So glad I didn’t fall in love with iPhone
August 7, 2008 7:31 am PersonalI’ve watched in amazement as good friends ran alongside the ever-moving iPhone train, grappled with the rushing behemoth, then jumped on board. Ever since, I’ve continued to see more and more flaws and failures in the iPhone and bundled/add-on applications.
Now it seems that Apple can decide to disable applications you purchased legally through their Apple Store. One minute it works, the next, poof. I’ve read stories about legitimate apps appearing, then disappearing (then reappearing, then re-disappearing) from the Apple Store. I’ve read about MobileMe, and even how Jobs himself isn’t impressed with how Apple has handled this product.
All I know is, I’m happy to have grabbed my Palm Centro for $99 when I did. Otherwise I might have heard the siren song - big touchscreen, elegant phone, beautiful colors, neato features. I can see the appeal, but for all the hassle? Not worth it for me.
August 7th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
It’s worth mentioning that the iPhone is not exactly alone here. Windows Mobile has application revocation (and has had it since at least WM2003). For that matter, so does Microsoft Windows (Malicious Software Removal Tool). In these environments it’s pitched as a “Feature” and widely tolerated if not praised.
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.
August 8th, 2008 at 7:57 am
Ask Microsoft how poor public perception, grounded in some truly abysmal experiences (whether those experiences were personal or “this guy I know”), has tainted adoption of a flagship product.
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:
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.
August 8th, 2008 at 8:00 am
(The link to the blog I quoted is here. Must have slipped through the cracks.)