But lately they've been acting more and more like an imperial dictator or petulant child than a benevolent wizard.
The decision not to include Adobe's Flash software on the iPhone and iPad renders some of the web's most popular sites unusable and excludes a lot of advertising that pays for most web content. I know Apple is working on a competing platform, but until it's ready, include Flash. There are more than a few of us who want to watch 30 Rock on an iPad.
The latest – and as far as I'm concerned more egregious – example is the step they've taken to prosecute Gizmodo for publishing information about an iPhone prototype that was found on a bar stool. Read the account in the New York Times and you get the picture of a company that's operating on pure paranoia.
According to Gizmodo's side of the story – and that's the only one we have because Apple isn't talking – the person who found the phone tried to return it to Apple the next day. It was only after being turned away by customer service that he decided to make a few bucks on his find.
Yes, he broke the law. But that doesn't mean Apple has to go all Nixon over his and Gizmodo's asses. (Sorry for the bad Photoshop. I just couldn't resist).Apple asked for the prototype and it was returned. A story ran showing all the cool new features coming on the phone. This would all be over now if Apple had just said "Thanks".
But now people are buzzing about Apple acting like a schoolyard bully.
That's not consistent with their brand. And it will hurt them if it continues.
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They are absolutely the next evil corporation. I will confess, I am their customer. But from my perspective their business strategy and objectives are actually several times more future-monopoly-like and uber-microsoft-like than Microsoft ever was. Controlling both hardware, software and in-device communication to their level is unprecedented. If they continue gaining market share at this pace, there will definitely be some negative effects on their brand and on the consumer choice.
ReplyDeleteThat said. I am excited for when my iPad 3G arrives in a few days.
Thanks Jiri. I'm an Apple guy from the IIc days. I know they've always been protective of their technology and intellectual property, but now the whole level of control over apps, data, etc.
ReplyDeleteThey used to be about enabling creativity and now it seems as if they want to control it.
Jon Stewart's extended Apple rant: http://www.macrumors.com/2010/04/29/jon-stewart-on-the-lost-next-generation-iphone/
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to know I'm not the only one who thinks they overreacted.
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