Apple drops the iPhone NDA

Are there really iPhone specific patents? What kind of things could be patented regarding the iPhone? And yes, that is a proper question, not a snarky comment.

Well, it's a step in the right direction. Now if they can fix their app approval process, things will be even better. The best single summary of the app approval process as it exists now: http://gizmodo.com/5051273/how-apple-picks-which-apps-make-it-to-the-app...

They replaced it with Wonderful Guenuine Advantage, or WGA :)

Wae, I had to look that one up, but it was worth it :)

You're right Wae the iPhone is just a shameful piece of junk and its users iMorons... long live Winmobile with drop-drown menus and mouse arrow on a 3" screen !

"You're right Wae the iPhone is just a shameful piece of junk" Oh, so you HAVE seen the iPhwn $3G.... "long live Winmobile with drop-drown menus and mouse arrow on a 3" screen !" Have you actually used a Windows Mobile device? For one, the Today screen is incredibly easy to get access to programs because it presents a daily list of information such as phone calls, appointments, new messages (which include summaries of those messages), reminders, and other stuff. Clicking on your information loads the appropriate program, not the other way around. There's a whole market for just Today Screen plugins and add-ons. It's sure better than having to launch app after app to try to find that info based on a number overlayed over a particular icon, having each app close while loading another one. Clicking "Programs" on a WM Smartphone opens up an icon view of installed programs - just like the Home button on the iPhone. The iPhone is program-centric, not task-centric, which is the way Windows Mobile, as well as Windows Mobile users work. I guess that's why they're accepted in the workplace more than the iPhone - WM users get work done while iPhone users are playing with their accelerometers. (sic) And BTW: There is no mouse arrow on Windows Mobile. I guess that does make you an iMoron.

To be fair, I jailbroke my 3G, and mucked around with a couple of Cydia and Installer packages, and I have to say Apple's official apps are so much more polished (if only a little vapid) than the numerous hack jobs on Cydia. Several apps I installed screwed up the phone, so much so that the phone.app was unusable (irresponsive to touch). I unjailbroke my phone again. If only Apple would let people build whatever applications they want, but rather approve or disprove apps solely based on their adherence to UI and UX principles, I would be OK with their oversight.

drylight, wasn't being called an idiot once enough for you?

Ah, poor Apple. The press is starting to turn against them, so they had to do something. All of the gloom and doom of the Mac Fans that Microsoft going down is not happening. The new Servers are being met with critical praise and Windows Seven is looking impressive. Meanwhile to help silence further commentary on the Year of the Apple Epic Fail, they scrap the NDA for published apps. (Golf clap.) Developer friendly? I know from listening to actual developers that they disagree strongly. Those at non-Apple sponsored development conferences were on camera saying that the NDA, before or after an app is launch was hurthing them. So it really isn't so friendly at all, Apple's just overreatcing to how Microsoft legally obtained the GUI. Its like Gates and Ballmer got into their heads and they're like an scarred victim overreating. I think we're finally seeing Apple for what it is. Microsoft in the 1990's. Part monopolist and opportunist looking out more for its own interests and not the consumer good. I am not saying that they don't make good products. This year we've seen the ugly side of Apple and it is well deserved criticism. On the converse, Microsoft has an ugly side that nobody likes. However, Microsoft going through so much littigation, has taught them some valuable lessons. They are definitely pulling away from Apple and I see them as gaining maturity at this point.

BTW, yes, Microsoft, like every other company (including Google, go figure) has an evil side to it. That's not hard to believe when companies like Fannie Mae, which were created to help the people did stupid things too.

@shark "drylight, wasn't being called an idiot once enough for you?" Ahh sharky and his labels. Was being called Jack Ass more than once not enough for you....guess not.

bettie: Back with the "jackass" remarks. Do you come from a family of a$$holes? You piece of crap, I never called you names. You were the ones going about calling my family names. Go pi$$ off, you moron.

And since you keep bringing this up, please go back and read my comments and your responses. I simply told you your socialist friends would like your comments. You responded by calling me names. I'd be glad to give you English lessons, if you want me to. Or do you want me to translate it into a language that you understand? I don't know what language a$$holes like you use otherwise, I would have linked to the Google Translation of the comments in your native tongue. BTW, that's it. I am not responding to any more of your asinine and childish remarks after this one. I had to get this one out of the way.

Lindy, if that's the only way you get to spend time with hot women, I cannot stop you from daydreaming. BTW, don't be a jerk. Paul's the one who called drylight an idiot for his off-topic and incendiary posts. Now, if you consider yourselves protectors or defenders of all things Apple, go ahead and call me names. What struck a nerve was that bettie misunderstood one of my earlier posts and instead of seeking clarification, chose to go on the name-calling route instead. And it wasn't like there was much scope for misunderstanding it, but somehow, bettie decided I was insulting him and decided to go for stronger insults to counter attack. Harmless comment, taken out of context and used as an excuse for attacks. Anyway, I realize yesterday's rant against bettie was a little childish and apologize for it.

Ahh Sharky you got to just let it go. I am just jerking your chain brother. Oh and I know she is hot:):) Honestly I dont care was goes on with your and bettie. You two can tear it up in cyberspace on the WINSUPERSITE. There is no way I am going to go back and look at posts on this site to see who said what, because I just dont care. I come here for Windows news and to pour gas on the fire for entertainment, even my avatar was picked for that purpose. I love messing with Mike, when I have the time. To gorath, socialist probably offends some, I am would not want to be considered that, but it would not bother me either. Jack Ass is nothing at all really to me. It means really sarcastic in nature or that is how I would use it to describe someone. Ass Hole, Idiot, more harsh to me but still I would not care. I mean caring what someone says on the internet, on this insignificant blog.....really think about that for a second. If you still care, I am sure in the US they make some drugs that someone will readily prescribe for you, so you can see clearly that this is nothing to worry about. Peace my Microsoft loving brothers, your monopoly is safe for a while longer.

For the last time, I did not call bettie a socialist. Moreover, if someone finds that more offensive than "j@ckass", you need to take pills for your Apple addiction.

Are you sure its the last time?:)

gorath, the rant was not aimed at you. :-) It's surprising that some people find 'socialist' more offensive than 'jackass'. BTW, what about the NDA if the project is rejected? No mention of that?