Apple, Please Let The Good Ideas Live
NetShare Unlikely to Return to U.S. App Store – Mac Rumors.
You’ll be hard pressed to find a bigger Apple advocate than me. I know they’re out there, but they don’t get out much. So, when I dog Apple, you can bet I feel strongly about it.
In a conversation with Teresa Boardman, a Realtor® from St Paul, Minnesota, she stated very strongly, “unless the iPhone will let me access the internet via my computer, like my phone does, I’m never going to switch.” I know this is anecdotal, but when she said it my brain said, “She’s right. The iPhone should enable this.” At the time, only days after the iPhone launch, I figured someone would write an app and that would be that. And someone did.
Apparently that is not that. Apple and AT&T continue to march toward taking more and more control over the applications and services that are allowed on the iPhone. Some of that control is certainly necessary to prevent malware and other “bad stuff” from happening. But preventing truly beneficial apps from making their way onto the iPhone, while allowing dozens of ridiculous “tip calculators” to thrive, is further indication that Apple still doesn’t want to understand the needs of the business user.
It’s not like they couldn’t make money from it. I, for example, would gladly pay a bit more on the data plan to not have to have tote around the wireless card for my laptop. I can’t be alone.
My bet is that this controlling trend will continue. And that should further the Jailbreaking movement. But with iPhone production ramped to 800,000 units per week, the number of users who will opt out as a result of these shortcomings won’t even amount to a speed bump in their sales chart.
This makes no sense to me. But hey, what do I know, I think having a Flash plugin for Safari on the iPhone is a good idea too. Clearly I’m wrong.
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Comments
Jeff, I like having the ability to use my phone as a modem for my laptop. I don’t currently have an isp at our cabin and the functionality can be great for times when a laptop is needed instead of what my phone is capable of. I think the monthly fee to “tether” (in addition to data) is about $15.00. Well worth it to me even if I really don’t need it very often. There are many things that look great about the iPhone but a few small things that keep me right where I am at.
Jeff – I know I am in the minority here but I still have a Palm Treo 755p and it is fantastic, I can use it as a modem take video and the best part, I can use it as my lockbox key. Until Apple gets on board with any of these functions and quits the Big Brother routine I won’t even look at considering an iphone. Just my two cents.
Also, Bawldguy Talking, you can access the MLS here in AZ from an iphone, but they also have a specific wireless site for all mobile users, so it is not iphone specific.
Ok but there are some other features my blackberry has. I mentioned them too. MMS technology would be one, the other is the ability to talk over my home internet connection, the latest pearls will let me do that. There is more, I like the push technology, which means it works like a radio and the email comes to me. I have each account set to make a different sound when the mail arrives so I can even determine urgency without looking at the device. Maybe the iphone will sync with my outlook program too if not that would be another draw back. I can listen to music on my blackberry and do a whole lot of other things that I never do. Can’t watch movies on it, but I rarely watch movies so it is not a draw back.
Oh one more thing, I love T-mobile. They have the most knock your socks off customer service and tech support I have seen from any company. My daughter also uses T-mobile and feels the same way. RIM (Research in motion) the people that invented the drop dead cool push technology on the blackberry also provide customer service and support that is like none that I have ever seen.
Oh one more thing. I never have to touch the screen on my pearl. I can type an entire message with one thumb at a red light, and use the little roller ball on the center of the device to send the message. I am done now.
Bawldguy… that issue is a post all of it’s own. I still, for the life of me, can’t figure out the logic of building them that way in the first place.
Nick… that’s exactly the price I thought might be possible without rankling too many feathers.
D. Patrick… well, as you can see from the other comments, you are certainly NOT alone here. 
Teresa… well, I was actually trying to throw you a bone and pay you a compliment. Boy, give you an inch…
First, I’d also love an MMS option, even though I don’t like most of the quality I see coming from the MMS technology. Which is not to say I’m gaga over the camera in the iPhone, I can just do everything I need with photos via email and apps.
Second, Skype like capabilities will be there soon enough, that is, if Apple and AT&T allow it. If they don’t, I’ll be even more pissed.
Third, the iPhone does do push now. I don’t know if you can set different sound options, but push is doable.
Oh, and I’ve had great customer service from AT&T. I know this because they have screwed up so many times during my time with them. Their people are really, really nice about it.
Oh and one more thing, I type with one thumb on my iPhone at stop lights, and in traffic, all the time, and the big send button is easy to hit.
Just wanted you to know that I have more than one reason for sticking with blackberry. Have been using them for 5 years. Getting ready to buy another.
LOL but you have more fingers than I do. OK it is your blog so I’ll let you have the last word. My onw analysis of blackberry vs. iphone is that the blackberry is still more suited for business. Many iphone owners have never owned a device before with the type of capabilities that iphones and blackberry’s have so they are way ahead of where they were a year ago. For people like me who were the first wave, the blackberry is a must have business tool. Used to use a palm pilot but have never owned a treo, it just do what I need it to do.
wow, 800,000 unites a week…thats alot of units. I never realized that they are going so fast. I gues the price will be droping soon as a result..
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Jeff — Since my local MLS, and the vast majority of them around the country, cannot be accessed via Apple based browsers, why would an agent get an iPhone for business? Has this changed? Thanks.