Apple has now banned all single-station radio apps from iOS, stating that, according to Jim Barcus, “single station apps are the same as a fart app and represent spam in the iTunes store.” Many of us would tend to agree.
But who the hell is Jim Barcus? He’s the president of DJB Radio Apps, a company that builds – surprise – single-station radio apps. And he’s not down with Apple’s decision.
“[Apple doesn’t] understand that radio stations are in fierce competition,” Barcus tells The Reg. “[Apple] just wants all radio stations to be on one big fat app, and that’s just not going to happen.” Well… can’t it, Barcus? As far as the end user is concerned, I think one big fat radio app would be swell. Maybe put an old school dial on it, have it make static-y tuning sounds as you turn it. That would be pretty slick, yeah?
Barcus doesn’t agree. In fact, he’s currently attempting to rally station owners to complain to Jobs himself.
“I think after enough broadcast professionals complain and make Apple aware of the fact that radio stations are in fierce competition with each other and listener loyalty makes the listener want to only listen to his favorite radio station, Apple may change this rule,” he says, perhaps a touch to optimistically.
Jobs’ personal response to Barcus himself? “Sorry, we’ve made our decision,”
Barcus also cites that there are, for instance, more than three thousand apps that do maps. True though that may be, Jim, map apps let me see, if I choose, the whole world. It’s not like I need one app for downtown, then a separate one for the heights. Apples and oranges, dude.
So is Barcus right to fight, or is Apple on point with its decision to treat radio stations like farts? Painful as it is for me to admit, I’m on Steve’s side with this one. I’d much rather have a single, sexy app for all my radio needs.
Ridiculous! That’s like saying all newspapers are farts, and all newspapers of the world should come together in a single app.
That Barcus guy should learn to pick his analogies 🙂
I have to agree with Barcus, and disagree with Jobs (& Apple) – forcing anyone who wishes to provide a radio/streaming music/content channel to be aggregated into a single “radio” app is not in the best interests of the end customer. What we are seeing, more and more, is Apple creating a “Nanny Nation” with regards to applications – they choose what is, and what is not, appropriate for the user population, often with no rhyme or reason. If a developer wants to create an application which will only “tune into” once channel, then why not let them do so? Realistically, it is us end users who can decide, through purchasing or not purchasing an app, whether we believe it is appropriate or not. Having Jobs force his view upon us all is not fair, not effective and I would even say it would be treading a fine anti-competitive/monopoly line.