Apple’s decision to offer an array of applications for its iPhone promised a new dawn for mobile phone users. It should have brought out the best in developers with innovative applications arriving daily to bring new levels of functionality to mobile handsets. But in so many ways, that’s not how things have panned out.
If you’ve yet to join the iPhone set, you don’t have to take my word for it. For proof you’ve only to see the open letter from developer Craig Hockenberry and further statements from App Cubby which have been publicised on the Reg. In his missive Craig spells out the problems facing companies who attempt to create something better than simple one-dimensional apps that appear to dominate the company’s application store.
It’s not hard to see the developers’ point, with dumb, wacky applications such as Hold On proving disturbingly popular. Hold On, lest we forget, actually tests how long you can depress a button for. No really. Similarly pointless is the Alarm Free app. This sees the handset emit a low-level klaxon sound in the event that they’re getting mugged. But surely all that’d happen is that by pulling out your iPhone, you’re now sure to lose it to the sticky-fingered imps?
The problem it seems is multi-faceted. Not only does the cost of developing better apps prove prohibitive given the cheap selling price they command, but the listing system used by the store is actually mitigating against better, more useful apps' chances of success. This is because the most popular apps are those that get listed by Apple on its main page. Consequently it’s the cheaper, sillier apps that do the big business.
If the Apple app store is to become anything better than the digital equivalent of a pile ‘em high, sell ‘em cheap high street retailer it needs to address its rating system. And soon.
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