Here’s the bottom line: to do what you’re talking about, I think we’re better off with some real standards, not Apple standards. That’s, ironically, what the app rejected last week was trying to do. Using something like TUIO or OSC (and Eric’s wonderful mrmr), it’s not just about Apple’s device any more — it could be a netbook or an Android phone or a homebrewed device or what have you.

Now, I imagine areas like medical monitoring fit into this category, too. (Jeez – do I want my heart monitor to be an iTunes exclusive?!)

Of course, I think you’re right — I think Apple’s got the edge here, because those of us advocating open source and open standards right now are advocating devices that aren’t keeping pace. So I’d better just shut up and get back to work. ;)

Your call for standards support and a MIDI interface in the iPhone is fine, but I think it’s short-sighted and based on the common mistaken perception that iPod/iPhone = mini desktop computer replacement. But that’s not what the iPod/iPhone is. And standards-based plug-and-play device support is a completely different problem from what the iPhone Accessory Interface is addressing. Besides, that problem has been solved elsewhere — in netbooks and UMPCs and ultralight laptops. Talk about re-inventing the wheel.

The accessory interface of the 3.0 iPod Touch and iPhone will enable iPod/iPhone devices to function as the control panel to other devices.

How many times have you given up using some really compelling device/instrument/synthesizer only because the thing just couldn’t talk to humans through the limited buttons and LEDs on the front panel. I’ve got a closet full of them. And frankly music devices are really among the worst offenders in this area. Now imagine you plug the device into the iPod in your pocket and now you’ve got a high-res touch screen interface to every parameter and option in that box.

30 million iPhones and iPod Touches is ubiquitous enough to get the attention of even the most stuborn synth and peripheral makers to consider adopt this protocol.

Even the latest generation of boxes could benefit from a richer human interface. The current trend is to tether to a high power laptop or desktop computer. But many of these boxes have enough power on their own and they are really just using the computer for a richer user interface.

Leave the MIDI interfaces on the MIDI devices. Leave the multi-track audio recording in the recording devices. The iPod/iPhone is about human interface and human-to-device communication.

iTunes, i wonder why people don´t like it. i like to have an app that displays what´s on my phone, my computer, in a good visula way and makes syncing (almost;) hassle free. i´m no famnboy but apple always one the cpompetition for me amongst an other computer companies. if i have a problem with one of their problems i just don´t use it.

one mentioned bad user support before, in 13 years of sing various macs i never had a problem i couldn´t fix myself, lucky me.

Which is a hell of a lot more than I can say for that other little music app they peddle, what’s it called again? Oh, yeah, Logic… wanna see an unhappy bunch of folks? Read the Apple Logic forum- clearly Apple doesn’t.

It is so much fun to have some convient stuff to compose on the train during commuteing time.

I realize that people have complaints about apple but the iPhone has pushed the envelope on phones in the US at least.

That would allow app developers to develop control apps within a shell (so to speak), instead of releasing a different app for each control surface architecture, while still being able to charge for additional functions. (At the very least, hopefully it will reduce the number of individual e-books in the app store).

There’s also the opening up of bluetooth within apps, and stuff like streaming voice and other audio content within apps.