At the beginning of the year Apple showed its teeth. I.e. its ruthless, greedy side by demanding a 30% cut from subscription services. The move could be illegal due to anti-trust laws, but at the moment it's Apple Vs the world. When the 30% cut was first announced people proclaimed death to apple, "no one will pay" they said. But of course they paid. Even if it's expensive, jumping onto the iPad is a smart business move.
The Financial Times are having none of it though. Their plan is to launch a HTML5 web app for all tablets. They're calling it a “Mexican stand-off” with Apple. “Their terms don’t work for us. They won’t move, we hope they will." Good luck FT but I don't think your chances of success are pretty good. Steve looks like the type of guy who doesn't like to lose.
But, despite blowing their own trumpet all the way through the WWDC Apple don't quite dominate the tablet market in the way they think they do. If too much pressure is put on app developers they'll just move to Android and Blackberry.
But when it comes to FT and Apple who's going to back down first? Apple won't stand back and let them dodge the system, if they do then it won't be long to everyone's at it and Apple’s totalitarian grip will finally loosen , it would be about time too.
More likely FT will give in for its own good. Think about the Financial Times clientele, you think iPad don't you, not Samsung Galaxy tab. Either way, we'll be keeping an eye on the story and we'll let you know who draws the gun first.