[ambush]

Dan Wood (Watson, Karelia) got pwned by Apple (Sherlock, iWeb) ... again

His new app, in the making for several months, Sandvox, has been smoked by Apple's similar iWeb.

Protestations arose in the past when Apple released Sherlock 3, an utility essentially like Watson.

But this time, it's too bad. Wood had pretty much copied RapidWeaver anyway.

Discuss.

[demograph68]

IWeb is .Mac only so who cares. RapidWeaver is the best. (Though now I use WordPress)

[ShotgunEd]

Originally Posted by demograph68

IWeb is .Mac only so who cares. RapidWeaver is the best. (Though now I use WordPress)

False.

"iWeb" requires access to a web server (.mac recommended).

[nbnz]

I tried out the Sandvox beta for a while, I just can't see the appeal of it next to RapidWeaver.

iWeb can use non .mac webservers, but apparently you have to export to a local folder, create an index.html page, then ftp it seperately. No built in ftp support which sucks.
http://tuaw.com/2006/01/10/using-iwe...ther-than-mac/

[demograph68]

http://tuaw.com/2006/01/10/using-iwe...n-mac/#c916327

[rickey939]

Here are Dan's comments from the Sandvox blog:

There's More to Life than iLife

Along with the rest of the Mac world, we saw the Macworld keynote, and naturally we were not too pleased to see how similar Apple's iWeb and its intended audience turns out to be to our vision of Sandvox. Lightning has indeed struck twice.

Clearly, Mac users who just want to get their family photos and simple blog published on their .mac account are going to be using iWeb. There is no way that we can compete with what is essentially bundled software.

What Sandvox can offer is a compelling alternative to iWeb, just as Watson turned into an alternative to Sherlock 3; Path Finder is an alternative to Finder; NetNewsWire and a host of others are alternatives to Safari's RSS reader; and Adium can replace iChat. As each of these offer solutions to the limitations provided by Apple's software, so too will Sandvox.

Of course, with only a few hours having elapsed since the announcement, we are still honing these differences, but out of the gate, some of the biggest limitations of iWeb (.mac only, not pluggable, no ability for HTML content) can become strengths for Sandvox.

As we move forward past version 1.0, we will be able to further distinguish Sandvox from iWeb by focusing on features that our users demand that will never be a part of the iLife suite.

[hayesk]

First he copies Sherlock 2 and whines when Apple copies his stuff for Sherlock 3.
Then he copies RapidWeaver and whines when Apple steals his thunder.

I didn't realize that you aren't allowed to compete in the Mac market. Does he expect to have a monopoly on every type of app he develops?

[york28]

There is a big difference between competition between third party software vendors in the Mac market and competing with Apple in the Mac market, especially when Apple is bundling their software with every Mac.

The author isn't expecting to have a monopoly at all- he had even admitted that RapidWeaver is a competitor. But once Aple integrates a product and bundles it with their computers, you're pretty much screwed uness you can diferentiate your program in some way.

I just feel bad for the guy, regardless of how original his apps have been, having this happpen twice just blows.

[production_coordinator]

IMHO, iWeb was a natural "next step" for apple... bickering how one is so similar to another is rather silly as there are a number of such applications.

[Atomic Rooster]

Apple is just a mini Microsoft.

[lavar78]

Originally Posted by york28

There is a big difference between competition between third party software vendors in the Mac market and competing with Apple in the Mac market, especially when Apple is bundling their software with every Mac.

The author isn't expecting to have a monopoly at all- he had even admitted that RapidWeaver is a competitor. But once Aple integrates a product and bundles it with their computers, you're pretty much screwed uness you can diferentiate your program in some way.

Of course, that's great for us. He'll have to make his program as good as possible to compete with Apple. If it's good enough, there are plenty of people who will buy it.

[moonmonkey]

iWeb is going to updated annually.
Whatever features Sandvox ads, apple will add them within the year.

[Kevin]

I've been hearing for about a year that Apple was putting something like this out.

I guess all one has to do is put their ear to the ground and figure out what Apple MAY be doing, do it, then scream Apple is copying.

Why doesn't the guy come up with a original idea? One that is obvious Apple wont do?

[Silky Voice of The Gorn]

I could be wrong, but iWeb seems very locked into only loading in very specific content via iLife apps; iTunes music, iPhoto images, etc. Sandvox appears to be much more feature-rich and flexible (not that I would use either app, I hand code). I just hope Wood doesn't resort to the whining he did over the Watson affair.

So 1) don't cry for Karelia, Sandvox is unique enough to be a player (more so than Watson was) and 2) lynching Apple as if they were specifically targeting this dev is pathetic. iWeb *is* an obvious next step for .mac homepage.

[SirCastor]

Originally Posted by york28

But once Aple integrates a product and bundles it with their computers, you're pretty much screwed uness you can diferentiate your program in some way.

I just feel bad for the guy, regardless of how original his apps have been, having this happpen twice just blows.

Has sort of a Microsoft-esque feel to it. Reminds me of IE vs. Netscape.