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Facebook Taking On Apple?
oDDmON oUT writes "Techcrunch has a piece about Facebook's Project Spartan, which aims to deliver app store functionality through the use of HTML5 in the iOS Safari browser. Given Facebook's shifting sands privacy stances, as well as their track record with their "trusted partners", I don't think I'd be alone in wondering if this wouldn't put a great big stake in the heart of the assertion that iOS is the most secure operating system in existence today."
how is creating a web site for a particular browser considered as 'taking over' that particular browser?
and how is this related to the security of any OS?
(and how would iOS be a most secure OS among all OSs around? like, seriously? and how would this statement be relevant anyway?)
This is one of a series of "Facebook-taking-on-X" trial balloons, where X is a well-known, highly-capitalized company with a real business model. The last wave had X = Google, which made no sense at all because Google's search rocks, while Facebook can barely tie its shoes with its own search (try searching comments on your own Wall if you don't believe me).
The legions of Cloud fanboys will be all over this, because Facebook can't really create apps in the same way that the iTunes store can, so of course it means transient operation. (Ignore slow download times and bad performance because everything has to run on a scripting engine.) Techcrunch isn't much on actual analysis, but they sure do a great job as a press release outlet.
Dog is my co-pilot.
I read the article, but I don't really understand why this is 'taking on Apple'. Yeah, it's trying to undermine the app store via Facebook apps, but if that were a huge tactic against Apple, surely it would be working already? (Surely Facebook is accessible and usable with apps as-is without this 'Project Spartan'? In which case if HTML5 apps via Facebook were what people wanted, surely they would already have a big stake in the iOS audience?)
Maybe I'm daft, but what does Facebook making an App Store have to do with the security of iOS?
In the end, everyone will lose. Facebook will try to get as much data about iPhone users as possible; Apple will try to prevent Facebook from getting this data, and lock down iOS more and more. At the end of the day, iOS users will wind up with both less privacy and less freedom than ever before.
Palm trees and 8
The real story: Facebook is developing web pages (using HTML 5) that will work inside the Safari browser on iOS devices. Just like on a PC/Mac desktop, the 'new' web pages will allow the using of Facebook apps (like farmville) inside iOS. Ok, I guess you can spin it either way: (a) Facebook improving itself to work the same on iOS as on desktops. (TRUE) (b) Facebook will have 'apps' working on the phone without being downloaded by the app store. (HALF TRUE - only apps that can be run within a browser within the HTML 5 specs, with the shortcomings of 3G data speeds and limited bandwidth, and can't use features of the phone not available through the browser like the camera).
A couple of the bullet point reasons in the article on why iOs is more secure:
-- patches can be rolled out quickly
-- iOs isn't as big a target as other OS's
Idiocy. Don't cite this cretinous article.
I can hook up a locked iPhone to a PC with DiskAid and suck the contacts, photos, and everything else of importance out without knowing the key.
as it supports Apple's goal of HTML5 over Flash.
How will facebook installing webapps on ios (or any os) will be a stake in the heart of iOS being secure??? if there is a security problem in safari, that would be a security issue in itself. And also there is already such service available (openAppMkt)
"There is no flag large enough to cover the shame of killing innocent people."--Howard Zinn
Yeah, because Apple just hates it when you develop web apps for iOS, and is doing everything it can to prevent developers from using HTML5 to mimic native iOS features.
I think the reasoning goes something like ... since we don't trust Facebook not to be dickheads, allowing them to install software on your device likely wouldn't be very secure since they might "decide" that you actually did opt-in for something you've never heard of.
Facebook does have a bit of a history of deciding that their partners should have access to your data, because it's beneficial for them. Or changing the defaults of things to be permissive because that's what they want.
Facebook, from what I've read, might not be perceived as a company one would actually want to put that much trust in. They'll hand over all of your details to Zynga in a heartbeat if it makes them a few bucks.
Lost at C:>. Found at C.
Zuckerberg actually personally HATES anyone that does not have all their privacy settings set to "EVERYONE"
From what I hear he has a weekly hate session on Mondays with the rest of management.
Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
Already done. The new iPhone is getting lots of sharing functionality. Some of it may be Facebook powered, for now. But Apple can go to Twitter, Flickr, or iCloud. And Steve Jobs has a reputation for being just a little paranoid and vindictive.
I respect Facebook. They have done wonderful things with about 300 engineers. But I'm not sure they can go toe to toe with a giant like Apple.
With 300 Engineers they gave us a Facebook which isn't much functionality. NeXT gave us NeXTStation, NeXTCube, NeXTStep/Openstep User/Developer, EOF, WeObjects, Openstep for Windows, PDO/D'OLE, and much more with less Engineers. A glorified Social Networking Project is respected only due to the massive amounts of people once using AOL switching to Facebook. That's not impressive. People go where the free food is found. Costco has a lot of freeloaders eating up all the samples. Should I be impressed?