Wed, 08 Aug 2012 Public Mixed on Apple’s Deletion of YouTube from iOS

Apple continued to distance itself from Google on Monday with the removal of the native YouTube app from iOS 6. That follows Apple ditching Google Maps, announce earlier this year. Apple's march toward mobile OS app independence has received mixed feedback from iPhone users and Android phone users with reactions ranging from outrage, cheers, to indifference. I took to Twitter and asked iPhone and Android owners what they thought. Their feedback is below.

One high profile reaction on Monday came from journalist Jeff Jarvis who heard the news and tweeted: Apple killing YouTube on iPhone just happens to be the last straw. In a follow-up tweet he said he was ditching his iPhone for an Android device because he used so many Google apps.

Apple claims that its license to include YouTube has simply ended. Google says it is working on a new YouTube app that will debut in the App Store soon. Its still unclear whether Apples move is punitive and it just wants to discourage users from using Google products or if both parties have mutually agreed the licensing agreement has run its full course and lost value to iPhone users.

Public Weighs-in

Several PCWorld readers responded via Twitter to my request for their reactions on the news. A majority expressed displeasure, and suspected more than what the Cupertino, Calif. company led on in its public statements.

[It's] more reason to get an Android tablet, these patents and rivalries will be Apple's downfall, Saami Siddiqui writes. YouTube app removal is Apple's cynical attempt to embarrass Google, nothing more; perfectly timed with the Samsung lawsuit, Sergey Ivaschuck opines.

Others, like L.E. Mena, seem to think Apple's move is childish, and will hurt users. Seems to me that by trying to distance themselves from Google, they're crippling their OS. 1st maps and now this, he responds. PCWorld reader Zachary Kisling seems to agree, writing Apple is trying to purge any threat and at the same time create their own version of that threat.

The points expressed by these four readers are repeated through a good portion of the responses received, including a few who simply stated they were glad to have an Android. But not everybody looks at Monday's news in a negative light.

iOS users frequently complain that the YouTube native app lacked a lot of functionality, and a lot of content is missing that can be found on the Web version. An app developed by Google & installed from app store may be better. I've never used the embedded app, Joe writes.

This sentiment is echoed by reader Erik Decker, who argues a third-party app is a positive development. It allows Google to release a new polished version on the app store. The old one bothered me, he tweets.

Finally, there was one response that I think a good portion of us might agree with. Reader Josh Aaseby argues that Apple should give iOS users more control over what native apps exist on their devices. I'd rather I could remove the Stocks app or something else I never use, Aaseby points out.

Whats your take? Do you agree or disagree? Are you upset, or do you think iOS users are better off? Let me know in the comments.

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