Disillusioned Apple Fan loves iPhone
Can you tell that I am 'addicted' to my iPhone? (huge grin)
Well I am, and I love it. It is still my best and favorite new gadget/toy/phone/ipod and techno-device even though Apple, its maker, would try to stymie my joy and micromanage how I choose to enjoy this device. Kinda like how Radiohead wants to force us to "enjoy" their music only as an Album and never by the individual songs. Geez, what does that say about the songs if they can't stand on their own or needs Other songs to 'complete them' and the experience? But I digress... iPhones!
That's right, Apple has again taken a fairly nasty stance and let loose the long awaited update that includes the WiFi Music store, which even *I* thought would be cool! Word! But it comes at the cost of my "harmless" and yet Very Useful, unsupported by Apple, 3rd party apps. Do I really want to give up my NES games, Black Jack, TapTapRevolution(TTR) and other games just so I can make an impulsive iTunes purchase? Should I trade the ability to have custom FREE Ringtones of my own creation, a Terminal that I can use to check my servers, and Voice Notes for the ability to have some iPod controls on my screen without unlocking it every time?(hey, the headphone skip and pause/play function will suffice for now and when I use Good headphones I can cope)
No. See Erica Sudan's article on tuaw.com for useful info before YOU upgrade.
I have lived with these "limitations" since the beginning and Apple's small enhancements are not worth trashing the hard work and inventiveness that the 3rd party hackers and developers have done on our behalf. Why Apple choose to do so, and with no real legitimate explanation I might add, is a mystery to me and sadly an indication that my always adored Apple, maker of my favorite computers and tech equipment, is becoming warped and twisted and corrupted by their own size (greed?) and perhaps the "new friends" they seem to be making in the corporate and international world.
Having a Soul is now too costly Steve? Did you loose your Daemon?
Sure, I understand about having to honor the agreements with your phone carriers and making sure only they can provide service for you phone, but that should not mean f*cking over the 3rd party developers. Hell, WTF didn't you give us all an SDK in the first place? Is the iPhone software just Beta still? Or even Alpha? And you aren't done tweaking it enough to issue a supportable SDK? Then SAY so. At least you would alienate less of your devoted fans. WE would understand. And don't think that this new found "Fame & Fortune" means you can forget your "roots". Shun us and it will be your own demise. Read your Ancient Literature!
So, what does it mean for me? I won't be updating any time soon. Not until Someone has re-jailbreaked the iPhone and allowed me to customize it again with Summerboard and other cool apps. Either that, or Apple will continue to pull Microsoftian moves like updating iTunes so that only iPhones running the latest firmware will sync properly... Don't do it Apple! Just don't go there!
In the words and voice of Luke Skywalker, "I know there is still some Good in you!"
