Apple software restrictions

[nasa]

Does anyone know why Apple has an "approval" system for iPhone Apps, but not for software on the Mac?

Very interested to find out why they have used this strategy. Why they impose restrictions on some of the platforms but not on others.

Thanks in advance.

 

[burn]

iPhone apps are distributed through Apple's store. Applications for OS X, like any other desktop OS, can be obtain through various methods and not restricted to a single store i.e. downloading them from 3rd party websites Would be suicide to restrict a personal computer in this way while it is feasible on a less versatile platform like the iPhone.

 

[[)roi(]]

1. Financial reasons -- This way they are assured to get a slice of the pie.

2. Quality control -- for example:
a. Try to avoid the mess Microsoft made...
b. Restrict / significantly reduce the virus problem
c. Simplify the future OS upgrades; if you are sure that the apps you've approved comply with authorised APIs then it's very simple to upgrade your OS. You only need to look at Microsoft Windows for evidence of how complicated it can be to produce a stable OS without control.
d. Secure end user experience; badly written applications can reflect poorly on the phone; this is not always a reflection on the quality of the OS and HW (Microsoft Mobile as example)

3. Secure control of the progression of their platform; this is the key reason Flash is excluded (i.e. Apple do not want Adobe and others to dictate the future direction that their platform should take; they have invested their capital; and do not want to provide any free rides....

 

[ponder]

Apple wants full control over the platform.

 

[DuckieZA]

Does anyone know why Apple has an "approval" system for iPhone Apps, but not for software on the Mac?

Very interested to find out why they have used this strategy. Why they impose restrictions on some of the platforms but not on others.

Thanks in advance.

I have heard before that it may have something to do with the phone/3G part of the equation, in that they need to check the apps so that the phone networks can't be destabilised by badly written apps.

Although, Android doesn't seem to care about that so perhaps that is just a red herring.

 

[Synaesthesia]

Because they want a flawless experience, the app store with it's approval process makes it super-easy for customers to use, plus they know it will always work on any iDevice.

 

[nasa]

Fantastic thanks guys.

Does this have anything to do with Apples "walled garden" strategy?

 

[PeterCH]

Does anyone know why Apple has an "approval" system for iPhone Apps, but not for software on the Mac?

Very interested to find out why they have used this strategy. Why they impose restrictions on some of the platforms but not on others.

Thanks in advance.

The iPhone and iPad are meant to be more of appliance computing devices while the Mac is a PC (personal computer). The former 2 probably enjoy a more widespread adoption among non heavy computer users/expert users while the latter is an ordinary computer with a specialised operating system and caters to experts (being able to do expert things/low level things/professional things) and basic users wanting to use internet, play games or write CVs/letters.

Hence the appliances are more locked down while Mac is totally open.

Of course there is more money to be made in getting a cut of every application. While they could do this in the Mac world, Mac users would probably be up in arms about it and some software publishers may even have refused to release OSX versions of the software and Mac users would suffer more. Apple is not an angel, it's a corporation just as evil (or more so) than MS but at least it has great computing devices and smartphones which are pretty popular among non-enterprise users.

 

[Rudimental]

Fantastic thanks guys.

Does this have anything to do with Apples "walled garden" strategy?

These sort of restrictions on applications and information are what constitutes the walled garden.

 

[PeterCH]

These sort of restrictions on applications and information are what constitutes the walled garden.

Apple is funny - they even allow full 'eroge' (albeit censored) in their app line up - games which may soon be made totally illegal and can even land you in prison in Australia.