Apple business

Upon the great success with the iPhone/iTouch/iPad, Apple started to control more strictly the content of these devices.

Some of what happened so far:

1. Apple bans Flash from iPhone/iTouch/iPad.
2. Developers create a way to convert the Flash to Apple code so it can work with the devices.
3. Apple bans these converted apps.
4. Apple and Google try to buy AdMobs (ads for mobile networks).
5. Google outbids Apple.
6. Apple creates iAds, competing network to AdMobs.
7. Apple bans analytics causing a steep reduction in AdMobs ad buyers.

Apple seems focused on money. Although money is very good for a company it can take away choice given by an open platform. As Vic Gundotra said in the 2010 Google keynote:

part of being open means you are inclusive, rather than exclusive. And you are open to innovation.

The good news is that Apple can still go inclusive.

Further reading:

• Steve Jobs thoughts on Flash
• Apple slaps developers in the face
• Apple vs Google

Exclamation warning

Upon booting my PC I always notice an exclamation point in the warning “no hard drive found!”. This warning shows during about 1 second and disappears.

All hard drives are working correctly so the exclamation point makes me think more of the hardware every time I turn on the PC.

Learning slowly

Lost Garden has a great article about mixing games and applications. There is a big difference how you learn in a game and in other applications. The following graph shows the skill and experience level of a user. The darker red line shows that the skills of a player evolve gradually through time. In the process the user has fun because he is mastering the application.

The following image shows, in the left, a screen in the beginning of World of Warcraft. And, in the right, a screen from an experienced player also playing World of Warcraft.

It is the same gaming after evolving. The learning is done slowly and the user enjoys getting new skills, that he pays every month to play.