Google exec blasts Apple's "Disneyfied" approach to internet

[rudeguy]

http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/356461/android-new-boy-blasts-iphones-disney-fied-browsing


This could get good. Its about time someone at Google challenged Apple.

 

[TheWart]

lol, while one can legitimately criticize the app-store approval process, this guy sounds a little dvorak-like in his lame attempt to somehow make this sound like some great travesty of freedom:

"The iPhone vision of the mobile internet’s future omits controversy, sex, and freedom, but includes strict limits on who can know what and who can say what,"

Last time I checked, I can browse to absolutely any site on the internet I want to on my iphone....and if I really, really, really hate the app store I can just jailbreak.......and guess what, none of the "sharp-toothed" lawyers he rants about lol.

Where was this guy when Google happily censored their search results in China for oh I dont know, 5+ years, in China? Searching for Tienanmen square and getting flags - not tanks crushing people - sounds a lot more like a "Disneyfied" internet than crying about the .1% of apps that get a thumbs down.

 

[TheStu]

With the exception of Flash, there is nothing Apple is doing on teh iPhone or otherwise to alter how people view the internet.

I think that Android, WP7S, WebOS (what of it there is) and BBOS are all challenging Apple and the work that they are all doing, including Apple, is making cell phones better for everyone. None of us can possibly know the answer to this, but do you really think that the Droid, the Nexus One, the Storm, Storm 2, Pre, Pre Plus, and the upcoming WP7S phones would exist if not for the iPhone?

Apple can do wrong, and they do insist upon tight control over their software and hardware, but they do not have a stranglehold on the market, no monopoly here. If you don't like the iPhone for either technical or philosophical reasons, then welcome to capitalism, you can choose something else.

And, Rudeguy, none of this is a personal attack on you, or anyone else. I am just tired of people bashing things simply because it is in vogue, much like the Vista bashing from before.

 

[dguy6789]

With the exception of Flash, there is nothing Apple is doing on teh iPhone or otherwise to alter how people view the internet.

I think that Android, WP7S, WebOS (what of it there is) and BBOS are all challenging Apple and the work that they are all doing, including Apple, is making cell phones better for everyone. None of us can possibly know the answer to this, but do you really think that the Droid, the Nexus One, the Storm, Storm 2, Pre, Pre Plus, and the upcoming WP7S phones would exist if not for the iPhone?

Apple can do wrong, and they do insist upon tight control over their software and hardware, but they do not have a stranglehold on the market, no monopoly here. If you don't like the iPhone for either technical or philosophical reasons, then welcome to capitalism, you can choose something else.

And, Rudeguy, none of this is a personal attack on you, or anyone else. I am just tired of people bashing things simply because it is in vogue, much like the Vista bashing from before.

:thumbsup:

 

[Pliablemoose]

Yep, one of Apples secret ingredients is the walled garden, Google is just talking smack.

Wheres the tethering apps Google?

Why do we have to root your phones to mod them?

After years of hearing about how Google feels the carriers need to be dumb pipes, why are you falling into bed with them?

Why are you charging premium prices for the Nexus One?

Why do you even have an ETF for the Nexus One when TMobile has one too?

Why do you have versions 1.5, 1.6 2.0 and 2.1 versions of Android all marketed at the same time?

http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/01/25/islam-broken-according-google/

Yeah, a software bug Google, yeah....

(in the interests of full disclosure, I have Google AND Apple stock, a lot of both...)

 

[vshah]

Yep, one of Apples secret ingredients is the walled garden, Google is just talking smack.

Wheres the tethering apps Google?

Why do we have to root your phones to mod them?

After years of hearing about how Google feels the carriers need to be dumb pipes, why are you falling into bed with them?

Why are you charging premium prices for the Nexus One?

Why do you even have an ETF for the Nexus One when TMobile has one too?

Why do you have versions 1.5, 1.6 2.0 and 2.1 versions of Android all marketed at the same time?

http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/01/25/islam-broken-according-google/

Yeah, a software bug Google, yeah....

(in the interests of full disclosure, I have Google AND Apple stock, a lot of both...)

pdanet, root-free usb tethering. works on iphone/wm/bb as well

 

[TheStu]

pdanet, root-free usb tethering. works on iphone/wm/bb as well

I think his larger point was that Google, and proponents of Google all love to brag on how 'open' and 'free' their world is, when in reality, I think that Google is just as much a closed wall society as Apple, it is just a wall that encompasses more.

And I am not sure how much of that is Google's fault, and how much is just, the way it is.

 

[MJinZ]

Apple - time to stop giving a shit.

 

[Bateluer]

In all fairness, Google doesn't actively try to brick rooted android devices. Apple does actively try to disable rooted and jailbroken iPhones, with updates specifically released for the purpose of locking out rooting apps and exploits.

 

[Pliablemoose]

In all fairness, Google doesn't actively try to brick rooted android devices. Apple does actively try to disable rooted and jailbroken iPhones, with updates specifically released for the purpose of locking out rooting apps and exploits.

Very true, Apple does make the jailbreaking scene a mess. What would be cool as hell is if they'd release a phone version just for hackers, unlocked and jailbroken...

Although rooting a Nexus One does void the warranty on your phone, as far as Google is concerned, and HTC isn't to keen on rooted phones and warranty issues...

 

[dwell]

As opposed to Google's "Geekified" approach to the internet? Google is the one who does not get it. They need to hire less ISNJ personality types and more ENFPs.

 

[TheStu]

In all fairness, Google doesn't actively try to brick rooted android devices. Apple does actively try to disable rooted and jailbroken iPhones, with updates specifically released for the purpose of locking out rooting apps and exploits.

I think the updates are specifically released to update the OS, and they (Apple) don't give a shit if it breaks your exploit.

Also, since when is it a bad thing for a company to close off exploit access? Really? You're complaining about this? Do you want Microsoft to stop closing exploits in Windows, in IE, in Office? Do you want the people that work on linux to stop closing exploits there? Do you want Mozilla to stop closing exploits in Firefox? Of course not.

Oh, I get it, it is only when the company closing the exploits inconveniences you that you get up in an ire.

 

[theeedude]

Apple is great if you want the hardware maker deciding what network you use, what apps you get to run, and what web sites you get to render.

 

[jpeyton]

Android will rule the marketplace in 3-5 years, and the data supports this. Android has every major manufacturer on board, all the major networks, the it's adoption rate is surging while Apple is in a holding pattern.

Sure, Android will end up somewhat fragmented and have a slightly less polished experience than the iPhone. But the same can be said of the Mac vs. PC market, and Apple's decision to control their hardware AND software in that arena has kept their worldwide marketshare at 3%.

 

[theeedude]

Yep, and Apple knows it, which is why they are suing HTC to try to slow Android down and ride the gravy train as long as they can.

 

[foghorn67]

Yep, one of Apples secret ingredients is the walled garden, Google is just talking smack.

Wheres the tethering apps Google?

Why do we have to root your phones to mod them?

After years of hearing about how Google feels the carriers need to be dumb pipes, why are you falling into bed with them?

Why are you charging premium prices for the Nexus One?

Why do you even have an ETF for the Nexus One when TMobile has one too?

Why do you have versions 1.5, 1.6 2.0 and 2.1 versions of Android all marketed at the same time?

http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/01/25/islam-broken-according-google/

Yeah, a software bug Google, yeah....

(in the interests of full disclosure, I have Google AND Apple stock, a lot of both...)

google can't talk smack until they fix hands free BT voice dialing.

 

[QueBert]

Apple is great if you want the hardware maker deciding what network you use, what apps you get to run, and what web sites you get to render.

Even with Apple controlling which apps you can use. A person still has 100 times the selection of any other phone, even ones that have a completely open app store. And since the Apple App store is so much more popular than any other. The developers are fighting each other to get their apps out first. Also I've never had a single app fuck up my phone up, where I had to do a hard reset on my WinMo phone multiple times due to shitty apps that got released with no testing. Apple did the App store right. I can't think of any I'm left wanting on my iPhone.

 

[jpeyton]

Even with Apple controlling which apps you can use. A person still has 100 times the selection of any other phone, even ones that have a completely open app store.

That's fine an dandy, but the situation will be different in a few years. This isn't going to be a redux of the iPod, where Apple established and held a commanding lead in the PMP market.

The iPhone, in the US, is stalling out at 25%. Even the six-feet-under old WinMo platform still has 15% of the market, and that's before Win7Mo comes out. Android only has 7%, but as a percentage gain it more than doubled its market share and has the industry-wide adoption. Apple/ATT as the sole iPhone provider cannot compete against an army of Android phones from Samsung/LG/HTC/Motorola for ATT/Verizon/Sprint/TMobile that will fight for shelf space and carrier contracts.

 

[dwell]

Android will rule the marketplace in 3-5 years, and the data supports this. Android has every major manufacturer on board, all the major networks, the it's adoption rate is surging while Apple is in a holding pattern.

Sure, Android will end up somewhat fragmented and have a slightly less polished experience than the iPhone. But the same can be said of the Mac vs. PC market, and Apple's decision to control their hardware AND software in that arena has kept their worldwide marketshare at 3%.

Apple will still "win" as they will actually make money directly from each iPhone purchase. Google (AFAIK) only makes money from the adverts in the Google services in Android, and that does not help when a company forks Android and rips out the Google stuff, like AT&T is doing with the Backflip.

Android is more analogous to Linux than Windows. Open and fragmented.

 

[Pliablemoose]

I sort of agree that apple may be stalling a bit in theUS market, but overseas sales are huge, and Apple rarely offers discounts.

Android has a lot of catching up to do, and it's really only got the geek market right now.


RIM is still a major player if they come out with a more competitive touch screen, it's a whole new horse race...

 

[Pliablemoose]

DP, sorry

 

[jpeyton]

Apple will still "win" as they will actually make money directly from each iPhone purchase.

Does Apple "win" the PC market because they make money off each Macbook?

Google didn't make Android to turn a profit off sales/licensing. They are a company that generates profits on ad sales, and they didn't see a very bright future for their company if Apple had complete domination and control of mobile computing. Android being open and fragmented is what Google wants, because from their experience people WANT to use their search engine most of the time.

 

[TheStu]

Does Apple "win" the PC market because they make money off each Macbook?

Google didn't make Android to turn a profit off sales/licensing. They are a company that generates profits on ad sales, and they didn't see a very bright future for their company if Apple had complete domination and control of mobile computing. Android being open and fragmented is what Google wants, because from their experience people WANT to use their search engine most of the time.

In reference to the PC market, I recall seeing a few months ago that Apple controlled 91% of the US market for computers that cost more than $1000. Sure, that is a small subset since everybody and their mother kind of got duped into buying a netbook (led by the pricing, misled on the performance, really don't want to turn this into a netbook thing) and any number of other $500-600 laptops, but if a person is willing to spend money, 9 times out of 10, they are spending it on Apple.

In the first 74 days of being on sale, the iPhone sold 1 million units. Priced at $399 to $599. In the first 74 days, the Droid sold 1.05 million units, priced at $99 (the lowest I saw it for on a deal) to $199 to $499 (I think that is the new price). In the first 74 days, the Nexus One, Google's pride and joy, the one they worked hand in hand with HTC on, the google phone, has sold about 135,000 units.

I think that a future where Android is a large, large competitor is good for the market as a whole with regards to keeping everyone on their toes, but at the same time, is a bleak future where no 2 android phones are alike, where there are 10 different OS versions floating around, some that support this, some that support that. Where there are different hardware requirements, some that have multitouch, some that don't, some that support tricorder functionality, and some that don't. Apple's approach is simpler in that all the (current) devices can all run the same software. There is a little fragmentation, the newest games are better on the newest hardware, and some features are not available on the first gen or second gen, but when those features were released, the 3GS and the 1gen were not being sold side by side like the Droid and the Eris.

 

[dwell]

Google didn't make Android to turn a profit off sales/licensing. They are a company that generates profits on ad sales, and they didn't see a very bright future for their company if Apple had complete domination and control of mobile computing. Android being open and fragmented is what Google wants, because from their experience people WANT to use their search engine most of the time.

The iPhone uses Google extensively. Google Search, Google Maps, YouTube. I don't see that changing either. All Google is doing is releasing a free OS, just like Linux. There's no guarantee devices running Android will use the Google services. This is already happening with AT&T.

 

[jpeyton]

I sort of agree that apple may be stalling a bit in theUS market, but overseas sales are huge, and Apple rarely offers discounts.

The iPhone is flopping in the world's two biggest mobile markets: China and India.

http://www.fonearena.com/blog/2009/04/14/iphone-flops-in-india-now-onto-china.html

http://www.theatlanticwire.com/opinions/view/opinion/Why-China-Isnt-Buying-the-iPhone-1474

I'll be the first person to concede that Apple has the best smart phone on the market right now. That is *NOT* what I'm debating about. If you want to preach about how much better the iPhone experience is, I don't really care.

What I am debating is what strategy will capture the majority of the surging global smart phone market:

Strategy A (iPhone OS): One phone manufacturer (Apple) who signs exclusivity deals with one carrier in each market.

Strategy B (Android): Multiple phone manufacturers who sign with multiple carriers in each market.

Just like Windows vs. Mac OS, the software with the open hardware platform is going to dominate the market.

Maybe in 5 years, Apple will still have the best mobile experience. But I don't think anyone here realistically thinks that Android won't have more of the market captured by then.