Aug 28

i-Files

Do you remember the X-Files? If you're not too young, you must remember it. Even those not into Sci-Fi movies heard of it, just as I keep hearing of Lost or Desperate Housewives, although I am not watching them at all. While X-Files is about a lot of unsolved cases involving paranormal phenomena, while the "i-Files" I have in mind would be simply a gathering of Apple secret stuff, as well as publicly available information, such as lawsuits filed against various other companies. Interesting enough?

Now, you don't have to worry, because I won't get that deep into Apple's legal battles, because that would take ages. Anyway, while the recent clone wars are showing Apple as a company trying to hang to some of its rather communist Terms of Service, and lawsuits like the one against the AirPOD are rather hilarious, as long as you're not the one being targeted, there's more to the "i-Files" now, that companies producing software for the iPhone and marketing it through the App Store starting hitting a concrete wall...

I want to believe that Apple is the greatest company in the world, with a flawless attitude towards competitors, developers, employees, and clients, but it seems the truth is out there, and it proves to be a bit different. How different? Well, I am not going to talk about the applications kicked out of the App Store, either! ;)

Here's the story - programmers were bound not to discuss the process of creating software for the iPhone, and this is nothing out of ordinary. The problem is that, usually, such restrictions are lifted once the product in question hits the market, but Apple didn't do it. No explanations given, either, so probably you won't get your hands on any "iPhone programming guide" anytime soon...

As a iPhone developer, you should mind what you say on the Apple official support website, and you are also prohibited of asking questions and sharing tips in public. If you thought China's dictatorship looks bad, welcome to the "dictatorship of the Apple!"

Everyone in the business is saying this approach is stifling innovation, but Apple seems to be deaf so far. Let's hope they'll start hearing those helping them earn mountains of money through the Apple store and step into a "software democracy," as I see it normal. After all, they'll have Psystar's followers available for legal battles, so the "i-Files" won't ever remain without new content...