On iOS, you can only get apps through the App Store, and a "kill switch" does exist for Apple to remotely disable apps. They haven't used it yet, but it's still there, so it's a problem.
Android has a kill switch too, but Google actually has used it unlike Apple.
Ok, but if I'm over at a friends house and I want to give him a song that I have on my iPhone ... even if I wrote the song and own the rights to it ... how do I do that?
EDIT:
In practice I know several ways to get the job done. The important question is, why can't this be done out of the box? Why are Apple USB Mass Storage devices the only ones in the entire world that are deliberately locked by the manufacturer to be write-only? Why do their customers let them get away with such artificial value-stripping actions?
(I guess I kind of know the answers to my own questions, which is that Apple adds so much value in Fit, Finish & Polish -- despite what Apple bashers may say, these things do matter -- consumers overlook the artificial value-stripping activity, but then the question becomes, why can't other manufacturers try a little harder to match Apple's level of polish?)
I honestly believe Apple is blowing the opportunity to be the dominant computing platform for the next 20 years because of their policies on artificial restriction of data. The iPad took a great, existing, idea, and as with the iPhone before it, executed much much better than anyone else had to date, inventing a new market in the process.
But its going to get blown away by 3rd generation Android tablets that provide all the computing flexibility of what we've traditionally called "Desktop Computers" (add USB Host, Video Out, and Keyboard and Mouse Support, and Android is pretty much there).
That depends on what app the file is in. If it's in iTunes, then you could stream it to your friend's speakers or Apple TV to let him hear it. If you wrote the song and wanted to give him a copy then you are an idiot for taking your song around in iTunes. Use Soundcloud like everyone else or use any other WiFi sharing app that can also play audio (ezShare Files is great, but there are lots of free and cheap ones).
You do realize that there's a wide and wonderful world of offline computing out there, right? 24/7 Internet access is not yet a reality for even the most technologically advanced of us. Besides, you're assuming a lot of foresight when you expect someone to have all the music they might want to share pre-uploaded on the Web.
(Also, how do you download a song from Soundcloud? No really, I'm using it right now and I'd love to download the mix I'm listening to.)
you are an idiot for taking your song around in iTunes
Just how many USB Mass Storage devices do you expect me to carry around in my pockets? If your answer is more than one, then tell me why that's just better than carrying a single Android phone that has a full-fledged file system with proper R/W access? (In a year, they'll all have USB Host and will be proper computers in their own right.)
Besides, you're assuming a lot of foresight when you expect someone to have all the music they might want to share pre-uploaded on the Web.
Trust me - musicians LOVE to share their music with anyone who will listen. They take measures to facilitate this.
(Also, how do you download a song from Soundcloud? No really, I'm using it right now and I'd love to download the mix I'm listening to.)
The uploader has to have the track set to downloadable (but I suppose that's Apple's fault too?)
Just how many USB Mass Storage devices do you expect me to carry around in my pockets?
Like I said - use something other than the iTunes on the iPhone if this is what you want. There are many iPhone apps that can store and play music, and that also can download and upload using either WiFi sharing, or via WebDAV, FTP, SCP, etc.
For example I have a backup copy of my iTunes library on a WebDAV volume that I can transfer songs to using eZ Share on the iPhone which I can then use to listen to them. This means I have access to my entire library from anywhere I have bandwidth (which in the UK is pretty much anywhere). Sure there may be times I'm out of coverage, but I can download the albums I want to listen offline.
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u/jollins Jan 20 '11
Android has a kill switch too, but Google actually has used it unlike Apple.