4 Reasons the iPhone is evil

From Comedy Central's Root of All Evil




In Canada, watch clip here.

Why free software and Apple's iPhone don't mix

The iPhone is not a "phone" any more than my laptop computer is a phone. The iPhone can make phone calls, but so can my laptop. Just because it fits in your pocket does not mean that it isn't a computer. As the specifications of the hardware and the diversity of available proprietary applications indicate, it's a general-purpose device.

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Neil Young slams Apple, iTunes

Folk and rock star Neil Young has issued sharp criticism of Apple and the iPod, Fortune reports. I agree that sound quality is slipping, and this is due mainly to a combination of factors, not only component choices in the DAC and amplifier, for example. Earphone choices are very limited or outrageously expensive, often more than the cost of an iPod itself. Not to mention that ripping quality with default settings in iTunes leaves much to be desired.This is intentional, I believe, just like the Compact Cassette in the 1970s and 1980s, where inferior audio quality was engineered into its design.

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5 Questions: Give Apple the iPhone Challenge

Give an Apple Genius the iPhone Challenge (Free Software Foundation initiative)

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Other reasons why I didn't buy an iPhone

I am on Fido, and I found out that they give a slightly better deal on the iPhone than Rogers. The main difference is per-second billing on calls (this really adds up) and unlimited evenings start 2 hours earlier at 7 P.M.

But what bugs me is that there is no MMS messaging on the iPhone. It does not matter what carrier you are on...Rogers, Fido, AT&T, Orange, Vodaphone...this is a limitation of the phone.

Of course you can e-mail, but I have a package that includes free MMS messaging. MMS is great for mobile blogging, except there are no Canadian carriers that work with Blogger :-( 

The other really annoying feature of the iPhone is no cut and paste. This is something that even Palm smartphones have. 

Also the battery is not replaceable and the memory is not upgradeable. So for now you are locked in to an expensive contract with a dead-end device. 

The really big reason is that traditionally I have been an early adopter, and this has burned me quite a bit in the past and put big dents in my wallet. I see similarities  with the iPod, which I could not justify when the came out with tiny hard drives and $700 price tags. And now what you can get in terms of features for a quarter of the price is astounding. So I predict iPhones will get cheaper and more powerful and useful as time goes on.  I've learned my lesson and have a closet full of expensive junk to prove it. I'm not going to add an iPhone to that junk pile a year down the road.

So it really doesn't make sense to lock in to a 3 year contract, which is a really long time in the technology world. I can hardly believe where we will be in 2 years time with the iPhone when competing devices will be really compelling. And all of the early adopters will be stuck with them or shelling out 100s to get out of their ludicrous contracts.

Cellular plans have peaked in Canada and the only place they are going is down. Especially with competition that will be ramping up in a year or two. Not to mention consumer pressure and regulatory pressure, like the class action lawsuit against the system access fee.

Also I have been on a life simplification kick, and this means getting the technology and communications under control. Which means spending less time with them, and more time on productive work. This means I don't need to be on my e-mail 24/7. If its that urgent, call me. So I am ditching my Treo 650 for a basic Sony Z550a. This is even more than I need.

fsf.org: 5 Reasons to Avoid iPhone 3G

While there are other reasons to avoid the iPhone 3G (cost of ownership being one of them) this is a pretty good list:

iPhone completely blocks free software. Developers must pay a tax to Apple, who becomes the sole authority over what can and can't be on everyone's phones.

iPhone endorses and supports Digital Restrictions Management (DRM) technology.

iPhone exposes your whereabouts and provides ways for others to track you without your knowledge.

iPhone won't play patent- and DRM-free formats like Ogg Vorbis and Theora.

iPhone is not the only option. There are better alternatives on the horizon that respect your freedom, don't spy on you, play free media formats, and let you use free software -- like the FreeRunner.

Link.

Rogers/iPhone price reduction STILL sucks

I have to admit nearly caving in and calling a Fido CSR to see my eligibility to upgrade to an iPhone. But after seeing that the $30 6 GB plan tacked on to my existing plan (if they would let me) still does not allow me any text messages or visual voice mail (I don't have voice mail on my cell phone). I also have 25 MMS messages included in my plan, but the iPhone can't send MMS messages so this would also be lost.

My phone bill from Fido would still more than double to nearly $100 including taxes. This is way too much to pay for a cell phone. In fact, I'm wondering how much I really need a cell phone AT ALL...

Update: According to the Fido website, I am not eligible to get an iPhone for another 10 months.