Apple releases iTunes LP, Extras dev tools; eerily familiar review process announced
After a breaking in period when these tools were only available to big studio artists, the mothership has, as promised, opened its new iTunes album and movie platform to any and all comers. More importantly, Apple has now opened another new front in its ongoing war with Adobe to displace Flash with open web standards, such as HTML 5 and Javascript.
As previously promised by our friends in Cupertino, iTunes Extras (via Apple Insider) iTunes LP (music) and iTunes Extras (movie) developer tools have been publicly posted, which include templates, best practices listings, a development guide, asset delivery guide, testing metrics and TuneKit starter resources.
The good news buried in all of this information is that LP and Extras are Apple’s latest weapons in its assault on fortress Flash with a healthful blend of tools based written on top of open standards, including HTML 5 and JavaScript.
However, there’s the issue how of one gets content onto the iTunes store, which could prove to be a friction point between Apple and a whole new group of developers:
Automatic, electronic submission of your iTunes LP or Extra is scheduled for the first quarter of 2010. Until then, the submission process is manual and limited. Please contact your label or studio rep for details and consideration. An existing iTunes contract is required. Your iTunes LP or iTunes Extras will be reviewed by the iTunes team for appropriateness of content and for technical quality.
Once bitten, twice shy?
Doesn’t that last sentence sound eerily like the App Store review process, which has earned Apple almost universal condemnation for unpredictable delays and inconsistent application of vaguely written rules? Although the mothership has automatic approval listed as an eventuality, a lot can go wrong between now and Q1 2010, and it’s not hard too imagine the iTunes LP and iTunes Extras review process turning into another App Store quagmire.
Are we looking at App Store II here? The early signs are exactly promising…
What’s your take?
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