Steve Jobs on open vs closed - maemo.org

Reggie | # 1 | 2010-10-19, 11:56 | Report

Just saw this at CNN: http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/mobile/...ex.html?hpt=C2

Originally Posted by

Jobs then took issue with the geeky argument of open versus closed, which refers to how transparent a system's source code is to developers.

"Google loves to characterize Android as open, and iOS and iPhone as closed," Jobs said. "We find this a bit disingenuous and clouding the differences between our two approaches."

He called Android "fragmented." He highlighted how Android handset makers install layers on top of Google's software, which can introduce unexpected problems. And Amazon, Verizon Wireless and Vodafone say they intend to create their own digital stores to sell applications to Android users, despite Google's own Marketplace.

"This is going to be a mess for both users and developers," Jobs said. "We believe integrated will trump fragmented every time."

He also takes a jab at Nokia:

Originally Posted by

On Nokia, which sells the most cell phones worldwide, Jobs said: "Nokia is the biggest, and we admire them for being able to ship the number of handsets that they do. But we don't aspire to be like them."

"Nokia makes $50 handsets, and we don't know how to make a great smartphone for $50," Jobs said. "We're not smart enough to figure that one out yet."

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rickysio | # 2 | 2010-10-19, 12:15 | Report

Jobs is a one man troll army, what did you expect?

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cincibluer6 | # 3 | 2010-10-19, 12:16 | Report

I'm convinced Jobs is one of the biggest blowhards the technological world has ever seen. I don't think anybody has held so much clout while being such a whiny b***h who doesn't in fact, seem to understand just what open and closed really are.

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atilla | # 4 | 2010-10-19, 12:21 | Report

who wants to hear steve jobs talking?

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gerbick | # 5 | 2010-10-19, 12:29 | Report

I like Andy Rubin's response to Steve Jobs best: here

Android is tons more open than iOS. Less open than MeeGo. But the discussion about open/close isn't Steve Jobs to make.

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richwhite | # 6 | 2010-10-19, 12:34 | Report

While Jobs isn't wrong at all about Android, there is a vast difference between open/closed and fragmented/integrated. I fully agree that integrated is generally better because the manufacturer can tailor the software to the hardware, rather than vice versa, but that has no impact on its openness. Maemo isn't fragmented because it's Nokia specific, but it's still open

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parasight | # 7 | 2010-10-19, 12:34 | Report

I'm not sure if he mean open as in open-source or open as in available to many manufacturers. Android of course is both though.

I think he also said "When we hear open we think Windows".

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vickyg | # 8 | 2010-10-19, 12:48 | Report

Originally Posted by gerbick View Post

I like Andy Rubin's response to Steve Jobs best: here

Android is tons more open than iOS. Less open than MeeGo. But the discussion about open/close isn't Steve Jobs to make.

"mkdir android ; cd android ; repo init -u git://android.git.kernel.org/platform/manifest.git ; repo sync ; make"

Where are the commands to install the build files to a HTC Hero, Motorolo Milestone or some other xxx xxx?

If u have the answer the please let me know

If u know how to do same with Maemo Source code then please..

I can build linux kernel, gnu utils, x org, kde/gnome and build a distro and run it on my PC if u can do same with android or maemo then it is a true opensource product.

Some times it's good to have a well supported Closed Product than a half opensource product.

Last edited by vickyg; 2010-10-19 at 12:54.

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mohannad | # 9 | 2010-10-19, 13:01 | Report

Did he just compare a $50 phone to a smartphone?!! AND he is labeling Nokia as the "$50 handsets" manufacturer! This guy needs to get shot!

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afaq | # 10 | 2010-10-19, 14:02 | Report

He is a smart guy but his dis-ingenuity is reflective of those with intentions that are not clear/ well meaning. He very well knows Nokia makes phones for Enterprise, Entertainment and high end N series users. These are not $50 handsets. If he is claiming nokia is selling more because it's quality is low - well that is also incorrect.
Nokia's lowest end phones released in the last month all include Wifi, GPS, free ovi maps, app store and a strong community. These "50$" phones can multi task like the Iphone never could. These "50$" have sold so well because of Nokia high standards in quality manufacturing and by their use of a very mature and efficient OS - Symbian.

Everyone loves to hate Symbian - but like it or not its actually the best OS out there in terms of efficiency, maturity, cost and reliability. It's not a flavour of the month that comes and goes. When Apple reach that point they can then throw rocks.

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