Serious Geeks Sour on Apple iPhone
Sat Sep 29, 2007 9:10PM EDT
See Comments (7)
This is the equivalent of Roger Ebert slamming a Scorsese movie, or Lester Bangs trashing the Beatles. Tired of being pushed around by Apple's greed and ham-fisted approach to locking down its hardware, gadget giant Gizmodo has brought down the hammer by giving the Apple iPhone a (rare) "don't buy" rating. Ouch, that smarts.
Gizmodo (which is hardly alone in the new Apple bashing) originally told users to "Wait" on the device for more applications to be included, hoping that a 1.1 firmware update would correct some earlier, obvious defects like the inability to send MMS messages, record videos, make your own ringtones, or use the device for mass storage. But Apple's latest release infamously fixed little of that. Yes, you can purchase ringtones now and access iTunes via Wi-Fi, but Apple also went out of its way to disable all unlocking and customizing that more enterprising users have developed. That's a picture of Gizmodo editor's iPhone just before upgrading it with the latest firmware. Afterwards, it looks just like any other device.
Gizmodo's ire on behalf of hardcore gadget enthusiasts is rightfully placed: Apple was probably never going to introduce these features on its own and intentionally "bricked" the devices as part of its most recent update. Gizmodo even goes so far as to call the update "malicious," after washing his hands of the device until its opened to third-party apps. (I plan to hold the post's author Brian Lam to his word next time I see him. If he has an iPhone in his pocket I'm gonna kick him in the shins.)
As for me, I can understand his position. He wanted upgrades, he got nothing. The average user, of course, gets the iTunes upgrade and a $200 price cut, and that's not a bad deal especially compared to the original proposition (though I still won't recommend it without 3G service). But power users who want the freedom to tweak their phones (which they paid for, right?) as they see fit are not going to have the patience to battle Apple on this stuff every 30 days or so. The iPhone will be unlocked again, then Apple will re-lock it, and the cycle will continue, probably forever. I don't blame Lam for washing his hands of the matter before things get ridiculous.
Sorry Apple, you just got served.
Comments on Serious Geeks Sour on Apple iPhone
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2 Posted by rogueist on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:49PM EDT Report Abuse
Same reason why I dont have an iPhone - no way to put 3rd party apps on it without Apple bricking it, so I'll wait - if that day never comes, then so be it, Apple loses, not me. In the meantime, I await the class action lawsuits for a variety of things, and I hope this pushes people in Congress to pass the CellPhone Users Bill of Rights - which will stop this practice forever more.
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3 Posted by mtdewrocks on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:29PM EDT Report Abuse
Like it matters. Oooooooo... Gizmoto is upset!!!! Big friggin deal :) Oh no... Apple has been served!!!! Are you serious????? Please... Apple could give a rip what Gizmoto thinks. People screwed with their phones, and got screwed in the process. They brought this on themselves.
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4 Posted by beckeygauthier on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:04PM EDT Report Abuse
Even locked, the iPhone is way better than any other phone that I have owned. I am one who has not tweaked or installed any 3rd party apps anyway, I like it just the way it is. Sure, there are some things that would be nice have added, but Apple is still trying to make a profit. Like buying a song off iTunes for 99 cents, then if you want it into a ringtone, you have to pay another 99 cents to clip it and use on your iPhone. It synchronizes my calendar/contacts with Microsoft Outlook 2007 without any problems. Plus it's still cool to show off to people.
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5 Posted by j_romoman on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:45PM EDT Report Abuse
I love gadgets and when I don't seek one out there must be a reason. I don't want this iPhone and until it can do what my current device does, my position will not change. Pretty yes, functional no. Apple is striking at function for the sake of pretty. That may work for a lot of people out there but not me. Substance over style has legs.
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6 Posted by navvywavvy on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:34PM EDT Report Abuse
To the naysayers: Imagine if I bought a pair of pants and I thought to myself, "You know, these pants would be way better if I could cut them off at the knees and make them shorts!" I go ahead and do it. Then the jean company comes to my house, takes off my pants, and re-attaches the lower half of the legs. WTF is up with that? I paid for my darn pants! I can do whatever I want with them!
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7 Posted by david_fideler on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:38PM EDT Report Abuse
Just be patient. The apps are coming with the new Mac OS. Apple doesn't want a host of flakey 3rd party apps that are "fun at first" but then end up crashing the phone like they did on my Palm Pilot. This is a quality control issue.
1 Posted by free24oz on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:03PM EDT Report Abuse
Apple/Microsoft, Microsoft/Apple. Candy little boy......