daniel.ord personal site

Don’t Block Your Users

Seriously. I mean, this isn’t rocket science. If you are the publisher of any form of content you shouldn’t be making people work to access it.

I’m talking about the “largest european newspaper” (Bild.de) not allowing iPhone users to access their website via the phone’s Safari browser. Lunacy, you say, yes, but there is a certain amount of logic behind it. You see, they have an iPhone app out - that you have to pay for.

While I know newspapers are struggling to find new revenue streams, and they should be applauded for it, they shouldn’t force people’s hands like this. It’s just not very polite. I always have problems when I’m forced to do anything. Install toolbars, autotweet junk etc., nobody likes not have the choice. Forcing people to buy an app to read your newspapers just sounds like a stupid idea all round.

I don’t read that newspaper (it’s german) but they’d better be ready for some backlash. If there’s no backlash Germany needs to get their protesting hats out of the closet...

Other stupid examples of blocking are the lack of BBC iPlayer on certain mobile tariffs in the UK. Why do I have to be on wifi to watch some low bandwidth flash video? (Because they are stingy with their bandwidth.)

And why can’t I download large files on my iPhone via iTunes when I’m on the go? No large podcasts, which basically means no video podcasts before you are on wifi again. (Same reason as above, I suppose).

Anyway, rant over. I don’t like it when people block (access to) content.