Jack at the OS level? No way!
Jack at the OS level? No way!
- Subject: Jack at the OS level? No way!
- From: Mikael Sundström <email@hidden>
- Date: Mon, 22 Jan 2007 10:39:17 +0100
I don't think the reluctance from Apple to implement this kind of
inter-app audio routing functionality is due to pesky "DRM problems"
at all, and it's certainly not a matter of lack of competence! Let's
face it, Apple has some really talented people on board, and the
audio team is no exception! You may have seen the name James
McCartney flash by in this thread for instance. That's the guy who
created 'Supercollider' back in the OS 9 days. Just take a look at
that solo achievement, and you gotta admit he's a pretty talented
guy. Apple scoops up such people.
No, if Apple wanted to do this, these guys can do it, and they can do
it really, really well.
But it seems someone don't want them to.
I think this is entirely a business decision. Think about it for a
minute: Apple gives away Garageband for free, preinstalled on every
machine, integrated with the rest of the i-suite. Anyone who can
click a mouse can instantly "create their own music". Kind of hard
for anyone to compete with that, don't you think? So, entry-level
audio producion is pretty much cornered on the mac. And once the new
user's appetite for greater things have been stirred, he's bound to
have a ton of Garageband projects he's invested time and creativity
in. What audio production software will allow him to import his stuff
and continue working with it? Why, that would be Logic, and nothing
else. So this new user's upgrade path is pretty much cornered too.
The ugly truth is, audio production on the mac is meant to be an all-
Apple business, from sowing the corn to selling the loaf!
You may not see it yet, because older users still cling to their
older stuff, but the next generation of users will grow along the
path Apple has groomed for them. Or at least that's the plan of
Apple's management, as evidenced by their actions. You can see the
same development in other fields as well, Apple is positioning itself
as the main (the only?) developer of third-party software for their
machines.
Apple does invite us third-party losers to share the fun in one, and
one way only: we may write audio unit plug-ins compatible with
Garageband and Logic. The developer docs even points the finger in
that direction, saying "look, here's a business opportunity for you.
Go for it.". I can't think of any other kind of software that Apple
actually encourage you to write in that way. Heck, they even offer
you assistance via this list to do so. Yes, it is indeed a business
opportunity, and Apple is indeed letting you have it, perhaps to some
extent out of the goodness of their hearts, but mostly because it's a
dang hard one to corner!
And when it comes to Apple providing general inter-app audio
communication, you have to ask the same question any Ferengi would:
"Where's the profit in that?"
Inter-app audio is not needed to use Garageband and Logic. The only
good it will do, is to allow the competition to stay around longer.
To allow the end users the freedom to stitch together their own
toolbox, taken from all manners of free market participants. Apple is
not going to provide it, which means it will stay a business
opportunity in it's own right, though one you'll have to pursue
without Apple's blessing. It means you'll have to solve any problems
involved yourself, and be prepared to keep solving them over and over
for each system upgrade. I applaud anyone taking up such noble tasks,
as everyone's freedom is ultimately at stake.
Cynical? Yes, but not without reason. Apple is a successful business,
with a decided taste for monopoly situations. Look at the iTunes-iPod
integration for further confirmation. Who's interest is it the music
you buy at the iTunes store can't be listened to in any other mp3-
player than the iPod? The user's, or Apple's? And who's interest is
it only the big record companies are allowed to sell their music via
this avenue? The user's, or the big record companies? Is it really
such a long stretch to conclude Apple secured the cooperation of the
big record companies, on Apple's terms, in exchange for a promise to
keep the small record companies out? This matters a lot, by the way.
Online music purchases are very random in nature, and anyone allowed
to put their music at the iTunes store WILL get sales, just for being
there. People will click on anything! :-)
Small record companies could really use such revenue, and the entire
music industry would get revitalized from it. Before you knew it,
music could actually become worth listening to again.
What prevent's this from happening? Apple. Apple is the gatekeeper,
and it's firmly commited to keeping the little guys locked out from
the race. The benefit to Apple's shareholders is great, as their
earning reports will tell you. The detriment to the common good of
humanity is equally great, as your ears will tell you whenever you
turn on the radio.
No, unfortunately Apple is not any more commited to the common good
than, say, Microsoft! They just happen to make better products.
Mikael Sundström _______________________________________________
Do not post admin requests to the list. They will be ignored.
Coreaudio-api mailing list (email@hidden)
Help/Unsubscribe/Update your Subscription:
This email sent to email@hidden