Steve Jobs on Android

Jobs believes that transparency is not always better than closed, "Google's allegations are a smokescreen for what is best for customers: integrated or fragmented? We believe integration will trump fragmented every time. "

In connection with Apple's disclosure of quarterly financial statements, were as usual held a conference call for shareholders. Very unusual participated Apple boss Steve Jobs at the meeting and he took the opportunity to get a little into the IOS's closest competitor, Android.

Apple sold 14.1 million iPhones in the quarter, mesn are not supported by some official figures for Android. Analysis firm Gartner has predicted 10 million sold Android phones, but it is probably too early to proclaim a "winner" of the protection issues, although there have long been able to read stories in the media about Android is larger than the iPhone. Jobs are interested not so much the case. "Our goal is to be the best. We are not the largest .... It's Nokia. We admire them, but do not want to be them. We will make the best units. Android is our biggest competitor. We will compete with them for quite a long time, but we have different strategies and we believe in ours. We believe it is the winning strategy in the end. "

Android is fragmented

Steve Jobs believes that Google's claim that Android is open is untrustworthy: "Android is fragmented. TweetDeck (an Android app) has revealed that they must keep track of over 100 different versions of Android. Compare that to Apple's two versions. Amazon, Vodafone and Verizon have announced that they will create their own Android app stores. It's a mess for users and developers. Compare to Apple's integrated App Store ".

Jobs also notes that while Google was right is open is not always better than closed, "Look at Microsoft's Play For Sure system that they were forced to scrap."

Play For Sure would be an iPod killer

5 years ago Apple was under enormous pressure from analysts who thought that the iPod closed format was a non-starter. Apple should instead go for an open system like Microsoft's Play for Sure. Play for Sure was an open format such as Microsoft attempted to extend to manufacturers of portable music players and distributors of music. The idea was that different music players could play music purchased from various music stores, representing a completely open and free system. Critics of Apple's closed approach meant that a natural consequence of an open system was that it would win over a closed due to increased competition and consequent low prices and more options for users.

Play For Sure would be an iPod killer, but as we all know it happened of course not. The problem was that the technology was too unreliable. Microsoft supplied the software, while another company supplied hardware. This meant uncertainty about who was to blame for any mistakes, who therefore should correct them, and how everything was coordinated. This resulted in some quite grotesque situations when Amazon launched their video service based on the Play For Sure. That there should be an easy way to purchase movies, did not work for many people. There had to be installed drivers, updated programs and restart computers in an infinity. Eventually it ended that Amazon wrote on their website that "If your device is Play For Sure-kampatibel, it works maybe. "Maybe? Although there was honest talk, so life is too short to buy things, where the dealer writes that they might seem.

We believe integration will trump fragmented every time

The problem was short, that there were too many companies entangled case. It saw Microsoft as also dropping after a few years Play For Sure again and gambled instead of the Zune player on Apple's strategy, where the same company stood for the whole package: software, hardware and shop. Whatever one thinks of Apple's closed iPod or iPhone format, so it seems at least, and it is precisely this which is Jobs' point: "Google's allegations are a smokescreen for what is best for customers: integrated or fragmented ? We believe integration will trump fragmented every time. Users and developers will agree. "

If you find the above interesting, I can recommend the book "Steve Jobs - The man behind Apple "which I previously reviewed. It says a lot about Apple's system logic, focusing on user experiences and so on.

Since this topic on experience, opinion is divided and often ends up in the pure mudslinging, I will take this opportunity to remind the comments intended to provoke, insult or taunt others, including forward unfounded accusations will be deleted. We discussions to get smarter, which requires that we argue for its positions.

Posted in: Android,Apple,iPad,iPhone,iPhone 4,iPod,iPod Touch,Steve Jobs