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There used to be an app for that

By Matt Radford on July 28, 2009

Locked AppleThe App Store: An incredibly successful market for developers to sell their wares, undermined by the shop owner’s inconsistent and unpredictable rules about what can be sold.

Once again, Apple has done the customer a dis-service. You may have heard about the removal of GV Mobile and VoiceCentral apps from the App Store, and the blocking of the official Google Voice application. These are apps that allow you to interact with a Google Voice account (currently US-only), which gives you one number for multiple phones, and is really providing new innovations in voice telephony. The reasons Apple gave (duplication of features, user confusion) are not credible, especially as the apps have been selling for months. It seems that AT&T have exerted some presuure to have these apps removed, fearing that their cash cows of long-distance calling and SMS would be hit.

Why should we care? I mean, there’s so much important stuff in the world to really get worked up about, that this seems a bit pedantic. But the point is: my iPhone is my iPhone. I’m paying for it, and I should be able to do what I want with it. And includes installing apps that Apple may not like.

There’s an app for that Mac

Imagine if Apple turned around and set up an App Store for the Mac. I’m sure if would be an excellent experience, and would quickly become the place to buy apps for the Mac. But if Apple mandated that all apps had to be sold through the Mac App Store, and you were not allowed to install them from anywhere else? How would you feel if Apple also said that your computer’s warranty would be void if enabled it to install apps from another store?

That is the current situation with the iPhone, with one crucial difference: I bought my iPhone knowing about these restrictions.

I’ve chosen to buy a phone knowing it’s locked to one network, and knowing that I’m restricted from doing certain things. I know that if I alter my iPhone to install apps that are not approved or unlock it, then the warranty is void and I relinquish any support from Apple and my mobile operator. I can understand why Apple and O2 want this: it means they don’t have to try to support any number of devices configured any number of ways, and it protects their revenue streams. I’ve chosen this.

I wouldn’t choose a computer like that though, locked to one software provider and on one network. But increasingly, my phone is my computer. I use it for so much of my communication, that not being able to use it in the most productive way possible, can be quite frustrating.

And that is why jailbreaking will remain important for iPhone users. When Apple decided to get in bed with mobile operators rather than selling unlocked devices straight to consumers, they chose their customer (Hint: it’s not you). Jailbreaking gives users a way of installing apps that neither the manufacturer nor the operator may approve of, but which enable users to use their phone their way. The capricious and unknowable decisions of Apple (even in relation to apps that have already been released) provides ample reason to open up your device. There’s a wealth of apps out there which will never make it to the App Store, but which will enhance your iPhone your way.

Still not convinced? Check out these recent additions for jailbroken phones in Cydia, the unofficial App Store:

3G Unrestrictor
– The premium version on VoIPover3G. Allows you to use high quality YouTube, SlingPlayer, and download iTunes content >10MB, over 3G or GPRS

Spot
– Why wait for Apple to reject the official Spotify client? Premium users can get started now.

YourTube
– Remember mxTube, the YouTube downloader? This goes one better, by integrating downloads straight into the official YouTube app.

Auto-Silent
– turns your iPhone to silent between set times, and for meetings.

Also, this one isn’t in Cydia, but try ipl2iph from Brian Flett. It has recently been updated for iPhone OS 3.0, and still allows easy downloading of BBC iPlayer content.

Jailbreaking – it’s the gift that keeps on giving!

UPDATE: Sean Kovacs has released GV Mobile for free via Cydia. Couple that with Backgrounder, and you have an even better Google Voice solution than you could achieve via the App Store…

  • http://www.twitter.com/lexplex_ Lexplex

    Check your terms and conditions, I’m pretty sure that there’s a clause in there which says that the iPhone remains the property of Apple or the service provider until your contract has ended or has been bought out in full. It’s certainly present in my contract!

    Apple’s warranty smallprint is pretty tough too – the warranty can be voided if any non-Apple-purchased 3rd party applications or accessories are used. So if you use headphones you bought from somewhere other than the Apple store and your iPhone/iPod breaks, Apple can refuse to repair the unit under warranty.

    Lovely people, aren’t they?

  • http://www.allaboutiphone.net Matt Radford

    Oh, I’m fully aware that when I buy my iPhone on contract, it’s essentially a higher-purchase agreement. But if you bought a computer from Dell, would you expect them to be able to tell you what you can and cannot install on your PC?

  • http://www.usablecontent.co.uk Gerry White

    Odd, I am sure that Steve was arguing the other case – on allaboutiphone, basically saying there was too much rubbish on the iphone already and Apple should be cautious about what they approve. For the record I am on your side (they should pretty much pubish everything that isn’t ‘evil’) and let reviews and other methods let the good float and the other stuff sink…

  • http://www.rs4items.com runescape gold

    Don’t you dare say a bad word about Apple. Fan boys will be all over you. Apple can do know wrong. I can’t wait to hear the kool aid drinkers defend this. You all know it’s coming……
    runescape items

  • http://www.allaboutiphone.net James Burland

    I worded a massive reply to this post and then ditch it. Not because I’m afraid of being labelled a fan boy, but because all that really needs to be said in reply is this…

    The App Store is unique to the history of personal computing. That Apple have thus far managed the growth of the platform so superbly, and still provide industry leading customer satisfaction is an achievement which still leaves me wide-eyed in amazed.

    In short, Apple’s primary concern is for the growth of the platform. For that to happen in a controlled and sustainable way there will be times when they must restrict that environment. Once the platform has reached maturity I am convinced that they will open up the environment to the extent that you describe above. However, now is not the time. It may be the time for you personally, hence Jailbreaking, but it’s not the right time for the platform as a whole.

  • http://www.camerawars.co.uk Gerry White

    Oddly a twitter trended topic today was this very issue, hundreds of people linking to a blog post “I Quit The iPhone”… odd how much support there is for Google Voice!

  • http://www.gratisipods.com/itunes.html free itunes

    Some good info here, I wasn’t expecting to land here and start reading but looks like I did! lol