So, Apple is at it again.  Rejecting apps and feeling the wrath of John Q. Public.  The question is: are they right, or aren't they?

As I pondered this question, I was reminded of the Jurassic Park quote above, memorably recited by Jeff Goldblum aka Dr. Ian Malcolm.  To jog your memory, this is the scene where the gang finds dinosaur eggs out in the wild, the thing that was supposed to be impossible because all the dinos were bio-engineered to be female. (If someone can find the video of this scene, please post in the comments... I scoured the web for it and came up empty handed).

How does this relate to Apple?  Well, Apple may be thinking something like this-- we released the iPhone, we were the first to come out with a major SDK, we were the first with an AppStore and a seamless distribution mechanism.  So we can control whatever we want!  We're the best, and the control of every part of the software and hardware stack is what makes us the best.

The thing is-- they've unleashed the dogs, they've created a monster they can't control, they've created... well, a new form of life.  Now that we've got this new form of life- the programmable, networked computer in a pocket- we ask ourselves: How is it going to evolve?  And I think Dr. Ian Malcolm is right on the money here as well: the evolution of the smartphone will not be contained within artificial barriers or constraints.  Life will not be controlled.  Life will find a way.

This is not a moral argument.  I'm not saying that Apple should open up their platform because it's the "right thing to do."  I'm not saying they're being "evil."  People often reply to an article like this by saying: "It's their phone, it's their platform; if you don't like it, use something else."  I don't disagree with any of that but it misses the point.  The point isn't that Apple is obligated to open up their platform; it's that if they don't, their big, beautiful, grand theme park is gonna crumble.  And then the dinosaurs will escape and eat us all.  You don't want that, do you?