The right Orwell
I’ve sneered at Apple for calling the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad “revolutionary” when their App Store’s economic model seems a bit outmoded. But the devices are impressive, and while Orwellian comparisons referencing the 1984 ad are fun I haven’t been totally convinced of the analogy. Thought control is really more Google’s goal: knowing the world’s information and making it universally adsensable. All Apple control is the means to publication (German: Publikationsmittel) on their revolutionary new cropland.
Orwell’s 1984 wasn’t about a revolution and its metaphors are more apt for pervasive, world domination type situations. Orwell did write another book, however: a much funner read that just happened to be all about a revolution. So without further ado, I present:
The Animal Farm SDK Agreement
- No dev shall make crappy apps WITH FLASH.
- No app shall exploit women TO EXCESS.
- No reviewer shall otherwise reject apps WITHOUT CAUSE.
- All third party developers are equal, BUT SOME ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS.
I wonder — what will be this revolution’s “Four legs good, two legs better” moment?