iPod Touch: An iPod & Computer In Your Pocket? - Page 4

Amie · #25 September 16th, 2007, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fryke

That article is, however, just speculation so far. Wait for confirmation before buying an iPod touch if you plan on using iPhone's missing apps on the touch. Check this: http://www.tuaw.com/2007/09/15/the-s...uch-jailbreak/ ... Not looking so good.

Thanks, Fryke. By posting that link, you've introduced me to what looks like a good overall Web site. Hadn't been to that one before. So, thanks!

Now, about this "jailbreak" stuff... I posted a link about it a few posts up. I was totally thrown by it. I didn't realize that one had to do this jailbreak thing with their iPod Touch just to be able to add on the third-party apps. I don't like that one bit! Sounds dangerously like altering the machine (and taking a huge risk of messing things up). Is it???

icemanjc · #26 September 16th, 2007, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amie

Thanks, Fryke. By posting that link, you've introduced me to what looks like a good overall Web site. Hadn't been to that one before. So, thanks!

Now, about this "jailbreak" stuff... I posted a link about it a few posts up. I was totally thrown by it. I didn't realize that one had to do this jailbreak thing with their iPod Touch just to be able to add on the third-party apps. I don't like that one bit! Sounds dangerously like altering the machine (and taking a huge risk of messing things up). Is it???

If you like the TUAW site, you should check out there podcasts.

Mikuro · #27 September 16th, 2007, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amie

Sounds dangerously like altering the machine (and taking a huge risk of messing things up). Is it???

In short: yes.

Neither the iPhone nor the iPod touch has real third-party app support. The only way to add functionality to either is through web apps. For those unfamiliar with the term, "web apps" are those things you don't use on your desktop computer because they all suck.

(I kid, I kid. Web apps are like Dashboard widgets, more or less.)

Everyone assumes that Apple will open up eventually. My theory is that they want total control at first so as to avoid bad press related to buggy third-party apps.

I would reeeeeally want an iPod Touch or iPhone if they supported third-party apps. There's just no way all my needs will ever be met be one single company. I think the same is true of most people.

Amie · #28 September 16th, 2007, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikuro

In short: yes.

Neither the iPhone nor the iPod touch has real third-party app support. The only way to add functionality to either is through web apps. For those unfamiliar with the term, "web apps" are those things you don't use on your desktop computer because they all suck.

(I kid, I kid. Web apps are like Dashboard widgets, more or less.)

Everyone assumes that Apple will open up eventually. My theory is that they want total control at first so as to avoid bad press related to buggy third-party apps.

I would reeeeeally want an iPod Touch or iPhone if they supported third-party apps. There's just no way all my needs will ever be met be one single company. I think the same is true of most people.

I don't understand. Why would Apple allow third-party apps to be added on to their computers but not their iPhones and iPods?

symphonix · #29 September 17th, 2007, 07:18 PM

I think that Apple will need to, at the very least, provide the same feature set from the iPhone on the iPod touch or risk seeing a high percentage of the iPod touches on the market being modded and hacked.

If it were just a couple of little projects out there trying to get Linux or Mame running, then the issue could be safely ignored. Most users don't care much about this kind of hacking.

This case is different, though. There are a lot of potential Touch owners who want the feature set that they've already seen on the iPhone - Maps, Mail, Stocks, Weather - and are annoyed that Apple have decided not to provide these. People are quite likely to try a hack to get Mail working. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised to see 30-40% of iPod Touches shipped in the first three months being hacked to run these apps.

I think Apple need to reconsider their approach to iPod touch software. I can understand that they don't want to have to support Mail.app on every iPod touch. But they need to find a happy halfway point; such as allowing people to install additional apps should they wish to.

Amie · #30 September 17th, 2007, 07:54 PM

Again, that's what I don't understand: Why would Apple allow Mac owners to install what they want (i.e., third-party apps) but not iPhone and iPod Touch owners??? Why? What's the difference? Am I missing something? I mean, if you can do it to your computer without modifying/hacking/jailbreaking and all that jazz, why must you do it that way with iPhones/iPods?

DeltaMac · #31 September 17th, 2007, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amie

... What's the difference? Am I missing something? I mean, if you can do it to your computer without modifying/hacking/jailbreaking and all that jazz, why must you do it that way with iPhones/iPods?

Ah, there's easy file system access on Macs (desktop and laptops). It's a simple matter to copy files into the file system. The Macs with OS X have a stable installer, and lots of apps to easily install.
iPhones, and now the Touch, do not allow such simple access to the file system. That's what the hacks are mostly about - access to the directories and etc.

I don't expect that situation to last too long. Someone will come up with an effective installer. Apple already announced that the OS on the 'Phone and the touch is a substantial portion of the OS X code.

Mikuro · #32 September 17th, 2007, 09:58 PM

I think you're giving Apple too much credit, DeltaMac. The only reason simple access is not possible is because Apple has not cared to make it so. There are no technical barriers here, as the quick hacks prove.

Amie, I've been asking that same question since I first heard of the lack of third-party support. The "official" reason given by Apple and Steve Jobs is that it's for stability, but I think that's bunk. Again, if desktop computers can be stable with third-party apps, why not a handheld computer running basically the same OS? It's just an excuse on Apple's part.

That said, people are stupid, and even if allowing third-party apps wouldn't make it insecure, it might make it LOOK insecure and create a PR mess. It would also make it look complicated, and Apple's selling point is simplicity. It would also make it more like a PDA, and thus draw comparisons to other PDAs out there, which would probably not be good for Apple. They don't want to explode into the PDA market with a sub-par product; if anything, they'll creep in, and by the time they're there the product will be good enough to compare favorably to the competition.

In short, I think the decision is all about business and marketing, not technology.

Again, I expect them to loosen up over time. But I'm not holding my breath on that. It's possible they'll do something similar to what they did with iPod games and control who gets to develop them, and collect royalties from those companies (kind of like the video game console makers). I certainly hope that's not what they're planning, but who knows?

Right now it's all speculation. I, for one, wouldn't buy an iPod Touch or iPhone until this issue is settled. My faith in Apple is not that high, and flexibility is too important to me. Of course, that's just me. Clearly I'm not in Apple's target audience.