Comments on: Closed is a recipe for failure

By: Being open when you’re apple – Who is Farhan Lalji?

Being open when you’re apple – Who is Farhan Lalji? — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:26:57 +0000

[...] have to admit I didn’t think Apple would approve these apps, especially after their decision with Google Voice. So why? Why did Apple do this? Here’s my [...]

By: Farhan Lalji

Farhan Lalji — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 13:59:05 +0000

Good point about the Mac model Riaz, think the mac model totally works for niche, but the rules and technology is catching up when it comes to mobile.

The players have some pretty deep pockets (you missed out RIM as well) and they’re not going to stand by and watch Apple like the giant in Redmond has. Innovation and openness on mobile is going to be a different game as costs, prices and models change.

Either way, fun to watch it all unfold.

By: Riaz Kanani

Riaz Kanani — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 13:49:39 +0000

In the mobile space, the question now is whether Google, Microsoft, Palm and Nokia are able to out innovate Apple. Over time being open definitely leads to greater innovation but it is the fast followers who often succeed over the innovators. Apple is no fast follower though – they are pure innovators so I think it likely that over time Apple will either need to be more open or be happy as a small niche cool player.

In the past they have preferred to be the niche cool player.

By: Riaz Kanani

Riaz Kanani — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 13:49:32 +0000

I think we can be pretty sure Google and Apple are actively talking – you can’t really have Google taking advantage of hidden API calls/bending app store rules without active collaboration between the two companies.

Schmidt’s resignation does not change that.

The real issue is Apple’s business model and it is not a new model that has just come about – this has been their model since forever – Macs are a closed environment; ipods the same. It should come as no surprise that they also want to heavily control the iphone as well.

What is interesting is that the iphone is cannabalising ipod sales (see here: http://www.macnn.com/articles/09/07/22/ipod.being.cannibalized/). So Apple is doing to itself what the other mp3 players could never do.

By: Farhan Lalji

Farhan Lalji — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 21:04:16 +0000

Also on the At&T point, by all accounts Apple’s calling the shots on the appstore. Apple has launched a number of services that aren’t available on the AT&T coverage, surely they could release the app in markets and make AT&T the bad guy if they wanted.

By: Farhan Lalji

Farhan Lalji — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 21:01:21 +0000

Good points as always Andrew.

The Schmidt stepping down is definitely due to more then the Goog voice app being rejected. The point that Apple and Google are moving into eachother’s areas without collarborating and making things better for the customer shows the closed mindedness of both.

Arrington is getting a lot of press for his piece, techmeme and the Washington post and the like. I’m sure there are others. Sadly, Arrington’s just the most obvious example. Wasn’t proud of the Techcrunch link, appreciate the call out and the link to the Gruber post.

By: Byekick

Byekick — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 20:29:08 +0000

Interesting stuff as always, but a couple of things worth questioning I think.

You’ve implied that Schmidt’s resignation was related to the Google Voice decision – but surely it’s more to do with the fact that Android is a direct competitor and Google has decided to become an OS provider? What bits of Apple’s business would that leave him to participate in without a conflict of interest?

Secondly, the Google Voice decision is less about Apple as far as I’ve read, more about AT&T but the jury is out on that one.

No disagreement with the general criticism of App Store though – the lack of transparency is clearly causing a lot of understandable anger.

I think the point Gruber makes about Apple’s culture of secrecy and paranoia is pretty much on the mark:
http://daringfireball.net/linked/2009/08/03/anil-apple-secrecy

Did you really cite Arrington as a credible witness..? Tsk.