Comment by joe_the_user | Hacker News Reader

Comment by joe_the_user | Hacker News Reader

"'ll bet that in one of those Apple board meetings that Google (GOOG) CEO Steve Schmidt used to attend, he realized that Jobs was on the verge of building AppleWorld and he's been scared ever since."

I don't think it's possible to build a "closed digital world" that will have the traction of the entirety of the open Internet.

Closed systems are great for creating an ideal model of how thing "ought" to work. But the "wide world" tends to take those innovations and expand them beyond the limits of a closed ideal system.

Apple has made great profits on the Macintosh but it's also become happy with the Mac having a highly profitable niche position. That seems like the fate of the entire "Apple World" situation. Remember Disney never extended Disney World beyond Florida.

I'm sure Google is running. "Scared" seems like a bit of a reach. I suspect that Google is more afraid of entities which try monopolize and monetize their Internet pipes.

This closed world is close to possible with control, which is exactly what Apple has achieved with the iPhone. They limit which apps make it on, and which content can be displayed. I do not doubt that sooner than later Apple will offer filtering for internet, and will package it in an appealing way (security). It seems foolish now, but just wait.

Indeed - as long as Apple is willing to accept less than 100% penetration in the market, there are many people more than happy to live in Steve Jobs' closed world. It sure beats the current competition in my eyes...

I do not doubt that sooner than later Apple will offer filtering for internet, and will package it in an appealing way (security).

It does seem foolish now, and "just wait" is not a compelling argument. What makes you not doubt this? Where is the money in it?

You can browse to any web app. "Limit" is very relative - there are more on-the-metal apps available for the iPhone than any other phone, no?

And not only that, but you get probably the best mobile phone browsing experience; although I have not tried the Nexus One yet (because there's no customer support), but I am willing to eat an onion if the Nexus is better. I know the BlackBerry sucks at browsing.

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