Hacker News Reader

Comment by haseman | Hacker News Reader

Welcome to carrier controlled Mobile software development. Life sucks, telecoms don't like competition, wear a helmet. I continue to be amazed at the outrage generated by Apple fan-boys over an issue that has been happening in the mobile world for many many years.

Perhaps the solution to any company that exerts dictatorial control over it's own property is to throw a legion of Apple nerds at it?

(This isn't to say that these arguments are wrong...they're just several years late to the party)

View on HN

Here's the problem I've got: In the past if I didn't like what the carrier was selling, I moved on because the other options were equally shitty. In this case, the iPhone's hardware and OS is superior to what the competition offers (that's how it stands today, and of course this is just my opinion).

Apple has also marketed to developers more heavily than I can ever remember Symbian or Blackberry doing; of course the developers are going to be pissed off if Apple starts doing ridiculous crap like this.

Of course, on the other hand, I fail to see how "life sucks, telecoms don't like competition, wear a helmet" contributes one iota to any possible solution. Being mad about a problem gets results.

I would argue that it contributes perspective :-) but that's obviously debatable.

I would wager Apple didn't know what it was getting itself into. Most large companies who want to enter the mobile space don't. They failed to plan for the degradation of AT&T's network as they failed to plan for the level of anti-competitiveness exhibited by most carriers.

Getting angry, by the way, will do nothing...reducing Apple's revenue, on the other-hand...

Please please keep in mind that every one of Apple's developers and customers is entering their walled garden by choice. If their control really bothers you...go get an Android device.

That's precisely my point - if people get angry then they'll start looking at options like Android. That's why talking about it and raising awareness of what's going on is important.

If people adopt the mindset that this is just how it is, and it doesn't matter, then why would they ever leave Apple's orchard for greener (android-ier) fields?

Ah! Well then if you're talking about taking action over anger at Apple, then Here Here! Go Android Go! (At least until Google starts blocking applications too)

It's not like they could (on the handset level) even if they wanted to—you can install applications on Android phones from any source, since they don't have the draconian application installation restrictions that the iPhone does.

Do you really think all the carriers are going to use the fully open version of the Android? Keep in mind, there are three versions of it: 1-Minimal / non-branded, 2-Semi open / semi google branded, and 3-fully open / full google branded.

So far, we've only seen the third and most open version of the platform...

My 4 year old WinMo phone can run whatever I want it to. I'm in Australia. Hasn't this been possible in the US?

Nope. Carriers restrict access to... pretty much anything cool - bluetooth, wifi, internet, usb, third-party apps, custom ringtones, custom wallpapers... all locked down and accessible for a price

accessible for a price

Going online and downloading the unlocked ROM image?

It's easier to buy hard drugs in the US than it is to get the phone you want with the carrier of your choice.

How hard is that?

Reply on news.ycombinator.com