John Gruber: Forever is a long time: “There’s only one way to pressure Apple into opening up iPhone development, and it isn’t by developing underground iPhone apps. It’s by not buying iPhones.” You can actually buy an unlocked iPhone in Australia for less than AUD$800 (although I suspect it is going to get more expensive as new iPhone builts all have 1.1.1 firmware). However by buying more iPhone, iPod, AppleTV or other proprietary gadgets from Apple is actually giving Apple the wrong message — “you can stay closed and we’ll still give you money!” That’s why I will never buy an iPod.
Scott Yang's Playground
Faith, Technology and Randomness in Life, According to Scott
Oct 5 2007
Probably shutting the barn door after the horse has bolted on this one.
With the Iphone, Apple have gone one step further and are revenue sharing with AT&T. An insidious step that all other mobile phone manufacturers are now salivating over.
This arrangement then forces carrier lock-in in order for Apple to make their money. So in this case, unlocking the Iphone is costing Apple and lead to the current state of constant Itunes updates to lock down the loopholes.
I see Apple’s eventual announcement of an SDK as a grudging step to stop the hackers. Especially as they’ve developed such compelling stuff against their wishes.
In this case, hacking the Iphone is very much forcing Apple’s hand. Every phone in the wild is lost revenue.
Apple’s always had an arrogant streak. I guess thats part and parcel of Steve Jobs. Its only now that we’re seeing it emerge again with the company riding so much success.
There are plenty of options to use with an Ipod so I’ve never had an issue with it. However the current Apple behaviour is on the nose with a lot of people. Myself included.