Why Apple Denied the Google Latitude App

awyeah writes "A recently revealed Apple patent looks remarkably similar to the functionality of Google Latitude, which Apple relegated to WebApp status earlier this year. Obviously if Apple is working on their own version of Google Latitude (or owns the IP rights to this functionality), they'd be hesitant to put an app with the same functionality on their devices from another company."

Comments

Get ready for fanboys

[betterunixthanunix]

Here they come, ready to defend Apple's move with all sorts of excuses.

Same as a computer

[calmofthestorm]

* Jailbreak
* Install apps
* If you ever need warranty service, reflash with original OS before sending in

Re:Fundamental principle

[dangitman]

No manufacturer has the right to prohibit person A from installing on a device he owns software written by person B: any legal or technological measures to this end are immoral,

Hmmm, so it's immoral that Windows software can't natively run on Linux? Should the developers of Linux be forced to make Windows .EXE applications compatible, and vice versa?

Re:Times change

[Daniel Dvorkin]

The simple answer is this: Apple makes good products, and Microsoft makes lousy products. If Windows or IE or Office were good enough to justify their market share, hardly anyone would complain. The problem is that they're not; they're inferior to competing products, and yet they continue to dominate the market, to the point where in many working environments people are forced to use MS products even when there are clearly better tools for the job at hand. In some market segments, this is finally starting to change, but it's been a long hard road.

For a lot of people, Apple's offerings just work better than competing offerings from other companies. As long as that's the case, people will continue to buy from Apple and put up with their Stupid Corporation Tricks. YMMV, of course -- if you don't like OS X or the iPod or the iPhone, then nobody will make you use them. But for the many people who generally like the way Apple products work, the productivity and enjoyment they gain with those products outweigh the problems Apple's behavior creates.

This shouldn't be hard to figure out, but unfortunately there's a substantial portion of the /. population who start shouting "fanboi fanatic!" every time the word "Apple" is mentioned, and refuse to accept that in many cases buying a Mac, or anything else from Apple, might possibly be a rational choice.

Because monopolies are bad

[Rix]

And we have no good reason to allow them to persist.

You're being willfully dishonest

[Rix]

So I'll just not bother with you.

This is actually a good thing.

[nilbog]

Just like that time when Microsoft said I had to use Internet Explorer. Everyone made a big deal about it back then, but it turns out that IE ended up being the best, most cutting edge browser in the end anyway!

Re:Not everybody

[tyrione]

There are many of us who view this stuff poorly. I have not, do not, and will not own any Apple products. I simply do not like their closed platforms and anti-competitive nature, and I certainly won't pay more for the privilege of being restricted. Yes they have some nice hardware, but that in itself cannot overcome their approach to doing business.

Many of us don't give a rat's ass. Have the balls to comment other than AC. Or are you afraid of your employer chasing your ass down?

Re:I Smell Patent War

[The Snowman]

I so badly want to see the FTC slap Apple with fines every day until they open the iPhone up to apps sold outside the app store without Apple vetting. That is the only action that sets a strong enough precedent that consumers are in charge of devices that they paid for and have a right to tinker.

That's probably not necessary. A few more of these sorts of stories get out and more people are just going to jump ship to Android.

Case in point, I didn't buy an iPhone for precisely this reason. I heard about the Project Gutenberg reader app getting blocked and I decided I didn't want any company telling me what software I can run on my phone, let alone one that has demonstrated such deeply flawed judgement.

I waited for an Android phone that I liked, and now I have a HTC Hero. It rules.

"In a world that doesn't, Droid does."

I will never own an iPhone. I have wanted an open platform ever since I first learned about the iPhone iApp iApproval iProcess. Fuck Apple. I am a software engineer: I will write my own software and run it if I please. Some phone running Android will be my next.

Communism is not incompatible with democracy

[Rix]

People have every right to implement "communist" policies if they so wish.

Re:I Smell Patent War

[Lars T.]

Gee, you still don't get it, do you? Okay, once more for the dimwits:

The other phonemakers: "Here, buy your smartphone-apps from whomever you like."
The consumers: "Nah."
Apple: "Here's a store where you can buy all available apps for your phone."
The consumers: "Yeah!"
mystikkman: "Stupid consumers! Stupid Apple! Everyone's stupid but me! Apple should be forced to be like everybody else!"

And for your Microsoft analogy: Windows sold well at the end of the 90s, because nobody ever was fired for buying IBM in the early 80s. So according to you, the iPhone is successful because everybody was buying Macs in the 90s. What are you, stu... - well, you already made that clear.