iPhone = tech equivalent of Snakes on a Plane?

Apple VPs confirm no 3rd party iPhone apps - (TUAW):

Looks like I'll be keeping my 60gb iPod and Cingular 8125 for a while longer. It's a shame really...the iPhone/i6 could have been a killer SmartPhone.

The lucky Gizmodo guys got their paws on an actual iPhone plus an hour of Q&A with some Apple VPs. Here are some of their scoops: The OS isn't going to be "OS X for real." It's more like a pseudo-OS X and, like the iPod, it will not have a public API and open development. This confirms what Dan posted earlier today about no user-installable apps. Which is a shame. I'd really love to see the iPod and iPhone get opened up for more third party software. The screen is the same polycarbonite material as the iPod overlaid with a touch element. Finally, there won't be any WiFi or cellular data syncing, only sync-via-docking.

By locking out developers, Apple is doing nothing but encouraging their competitors to mimic their designs and do things better. While this is a noble movement from a 'we want the world to be better' viewpoint, it's not so great for investors and fans of the company.

The reason Palm is so successful (and to a lesser degree WM5 devices) is that there is a TREMENDOUS 3rd party application market. The iPod has spawned, as we all know, the largest third party accessory market in the history of the galaxy. But they have done so by making the iPod a product that is superior to everything else on the market and through some superb marketing.

Unfortunately, the iPhone is NOT a superior product. Aside from it's looks and the hype that has built up over the years, the iPhone is an overall disappointment. Apple is the company that prides itself on 'thinking different' and being innovative. In this case, however, they have opted to play it safe and coast on their reputation.

Perhaps though, this is all a brilliant scheme by Apple to find out what the world wants from them. Years of hype and conjecture have been invested by the technology world at large over this phone. Now Apple announces it without very many details, and with very few specifics. Not to mention a 6 month lead time (plenty of time for adding/improving features).

It's not too far fetched to think that Apple is carefully making notes from the comments on TUAW, Digg and a thousand other Mac sites. Perhaps they are categorizing complaints and suggestions and putting a virtual check beside each one that is duplicated.

After all, it worked for New Line. Oh, wait, no it didn't.

Apple is playing a very dangerous game. That they would jeopardize the goodwill and respect they have gained in the past decade is shocking. Let's hope they know what they're doing.

And even more importantly, let's hope they listen to the people who WANT to give them hard earned cash for a truly innovative Smartphone.

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