First I want to give you guys an update on what's happening with the Global IT Club. Well as everyone knows this is Ethos Week and today former Vice President of Intel Corporation, Ken Fine, will be speaking at 5:30pm. Next week, we will be making a field trip to Menlo Innovations. This is a great opportunity for anyone that is interested in the company to get an up close look at what happens on the inside. The field trip will be next week Friday, March 26th. If you are interested in attending or have any questions, let Jenelle, Chris, me or Professor Drake know.
Now for my main feature story, the punches between Apple and Google just keep rolling. Yesterday, newly hired Android developer, Tim Bray, went off on Apple on his blog. Bray who recently left Window Mobile to join Google, expressed his dislike for the way Apple handles its app store and developers. He explained that Apple's "vision" of its internet future "omits controversy, sex, and freedom, but includes strict limits on who can know what and who can say what. It's a sterile Disney-fied walled garden surrounded by sharp-toothed lawyers. The people who create the apps serve at the landlord's pleasure and fear his anger."
Those are some really harsh words. But Bray did say that as much as he hated that aspect of Apple, he still thought that the iPhone's hardware and software were both great. I really have to agree with everything he said. Recently Apple removed thousands of apps from the App Store that they felt were inappropriate. Some just showed women in bikinis or had names such as iBoobs but didn't actually show any nudity. They removed such apps but kept the ones made by "Big" companies such as the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit App and the PlayBoy App. Why keep some and get rid of ALL others? I just don't get it and thats why I feel Android has a leg up on the Iphone.
I saw that article about how the iStore removed those app that were "offensive" to women. But I didn't know that they kept the sports illustrated swimsuit and playboy app. That is so hypocritical. Who are they to say that an app named iBoob is offensive but not the women touching herself or being nude isn't. Thats crazy. I'll give Bray his props though. That was brave to leave one company and go to it's competitor and to leave with a bang by writing a blog about them.
ReplyDeleteNice post Greg. I also found it funny how Apple has chosen to filter their applications. On one hand you have a OS that was developed using an open source platform and on the other hand you have a company trying to put restrictions on open source hardware. Interesting on how Apple used to bash MS for doing some of the same things that it is doing now with its software.
ReplyDeleteThese are interesting points. However, this comes down to business and political decisions. It's the same thing compared to other media. Music, cable television, and radio deal with the same issues. It may not always be the right thing to do, but it is the majority of what is accepted. It always comes down to the bottom line and this is why big companies dominate flashing their dollar signs.
ReplyDeleteThis amounts to censorship. Hopefully in the future we can still get information without it being filtered by the government.
ReplyDelete2010 has been the year that everyone is out to get Apple. From Google to Sony everyone wants a piece of them. I keep wondering why this year was chosen and must just be that all the technology was ready this year to compete. I wonder if Apple will survive?
ReplyDeleteI agree wholeheartedly with what you said in this blog. Everyone in this class knows that I am not a fan of Apple at all. I came to that conclusion a long time ago, and found myself debating with people over how much Apple sucked. I'm looking forward to everyone finally agreeing with me.
ReplyDeleteIt takes a real lack of class to start trash talking on your first day at the new job. Apple is no saint, so I am not defending them. I can not see that kind of hostile attitude being good for any company's image as it comes around to bite you in the tush at some point.
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