As someone who is platform agnostic (I own many Apple, Windows and
Linux products) I appreciate what their focus on design but have
always resented their closed culture.

The “backlash” we're swing now is a lagging indicator. Big companies
even Apple, move slowly. For the first time in a long time Apple is
having to be a little reactive. Can they keep executing like they have
been when they're having to react and the best channel they have to do
that with is an email?

Is it possible? Yes. Is it likely? I'm a skeptic.

As someone who is platform agnostic (I own many Apple, Windows and
Linux products) I appreciate what their focus on design but have
always resented their closed culture.

The “backlash” we're swing now is a lagging indicator. Big companies
even Apple, move slowly. For the first time in a long time Apple is
having to be a little reactive. Can they keep executing like they have
been when they're having to react and the best channel they have to do
that with is an email?

Is it possible? Yes. Is it likely? I'm a skeptic.

“Phil Schiller Responds Regarding Ninjawords and the App Store”

http://daringfireball.net/2009/08/phil_schiller…

Key passages:

“I believe Phil Schiller that Apple’s policy is not to reject App Store dictionaries for containing swear words. However, it’s clear this policy has not been consistently enforced by the App Store review team. The problem, as I see it, is not that one or more App Store reviewers were unaware that it is acceptable for dictionaries to contain words that are not acceptable in other contexts. Mistakes are inevitable. The problem is that there’s no good recourse for developers to appeal such a mistake.”

“Here’s how Schiller closed1 his email to me:

“Apple’s goals remain aligned with customers and developers — to create an innovative applications platform on the iPhone and iPod touch and to assist many developers in making as much great software as possible for the iPhone App Store. While we may not always be perfect in our execution of that goal, our efforts are always made with the best intentions, and if we err we intend to learn and quickly improve.

“This is music to my ears. That Schiller was willing to respond in such detail and length, on the record, is the first proof I’ve seen that Apple’s leadership is trying to make the course correction that many of us see as necessary for the long-term success of the platform.”

My take: they've got all the right instincts and will pilot moves towards openness when the benes outweigh the drawbacks (in their view).

For a company that's executing like apple is, it's tough for me to second guess them.

Any thoughts? This is pretty interesting and I haven't geeked out like this in a few months, so pardon my zeal

http://www.ethanbauley.com/post/143762046/we-be…