But is your point that this is commendable behavior from Apple? Or that developers should just shut up and put up with it regardless?
What gets me is that software developers aren't a little more discerning when it comes to fawning uncontrollably over all the good stuff Apple does and just explaining away (is that what you're doing here?) or blinkering out the bad.
Why can't this same energy and enthusiasm be directed towards keeping the hardware and software we all depend on for our livelihoods as open and accessible as possible?
We are the early adopters and the evangelists. We're the ones our friends and family turn to when they need suggestions on a new computer or MP3 player. Why perpetuate Apple's "our ball, our game, our rules" environment any more than absolutely necessary?
My point is that this is expected behavior from Apple. This is what they do. They build amazing platforms.
The chances are that whatever Joe Bloggs little app is, Apple want to do it better/differently. So they will. Why should Apple leave the "to-do list" market alone when they believe they can do it better. And in fact they almost always can do it better because they can integrate in a way no one else can.
I don't think this behavior is good or bad. I think it's expected.
I didn't criticise Microsoft when they did it. I don't criticise Apple now. I do laugh at folks who do the former but not the latter.
It's just business. The only point to take away is, if you are considering developing something for the Apple ecosystem, take into account the business risk that anything you do that is highly successful has a strong likelihood of being "steam rolled". Don't delude yourself that you'll be able to pick some low hanging fruit and make millions. You'll either solve something hard and have a barrier to entry or you'll solve something easy and get steam rolled, hopefully after having enough time in the sun to make it worth your while.
What gets me is that software developers aren't a little more discerning when it comes to fawning uncontrollably over all the good stuff Apple does and just explaining away (is that what you're doing here?) or blinkering out the bad.
Why can't this same energy and enthusiasm be directed towards keeping the hardware and software we all depend on for our livelihoods as open and accessible as possible?
We are the early adopters and the evangelists. We're the ones our friends and family turn to when they need suggestions on a new computer or MP3 player. Why perpetuate Apple's "our ball, our game, our rules" environment any more than absolutely necessary?