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07 Mar 2009
Developers are setting up alternatives to Apple's App Store in an attempt to break the company's tight grip on the software that can be used on its products.
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that a new applications site, Cydia Store, will open this weekend to sell applications for the iPhone without having to pay Apple its 30 per cent commission on sales. The store will allow downloads of applications to iPhones that have been unlocked from authorised network providers.
Cydia Store has been set up by Jay Freeman, a 27-year old computer science doctoral student in Santa Barbara, after he invented an application called Cycorder that allows the iPhone to be used as a camcorder. Apple decided that the application was not suitable and banned it from the App Store.
"The overworking goal is to provide choice," said Freeman. "It's understandable that [Apple] wants to control things, but it has been very limiting for developers and users."
Two other stores are reported to be in the pipeline. Rock Your Phone will give advice to iPhone users on how to unlock their devices and run unauthorised applications. Another store will deal with applications at the 'adult' end of the market.
Apple is not taking this lying down, however. The company filed a 27-page statement with the US Copyright Office last month, stating its case that software that unlocks iPhones is illegal under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.
Analysts at Piper Jaffray estimate that the App Store generated $150m (£107m) in sales last year, and that this will increase to $800m (£573m) in 2009.
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Do you agree?
@ Bill
I totaly agree with you. We put out $230 for the 8GB & around $350 for the 16GB iPhone w/Tax. I dont think its right for them to Dictate what we can and can not do with a device we own. As I recall the person that originaly discovered about the ATOM intended to use it for energy but then this idea was passed on to the Government who then did what they wanted to do with it.
Posted by: dood 10 Apr 2009
Apple do not own the Authors copyright to the name Ipod.
The I Pod is not a copyright of Apple computers. QUESTION: Who really came up with the Name iPod? And also has authors copyright over the name.? ANSWER A Scottish immigrant in Australia and it was 5 years before apple even thought of it. Futurologist Hugh C Gray JP was the CEO of a business called? I Pod? in Queensland Australia where the business name was first registered. On July 24, 2000, Apple registered the iPod name for "a public internet kiosk enclosure containing computer equipment," However the article below may indeed shed some light as to the true history of the naming "iPod and in fact it would seem that this was also the first use of the letter ?i" as in the iPod first registered by futurologist and CEO of the iPod business Hugh Gray JP in Brisbane Australia, This was in fact the first use of the letter "i" in a product, Which would even predate the "I Mac" .Although some sites on the net do acknowledge this fact, What most people and the Media do not know is that Apple had their Australian Lawyers investigate this claim and report back to Apple head office, And they admit that the Australian Claim of Hugh Gray to be the first to come up with the name iPod and use the name commercially is true. Apple Computers have still not acknowledged this on their website. Where they still push the 'Vinnie Chieco' story or their July 24, 2000 registration of the name in USA As being first use. Even though they now have proof positive that it was registered in Brisbane Australia over 5 years earlier. and even though Hugh Gray has by common law Authors copyright for the use of the name I Pod This is well known tenet of law yet "Apple computers" continue to use it throughout the world and have not paid the author one cent in royalties. Even though the person who came up with the name lives on an aged Pension. yet Steve Jobs going by Forbes has a net worth of $5.8 Billion US Dollars. What is it they say about karma. And remember Steve you cant take it with you. At least talk to the Author personally and Do the right thing. Just look at the sales figures below to see how much you have made. from i Pod. iPod Worldwide Sales Q4 2001 - 130,000 Q1 2002 - 57,000 Q2 2002 - 54,000 Q3 2002 - 140,000 Q4 2002 - 219,000 Q1 2003 - 80,000 Q2 2003 - 304,000 Q3 2003 - 336,000 Q4 2003 - 733,000 Q1 2004 - 807,000 Q2 2004 - 860,000 Q3 2004 - 2,016,000 Q4 2004 - 4,580,000 Q1 2005 - 5,311,000 Q2 2005 - 6,155,000 Q3 2005 - 6,451,000 Q4 2005 - 14,043,000 Q1 2006 - 8,526,000 Q2 2006 - 8,111,000 Q3 2006 - 8,729,000 Q4 2006 - 21,066,000 Total Sales = 88,708,000 and that is only up till Dec 2006 One can assume that total sales as of 2009 will be well over 100 million Even if apple were to pay a minimum payment to the Author of only one cent per I pod sold. even without interest they would now owe if you have any Morality Mr Hugh Gray of Logan city Australia well over $1 Million US Dollars to date he has got nothing. yep even one cent would make a big difference. ha Dream on eh...
Posted by: Hugh C Gray 16 Mar 2009
IPhone Rocks!
I just bought an iPhone last week after having a Blackberry for 6 years. The iPhone is so much better! Yesterday I downloaded my first few games, and the kids loved JigSee, which lets you take a picture from the iPhone camera and turn it into a jigsaw puzzle game. But I will be getting this Kindle app right now!!!
Posted by: David Klein 08 Mar 2009
It's my phone!
This is different from stealing technology and software from a company. If I want to modify my phone, I should be allowed as I own it. I can modify my car and even my computer. Apple is turning into sour grapes. Maybe they should have allowed the camcorder. Revenge is sweet!
Posted by: Bill 07 Mar 2009