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With the fantastic success of the iPod and iTunes, the successful launch of the tectonically innovative iPhone and the rejuvenation of Mac sales, Steve Jobs seems about to prove himself an exception to the rule that "There are no second acts in American lives." But will he in fact pull it off, leading Apple to dominate the mobile platform of the future after losing the PC to his rivals? Given yesterday's announcements of yesterday, I'm afraid not.
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Yesterday, Jobs announced a new release of the iPhone operating system, and here is where I fear he may be making a fatal misstep. But first, the good news: Apple will embrace the innovation of independent software vendors (ISVs), providing them the technical information to create iPhone-based apps, and providing a ready distribution channel as well. But he also announced that they would have to pay up (30%) and that Apple would be the exlusive disbributor of their work.
So, it seems, Jobs may be about to replay the same mistakes of almost three decades ago. Will developers wish to tie themselves to the whims of Steve Jobs, the same way they did 25 years ago to Bill Gates - and pay a toll for the privilege of doing so to boot? Or will they spend their time working to support more open platforms, such as Android, where there will be less control, no toll booth, and multiple channels of distribution? Haven't they all been there before? Full Story |
