People think up and enforce Rules to suppress undesirable outcomes. What tends to be over-looked is that no filter is perfect, and all filters catch otherwise-desired outcomes as well.
In the case of Apple’s App Store, their “no private APIs” rule — intended to protect users and enhance stability — means delayed and altogether-blocked innovation:
Ken Aspeslagh / @massivevector:
There is no API for grabbing live video from the iPhone video camera, correct? So is Apple bending the rules for these new streaming apps? It’s frustrating because were doing this 2 years ago but canned the project because of the “rules”.
Mac OS X is remarkably stable and innovative while lacking a “no private APIs” gatekeeper, so I’m inclined to believe this rule is all negative, with little-to-no upside.
Google will make tons of money from its app store. Remember that unapproved applications won’t be able to run on the Chrome OS and the best (maybe only) way to find approved apps will be through a Google store as pioneered by Apple with iTunes. This wasn’t lost on Eric Schmidt during his days on the Apple board. Through such an app store, Google will get a percentage of all third-party software sales — something Microsoft has never been able to do with third-party Windows apps. The potential revenue from the app store alone is billions per year.
This is first I’ve heard of a Chrome OS App Store. I was wondering if I simply missed it in the Chrome OS hullabaloo. I searched around, and couldn’t find anything that directly supports Bob’s assertion.
The closest thing I found is here:
Question: Will there be an app store? Will Google certify drivers from OEMs? What about applications to edit photos?
Answer: App store: the Web is our app store, and we will work hard to make those discoverable. Drivers: working with hardware partners. Want devices to be built on reference devices and with open-source drivers. Editing: some apps are not available on the Web. Most people who will buy this machine will have another machine in their home. This is not meant to be a primary OS - just a “delightful experience to be on the Web.” This is a companion device
(emphasis mine)
It’s my opinion App Stores are the AOLs of software distribution: they’re grow large and will make a lot of money, but are fundamentally doomed as any other walled-garden.
Google could make a bunch of money offering a Chrome OS App Store, but if they’re in it for the long play (which it appears they are) they’ll simply move directly to end-game.
With Google relying on the Web as their App Store, its focuses an attention on the space that accelerates the undermining of other, proprietary App Stores.
That’s only a good thing.
