Live data from Hacker News

Apple Relaxes iOS Restrictions On Development Tools, Publishes Review Guidelines

apple.com

41–50 of 240 posts

Re: Apple Relaxes iOS Restrictions On Development Tools, Publishes Review Guidelines

#41
Just in time for me to start coding my first iPhone app!

I'd wanted to use Appcelerator's Titanium to avoid learning Objective-C and to keep my options open with respect to Android phones. I've sat on the development on this idea for a few months now wondering if Apple would finally reveal their hand. I'm glad they did but I'm honestly surprised that they've done "the right thing" and moved away from monopolistic tactics.

Wahoo! Coding starts on Monday :)

Re: Apple Relaxes iOS Restrictions On Development Tools, Publishes Review Guidelines

#42
post #12
post #3

Welcome, but long overdue.

It still doesn't really matter. They can revoke this stance whenever they want. It still remains risky to base your livelihood on a format completely controlled by someone else who ultimately couldn't care less about your needs.

Who do you develop for? Don't say Android unless you mean rooted Android. In which case you could also develop for jail-broken iOS.

EDIT: As explained below, my point isn't that Android isn't open today but that it's their (or the carrier's) platform.

Re: Apple Relaxes iOS Restrictions On Development Tools, Publishes Review Guidelines

#44
post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It still doesn't really matter. They can revoke this stance whenever they want. It still remains risky to base your livelihood on a format completely controlled by someone else who ultimately couldn't care less about your needs.

Who do you develop for? Don't say Android unless you mean rooted Android. In which case you could also develop for jail-broken iOS. EDIT: As explained below, my point isn't that Android isn't open today but that it's their (or the carrier's) platform.

What are you talking about? Target the Dalvik VM and Google doesn't care what you do, what language you do it in, or what tools you use to build it. Sure there are some parts of the system that you can't access without root privileges, but that's an entirely different issue.

Re: Apple Relaxes iOS Restrictions On Development Tools, Publishes Review Guidelines

#45
post #40

So, how about all those people that were supporting apples' right to run their app store the way they see fit and who said that there is no point complaining about it? I think this proves that complaining about stuff like this is well worth the effort, assuming that that - and not some backroom pressure - is what caused them to back off. They mention it in their release so I figure it must have been a major factor. e…

Well, personally I think there is a difference. I completely agree that it's always good for a customer to complain about the product if there are problems. Gosh: read all the Mac faithful complains when a new MacOS comes out! Similarly if your phone doesn't work, or your car is not comfortable you go and complain. BUT, the crucial word there is customer. People who would never buy an Apple product out of principle,…

The argument has been made that for every iphone developer that would quit making apps another (or two) would take their place. And that may be true. But a developer that has quit is not going to sit around and do nothing.

He's going to use his expertise gained on the one platform to make a go of it on the other. So an exodus of frustrated developers is really a very big problem.

Of course the customers will never know of anything like that happening behind the scenes. But they'll see their buddies with their shiny non-apple phones do stuff that they'd like to be able to do.

Where developers go, customers follow, you ignore them at your peril.

Re: Apple Relaxes iOS Restrictions On Development Tools, Publishes Review Guidelines

#46
post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What's the point of such a comment. It reminds me of the pundits talking about how it was "About time" copy & paste was devised. Be glad that Apple isn't so prideful that they aren't able to make changes like this. A lot of people and companies wouldn't be able to admit things like thing to make the right decision. Whether it was fast enough for you is entirely besides the point. They couldn't have just opened up the…

The point was that Apple could have avoided much pain and suffering for all concerned if they had done the right thing in the first place. Now we just need to be able to run programs not purchased through the Apple store and access my iPod without having to use Windows, and I will have to take Apple of my "somewhat evil" list.

I disagree. Apple's stubbornness has its problems, and sometimes it's a pain. At the same time this uncompromising stances are common among those with strong believes and vision. And Apple has those (if you agree with their believes and vision is another story though ;) ).

Case in point: the original Mac had no arrow keys to FORCE the developers and the users to change their frame of mind and make heavier use of the mouse. Had they compromised maybe people would have gone for the path of lowest resistance, and people wouldn't have accepted the advantages.

Other cases: - USB (how long did it take in the PC world to get rid of serial ports?) - 64-bit cocoa (or rather 64-bit carbon) etc...

It may seem madness, but there is logic in the madness. And usually if after many months if not year they are still proved wrong, Apple relents (e.g. fat Nano, Cube, DVD>CD-RW, tabs on top in Safari, etc...).

Re: Apple Relaxes iOS Restrictions On Development Tools, Publishes Review Guidelines

#47

Just in time for me to start coding my first iPhone app! I'd wanted to use Appcelerator's Titanium to avoid learning Objective-C and to keep my options open with respect to Android phones. I've sat on the development on this idea for a few months now wondering if Apple would finally reveal their hand. I'm glad they did but I'm honestly surprised that they've done "the right thing" and moved away from monopolistic tac…

Just too late for me, bought an android on Monday!. Too bad, I figured I'd waited long enough and had decided they were not going to budge.

Re: Apple Relaxes iOS Restrictions On Development Tools, Publishes Review Guidelines

#49

So, how about all those people that were supporting apples' right to run their app store the way they see fit and who said that there is no point complaining about it? I think this proves that complaining about stuff like this is well worth the effort, assuming that that - and not some backroom pressure - is what caused them to back off. They mention it in their release so I figure it must have been a major factor. e…

The thing is most of the complaining about this was not the constructive "hey, Apple have you considered so-and-so", but rather the whiny "waaaa... Apple are Nazis" kind. And as you point out there is no evidence that it is the complaining that made Apple reconsider. It could very well be something entirely different, e.g. the FTC probe.

I think you mean "as you point out there is no proof...". He points out that there is evidence in his "They mention it in their release" sentence.

Re: Apple Relaxes iOS Restrictions On Development Tools, Publishes Review Guidelines

#50
post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, personally I think there is a difference. I completely agree that it's always good for a customer to complain about the product if there are problems. Gosh: read all the Mac faithful complains when a new MacOS comes out! Similarly if your phone doesn't work, or your car is not comfortable you go and complain. BUT, the crucial word there is customer. People who would never buy an Apple product out of principle,…

The argument has been made that for every iphone developer that would quit making apps another (or two) would take their place. And that may be true. But a developer that has quit is not going to sit around and do nothing. He's going to use his expertise gained on the one platform to make a go of it on the other. So an exodus of frustrated developers is really a very big problem. Of course the customers will never kn…

At the same time developers follow customers. ;) It goes both ways.

But yeah, I agree with you. Do it at your peril, and they tried, kept going probably thinking the pros. out-weighted the cons, and eventually after 2 years pushing it, they relented.

That's all I am saying. And yes, I admit Apple would have sticked to its guns for a little bit longer (basically until, like in today's mac, users were so familiar with the mac UI, that any rougue developer would change it at his peril ;) ).

But anyway, customers feedback or developers feedback (as you point out) is very very different from the trolls and haters you see populating internet forums. :)

Post reply on HN