Filed under: iPhone, App Store, Jailbreak/pwnage
App Store facing competition from jailbreak app sales?
While we're pondering the consequences of RIM announcing that programs in the Blackberry "App World" must be at least $2.99US, there are alternatives to the iTunes App Store emerging from the jailbreak side of the iPhone world. The Wall Street Journal reports that Cydia is making the transition from package repository to a full app store. There are also plans for an adult-only app store and a new jailbreak service.The big question at the moment is how will Apple take this? Apple filed a complaint with the US Copyright Office last month claiming that jailbreaking is illegal. They're not going to take firing a direct salvo at the App Store itself lightly. There is competition for the iTunes Music Store, but Apple could argue that the homegrown app stores infringe on its copyright by using modified versions of its software.
It's not a huge shock that App Store competition is popping up; the only surprise is that it took this long to happen. After all, developers are frustrated that excellent programs such as Podcaster are passed up in favor of the latest, greatest novelty app -- then to make matters worse, those same features turned up in an official iPhone update.
While there are a lot of really terrible apps out there that have no place on the App Store -- I won't even begin to tell you about one adult app pitched to TUAW, we do want to remain a mostly family-friendly site -- there are a lot of good software that get turned down because of Apple's stringent developer's agreement. These developers want an avenue to distribute their programs, and homegrown app stores are one answer.
Cydia's Jay Freeman told the WSJ that he has lined up a lawyer in case Apple comes knocking at the door. He may also want to get in touch with the team that represents Psystar ... just in case.
[via Engadget]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
puhsitch said 6:21PM on 3-06-2009
Ballsy. Apple's more or less been "live and let live" with the jailbreaking community -- but once real competing money comes into the picture, then the claws will come out.
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PSM said 11:53PM on 3-06-2009
Agreed. This is such a bad idea. Jailbreaking should be about giving people the freedom to do what they want with their phones. Any activity that involves stealing money from Apple (whether through piracy or in giving developers an alternative to giving the App Store a cut of their sales) is just asking for trouble from Apple, which will likely mean harmless uses of jailbreaking like adding cut and paste will suffer because some people got greedy.
Jonathan Wise said 9:16AM on 3-09-2009
This is like saying that Microsoft should be able to sue anyone who sells software for Windows without going through the Microsoft store.
I don't see where, outside of console gaming, anyone has ever been allowed to/able to enforce a distribution method on computer software. Its just a computer, why does Apple have to get a cut/control of every piece of software written for it?
Michael said 6:35PM on 3-06-2009
Look for exclusive screenshots from cydia store at iphoneclub.nl
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Rick Maddy said 7:02PM on 3-06-2009
Is this really competition? The apps that will be sold in these alternative stores are apps that can't be purchased from Apple's store. Apple is not going to lose money due to "lost" sales.
I guess it would be different if developers (like myself) could, and chose, to sell an app on both stores. Of course the alternative stores will only work with jailbroken devices.
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SIP said 12:04AM on 3-07-2009
That was my first thought: apps acquired via Cydia will never make it to the Apple AppStore so I can't really see this is such a big deal.
My iPhone is jailbroken, and I use apps from both sources.
puhsitch said 12:42AM on 3-07-2009
If it turns out that developers can somehow make more money with Cydia than with the App Store, then it'll matter. I don't know if that's likely, but I guess it's possible...
Jim Danner said 6:42AM on 3-09-2009
It's very unlikely that an app that would be allowed in App Store could make more money through Cydia. The jailbreaking community is just 10% of all iPhones.
So it isn't really competition for Apple; this will just have apps that are not accepted in App Store.
glad said 7:06PM on 3-06-2009
prepare to be sued by Apple once you start trying to take the $ out from under Apples' nose you are asking for it.
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Jon said 7:51PM on 3-06-2009
Anyone who creates a jailbroken app store will have a hard time getting people to trust them with their credit card details. I'd need some reassurance that everything was legit before I'd consider it.
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ianlive said 1:19PM on 3-07-2009
Excellent point.
krizoitz said 8:20PM on 3-06-2009
Want to mess with your own phone? Cool go right ahead.
Want to give away apps for those phones for free? Cool go right ahead.
Want to start profiting from Apples hard work? I hope you get sued.
If you don't like that Apple won't allow certain apps in the app store, then program for another phone. I hear you can put ANYTHING out for the G1.
These guys are crossing the line and are going to bring a LOT of heat down on the jailbreak crowd (just as the EFF has done) that in all reality Apple would have been glad to ignore before it started affecting its buisness.
Not to mention, as Jon said, why would I trust my credit card info to a bunch of people who have allready demonstrated they are willing to play fast and loose with the law?
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mrsteveman1 said 10:36PM on 3-06-2009
In what way are they profiting from Apples work?
Developers on OS X already release paid Apps for use on Mac OS X, now developers are releasing paid apps for use on iPhone os. The sole difference here is that Apple setup a software store. Boo hoo, doesn't matter.
krizoitz said 12:05AM on 3-07-2009
Apple allows open development and sales on the Mac.
It doesn't on the iPhone. Just like Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft for their game platforms for example. Their tools, their right. What you do with your console/phone on your own? Who cares. But you start SELLING things for those platforms, thats breaking the law and yes, profiting off the work of others without their consent.
Just because one band says you can download their music for free, doesn't mean you can download everyones and sell it.
nonsequitur said 1:21AM on 3-07-2009
Not to sound like a prick or anything, but you're pretty closed minded. I also wouldn't hesitate to call you a sheep.
Anyone who owns an iPhone or an iPod Touch PAID for the hardware. The software comes with the hardware. That is PAID FOR IN FULL when the device is purchased. Once I am the owner of a device, I can do whatever I want with it. Jailbreaking illegal? Oh please. I'd love to see someone try to make a case against me simply because I've jailbroken my phone and paid for PDANet. Profiting from Apple's hard work? The iPhone is a software platform. If there is demand for a piece of software and Apple refuses to provide it, there is nothing wrong with charging for programs. As long as source code isn't ripped off from Apple, there is nothing illegal whatsoever.
I own this iPhone, I paid for it. It is mine, not Apple's, I can do as I please with it.
Also, you keep speaking of "the law." Where do you find any evidence of modifying a phone's firmware in order to allow unapproved applications being illegal? I don't think any country has a law saying that people can't modify software on their devices, as long as it isn't for committing crimes.
drakhul said 11:03AM on 3-09-2009
nonsequitur, you are sadly ill informed my friend. When you bought your iPhone you agreed to the terms Apple set in order to use the device. Therefore, when you break your phone, you are breaking the contract you have with Apple. If you didn't agree with the terms and conditions set forth by Apple, you should have bought a Blackberry instead. Apple has every right to go after all the morons who broke the agreement by jailbreaking their phones. As others have stated, I think Apple was willing to let it slide in the past, but it's my sincere hope that they go after this app store and everyone who broke the EULA with guns blazing.
Oh, and anyone who gives these thieves their credit card info deserves to have their identity stolen. These people have already proved that they have no regard at all for the law.
flippersy said 8:23PM on 3-06-2009
So are they going to use their own proprietary DRM to keep their apps from being pirated? One of the reasons people jailbreak their phones in the first place is to be able to install pirated apps. It really sounds like Cydia hasn't thought this through...and that's not even counting the legal hassles that are going to come their way.
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Digaos said 1:31PM on 3-09-2009
I don't think that's the main reason why people jailbreak their phones (to use pirated apps). I know a lot of people with jailbroken phones that did that for different reasons, none of them for using pirated apps.
Can you run apps in background or use turn-by-turn navigation on the iPhone using "approved" apps? If it doesn't matter to you, fine. But it does matter to a lot of people.
If Apple doesn't allow people to use the full potential of the device, people will search for alternatives.
oliver hart said 4:38AM on 3-07-2009
most of the things in cydia are tools, tools that are actually useful when it comes getting the most out of a powerful, yet somehow lacking device. if apple is going to shoe away devs that make things that people want just because they say so, then im happy for an alternative to the app store. its a best of both worlds situation. i rely on cydia for a ton of things, most notably the ability to use my iphone with tmobile. and if the dev team asked for payment to be able to do so, id gladly pony up the dough. same with every other jailbreak app that lets me do what i want with something i paid for. if ford sold me a focus and said i could add one of their factory stereo tape deck players, and best buy had a cd stereo, id go with the latter, and ill be damned if ford tells me i cant because its their vehicle.
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mex said 5:53AM on 3-07-2009
"Cydia is making the transition from package repository to a full app store. There are also plans for an adult-only app store and a new jailbreak service."
where is than the philosofy of freedom... and the good speakers that blames apple to don't let them do anything thay want with iPhone because is "theyr right"... well... again the "pirates" shows themself for what they are "bad persons"
Just doing for the profit... and cam'on! event ADULT appStore... bad really bad!
I hope that this will be at least the end of jailbreak supporters claiming to do it just for theyr freedom
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