derFunkenstein wrote:You're going to have to spell it out for me. I don't see how it hurts me. It's not going to be because there's not an app to do what I want to do with my device; they're usually there in triplicate or more.
If I can't find an app to do something I need to do with the device, I'll abandon the platform. If consumers in general can't find what they want at a price they're willing to pay, they'll also abandon the platform. Developers know this.
I no longer argue "pro-Apple" because I've come to realize they're not anything super awesome as a company ethically. I'm not really taking Apple's side. I think Flash disappearing will, in the long term, cause much more good than harm to the consumer.
With these changes developers who currently use these frameworks to provide their applications on multiple platforms will have some choices to make. There's two main choices, though, that determine the rest. Those are stick with developing for multiple platforms or abandon the platform(s).
Developing for multiple platforms:
1.) Hire more talent. Reasoning would be to maintain the current pace of development. This clearly increases costs for the developer and given that very few of the developers on the App Store are actually making the millions people seem to think (not saying you're one of those) this likely results in the burden of this increased cost being placed on the customer. So; higher prices for you.
2.) Spreading existing talent. Keeps costs the same as before. Almost certainly results in a slower pace of development. This means an inferior application. It will take the studio more time on coding identically functioning applications instead of improving a singular application. So; inferior application for you to use compared to what would have been possible with the previous Apple rules.
Abandon Multiplatform Development:
A development studio will likely choose, if they go this route, to stick with the iPhone OS platform given its access to a very large audience. Which in the short term may not mean a lot to you besides the obvious delay required in rewriting the application to fit Apple's new rules. In the long term, however, this hampers competition. Android, Windows Phone 7, Blackberry, etc, etc having at least some form of success actually benefits you. This is the entire argument behind capitalism anyway, competition benefits the consumer. If Apple gets even greater portions of the market it is hard to predict what they might do. History shows though, and let Microsoft be an example, that companies with monopolies tend to not act in a manner that is best for their customers.
So; say Android users no longer have access to the apps they need due to these rule changes done by Apple. Developers were forced to make the choice, they picked the larger audience. Android goes away. Apple gains more control. Apple drives up prices. You're hurt.
You see how this is all bad for you? I've never argued in terms of the developers. Yes they're hurt in all the above scenarios but my point is you are too. That's why people should complain and not support this change. It is especially offensive considering that these changes are after the fact of purchase. Someone who bought an iPhone 3GS can not unbuy that phone. In needing to upgrade it to the new version of iPhone OS they've effectively had their device go backward in features. In addition the other features such as the pseudo-multitasking in iPhone OS 4 are still possible with these third party frameworks as shown by Apple using Tap Tap Revenge during the iPhone OS 4 demonstration.
Why shouldn't people be upset about this? Especially people who already owned an iPhone or iPod Touch? It seems to me they're being perfectly reasonable. In fact I see it as a consumers job and right to be upset about these changes. This is how we get better products. Technology and the need to update software has created something quite unique. A product you bought in the past can be changed by the manufacturer you purchased it from. It is our responsibility to be extremely diligent in protecting ourselves. This goes far beyond Apple or Adobe or the developers of Tap Tag Revenge. It's about the basic functionality of how we interact with all companies. People shouldn't be apathetic about this and they especially shouldn't be supportive of any company who institutes such changes as these to the device, devices that have already been purchased!