Once the rush is over, the hangover is knocking down our euphoria about the Apple gadgets.
It is time to write a somber rant of the Apple high tech brick after I got my initial playfulness out. I already wrote about some of the uglier sides of the iPhone, but it turns out that some of the deepest flaws only come out after quite some time.
The update
2.1 Firmware
Safari crashes are annoying me the most. I installed Apple’s new 2.1 Firmware update. Among the promises was a better performance and reduced number of crashes, I simply do not see it. Safari crashes whenever it pleases, but most noticeably when I try to view a large page. Some websites simply will not open at all they just crash the browser.
Imagine you are standing in your city, trying to find some local business. After you made it through several menus and categories, your browser suddenly decides to give you the finger. Thank you Apple!
Monopoly
Apple has adopted a strategy of rejecting applications from their famed AppStore because they “duplicate functionality”. That means keeping competition out and establishing a monopoly. What surprised me most was that this even applies to Applications that duplicate the functionality of UPCOMING firmware updates.
That is a slap in the face of all the good people investing their time and efforts into developing applications for the iPhone. How is a developer supposed to know about Apple’s plans for future software updates with Apple so carefully choosing how they “leak” information? I am glad I did not buy a Macintosh computer to start my own iPhone development.
The last victim of Apples monopolistic approval policy was Opera, the famous Browser makers. Opera is the browser of choice on most mobile platforms, because it simply works. I would have appreciated a browser that does not crash!
Source: Opera: Apple won’t let us in the App Store
Privacy Concerns
Apple is appealing to many people because they simplify technology and makes it approachable for non-geeks. Apple just limits your choices by making them for you.
Large public companies like Google, Microsoft and Apple always chose to disregard privacy when it comes to simplification because it serves their own interests.
The applications on the iPhone ask for your permission to use geographical information, but after you agreed twice, applications always default to using geo data. Apple hid the reset button deep within the configuration menus and after a while, you will forget that every picture you take will have geo information included. The implications are far reaching: Geotagging invades privacy
Camera
The good news is that Apple found a way around the Geotagging issue. The bad news is, Apple did it by making the camera worthless with your software update.
I am just kidding, but the camera software really has glitches.
Sometimes the pictures come out looking like a puzzle. Both pictures come directly from my iPhone. I just scaled them for online viewing. The iPhone jumbled up the picture on the left. I just recorded another picture (right) that looks fine. This error happens sporadically. It is very infuriating if you are trying to capture a fleeting moment with your friends.
iPhone Camera Problem
Picaso may appreciate this software glitch, but I just hate it.
The bling, the features and the slick coolness of the iPhone dazzled me. I am somewhat surprised, since I am a clear thinking individual. Kudos Apple, for fooling me with your sexy hip uber-trendy iCell.
Surprisingly even the Google Phone has so many flaws, that it will fail to annihilate the iPhone. Google could have capitalized on the iPhone weaknesses, but instead they made a phone with a completely new set of problems. What do you mean no headphone jack on a PDA phone? Where did all the applications go?
I must conclude that the future of mobile computing will always be embodied with paternalism and castigation. Large companies use any means to monopolize their products while treating their users like children incapable of making their own decisions. I also see this trend spilling over into the world of Home Entertainment (HDMI copy protection, DRM, viewing time limitations on recordings and advertising skip protection on DVR). Trusted Computing, Software certificates or music playing on some platforms only, will restrict computing platforms of the future as well.
During the next view years, we will decide if we let companies boss us around and restrict us, or if we choose the freedom of expression and creativity.
I am hopeful that small startups will once again capitalize on the stupidity and arrogance of today’s dominating forces. This is how Apple once started before they forgot their roots.
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