A little over a week ago, I started a series of articles in which I pondered what would happen if Apple were to suddenly become subject to my whim, at least as far as the iPhone is considered.  The original idea was to break the series into five distinct parts.  Well, we made it through three so far, including my proposed support for an unrestricted SDK for developers, dynamic icons and USB based sync capabilities for third party applications.  There were to be two more articles, with one focusing on making the App Store a better experience for all involved.  Since the inception of the series though, Apple has had some very well publicized incidents with their App Store.

Let’s recap for a moment, in no particular order:

First, according to PC World we have Apple supposedly censoring a dictionary application because of the content.  Some of the words are of the type that Apple would deem that you should not use.  They insist that since the dictionary is based on the Wiktionary dictionary, that some of the content is simply inappropriate.  Simply, I ask, why should Apple be able to decide the content you have on your iPhone?  It is your iPhone, isn’t it?

Next, we have IntoMobile reporting that Apple is suddenly rejecting e-books and e-book reader type applications.  Why, you ask?  Because they can be used to access illegal content.  Really, I’m not making this up.  Now, let’s step back for a moment and look at this objectively.  Think about all of the various types of applications that could in theory be used to access illegal content.  Go ahead, keep adding to that list.  It’s growing and growing, right?!  As I start brainstorming, a few come to mind:  text editors, picture viewers, office type applications, database type applications, drawing type applications, dictionaries, encyclopedias, internet browsers, music players, movie players and on, and on, and on.  You get the point, right.  In theory, just about any type of application has the potential to access third party content that could be illegal in nature.  You might have even noticed iTunes and Safari listed as potential offenders on my list.  You can definitely access illegal content with them if you want.  How many iPhone’s and iPod Touch’s would Apple sell minus Safari and iTunes?

Finally, we’ve got Gear Diary, along with just about everyone else, reporting that Apple pulled Google Voice type applications.  Long story short here, very shortsighted thinking on Apple’s part.

Now that the recap of Apple’s recent App Store blunders is concluded, let’s take a glance at what would be in store for you if Mr Jobs called me tomorrow:

1. Applications that are submitted for review would be reviewed for full functionality upon initial submission.  Every single aspect of the program would be combed through, looking for any potential bug that could exist.  Of course, this will still allow for the initial delay in getting version 1.0 published, but in the end the tradeoff would be worth it as the end user would have a stable application that did not crash.
2. Subsequent updates would then fall solely as the responsibility of the developer.  He or she would be required to complete their own testing in full, but then be allowed to automatically publish the update to the iTunes App Store.  Right now when a developer is notified of a bug in his or her program, after the fix the application has to be submitted for review and approval.  True, this can be relatively quick at times, taking only a few days compared to the several weeks that it can take.  But, what if you are dealing with a developer that is really responsive to bug reports and customer feedback.  I’ve had the opportunity to work with some developers over the years that would send a fixed version within minutes of reporting a bug.  I’ve also worked with developers that can roll out multiple new features in one day.  The current method of review hurts these developers.
3. I’d encourage the pricing scheme to be revisited.  Yes, I know some of you won’t like this, as you very well may like the 99 cent app that you get.  But, let’s face it… a developer is not going to make a lot of money selling copies of an app at 99 cents per copy.  Some people say that volume is the key here, but if it were known what development costs, and the fact that some developers actually require the money to live month to month on, wouldn’t it make more sense to pay the actual deserved price of the app?  The 99 cent pricing model is killing sustainability, as serious developers that are going to provide real applications for the iPhone, the type that actually make the device worth using, need a justification for doing the work.  If they can’t make money they will stop.
4. The current model of censorship is flawed.  Sure, some apps can in theory be used to access illegal content.  It’s up to the user what he or she puts on their phone, though.  It’s not the phone manufacturer’s right to legislate this.  Do applications that contain explicit content need to be labeled as such – YES.  I agree with this.  I think that the stickers that are on CD’s warning of explicit content are great.  The consumer needs to know that “*&%^#” is in there.  But, if he or she still wants it, fine.  It’s THEIR choice.
5. I’d work with developers.  I’d understand that without the third party developers, I wouldn’t exist.  In my honest opinion if Apple had failed to open up the iPhone for third party application development, the novelty would have faded.  The iPhone would not be the iPhone of today.  Therefore it makes sense to nurture this relationship.  Take care of those that take care of you would be my general attitude.

What are your thoughts on this?  What major revisions, if any, would you make to the iTunes App Store?  Let us know in the comments section below.

[Image:  Apple]

One of the complaints I heard (and voiced) about the Palm Pre before its release was the lack of support for PalmOS apps and games.  It felt like Palm was missing an opportunity to feature an enormous, ready-made library of apps.  Additionally, with the large (but admittedly shrinking) army of devoted Palm users, it seemed like there was an almost built in path to an automatic upgrade.  By not supporting those apps, it seemed as though many users might choose to stick with their current devices rather than risk giving up significant functionality with an unknown operating system.

Apparently, Palm was listening to those complaints, at least partially, because they ended up giving users a way to utilize all of their previously owned PalmOS apps on the Palm Pre.  That method is Classic, which is essentially a PalmOS emulator from Motion Apps. 

When you load it up, you are faced with an on-screen graphical representation of a classic PalmOS device.  You can navigate by utilizing the on-screen”hardware” buttons, exactly as you would with a Palm device.  Everything which you would expect to find in the classic PalmOS is here, and you can even add as many classic PalmOS apps as you would like.  Thus, giving you access to your complete library.

Now, you should be forewarned that any apps you have running in Classic are running in a completely isolated shell on your device.  This means they cannot access any other data you may have stored on your device, such as contacts, appointments, and tasks.  If you want to use a Classic app for this, you would have to input the information separately.

The other downside to this app is the price.  Of the 32 apps in the App Catalog, it is the only one which is not currently free.  Then again, it did give me the opportunity to test out the purchasing experience.  From the App Catalog, you can download a free seven day trial to get a feel for the app.  I was happy to find a built-in system for trials, so we do not have to deal with this business of a “Lite” version of the app vs a full or pro version.  That just got confusing. 

Once you have downloaded it, there is a purchase option within the app.  Input your email and you will be sent more specific instructions for purchase.  This generally involves going to the developer’s website and paying them directly, then returning to the app to enter a purchase code.  Boy do I hope this is not the final process, because it is just way  too cumbersome.  One of the things I really liked about the iTunes App Store is the fact that it is all self contained.  You enter your Paypal or credit card info one time and that’s it.  Purchase to your heart’s content.  I hope this system is just a stopgap for a more permanent and convenient purchasing procedure.

Finally, Classic costs $29.99, which I found to be ridiculous.  To me, it felt like an extra punishment for being a loyal Palm user.  I can imagine quite a few Centro and Treo users remaining loyal to their apps and loading them onto the Pre via this app.  However, it is hard to imagine many of them paying $29.99 for the privilege of doing so.  Palm really should have made this one of the included apps in the WebOS operating system. 

I really loved this emulator concept, and would love to see someone offering a similar solution for Windows Mobile, Symbian, Blackberry, and even iPhone apps.  That being said, I do think they need to reevaluate the pricing and purchasing model.  If the purchasing experience and $29.99 pricetag is an indication of what we can expect from the Palm Pre App Catalog after it officially launches in September, then it will have a hard time rivaling the iTunes App Store,

ClintonFitch.com has just posted part two of two of a review of the HP Pavilion dv2 laptop computer.  In the review, we get to read about how the Pavilion dv2 holds up to the rigorous demands of a college age student.  Well worth a read, especially if you are having to consider a computer for your student!

Check out the great review here.

Earlier this week, in discussing WikiPock we brought you the first in a series of articles highlighing unique applications from the JAMM Store.  In a continuing effort to highlight software that you might find useful, we’re going to start summarizing the new and updated software in the Palm OS and Windows Mobile Professional on a weekly basis.  Please see below for last weeks new and updated software!

Palm OS:  New Software

• Desktop Unit Converter for Windows V2.11c

Palm OS:  Updated Software

• No updates

Windows Mobile Professional:  New Software

• ShortCAD – a 2-D CAD / vector graphics drawing program
• Megapolis – a variation of a dice game
• SU Spiders – a solitaire card game
• Yukon – a solitaire card game
• Canfield – a solitaire card game
• Klondike – a solitaire card game
• Freecell – a solitaire card game
• La Belle Lucie – a solitaire card game
• Solitaires Unlimited – a collection of 800 solitaire games
• Spider – a solitaire card game
• SU Freecells – a collection of 20 Freecell solitaire card games
• SU Klondikes – a collection of 20 Klondike solitaire card games
• Joggah – a GPS based running program
• 40 Thieves – a solitaire card game
• High Tech Speaking Caller ID – a talking caller ID program
• Beleaguered Castle – a solitaire card game
• Call Conductor – control over calls using rules

Windows Mobile Professional:  Updated Software

• No updates

I think it is no secret around here that I am a pretty big fan of Sudoku.  I have explored many Sudoku options for various mobile platforms, and even a number of alternate variations on the theme.  For those of you who are new here, Sudoku is a classic Japanese puzzle game, in which you are faced with a grid of 81 squares arranged in nine rows of nine blocks each.  Scattered across the grid are numbers from 1-9.  Your job is to fill in the remainder of the grid by placing each number, 1-9, into each row, column, and 3×3 mini-grid, without duplicating in any direction.  Sounds easy…but that can be deceptive.

The Sudoku! game on the Palm Pre is a pretty basic, no-frills option.  Gameplay is pretty much the same as most mobile Sudoku games.  Just tap the square you want to play, and then tap the number you wish to enter.  I was happy to see that you could help yourself along by using pencil marks.  This is a tool which you can use to help you remember the possible options in a square which you are not quite ready to solve.  It will place your guesses for potential solutions in the corner of the square.  To toggle between entering solutions or pencil marks, just tap the pencil icon.

Each time you start the game, you will be faced  with a new, random puzzle.  You can decide whether you would like an easy, medium, or hard puzzle.  This is great for beginners, because it means you can start with some easier puzzles while you are learning the rules and strategies; and move up in difficulty as you are ready. 

Of course, if you do get stuck, you can always just select the solve game option in order to solve the puzzle.  I did find it odd that there was no option to simply obtain a hint or solve a single square.  Again, hints are a critical component of learning the rules and strategies of the game.  The lack of hints also made this a poor option for newcomers.

One thing I liked about the game was the ability to create a custom puzzle.  This is great, because it means you do not have to carry around the newspaper all day, or risk covering your hands in newspaper ink.  In custom game, you will be faced with a blank grid.  Just enter the numbers in whichever arrangement you choose.  Select done and begin solving the puzzle.

I thought this was a good Sudoku game.  It featured all of the basics, but that was about all you got.  It was a real no-frills option.  There are not a lot of extras or options.  It is a good game for those who are already familiar with Sudoku, but I would not recommend it for beginners because of valuable teaching tools which allow players to learn the rules and strategies of the game.