As hackers begin to gain more and more access to the core functionality for iPhone a critical juncture has been created for both the hackers and for Apple. As we’ve come to find out Apple does not condone these *hacks* but has yet to do anything about it. From what I’ve heard they are backing off until there is clear and present danger of the phone being unlocked causing AT&T, their partner, to lose money.
My free idea for Apple is to create an “Application Marketplace” for the iPhone and build it into iTunes (or just make iApps). The idea is not new – Microsoft does it with the Xbox Live Marketplace and there are other systems like this. Essentially instead of having rogue hackers create third party applications Apple can create a marketplace where these applications can be sold (and monitored) by Apple much like selling MP3′s in iTunes. The possibilities are quite limitless. And using an intuitive system Apple can create an environment where users can 1-click install cool applications rather than following l33t instructions.
And maybe with an Apple marketplace for application and platform development we can get people to quit talking about Facebook as a platform and start building applications for real platforms.
Tags: Apple, iPhone, Application Development
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I think this is a great idea, kind of like Nokias Catalogs http://www.nokia.com/catalogs
But created and aggregated in the same way dashboard widgets are.
Maybe it’ll all go that way, look at the apparent roadmap for widgets etc
http://www.apple.com/uk/macosx/leopard/developer/dashcode.html
I think a potential problem to this idea (which I do like) would be who profits. I know a lot of these hackers are putting out their apps for free, however, if Apple started a marketplace, I could see them charging. What happens when the developers want a cut of that profit then?
I think the developers would get a cut off it in the same way Apple pays royalties for music sold on iTunes.
Apple would simply provide the means to acquire the software from the third party through a standardized application (iTunes).