RE: iPhone ad rapped as 'misleading'

Luca,

I also agree with what you say. The iPhone has sort of "broke the mobile web free" from carrier control and restrictions. This will definetly benefit users in the consumption of content.

Also, the restriction of iTunes only music allows for a very well controlled content consumption path from Apple. [as well as security]. By restricting the music playability to iTunes content, they cover their tracks for lawsuits from the music industry..  A device that will play stolen content.. [I'm surprised the music industry hasn't tried to get a larger piece of that lawsuit in action.]

I am not attacking Apple for their iPhone strategy at all. I am glad that they are opening doors for content delivery outside of operators. [sorry if it came off that way]

I'm not allowed to discuss our lofty goals for an "iPhone killer" device. But, I'd like to hope that HP could develop more than just an "iPhone competitor".. I'd like to think that it would make iPhone have to step up too, and not just relax in a dominated market place. ;) The powerhouse marketing and insane brand loyalty of Apple and iPhone are incredibly hard to surpass. That is a completely different topic though.

The same problems that vex the desktop industry of internet browsing, like "IE versus Firefox code interpretation" are rampant in the mobile device industry as well. Manufacturers still don't adhere to standards very well, making it very difficult for content to be consumed across multi-device platforms. With the technology of mobile devices starting to catch up with desktop environments.. Should there be a need for mobile device differentiation from desktop code interpretation? The driving force behind mobile standards was the lack of technological advancement, so "workarounds" had to be created for mobile standards. With technology quickly advancing, are the real limiting factors of mobile content browsing the physical device/form factor, and the device paradigm [touch, click, multi-touch]. ?

Will the iPhone and it's "almost all" internet capabilities drive other device manufacturers to step up their game in the mobile internet content marketplace? [I hope it does].

What is actually keeping the mobile devices from being "ALL" internet capable? It shouldn't just be "ALL".. Mobile devices SHOULD be driving the internet capabilities farther than desktop capabilities, because of other rich features as proximity, location, geo-tagging, device awareness, mobility, communication.. Etc.. These features coupled with it's form factor shouldn't be considered a limiting factor, but one of great potential. They just need to be utilized, combined, packaged, and working together... Which sadly doesn't happen yet... But it's starting to! [insert crowd cheering noise here].

-Geoff

_________________________
Geoff Heath
Hewlett-Packard
Sr. Information Architect


-----Original Message-----
From: public-bpwg-request@w3.org [mailto:public-bpwg-request@w3.org] On Behalf Of Luca Passani
Sent: Wednesday, August 27, 2008 12:03 PM
To: MWI BPWG Public
Subject: Re: iPhone ad rapped as 'misleading'



I do not disagree with anything you wrote, Heath. Apple is not doing
anything for its good heart. They are simply doing things that make
business sense for the company.

Having said this, I also look at it from another perspective. The mobile
web has been (and it still is for the most part) fully controlled by
operators (for the good and for the bad). By leveraging its powerful
brand, Apple has boldly gone where no one else had gone before by
creating a model which disrupted the rules other device manufacturers
had to abide by. They created the device and operators were virtually
forced to sell it for them.
This is revolutionary and creates an opening in a world that was always
closed. This will lead the way for others to do the same and make it
easier for the mobile ecosystem to thrive without operators' consent.

For this reason, I am not too keen on attacking Apple on the grounds
that they are forcing iTunes on everyone. I prefer to enjoy the moment
when carriers are no longer the only path, knowing that other companies
will follow suite.

BTW, this should create new opportunities for HP too, don't you think?
do you guys already have an iPhone competitor?

Luca

Heath, Geoffrey wrote:
> I wonder if Apple used the word "ALL" on purpose, or really thought that "ALL" was okay? Maybe "ALL" was in "normal" internet content consumption... ? Is Flash considered the defacto content consumption delivery method? [no].. I mean, if a company represents their content only via Flash, and doesn't offer it in a non-flash delivery as well.. Is that the iPhone fault for not being able to display it, or is it the developer fault for not delivering content in a "defacto standard"?
>
> The perception that the iPhone is all about User Experience is incorrect. The Business model has sidelined the user experience when it comes to content consumption of music. It is packaged neatly with a sweet candy outercoating, but it's still a business driven user experience model. With excellent marketing, and iPhone "mob mentality", people overlook the fact that they are being herded down a VERY specific content consumption path on a proprietary platform.
>
> I'm not knocking it... it's quite an evil genious idea. Makes perfect business sense, and allows distinct control of the User Experience (for better or worse). Make people overlook missing things and "should be" open functionality with other shiney objects. Apple just happens to have the "magic fairy dust" to make users evangalize their products.
>
> It's like feeding a baby, if you just try to feed him the spoon, he may reject it. If you make an airplane noise and "fly the spoon around", he'll smile and gobble it up. Apple is allowing specific content consumption (insert minced split peas here) with a shiney delivery device (insert airplane noise here).
>
> _________________________
> Geoff Heath
> Hewlett-Packard
> Sr. Information Architect
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: public-bpwg-request@w3.org [mailto:public-bpwg-request@w3.org] On Behalf Of Luca Passani
> Sent: Wednesday, August 27, 2008 11:05 AM
> To: MWI BPWG Public
> Subject: Re: iPhone ad rapped as 'misleading'
>
>
> Ray Anderson wrote:
>
>> The word Apple used which was the problem was "ALL"
>>
> I see
>
>> The other big problem with the iPhone's internet is you can't download
>> things.
>> Its bizarre that the iPhone is one of the very few phones from which
>> you can't download music!
>> (unless you side load or Wifi)
>>
> not really bizzarre if your objective is to make iTunes the only channel
> to sell music and all other content. As usual, following the money trail
> explains a lot (just like with those freaking transcoders)
>
> Luca
>
>
>
>
>

Received on Thursday, 28 August 2008 03:34:07 UTC