That’s the problem here, in my opinion.

First, right out of the chute, the new iPhones are having screen problems. A buddy of mine who wasn’t able to get his on Day One had to wait until Day Two. On Day Three, he was sending it to Apple (and paying to rent a replacement for a few days) to have the screen fixed. He was impressed with how fast Apple turned the product around, until he had his replacement for a few days and had more screen problems.

Then there’s MobileMe. Then there’s the disappearing applications from the Apple Store (applications that had been approved by Apple to exist there in the first place.)

There’s loss of service, limited functionality in many areas (still no 3G in Amarillo and Lubbock…yet the lines were out the door to get the new phones), the “I Am Rich” application - biting social commentary if I’ve ever seen it - and what appears to be a total lackluster response from Apple regarding this debacle.

In other words, the rollout is surely not going as planned, even though Apple’s customers are being incredibly loyal and patient.

Now, with this latest “killswitch discovery,” I’m not shocked that people are getting pissed.

From a blog I read this morning:

MacRumors suggests that Apple will most likely only use this functionality to kill malware or other code it deems dangerous. But what about unsanctioned applications that are downloaded to unlocked iPhones? Will Apple keep tabs on the applications that unlocked iPhone users download and install? Will it kill apps it doesn’t like, even if the user has paid for it?”

I’m certainly not going to argue that having a killswitch - specifically for the reasons you mention - isn’t a good idea. Why not tout this as a feature from the get-go, then? If there’s nothing to hide, announce it. Make a big splash about how Apple is protecting their users.

That’s not what they did, though.

The initial iPhone was criticized in the corporate space specifically for NOT having remote revocation support. I can assure you though, that the first time an app slips through the cracks and starts emailing everyone’s contact lists to a telemarketing company that people will be clamoring for this feature.

Any speculation that Apple intends to do anything with this list other than revoke malicious software are nebulous at best. After all, the list is available to anyone with a web browser.

Blessings, my friend….

Good luck on Nano. I always say I want to do it and then I chicken out. But I’ve set myself some daily writing goals for what I’m working on now, so either I’ll be used to writing a lot by then or I’ll be so deep and happy in my novel I won’t want to worry about Nano.

Great to see you though. You should hit me up on IM sometime, we have many things to talk about, I’m sure.