The business models for Apple and Google are very different. Apple seemingly works by the philosophy of a closed system where it holds onto the power and control of its coding and knowledge whereas Google releases coding to the public to build on and to further develop platforms (Wired Magazine 2008). However, both maintain 'control', but in different ways, and at differing levels of transparency (Robbins et al. 2006, pp651-729). Ultimately, both impose conditions and precedents for action but at varying levels of awareness to the public and through various positioning of borders (Lessig 2006). Google is giving away code for free only with the expectation of longer term return by way of monopoly on content or through the brand alliance of its customers by targeting resistant cultures. In securing deals with mobile phone companies now, Google seems to be attempting to ensure the future separation of the mobile telephone industry from content in order to exclusively produce and distribute content itself. People are interested primarily in connectivity and information, not in the actual devices as such, and seemingly not in longer term shifts in power toward large global companies and the power that they will possess in terms of knowledge and information (Wired Magazine 2008).
Freedom to make mistakes and freedom to make choices. What are the longer term implications for liberty in a world dominated by such large corporations though? Will the people be able to 'speak' through the economy in terms of demand and supply? Will these large corporations continue to provide them with the freedom and information that they need in order to make fair and informed choices? What kind of people will come to inhabit this global world over time? Will people become more active, creative, determined and motivated? Will they be compassionate and supportive toward one another?
Or are we like the cyber-utopianists suffering from determinism in our closed off world desperately needing liberation from cyber-realism (The Guardian 2011)? Is the rhetoric of concern for the needy within a deterministic world merely discourse to prevent us from realising greater freedom free from structures of power from our current 'bubble' within this paradigm?
References
The Guardian, 2011, Facebook and Twitter are just places revolutionaries go, accessed 19/9/2011, http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/mar/07/facebook-twitter-revolutionaries-cyber-utopian
Lessig, L 2006, 'Four puzzles from cyber space' in Code version 2.0, Basic Books, New York
Robbins, S Bergman, R Stagg, M Coulter, M 2006, Management, 4th Edition, Pearson Education Australia, Frenchs Forest
Wired Magazine, 2008, Google's Open Source Android OS Will Free the Wireless Web, accessed 11/10/2011, http://www.wired.com/techbiz/media/magazine/16-07/ff_android
I really like your opinion which is freedom to make mistakes and freedom to make choices. I think that is the different between Apple and Android. As Ted mentioned that information is free, at the same time information wants to be expensive. Apple makes information expensive because of its security system, whereas Google makes information free. I think Apple pays more attention to how to control present customers, Google pay more attention to long term business and invest into the future market. We can not tell which one is better, as for me I prefer Apple products because every single product is beautiful. Apple made as a brand with reputation and incredible ideas, it is the differences between Google.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Boya here. Personally Apple's closed system may seem that way, but it's safer and the brands become a major trend. Google can offer free info but android's security is constantly under the limelight, they m ay want to work on that before they can play with the big boys, so I say :)
ReplyDelete“What are the longer term implications for liberty in a world dominated by such large corporations though? Will the people be able to 'speak' through the economy in terms of demand and supply?” I think you’ve touched on an important point here which I have focused my blog for this week on. In reality, there is no real loser in this so called battle between Apple and Google. Both are reaping in enormous profit and hold stable influence in a range of multi media platforms. Putting forward the communist argument, the consumers are the ones losing out, which goes back to your question, how much liberty do we actually have in a dominated by such large corporations?
ReplyDelete