4 ms·

This is the main reason Apple can ensure quality. They limit the scope of their hardware so there are no unexpected use cases. Visual voicemail "just works", th

by jotto 18y ago

This is the main reason Apple can ensure quality. They limit the scope of their hardware so there are no unexpected use cases. Visual voicemail "just works", the app store "just works". The problem is that the iphone appeals to geeks, and many geeks are privacy/FSF/EFF purists.

newt0311 18y ago
Why not instead have optional quality? Provide a set of approved programs but still let users install what ever they want.
- jotto 18y ago
  Doesn't Microsoft Windows kind of do this? You can optionally use these "certified drivers" and software from big vendors, but there are always the long tail of apps, widgets, bleeding edge drivers, smiley faces etc, that people will always download and spoil the user experience. Point is, it doesn't work for Microsoft. It's a slippery slope, once you open your platform to anyone (which is great), you'll have a nightmare of support. I agree, the optional policy works fine for power users. I know many geeks who use Vista with no problem because they use the "certified" software.
  - mattmaroon 18y ago
    Right, the problem is, people blame the quality problems on Microsoft no matter where they originate. It's not worth going down that path for Apple, as they've somehow built a reputation around "it just works" despite the fact that it doesn't seem to be any more true from them than anyone else.
  - gommm 18y ago
    But we kind of have that with mac os x... For the drivers and different hardware configurations (admittedly a big part of what can cause problems) not really unless you count os x86. Bue when it comes to software, between input managers, unsanity's extensions and the unix foundation of mac os x letting us play around... we have more than enough things that could potentially spoil the user experience but it still works rather well... That's why I don't really buy the argument that applications on the iphone need to be controlled centrally for stability sake...
axod 18y ago
Completely agree. I'd far rather the "locked down" nature of the iPhone than random issues, bugs and crashes. For most people, the use case is to use it as a phone/browser/PDA etc. Not to use it to hack around with and develop apps for.

by jotto 18y ago

newt0311 18y ago

Why not instead have optional quality? Provide a set of approved programs but still let users install what ever they want.

jotto 18y ago
Doesn't Microsoft Windows kind of do this? You can optionally use these "certified drivers" and software from big vendors, but there are always the long tail of apps, widgets, bleeding edge drivers, smiley faces etc, that people will always download and spoil the user experience. Point is, it doesn't work for Microsoft. It's a slippery slope, once you open your platform to anyone (which is great), you'll have a nightmare of support. I agree, the optional policy works fine for power users. I know many geeks who use Vista with no problem because they use the "certified" software.
- mattmaroon 18y ago
  Right, the problem is, people blame the quality problems on Microsoft no matter where they originate. It's not worth going down that path for Apple, as they've somehow built a reputation around "it just works" despite the fact that it doesn't seem to be any more true from them than anyone else.
- gommm 18y ago
  But we kind of have that with mac os x... For the drivers and different hardware configurations (admittedly a big part of what can cause problems) not really unless you count os x86. Bue when it comes to software, between input managers, unsanity's extensions and the unix foundation of mac os x letting us play around... we have more than enough things that could potentially spoil the user experience but it still works rather well... That's why I don't really buy the argument that applications on the iphone need to be controlled centrally for stability sake...

axod 18y ago

Completely agree. I'd far rather the "locked down" nature of the iPhone than random issues, bugs and crashes. For most people, the use case is to use it as a phone/browser/PDA etc. Not to use it to hack around with and develop apps for.