching to develop for this little toy. If I can publish my results on iTunes, then fine. If it doesn't suit iTunes, I would hope that I can place it on any suitable ftp or web repository.

Flexibility. Use iTunes if it's suitable, but allow developers to supply their wares by other means. Someone providing a GPS module, for example, would probably want to supply a CD along with the hardware.

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A guest said: (hide)

Mon Feb 18, 2008 7:13 pm

Clarify: When we say iTunes here do we mean the iTunes Store or the iTunes software. Suppose I place a piece of software in the appropriate folder, will iTunes (the software) install it into the iPhone for me?

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emjoi said:

member since 18 Feb 2008 with 1 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

Mon Feb 18, 2008 7:42 pm

iPhone applications are running on MacOS X, and actually take the same structure as Mac programs. You literally have a "Mail.app" file, which is placed in a similar location to that you'd use on a Mac.

I hope that you can drag 'n drop "Doom.app" into your "Applications" library in your personal iTunes, and have it synced in. Otherwise, I'm sure other means, using FTP or SSH, will be written by the jailbreak folks. And that's not in Apple's interests, so I hope they have some common sense with this and be flexible.

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Intruder said:

member since 07 Jul 2004 with 3149 posts, TMO Mac Specialist, send him a message or view his profile

Tue Feb 19, 2008 12:32 am

Anonymous wrote:
Quote:
What I also never understand is why people think it is their right to modify something they purchased to suit their needs?

That is just a daft statement.

Of course it's their right. Some people are adventurous and like to explore the possibilities of their toys.

Personally, this SDK will probably finally get me buying a Mac.

I am itching to develop for this little toy. If I can publish my results on iTunes, then fine. If it doesn't suit iTunes, I would hope that I can place it on any suitable ftp or web repository.

Flexibility. Use iTunes if it's suitable, but allow developers to supply their wares by other means. Someone providing a GPS module, for example, would probably want to supply a CD along with the hardware.

I think TosaDeac's point is that people expect Apple to fix things when they get screwed up after they were warned that Apple is not responsible if the user modifies something outside the norm.

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JulesLt said:

member since 06 Jul 2005 with 136 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

Tue Feb 19, 2008 7:24 am

Step back and think about this.

The 'unlimited' data plans sold with the iPhone are based on the fact that you can't really consume that much bandwidth with an iPhone. You can easily see that by looking at the cost of an unlimited data plan for a wireless broadband dongle for a laptop.

If you change the nature of the device such that it is using Skype, or downloading torrents, then you're changing the business model too. And if you look out there, no one offers an open device, any application, unlimited data plan that is also cheap.

The phone networks are still fighting a battle to avoid becoming mere pipes for bits, even though that outcome is logical and inevitable.

QED - the apps on the device have to be managed. If there is an option to download and install unsigned apps, then they will be sandboxed to a degree that will not satisfy the type of people who want to run unsigned apps.

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moof_in_charge said:

member since 19 Feb 2008 with 4 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

Tue Feb 19, 2008 11:55 am

All the argument about trust in Apple is hogwash. iPhone is an Apple product, if you didn't have trust in Apple, you'd be developing for some other platform.

Bottom line detracting factor is money. That is the single biggest element which will raise developer ire. If Apple is going to ask for a chunk of developer revenue for the privildeg of distributing their software, developers will have an issue with that. (the ones that will actually command a price)

The other issue is marketing, developers with keen business sense like to control their own marketing, implement spot-on sales, create bundled packages with other software titles or simply institute other hooks that may not adhere to iTunes setup/policy.

From the consumer side, I love the idea of going to one place and view all my options, I love the fact that iTunes handles my software installation and activity. So from the consumer side I win, but I also think this win will come in form of a higher price if Apple were to collect a royalty for the service... so there you have it.. change the word "control" with "money" in the above article and it will be closer to reality

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