Comments on: Of Course Apple’s Anti-Competitive http://www.zatznotfunny.com/2009-08/of-course-apples-anti-competitive/ All your digital media goodness. Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:24:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Big John http://www.zatznotfunny.com/2009-08/of-course-apples-anti-competitive/comment-page-1/#comment-89305 Big John Mon, 03 Aug 2009 17:11:27 +0000 http://www.zatznotfunny.com/?p=10850#comment-89305 @Partners in Grime "Isn’t that because there are relatively few Blackjacks surfing the network compared to iPhones?" It shouldn't matter and at the time (2005), the Blackjack was a very popular phone on a very young Level 3 network. @Partners in Grime
“Isn’t that because there are relatively few Blackjacks surfing the network compared to iPhones?”

It shouldn’t matter and at the time (2005), the Blackjack was a very popular phone on a very young Level 3 network.

]]> By: JPO http://www.zatznotfunny.com/2009-08/of-course-apples-anti-competitive/comment-page-1/#comment-89302 JPO Mon, 03 Aug 2009 14:08:52 +0000 http://www.zatznotfunny.com/?p=10850#comment-89302 Does anyone find it strange that once Apple enters into a market - the FCC or Foreign Countries (i.e. Norway with their DRM investigation) investigate anti-competitive practices? Even though these practices have been going on for YEARS!!!!! Interesting. Heck one of the largest, and most convicted companies out there - Microsoft probably doesn't get this amount of attention. Well hopefully as with the DRM fiasco (in which Apple was an unwilling participant to the Music labels) - the Wireless Telcos will be forced to stop providing exclusive handsets and stop crippling their handsets (Verizon is notorious for this - Apple's iPhone is an absolute Godsend compared to my handset while with Verison). I'm sure Apple would love to sell iPhone to anyone (or at least anyone using GSM and maybe 4G going forward). Unfortunately exclusivity is inbreed into the mobile market (has been for YEARS!). Again Apple's an unwilling participant in this fiasco. Does anyone find it strange that once Apple enters into a market – the FCC or Foreign Countries (i.e. Norway with their DRM investigation) investigate anti-competitive practices? Even though these practices have been going on for YEARS!!!!! Interesting. Heck one of the largest, and most convicted companies out there – Microsoft probably doesn’t get this amount of attention.

Well hopefully as with the DRM fiasco (in which Apple was an unwilling participant to the Music labels) – the Wireless Telcos will be forced to stop providing exclusive handsets and stop crippling their handsets (Verizon is notorious for this – Apple’s iPhone is an absolute Godsend compared to my handset while with Verison).

I’m sure Apple would love to sell iPhone to anyone (or at least anyone using GSM and maybe 4G going forward). Unfortunately exclusivity is inbreed into the mobile market (has been for YEARS!). Again Apple’s an unwilling participant in this fiasco.

]]> By: Partners in Grime http://www.zatznotfunny.com/2009-08/of-course-apples-anti-competitive/comment-page-1/#comment-89295 Partners in Grime Sun, 02 Aug 2009 22:11:17 +0000 http://www.zatznotfunny.com/?p=10850#comment-89295 @Big John "It’s ridic that AT&T supported Slingplayer on my Blackjack but not my iPhone." Isn't that because there are relatively few Blackjacks surfing the network compared to iPhones? @Big John
“It’s ridic that AT&T supported Slingplayer on my Blackjack but not my iPhone.”

Isn’t that because there are relatively few Blackjacks surfing the network compared to iPhones?

]]> By: Big John http://www.zatznotfunny.com/2009-08/of-course-apples-anti-competitive/comment-page-1/#comment-89291 Big John Sun, 02 Aug 2009 09:35:05 +0000 http://www.zatznotfunny.com/?p=10850#comment-89291 I hate to play the bureaucracy card but it's time. We need a standardization of networks, both wired and wireless. The FCC needs to certify your network (AT&T for example) as a Level 3 HSN (let's get rid of the "G" system, it's confusing). A Level 1 is basic digital voice. Level 2 is voice with slow data. Level 3 is the equivalent of today's 3G - voice with high-speed data. Level 4 is the same as Level 3 except the number now reflects a higher factor for the data and so forth. This way when Apple releases a device, it's bandwidth provider (AT&T) can simply say "The iPhone is compatible with our FCC-certified Level 3 network" - AND THAT'S THE END OF IT. No backtracking, no selective snipering of apps, it either works or it doesn't and that's all. If it doesn't pay for AT&T to do that, they can simply say "All we can provide is Level 2 at this time" and Apple should feel free to seek a different provider. It's ridic that AT&T supported Slingplayer on my Blackjack but not my iPhone. And so on... I hate to play the bureaucracy card but it’s time.

We need a standardization of networks, both wired and wireless. The FCC needs to certify your network (AT&T for example) as a Level 3 HSN (let’s get rid of the “G” system, it’s confusing). A Level 1 is basic digital voice. Level 2 is voice with slow data. Level 3 is the equivalent of today’s 3G – voice with high-speed data. Level 4 is the same as Level 3 except the number now reflects a higher factor for the data and so forth.

This way when Apple releases a device, it’s bandwidth provider (AT&T) can simply say “The iPhone is compatible with our FCC-certified Level 3 network” – AND THAT’S THE END OF IT. No backtracking, no selective snipering of apps, it either works or it doesn’t and that’s all. If it doesn’t pay for AT&T to do that, they can simply say “All we can provide is Level 2 at this time” and Apple should feel free to seek a different provider.

It’s ridic that AT&T supported Slingplayer on my Blackjack but not my iPhone. And so on…

]]> By: Dave Zatz http://www.zatznotfunny.com/2009-08/of-course-apples-anti-competitive/comment-page-1/#comment-89286 Dave Zatz Sat, 01 Aug 2009 20:37:56 +0000 http://www.zatznotfunny.com/?p=10850#comment-89286 Dale, in most cases 3G speeds are faster than say basic residential DSL. (More latency, though.) In fact, I had no problems canceling my 4G service (Xohm/Clear) and going back to a 3G card (for coverage reasons). And as someone who's been pocket computing on the Internet since it was grayscale and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Palm-10401U-PalmOne-V-Modem/dp/B00000J3PR" rel="nofollow">over dialup (Palm V)</a>, I'm very happy where we are now with portable web browsers, especially the ability to double tap-to-zoom in/out. Just wish I could get embedded Flash. But I see where you're coming from as a guy with like <a href="http://www.daleisphere.com/wp-content/uploads/image192.png" rel="nofollow">a 5 LCD work area</a>. ;) (Have you seen my killer iPhone theme for ZNF?) Morac, NA9D reminded me that "The bandwidth argument for GV Mobile doesn't exist. GV uses your cell phone voice connection when making and receiving calls." So I'm even more in agreement with you. (And you're right John Gruber has been a reliable source.) If Apple or Microsoft blessed/restricted software installs on their computer operating systems, there'd be hell to pay. The wireless industry needs a new mindset. Dale, in most cases 3G speeds are faster than say basic residential DSL. (More latency, though.) In fact, I had no problems canceling my 4G service (Xohm/Clear) and going back to a 3G card (for coverage reasons). And as someone who’s been pocket computing on the Internet since it was grayscale and over dialup (Palm V), I’m very happy where we are now with portable web browsers, especially the ability to double tap-to-zoom in/out. Just wish I could get embedded Flash. But I see where you’re coming from as a guy with like a 5 LCD work area. ;) (Have you seen my killer iPhone theme for ZNF?)

Morac, NA9D reminded me that “The bandwidth argument for GV Mobile doesn’t exist. GV uses your cell phone voice connection when making and receiving calls.” So I’m even more in agreement with you. (And you’re right John Gruber has been a reliable source.) If Apple or Microsoft blessed/restricted software installs on their computer operating systems, there’d be hell to pay. The wireless industry needs a new mindset.

]]> By: Dale Dietrich http://www.zatznotfunny.com/2009-08/of-course-apples-anti-competitive/comment-page-1/#comment-89285 Dale Dietrich Sat, 01 Aug 2009 20:15:46 +0000 http://www.zatznotfunny.com/?p=10850#comment-89285 It won't be until 4G speeds before mobile browsing becomes a primary handset determinant for me. Indeed, I view Twitter on my iPhone but any time I find an interesitng link, I make it a favorite so I can look at the link when I get back to my PC. Mobile browsing on the iPhone has not hit prime-time. It's still too slow and kludgy (not to mention to hard to read for aging eyes). If any app forces me to use the Safari browser on the iPhone I cringe. I love the iPhone almost exclusively for the apps. There is no handset even in the same game as the iPhone for app diversity and depth. Until another handset can match it, the iPhone is for me - even though I agree with everything else you are saying Dave. These app refusal shenanigans irritate the hell out of me. ...Dale It won’t be until 4G speeds before mobile browsing becomes a primary handset determinant for me. Indeed, I view Twitter on my iPhone but any time I find an interesitng link, I make it a favorite so I can look at the link when I get back to my PC. Mobile browsing on the iPhone has not hit prime-time. It’s still too slow and kludgy (not to mention to hard to read for aging eyes).

If any app forces me to use the Safari browser on the iPhone I cringe.

I love the iPhone almost exclusively for the apps. There is no handset even in the same game as the iPhone for app diversity and depth. Until another handset can match it, the iPhone is for me – even though I agree with everything else you are saying Dave. These app refusal shenanigans irritate the hell out of me.

…Dale

]]> By: Morac http://www.zatznotfunny.com/2009-08/of-course-apples-anti-competitive/comment-page-1/#comment-89284 Morac Sat, 01 Aug 2009 19:31:17 +0000 http://www.zatznotfunny.com/?p=10850#comment-89284 There's been nothing officially confirmed about AT&T getting GV pulled, but there's been a number of "confirmations" from "reliable insider sources". http://daringfireball.net/2009/07/google_voice#update-13:40 Personally I would tend to believe these since Apple has no reason for rejecting the GV application, while AT&T has several reasons. There’s been nothing officially confirmed about AT&T getting GV pulled, but there’s been a number of “confirmations” from “reliable insider sources”.

http://daringfireball.net/2009/07/google_voice#update-13:40

Personally I would tend to believe these since Apple has no reason for rejecting the GV application, while AT&T has several reasons.

]]> By: Dave Zatz http://www.zatznotfunny.com/2009-08/of-course-apples-anti-competitive/comment-page-1/#comment-89283 Dave Zatz Sat, 01 Aug 2009 16:44:11 +0000 http://www.zatznotfunny.com/?p=10850#comment-89283 Oh, I agree they're most likely in cahoots, colluding. However, Morac stated matter of factly that AT&T made the call on GV, so I'm wondering if that's his hunch or if he came across something definitive. Oh, I agree they’re most likely in cahoots, colluding. However, Morac stated matter of factly that AT&T made the call on GV, so I’m wondering if that’s his hunch or if he came across something definitive.

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