I’ve been the very happy owner of the slightly updated iPod Touch for a few weeks now, so I thought I’d review how it’s gone so far.

However, it seems Apple is behaving badly, making life very difficult for would-be developers of apps to run on the iPhone/Touch. There’s bnen plenty of discussion about …, but now it seems that even rejections from the App Store are now covered by NDA. So some developers will now invest in the tools, spend many days or months struggling to develop something, have little ability to test it for real on a iPhone, submit it to Apple, have it rejected (maybe without a reason why), and not be able to tell anyone else about the whole process. Seriously, Apple, are you trying to put people off writing for the platform? I’ve not yet seen any convincing comment on why Apple are acting in this way. (Probably no surprise, given so much is covered by NDA.) This view is echoed by Dan Moren.

It will make it particularly difficult for small outfits, or hobbyist developers, to run the risk. Larger corporates will better be able to stand the risk. But still, is this any way to drive innovation?

You must have a reason, Apple, so please tell us.

[Edit: Between me writing this and me posting it, Apple have loosened the NDA somewhat. Good, but still no real reasoning why they did it.]

In case the question was in doubt - after all Bishops and Priests/Vicars/Rectors/etc. are people just like the rest of us - a read of Bishop Alan’s blog should provide enough evidence. The latest one I enjoyed a lot from him was Dry Sermon Displacement activity for the Postmodern. This finishes:

… if the sermon, er, failed to shine, people used to amuse themselves by turning to the back of the Book of Common Prayer and reading the Table of Kindred and Affinity wherein whoseover are related are forbidden by the Church of England to Marry Together.
…
But cheer up! Help is at hand! Here is this autumn’s Must-Have, the Hymn Book iPod Case. Whatever makes you look rapt, from Montiverdi to the Clash, you can turn those vales of misery into your own personal well in Church, without looking anything less than the Trendy Geezer you are. Magic!

After the case this year where a lady was done for listening to her iPod whilst wearing a hijab in the jury box during a criminal trial, I don’t recommend these for Bishops. But then we don’t need it, because we never get bored in Church. So that’s OK.

Sarcasm too!