Quick item while I debug: Walt Mossberg rips on ESPN’s new mobile service (found via Techdirt Wireless), for what I consider a wonderful and insightful reason:
ESPN has crippled the phone’s Web browser by blocking access to some sites. When I tried to go to several sites, including those of competitors like Sports Illustrated, I got a screen that said ESPN only allows you to go to “reviewed” sites it believes “work well on your ESPN phone.” That’s an outrageous level of control, in my view. [...] ESPN concedes it allows users to access only those Web sites it has approved, but it says this is a temporary measure designed to protect its software from the “corruption” that it says can be introduced if users download programs from certain sites. The company says the restriction on visiting unapproved sites will be lifted later this year, though the phone will still prevent the download of unapproved software.
Whoops. Customers hate that kind of stuff.
He didn’t rip it. Reread the article. He talked about how it has some of the best apps he’s ever seen.
I concede that the review of ESPN’s new service wasn’t entirely negative (as Matties said, read the whole article of course). I was most interested in Mr. Mossberg’s comments regarding ESPN’s browsing restrictions, especially given my company’s focus on browsing. Perhaps he meant “outrageous level of control” in a good way, but I doubt it. If you have ESPN’s service and you’re happy with staying within their walled garden of approved web content, then I’m glad you’re satisfied. I think few people would consider this a feature, however, and therefore I doubt that this restriction will be permanent.