It's hard to imagine why Apple insists on keeping the ipod a closed, non-programmable device. Seriously, why wouldn't you people to develop content for your product? It sort of boggles me. Especially given the prospect of competing with the Microsoft/Xbox team's Zune device, which is rumored to be a target platform for J. Allard's XNA toolkit. For more info check out ...

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2003116550_brier10.html

http://www.engadget.com/tag/j%20allard/

http://www.comingzune.com/

-I think Zune is a non-issue. So far it's vaporware and I think we shouldn't spend too much time thinking about it. So far, all it has is a lot of media coverage, that's it. Origami got its share, too and it's nowhere to be seen.
-I think Apple is keeping the iPod closed because they believe that part of their success is that the device has been extremely focused: it plays music and that's it. They have expanded it to video and now games, but they want to keep the whole experience simple. They don't want consumers to know that there is a way to browse the net on the ipod but that first requires installing linux on it, because that experience is not going to be user friendly and therefore it is going to be frustrating.
-Apple is testing the waters with these games. If they succeed, they may get new developers by invite only. I don't think they'll release devkits; they definitively do not want the ipod to be a psp. I see why they are doing it and, if I were them, I'm afraid that I would be tempted to follow a similar path.

I agree with you Gonzalo about Apple's logic. However, I think there's a difference between installing Linux to browse the web and buying SDK-built games from iTunes. That said, you're right that audio and video playback is inherently simpler (just sit there and listen/watch).

Mostly I think it's a shame, because here we have a massively popular, standardized, mobile device that is unavailable, for all the reasons you mention.

Another piece of information that we should take into account is that Apple is expected to launch a bigger, meaner video iPod -which certainly did not launch yesterday.
So, people speculate that it would have a virtual control wheel. The whole idea is dubious in the first place, because of the lack of tactile feedback that such controller would provide. It would make really hard to control the iPod but, now that games are available, it would certainly be impossible to play games with a controller that does not provide tactile feedback. So, either the new games prove that there won't be a virtual scrollwheel on the next generation iPods, or that Apple is, again, simply testing the waters and the market for such applications.
Additionally, if Apple does launch later a bigger iPod with a larger screen, it does make sense that they keep only a few games available for now, because a different resolution would basically mean re-working the games from scratch.
Again, all that I am posting here still is speculation but I think that the mere inclusion of games can certainly give us some info of what is -or isn't- coming next in iPod world.

While I recognize apple as one of the world’s marketing superpowers, I’ve got to agree with Ian. Apple is missing a huge market. The games that come with an IPod are ridiculously bad. Yes, the included Solitaire provides “some” entertainment if I’m waiting for the Stinger, I’d rather be playing with my keys.

I understand the risk of allowing third party developers to develop applications on an IPod - viruses, bugs, crashes to a very polished product. The only third party programs or games I’ve seen developed for an IPod is from IPodSoft: http://www.ipodsoft.com/ (a while since it’s been updated).

Maybe Apple messed up. Maybe the company didn’t program the IPod to have games on it. Maybe making an SDK is too difficult - who knows. However, each day that passes on is another day that a consumer chooses to buy an MP3 player that can play music and has the ability to install games. As Ian said, these few games listen right now on ITunes is a joke. It’s almost like releasing Playstation 3 with only ten games. Say goodbye to the shock-and-awe.

Apple should start to do what IRiver and other upcoming portable MP3 player manufactorers are starting to do: stop looking at an MP3 player as just an MP3 player.

Who wants a watch that can only tell time?
-Danny

Btw Ian,
Quick note. I couldn't post before until I changed one of my words from "do wnload" to "install"

I think you have some anti-spam thing installed to disable the word dow nload from being submitted.

-Danny

Macworld offers a general review of the games, as well as identifying the developers. It notices, too, that the games are available worldwide, unlike movies and music (a lot of, say, Swedish music is not available on the US site and viceversa. Interestingly, the Swedish iTunes store has more French and Spanish songs than the US). So, in terms of audience, yes, games on the iPod are reaching every single country that has a iTunes store (still, that's considerably much smaller than the actual number of people worldwide who own an iPod, since most of them do not buy music online).

Here's the link

http://www.macworld.com/2006/09/firstlooks/ipodgames/index.php