Android new boy blasts iPhone's "Disney-fied" browsing
By Stuart Turton
Posted on 16 Mar 2010 at 08:57
Android's new developer advocate has fanned the flames of discord with Apple by admitting he "hates" the iPhone's approach to the internet.
Tim Bray was previously director of web technologies at Sun , but joined Google earlier in the week and wasted no time in launching an outspoken attack on Apple.
"The iPhone vision of the mobile internet’s future omits controversy, sex, and freedom, but includes strict limits on who can know what and who can say what," he wrote on his blog.
It’s a sterile Disney-fied walled garden surrounded by sharp-toothed lawyers. The people who create the apps serve at the landlord’s pleasure and fear his anger
"It’s a sterile Disney-fied walled garden surrounded by sharp-toothed lawyers. The people who create the apps serve at the landlord’s pleasure and fear his anger. I hate it.
"I hate it even though the iPhone hardware and software are great, because freedom's not just another word for anything, nor is it an optional ingredient," he concluded.
He wasn't shy of taking at pop at his current employer either, admitting that Google was long past the point were it could be described as "purely good or in fact purely anything."
"I’m sure that tendrils of stupidity and evil are even now finding interstitial breeding grounds whence they will emerge to cause grief. And there are some Google initiatives that I feel no urge to go near."
Bray also continued the tradition of former Sun employees expressing their displeasure at the company's new owner, Oracle. "I’d had an offer to stay with Oracle which I decided to decline; I’ll maybe tell the story when I can think about it without getting that weird spiking-blood-pressure sensation in my eyeballs," he wrote.
Bray's Apple assault comes as relations between Google and Apple hit an all-time low. Apple recently sued HTC - maker of Google's Nexus One - over patent infringement, forcing the search giant to defend its hardware partner.
From around the web
Poppycock!
"The iPhone vision of the mobile internet’s future omits controversy, sex, and freedom, but includes strict limits on who can know what and who can say what,"
Utter rubbish, I tried finding a port site on my iPhone, they are still available and are not censored... :-O
For a director of web technologies, he seems have little understanding of the difference between mobile internet and locally running apps... :-S
In that respect, he is correct, the App store is very oppressive, but at least it is, currently, malware free...
Apple really need to work on the transparency of their approval process, but other than that, I'm happy with the App store.
By big_D on 16 Mar 2010 
Not Poppycock!
He's right big_D. Remember he's talking from a developers points of view, not some porn browsing punter ;). The whole Apple environment is VERY opressive and leaves a nasty taste in the mouth. Developers will abandon it in droves...
By mymegalodon on 16 Mar 2010
Yes it's opressive
Besides it's not option to sell the apps, you have to give them a percentage for each transaction. In other words, a apple's tax for everybody. And r u happy with it?
By resuarez on 16 Mar 2010
Viva Competition
When the iPhone first came out there were no near competitors and Apple restricted on which networks the iPhone could be purchased.
Apple can choose how to respond to competition. It has opened up the newtworks, soon it may open up the platform.
In the US Android sales are now nearly 70% of iPhone -people can vote with their wallets and Apple will have to decide how to respond. Apple have a dominant position but not a monopoly.
Given Apple's sales model, there is little chance of seeing a budget iPhone in the near future wheras Android is avaliable at a number of price points -so there is healthy competition.
By milliganp on 16 Mar 2010
@mymegalodon
But there aren't any restrictions on developing web applications, which can be viewed on the iPhone and Apple don't interfere - apart from the lack of Flash.
I was more pointing out his "misunderstanding" of the difference between mobile web and locally running applications, a serious error on his part, considering his job title...
As I said, the app store is restrictive, but the mobile web experience on the iPhone is not restricted or influenced by Apple (Flash/Java aside)
By big_D on 16 Mar 2010
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