Has Apple quietly changed its tune on iOS apps that “duplicate existing functionality”?

It sure looks like it. After rejecting several apps for this reason—and being criticized for it—I’ve recently noticed a trend in the other direction. Some examples:

  • GMail - An alternative email client that has replaced Apple Mail for me.
  • Opera Mini - An alternative web browser that doesn’t rely on the WebKit rendering engine.
  • Downcast - An alternative to the Apple Music app for listening to podcasts (previously podcatchers had been rejected)
  • Calvetica - An alternative to the Calendar app
  • Skype - An alternative to FaceTime for video calls

And there are many more. You can count Pandora, Spotify and other services as alternatives to the Music app, and there are god knows how many camera apps.

Posted on Nov 19, 2011 • #text   #apple   #iphone   #app store   #technology  

The Consequences of Apple's Walled Garden

I write at TIME.com:

So let’s be clear: Apple did not ban Miller for exposing a security flaw, as many have suggested. He was kicked out for violating his agreement with Apple to respect the rules around the App Store walled garden. And that gets to the heart of what’s really at stake here–the fact that so many dislike the strict control Apple exercises over its platform. …

What we have to remember is that as strict as Apple may be, its approach is not just “not bad” for consumers, it’s creating more choice.

Posted on Nov 14, 2011 • 4 notes • #link   #time   #apple   #security   #technology  
Apple Gift Catalog circa 1983.

Apple Gift Catalog circa 1983.

Posted on Nov 2, 2011 • 8 notes • #photo   #apple   #vintage  
Somewhere in L.A.

Somewhere in L.A.

Posted on Oct 16, 2011 • 16 notes • #photo   #steve jobs   #apple  
Taken with Instagram at Apple Store

Taken with Instagram at Apple Store

Posted on Oct 8, 2011 • 8 notes • #photo   #apple   #steve jobs  
laughingsquid: Kyle McDonald Being Investigated by The Secret Service Pretty awesome project, but is he seriously surprised?

laughingsquid:

Kyle McDonald Being Investigated by The Secret Service

Pretty awesome project, but is he seriously surprised?

Posted on Jul 7, 2011 • 298 notes • #photo   #tweet   #apple   #art  

Late 90s Steve Jobs on brand marketing.

Posted on Aug 27, 2010 • 4 notes • #video   #apple   #steve jobs   #marketing  
Do you create anything, or just criticize others work and belittle their motivations?

Steve Jobs

Posted on May 21, 2010 • 4 notes • #quote   #steve jobs   #apple   #awesome  
ohinternet: Is the one extra syllable really that much of a hassle, guys? Thank you!

ohinternet:

Is the one extra syllable really that much of a hassle, guys?

Thank you!

Posted on May 11, 2010 • 34 notes • #photo   #ipod   #apple   #pronounciation  

How Wired.com Tracked the iPhone Finder[?]

Folks keep linking to this post on Brian X. Chen’s personal blog, about how Wired tracked down the iPhone seller, with the implication that Wired was somehow super sleuthy. But this article tells us nothing about how they found him. Here is how they picked up the trail according to Chen:

It all started with a Facebook comment. The day Gizmodo published its 4G iPhone bombshell, our former intern Rose Roark saw a suspicious-looking note posted by Hogan on someone’s Facebook wall. She pointed it out to me, and I agreed it was telling.
OK. So But how did they know to look, on that day, at his comments of the millions on Facebook? How was Roark connected to him? We still don’t know how Wired tracked him down. So they used the Internet to track down an address for a name. Great. But how did they get the name?
Posted on May 3, 2010 • 1,255 notes • #link   #iphone   #apple   #wired  
A sterile tethered appliance never felt so good.

A sterile tethered appliance never felt so good.

Posted on Apr 3, 2010 • 3 notes • #photo   #ipad   #apple  

Andy’s got the first iPad unboxing.

Posted on Mar 31, 2010 • #video   #ipad   #unboxing   #apple  
Ads in iPhone maps? New to me. Seen this before? Wonder who’s doing this is. They’re Google’s maps, but Apple wrote app.

Ads in iPhone maps? New to me. Seen this before?

Wonder who’s doing this is. They’re Google’s maps, but Apple wrote app.

Posted on Feb 11, 2010 • 1 note • #photo   #iphone   #google   #apple   #map   #ad  
It’s bullshit.

Steve Jobs on Google’s ‘Don’t Be Evil’ Mantra

Posted on Jan 31, 2010 • 1 note • #quote   #steve jobs   #apple   #google  
Creeper of the Week: Apple’s Scott Forstall I’ll take this opportunity to point out that I nailed it with my prediction that the tablet would be priced under $500. (I won’t mention the handwriting recognition prediction.)

Creeper of the Week: Apple’s Scott Forstall
I’ll take this opportunity to point out that I nailed it with my prediction that the tablet would be priced under $500. (I won’t mention the handwriting recognition prediction.)

Posted on Jan 29, 2010 • 50 notes • #photo   #apple   #ipad   #tablet  
Page 2 of 3
← Previous Page • Next Page →
Jerry Brito is a senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University and director of its Technology Policy Program.
About • Archive • RSS
This is my personal blog. I blog about technology policy at the Technology Liberation Front. I also host Surprisingly Free, a weekly podcast about tech policy.



Be a pal and check out my new book, Copyright Unbalanced: From Incentive to Excess. Thank you.