Zittrain, Jonathan.  "Law and Technology: The End of the Generative Internet."  Communications of the ACM.  Vol. 52.1 (2009) 18-20.

Zittrain offers a fascinating take on the generative nature of the Internet, which he believes is being destroyed by new developments in technology.  Using the iPhone as a case study, the author declares that its generative content is minimal and full of restrictions.  The article explains that the first iPhone left no place for innovation from outside developers.  Furthermore, Apple turned the phone of any developer that had changed the code into an "iBrick".  A sense of vindication is palpable in an addendum to the piece that praises the iPhone SDK and the apps created by outside developers.  However, the author argues that Apple always holds all the power over the applications.  From allowing developers to create in the first place to putting their apps in the store to making them featured apps to removing them all together, there can be no doubt that Apple exerts immense control over their platform.  Nonetheless, Zittrain draws the conclusion that currently Apple's gate keeping tendencies are beneficial to the majority of users that want outside control.

This article seems a bit confused at times as it tries to reconcile Apple's overarching theme of control with its occasional message of openness.  The apps created by third-party developers using the iPhone SDK connect to James Surowiecki's "The Wisdom of Crowds".  The most successful and most downloaded apps are those created by Apple outsiders, which demonstrates the importance of collective intelligence.  By opening up the app industry to anyone who is interested in participating, Apple was able to acquire an extremely diverse array of apps.  However, in relation to "The Wireless Carterfone", there are still many qualifications and approval procedures that force developers to jump through multiple hoops before getting their app in the store.  The entire idea of a generative internet relates to the reoccurring idea in technology literature of open content.  Although outside developers can create iPhone apps, these apps are certainly not open content.  Essentially, outside developers cannot come in and edit these pre-existing apps.  While the Apple SDK is available, the ability to edit or build-on to apps is not.  It's also interesting to examine this piece in relation to iPhone jailbreaking.  Although jailbreaking has raised many questions regarding its legality, the action could be seen as an extension of the generative internet.  Until a phone is jailbroken, a user does not truly have the opportunity to create generative content on their iPhone.

Wu, Tim.  "Wireless Carterfone."  International Journal of Communication.  Vol. 1 (2007): 389-426.

Tim Wu's journal article proposes a new way of looking at the mobile phone and its connection to the internet.  With respect to the current mobile phone industry, Wu sees four main areas that need attention: network attachments, product design and feature crippling, discriminatory broadband services and application stall.  After issuing his complaints, Wu makes four recommendations for the mobile phone industry: the Wireless Carterfone, basic network neutrality rules, disclosure and standardized application platforms.  The whole idea behind the Carterfone is that consumers have the right to attach whatever device they want to their phone lines and Wu calls for a similar service within the mobile phone industry.  Overall, the author is frustrated by the power and control that carriers in the United States have over the network, equipment designs and application markets.

Many of Wu's complaints are not met by the iPhone and its applications.  For example, the iPhone is not the Wireless Carterfone.  Unlike its competitor, Android, the iPhone is tied to a specific network (AT&T).  Wu also complains about the carriers' extensive power over equipment design and other application markets.  Although Apple heavily controls what applications can be uploaded to their phones, they allow users to access to all kinds of applications not present on other cell phones.  Additionally, their internet browsing is significantly more advanced than other devices'.  Wu complains that other phones have terrible internet services and often do not allow you to stream movies or music; this is certainly not the case with the iPhone.  The iPhone does follow most basic network neutrality rules with its inclusion of Safari and full internet browsing.  While Apple does have the final say on all applications, third-party developers are able to create apps through the Apple Software Development Kit (SDK), which creates openness in application development that has never been present before.  However, developers still have to put up with lengthy qualification and application procedures and are often not told why their app did not make it into the store.  With the iPhone, Apple has surmounted some of the obstacles presented by Wu but it still has many more ahead.  Nonetheless, it is very apparent that many of the claims issued in this article are gradually being addressed by the mobile phone industry.