[iphoneuser]

Jason, this is a REALLY great article! I agree that many people are also noticing the major improvements surrounding the Android mobile operating system. So much that I'd have to also agree that many iPhone owners are on the edge or have already made the switch to Android. Android marketing is getting stronger and popularity among consumers are skyrocketing.

After reading the specs on the HTC Incredible, it's obviously a far superior smartphone compared to the iPhone. Much faster, includes true multitasking, supports Flash, has high very quality camera, etc.

On the side of Apps, I wouldn't be surprised to see developers respond positively to inquiries or enhancements you suggest for the Android platform. The Apple App store is no longer the only app store. Developers know this and now they have a wider opportunity to expand their products into other mobile platforms including Android.

I'm getting ready myself to explore the Android eco system once my contract is over. iPhone is just getting too slow to adapt to things most consumers want: true multitasking, Flash, tethering or WiFi hotspot (without jailbreaking)

You don't need a credit/debit card or an iTunes gift card to open an iTunes account and download free apps or free songs.

Just proceed to "buy" the free app. Eventually when you get to the choice of payment page, select "none".

[livewithout]

To "Stock Investor", re: Flash...

Following are some insights on market forces. Feel free to use these patterns when you are investing...

If all new browsers introduce an upgrade (like a new HTML5 feature), it would take 5-10 years before those features achieved over 90% market penetration. From the stats on tier-1 new publishers who run our Flash products, 30% of readers still use IE7 or earlier. However, over 95% of these same readers are using Flash 10. Here's the kicker: When Adobe launches a new version of Flash, the new version will (again) have 95% penetration within a year.

That means that Flash can innovate 10X faster than HTML. It can introduce new features (like webM), and help Google advance the standards it needs in HTML5. That's right. Flash is being used to help advance HTML5. The result of providing that help is that Flash keeps it's market dominant position. - And it will stay the richer development platform for those who need or want the special features it provides.

If if you don't think Flash has special features, check out "connect now" on acrobat.com. - Or tweetdeck, or hundreds of high quality games. You are confusing bad platform with bad programmers. Steve Jobs does not hate Flash because it's so bad. He hates it because it's so good. If Flash was on the iPhone, everyone would write browser-based Flash apps.

It's just basic economics. If a publisher can send content onto 98% of devices with one platform, he saves money. - Which means you can do more research and make more trades for less. FroYo let the Flash cat out of the bag. Which platform is going to see hot stock tips first? The entire web plus mobile devices from Google, RIM, Palm, and Nokia. - Or the latest thingy some guy in a turtleneck is holding? Here's a tip: Short Apple. Long Adobe.

[genesis667]

Looks like maybe Jobs knew what he was talking about after all regarding flash...

http://www.sfgate.co...ible-2010-5.DTL

[thewazak]

And the walls came tumbling down .......
Remember when being trendy was "hip"?
Times change.
It would appear that being "cool" is now dead.
And so the iDiotPhone heads toward the history books.
Was it good? Sure - while it lasted.
But as iJobs's ideology changed into narcissistic psychopathy, being cool got a bit too cold for those with half a brain.
G4 with an even bigger wall? Too little, too late - whatever the new "cool" features are.
Android, without a wall, has SO much more potential that iPhone.

[StockInvestor]

livewithout, on 24 May 2010 - 10:15 PM, said:

To "Stock Investor", re: Flash...

Following are some insights on market forces. Feel free to use these patterns when you are investing...

If all new browsers introduce an upgrade (like a new HTML5 feature), it would take 5-10 years before those features achieved over 90% market penetration. From the stats on tier-1 new publishers who run our Flash products, 30% of readers still use IE7 or earlier. However, over 95% of these same readers are using Flash 10. Here's the kicker: When Adobe launches a new version of Flash, the new version will (again) have 95% penetration within a year.

That means that Flash can innovate 10X faster than HTML. It can introduce new features (like webM), and help Google advance the standards it needs in HTML5. That's right. Flash is being used to help advance HTML5. The result of providing that help is that Flash keeps it's market dominant position. - And it will stay the richer development platform for those who need or want the special features it provides.

If if you don't think Flash has special features, check out "connect now" on acrobat.com. - Or tweetdeck, or hundreds of high quality games. You are confusing bad platform with bad programmers. Steve Jobs does not hate Flash because it's so bad. He hates it because it's so good. If Flash was on the iPhone, everyone would write browser-based Flash apps.

It's just basic economics. If a publisher can send content onto 98% of devices with one platform, he saves money. - Which means you can do more research and make more trades for less. FroYo let the Flash cat out of the bag. Which platform is going to see hot stock tips first? The entire web plus mobile devices from Google, RIM, Palm, and Nokia. - Or the latest thingy some guy in a turtleneck is holding? Here's a tip: Short Apple. Long Adobe.

Perhaps you have not compared APPL to the S&P500 lately. Compare Apple's stock performance to that of the S&P500 for the last 5 years. Then come back here and tell me you think shorting Apple and going long Adobe is a good idea. Apple is on track to expand it's 85,000,000 iPhone OS based devices by more than 10,000,000 units this year from the iPad alone. Likely another 23,000,000 units from the iPhone, and perhaps another 10,000,000 from the iPod Touch. You'd short that? Good luck trading stocks.

[nexusforce]

JasonLogan, on 24 May 2010 - 09:08 PM, said:

nexusforce, on 24 May 2010 - 12:37 PM, said:

I mean just thanks to google voice I have been able to reduce my bill to $25 a month by just paying for data, since Google voice gives me unlimited free texting and visual voicemail accessible not just on my phone but any internet connected device and for voice calling I just use voip.

How in the world are you paying just $25 for data only? Everything I can find on the net and by talking to Verizon tells me that the data only plan is $50 for smartphones. $50 for data only is still extremely high unless you plan to tether as your main source of an internet connection. Right now, we are paying $136 a month out the door for 2 smartphones with all the bells and whistles so only $18 more per phone to gain all native phone and text functionality back.

' date=, on 24 May 2010 - 08:50 PM, said:

@Jason, you seem very foolish to make the switch, taking on a new contract and abandoning many apps you already purchased*, 2 weeks before the next iPhone is revealed (truly revealed) and the final feature set for iPhone OS 4.0 is revealed.

*apps that use communication will be worthless while away from a wifi hotspot.

I wouldn't say foolish as much as rightfully tired of AT&T and Apples BS. Yes, I am personally waiting till OS 4 before I jump ship but it is taking every last bit of willpower in my body to stop from just switching now even with early term fees.

Well I have a nexus one that I bought off contract ($530) by selling my 3GS and then I signed up to T-Mobile's flex pay service plan or what I believe they call
Now even more plan which is a no contract service plan and your allowed to choose from any of there plans and options without restrictions so I called 611 changed my plan
To data only which cost $25 however I believe it cost $30 now for Just data and I use Google voice for unlimited free texting and the sipdroid app+sipgate sip service+Google voice for free calling through my data plan. Google voice is the best

[unlvjacket]

cadamsesq, on 24 May 2010 - 02:02 PM, said:

Dear Apple. I have a 3G iPhone. It's the coolest phone I've ever had, and I would happily consider upgrading to 4G. But I probably won't for one reason: Flash. I don't care about the technical stuff, nor do I care about what the future of the web might be ... the NOW of the web is Flash. And without it, my iPhone is largely useless for the web. So I see no reason to be stuck with another year of AT&T's crappy "service" here in San Francisco. Thus, unless I hear of a major change in policy for the 4G, I'm switching to Android.

You might want to check this out before you demand flash on your phone

http://www.electroni...cally.by.flash/

[puckster]

I think it is hilarious how dramatic people can be over apple vs. google. I still consider myself a pc user even though I own a macbook now along with 2 iPhones. I have 2 other pc laptops and a linux netbook.

Anyway, I think Android is a great phone without a doubt. And I agree that depending on where you live AT&T can suck *ss. BUT I haven't had the same problem as many others do. I live in Long Beach and I have a great connection. So I have been quite happy with AT&T. As far as iPhone goes, I think it sucks that the google map doesn't have the same gps capability as the droid. But other than that, I have been very happy with my iPhone. Apple has created products that run smoothly, have impeccable design and very user friendly. It may not be the most powerful phone but it got style and it runs smoothly with all the other apple products.

As flash goes, I have to say I'm not a big fan of flash fan when it comes to websites. It can be buggy and takes a while to run at times. Am I disappointed that iPad and iPhone don't have flash capability? of course I am. But it's something that I can live without. If I want machine that's more powerful than iPhone or iPad, I can always use my macbook that I carry around all the time.

[lagoon]

Fine article! Very well explained article indeed, keep up the good writing - keep it up

[AEONYS]

FalKirk, on 24 May 2010 - 02:49 PM, said:

I just wanted to address one aspect of your post:"…shouldn't developers and consumers be the ones to decide if software is crappy or not?"

In a word, no.

You have the right to buy from Apple, buy from a competitor or not buy at all. Apple has the right to decide what merchandise it will sell in its store. The end. Nothing evil or complicated about that. Just the way it is in every store in most every country in the world.

Okay, okay, you say. I get it, Apple has the RIGHT to be a dic...er, ah, dictator. But why should they exercise that right? Won't they make even more money if they give me choice?

In a word, no.

There are many reasons why restricting choice is often the best way to go. For an understanding of how too much choice often reduces sales, I recommend a book called “The Paradox of Choice”.

Another, very different, but very legitimate reason to be choosy about what goods a store chooses to sell is that they are trying to create an image. This too can increase sales, sometimes dramatically.

What would happen to the cachet of a high end jewelry store if they also had, side-by-side with their most expensive jewelry, counters displaying cheap baubles and trinkets? What would happen to the image of a high-class shoe store if they also carried cheap knock-offs and second-hand goods? What would happen to the image of Victoria’s Secret if they also carried the same line of cheap, functional nightgowns and granny panties that Walmart did? What would happen to the marketing of an Italian, Chinese, or Sushi restaurant if they were forced to sell all types of food instead of specializing?

You want choice? You got it. Apple is running a high-class restaurant. Google is running a buffet. There is no one way, right way, good or evil way. There are just choices.

Apple is making a choice. You don’t approve? Eat elsewhere. But don’t claim that Apple’s menu is inherently wrong (and especially don’t claim that they are evil) when their menu has attracted so very many customers to their restaurant. Maybe, just maybe, Apple knows that by reducing the size of their menu and increasing the quality of their food that they will attract a more desirable consumer. And maybe, just maybe, consumers will decide that while buffets are cheaper and provide more options, that they prefer eating in a restaurant with just a tad more class.

Ahahah A restaurant with a tad more class? EVO 4G outclass any Iphone by a million light years... Bigger screen, better screen, 4G, HDMI out, 1ghz processor, sense UI. Stop dreaming Iphone Fanboys, The apple black and silver brick is not DA cool stuff anymore... Android offers many versions to please all tastes, all might not surpass the Iphone in everyway but it's not their goal. Some definitely rape the Iphone. period.
The only thing apple has left is the app store which thanks to developpers and some policies (unability to hack or install from outside until jailbreak) has been filled with many apps. now out of the 100.000 + there is a lot of crap but there is also street fighter 4 or 3D assassins creed.

[chrstdvd]

StockInvestor, on 24 May 2010 - 11:26 AM, said:

Everyone is certainly entitled to their own opinion.

For myself, I have an Archos 5" Internet Tablet running Android. I'm not impressed with Android. It's missing the polish that Apple's iPhone OS has. I have a twitter app, TwitDroid, which is not very good. Not very compelling to use. The email and the keyboard don't feel very good to me either. I guess I am used to the iPhone. The biggest apps for me are my stock trading app and my todo app. I of course need the integrated contacts and calendar. And since I use MobileMe, I get those via Apple's service. However, I could easily get that same functionality from Google.

Anyway, back to my trading app. I use TD Ameritrade and they have their app for both Android and iPhone. But they are not equals. The Android app lacks the polish and even feature-set of the iPhone app. Not to mention, I have essentially the same app on the iPhone as the iPad. Well, I have the bigger brother app on the iPad. Same with todo. The apps are brothers so that my iPhone and my iPad are virtually the same. I have Deliveries which I use to monitor shipments. Again, iPhone and iPad.

Since we both have iPads I think we both have likely felt that the phone is less important now. I tend to use my iPad for almost everything. But still, checking a todo, looking at a stock price and checking on deliveries is still high on my list. But more than that, I happen to own Nike+ shoes. I'd been using the add on receiver with my iPod until the 3Gs released which has a built-in receiver for the Nike+ sensor in the show. The 3Gs also syncs with my audible books and the android does not. So walking or jogging while listening to my audible books is out. My music is managed with iTunes. I suppose there is a 3rd party way to sync that. It just seems to me that you have to go through a whole lot of trouble to get something that somewhat works where as the Apple method just works right now.

I personally can't stand Flash on web sites, so I don't care that Apple blocked it. In fact, I agree with it. I also agree that developers should use Apple's tools. We see this in Adobe products now. We have CoreImage on the Mac, but Adobe doesn't seem to take advantage. They are too busy developing once and delivering everywhere. That just makes everything equal. I don't want equal. I bought a machine for it's features and I expect developers to develop to those features. That's what this is about.

As someone who has owned quite a few Blackberry devices I can tell you, the reason the iPhone is doing so well is because the software is so much better on the iPhone. It's a full generation ahead. One of the best apps on the Blackberry was Todo Matrix. And I asked the developers if they were going to write it for the iPhone. They said, no because they couldn't easily port it. They lost my business. Well, it turns out I found software that is better looking, easier to use and faster for about $4.99. If everything were equal, that wouldn't be possible. The fact that he couldn't port his app is exactly what I want. I don't want the 100% blackberry experience on my iPhone. I want the iPhone experience on my iPhone.

You think Adobe cares one bit about my experience? Seriously? They don't. They just want to sell the dev tools. Well, I don't really care if developers have it easy or hard. I'm paying them for their software. I expect it to perform well and be great. I don't want ToDO Matrix just like it was on the Blackberry on the iPhone because the developer doesn't feel like putting in the effort. If the developer doesn't want to deal with the iPhone, he can stay off that platform.

I also live in San Francisco. I used to get dropped calls, and so I left the iPhone and was using a Storm 2. But recent upgrades made the iPhone pretty good here. I don't have the same problems you described at all. I used to get just a couple bars in my apartment, but it seems to work fine. I recently bought a MicroCell just to be safe. So my home experience is perfect now. My office is in South San Francisco, so no problem there. I just don't think it is as horrible as it was. I'll take you at your word because when the 3G version first released it was bad. I got 5 dropped calls in one hour. And that was enough for me to switch to the Storm 2 via Verizon.

Blackberry is my next favorite phone. But I still say that the iPhone has by far the superior product. If you use all of it's features, which I do. I love the Nike+ feature. I love the Audible books. And I love the simple music management. It's all tied together. Android really needs an entire eco system of its own before I would call it an equal of the iPhone.

[chrstdvd]

chrstdvd, on 25 May 2010 - 02:23 AM, said:

StockInvestor, on 24 May 2010 - 11:26 AM, said:

Everyone is certainly entitled to their own opinion.

For myself, I have an Archos 5" Internet Tablet running Android. I'm not impressed with Android. It's missing the polish that Apple's iPhone OS has. I have a twitter app, TwitDroid, which is not very good. Not very compelling to use. The email and the keyboard don't feel very good to me either. I guess I am used to the iPhone. The biggest apps for me are my stock trading app and my todo app. I of course need the integrated contacts and calendar. And since I use MobileMe, I get those via Apple's service. However, I could easily get that same functionality from Google.

Anyway, back to my trading app. I use TD Ameritrade and they have their app for both Android and iPhone. But they are not equals. The Android app lacks the polish and even feature-set of the iPhone app. Not to mention, I have essentially the same app on the iPhone as the iPad. Well, I have the bigger brother app on the iPad. Same with todo. The apps are brothers so that my iPhone and my iPad are virtually the same. I have Deliveries which I use to monitor shipments. Again, iPhone and iPad.

Since we both have iPads I think we both have likely felt that the phone is less important now. I tend to use my iPad for almost everything. But still, checking a todo, looking at a stock price and checking on deliveries is still high on my list. But more than that, I happen to own Nike+ shoes. I'd been using the add on receiver with my iPod until the 3Gs released which has a built-in receiver for the Nike+ sensor in the show. The 3Gs also syncs with my audible books and the android does not. So walking or jogging while listening to my audible books is out. My music is managed with iTunes. I suppose there is a 3rd party way to sync that. It just seems to me that you have to go through a whole lot of trouble to get something that somewhat works where as the Apple method just works right now.

I personally can't stand Flash on web sites, so I don't care that Apple blocked it. In fact, I agree with it. I also agree that developers should use Apple's tools. We see this in Adobe products now. We have CoreImage on the Mac, but Adobe doesn't seem to take advantage. They are too busy developing once and delivering everywhere. That just makes everything equal. I don't want equal. I bought a machine for it's features and I expect developers to develop to those features. That's what this is about.

As someone who has owned quite a few Blackberry devices I can tell you, the reason the iPhone is doing so well is because the software is so much better on the iPhone. It's a full generation ahead. One of the best apps on the Blackberry was Todo Matrix. And I asked the developers if they were going to write it for the iPhone. They said, no because they couldn't easily port it. They lost my business. Well, it turns out I found software that is better looking, easier to use and faster for about $4.99. If everything were equal, that wouldn't be possible. The fact that he couldn't port his app is exactly what I want. I don't want the 100% blackberry experience on my iPhone. I want the iPhone experience on my iPhone.

You think Adobe cares one bit about my experience? Seriously? They don't. They just want to sell the dev tools. Well, I don't really care if developers have it easy or hard. I'm paying them for their software. I expect it to perform well and be great. I don't want ToDO Matrix just like it was on the Blackberry on the iPhone because the developer doesn't feel like putting in the effort. If the developer doesn't want to deal with the iPhone, he can stay off that platform.

I also live in San Francisco. I used to get dropped calls, and so I left the iPhone and was using a Storm 2. But recent upgrades made the iPhone pretty good here. I don't have the same problems you described at all. I used to get just a couple bars in my apartment, but it seems to work fine. I recently bought a MicroCell just to be safe. So my home experience is perfect now. My office is in South San Francisco, so no problem there. I just don't think it is as horrible as it was. I'll take you at your word because when the 3G version first released it was bad. I got 5 dropped calls in one hour. And that was enough for me to switch to the Storm 2 via Verizon.

Blackberry is my next favorite phone. But I still say that the iPhone has by far the superior product. If you use all of it's features, which I do. I love the Nike+ feature. I love the Audible books. And I love the simple music management. It's all tied together. Android really needs an entire eco system of its own before I would call it an equal of the iPhone.

I live in the woods of Virginia and get weak signals from all carriers, however Verizons signal is sufficent for the phone service. I bought an iPhone and kept it for 9 days. I could not get a signal at my house from AT&T and had to use the WiFi from my Verizon air card to surf the web or visit the app store. I can do the same with my touch and not have to pay a hundred a month for it. So, back it went. I reactivated my Verizon Storm 1 and plan to keep it until I see what the new OS6 has to offer. If I like it I will get the new Blackberry Storm. I tried the Palm Pre Plus for a few days, but the tiny keyboard was to much for me, so it went back, even though I really liked the way it worked. I am probably sticking with Blackberry as I have found an app for texting that lets me type more than 160 characters and conversations look like they do on the iPhone text app. Opera Mini browser makes the browsing experience similiar to the iPhone but it does not connect to the media player, when I want to listen to a live radio stream. That said, the only other thing I do not like about the Storm is no graphics in e-mail, so I usually read my email on the touch. (I have no idea if this is going to post. The only place on the page I could type is under ur post. So we shall see.)

[ahumanbean]

I am glad you finally left, but I cannot see why you would have an iPad. It is a ridiculous product that can't even multi-task. You say you would switch if there was something better? Widows is better and it is crap.

For someone to say Android is less polished is partially true, but that polish comes with steep control. I can polish my own phone, but I can't break down the Apple walls.

Right now I use WebOS and it is both polished and customizable. If HP does wrong by WebOS, I am with Android. The Sprint Evo 4 is looking good.

[PaulKalka]

rcossebo, on 24 May 2010 - 01:56 PM, said:

I'm still amazed at the reasoning behind dropping the iPhone and going to Droid. It worries me that people have become so shallow as to pick and chose on such juvenile things like twitter and other social networking vehicles. We have become a generation of NON Communicators. Our people skills are depleting faster than our intelligence is growing. We are reverting to idiots instead of advancing to higher levels of refinement! That being said, I am one who is looking forward to whatever Mr. Jobs says in June and looking forward to buying my 4th iPhone; yes, I have all of the generations to date! If AT&T is causing you problems, communicate with them, don't bitch about it in a blog or news column. Don't you think they get enough of that and THAT is not what will turn the ship? As far as you JUMPING SHIP, great, more band width for me! It the problem is too many users it's great that you all are leaving because my service keeps getting BETTER AND BETTER. THANK YOU! So when you run into issues with Droid and Verizon don't start complaining about it, because it's a creation of your own making; oh and thanks again for freeing up more band width for me!

Sorry to say but it appears YOU are the one getting dumber which I can see why after it appears have been drinking all that Apple Kool-Aid. You are so far in the dark it's not even funny. Apparently you don't monitor trends as just calling customer service at most big companies like AT&T to complain about their overall service gets you no where. Using social media is the only way to go because there the word spreads and more people join in and eventually it gets to be big news where the big media outlets, and many of them at once, start reporting about the problems. Add as well people dropping the service, this will for sure get attention for them to fix their problems....at least more so than other options. You can have the iPhone all you like as far as I care because it's an inferior product for my needs and as the incredible (no pun intented) growth pace of Android shows, same goes for many other people. Have fun with AT&T as they will soon be left behind with no 4G networks for another 2 yrs at minimum

[JakeB]

Oh, man, just wait until "Windows 7 Phone Mobile Series" or whatever MS is calling it this weeks hits the market.

End of this year, baby. Or maybe beginning of next.

You'll all forget Apple. And Google.

Yup. It's gonna happen. Any. Day. Now.

But seriously, what happened to MS? How could they lose sight of the ball like this? They are now years behind Apple (and Google!) when it comes to the mobile market.

[DonniesDad]

rcossebo, on 24 May 2010 - 01:56 PM, said:

I'm still amazed at the reasoning behind dropping the iPhone and going to Droid. It worries me that people have become so shallow as to pick and chose on such juvenile things like twitter and other social networking vehicles. We have become a generation of NON Communicators. Our people skills are depleting faster than our intelligence is growing. We are reverting to idiots instead of advancing to higher levels of refinement! That being said, I am one who is looking forward to whatever Mr. Jobs says in June and looking forward to buying my 4th iPhone; yes, I have all of the generations to date! If AT&T is causing you problems, communicate with them, don't bitch about it in a blog or news column. Don't you think they get enough of that and THAT is not what will turn the ship? As far as you JUMPING SHIP, great, more band width for me! It the problem is too many users it's great that you all are leaving because my service keeps getting BETTER AND BETTER. THANK YOU! So when you run into issues with Droid and Verizon don't start complaining about it, because it's a creation of your own making; oh and thanks again for freeing up more band width for me!

Go drink some more iKoolaid. You're obviously worshipping Jobs and everything he says. "Hey guys I put a compass on the new model, come out and give me $200 more bucks, all 10 million of you" Okay master Jobs, whatever you say master Jobs"

You act like the iPhone culture is so refined. They're selling their phones for $97 bucks in Walmart. If you like your iPhone so much, go praise it on Apple forums. And people leaving Apple for Android has nothing to do with more bandwidth for you. Its AT&T, there are tons of devices that people will leave Apple for.

You need a lot of Bandwidth to preview all the fart apps.

This post has been edited by DonniesDad: 25 May 2010 - 05:21 AM

[DonniesDad]

JakeB, on 25 May 2010 - 04:57 AM, said:

Oh, man, just wait until "Windows 7 Phone Mobile Series" or whatever MS is calling it this weeks hits the market.

End of this year, baby. Or maybe beginning of next.

You'll all forget Apple. And Google.

Yup. It's gonna happen. Any. Day. Now.

But seriously, what happened to MS? How could they lose sight of the ball like this? They are now years behind Apple (and Google!) when it comes to the mobile market.

I always liked Microsoft Mobile Operating systems. I hope they can come out with something very good. I'm a Android fan but love competition and almost bought an HTC phone with MS OS.

[jdev09]

Meh - Android has no polish to it's UI, and it's app store is sorely lacking. It *does* look better on paper for the moment, though!

[FalKirk]

guzz11, on 24 May 2010 - 07:21 PM, said:

Apple runs a classy restaurant but GOOGLE is running a restaurant for the 90% of the MASSES not the minority demographic.

Guzz11, great response. Well thought out.

I understand, but disagree with, your conclusion that Android, not Apple, is running a restaurant for the masses. I think the opposite may be true. People are assuming that the masses will be attracted to Android because of it's lower prices and it's greater variety. First, I am not certain that price is a factor. The real cost of owning a phone is its voice and data plan but consumers most often buy phones based on it's initial cost. Since the initial cost is subsidized by the carriers, the initial sales price is set almost as a differentiator rather than as a reflection of the true cost of the phone. And the prices of applications in the Apple app store are more than reasonable. So higher prices for Apple phones? Maybe, maybe not.

Second, I think that the variety we're talking about is more attractive to the aficionado (think computer nerd) than it is to the masses (think the average business man, his soccer mom wife and his mother). The most popular restaurant's in the United States all have extremely limited menus and very tight controls on the quality of their foods (think McDonalds). I have heard stories that McDonalds was so dissatisfied with the potatoes (think developers) they were using for their french fries that they developed their very own potato and supplied it to their franchises. Sound familiar?

Me? I love Diners (I live near New Jersey where Diners abound). Diners serve breakfast all day long and their menus are so big you could land a small plane on them. People love Diners. But I don't see them competing with McDonald's for market share any time soon.

Perhaps I am relying on the wrong analogy. Perhaps not. My point is not that Apple will inevitably be the next McDonalds and rule the smart phone world. My point is that open does not always beat closed. In fact, in business, the opposite is true. Closed often wins over open.