The biggest complaint, of course, is that Apple is in the loop in regards to what applications are allowed and not allowed.
Fun example: Suppose I write a great GPS program. Suppose, say, Tom-Tom writes a mediocre GPS program. Does Apple approve both, or do they decide that the Tom-Tom application has the best chance at success (because of the name). Do I devote a year to writing a great application only to submit it and be told "No, we're going with a competitor"?
Will Apple make decisions based on content? If I want to write a strip-poker program (or better yet, MacPlaymate) will Apple come along and say, "Nope."
Who decides on prices? I think my wonderfully awesome killer-application is worth $99.95, but Apple decides it's worth $19.99 (and I'll get $13 from that)--like all other iPhone applications.
What about marketing? Suppose I write an iPhone program suitable for a vertical market. Will Apple market it to those people, or will I have to pay for that out of my $13?
How about volume or site licensing? If I write an application which a company wants to deploy to all their employees using iPhones, how does that work? Since Apple is handling the sales, can I offer a discount? Is there any way for the IT department to do this, or will they have to tell the employees to buy it from Apple?
That's why I'm not all that impressed with the "Apple in control" model you describe.
The biggest complaint, of
The biggest complaint, of course, is that Apple is in the loop in regards to what applications are allowed and not allowed.
Fun example: Suppose I write a great GPS program. Suppose, say, Tom-Tom writes a mediocre GPS program. Does Apple approve both, or do they decide that the Tom-Tom application has the best chance at success (because of the name). Do I devote a year to writing a great application only to submit it and be told "No, we're going with a competitor"?
Will Apple make decisions based on content? If I want to write a strip-poker program (or better yet, MacPlaymate) will Apple come along and say, "Nope."
Who decides on prices? I think my wonderfully awesome killer-application is worth $99.95, but Apple decides it's worth $19.99 (and I'll get $13 from that)--like all other iPhone applications.
What about marketing? Suppose I write an iPhone program suitable for a vertical market. Will Apple market it to those people, or will I have to pay for that out of my $13?
How about volume or site licensing? If I write an application which a company wants to deploy to all their employees using iPhones, how does that work? Since Apple is handling the sales, can I offer a discount? Is there any way for the IT department to do this, or will they have to tell the employees to buy it from Apple?
That's why I'm not all that impressed with the "Apple in control" model you describe.