iFizzle

I'm sure that it's rather obvious that there's much talk about the iPhone. Some people are talking about how great it is. Some are talking about how it's changed their lives. Some have said it's the best consumer technology product in decades. Then again, some people are just mad as fuck. It seems that Apple has made yet another attempt to "secure" their technology using an ingenious (insidious) "software update" that has rendered a good deal of iPhones useless. That means that a ton of creative types (their target demographic for oh, I don't know--everything) is understandably pissed off about the whole thing.

There's even talk now of a class-action lawsuit because people are not happy with the fact their phones suddenly stopped working. On one hand, I understand Apple's claim. They want to not only ensure the functionality of the phone, but they also want to honor their agreement with AT&T. I get that. I think it's fucking retarded, but hey, I get it. On the other hand, there's the user community. These are people who shelled out anywhere from $400-$800 on a phone, who figure they're entitled to do whatever the fuck they want. That part I get too. There's nothing worse than having someone tell what you can do with something that you paid for. (I'm looking at you, RIAA.)

The thing that's going to be interesting in the coming months is what comes of this whole thing. Will Apple relent due to consumer pressure and just back off their harsh stance toward hackers? Or will the customers chalk it up as another inconvenience that routinely comes as part of the "cost of doing business?" Then again, based on some of the developments in the EU, there's a good chance that Apple could face litigation from across the pond. Those European governments refuse to be bullied by corporate interests. They've even pulled Microsoft's punk card a time or two. This is one instance where it really wouldn't be a surprise.

The one thing that keeps running through my mind as I ponder all of this is that we're talking about technology here. We're not talking about the pharmaceutical sector, where drug interactions could lead to severe side-effects in some cases and death in others. We're talking about devices that plug into the wall. We're talking about things that are supposed to foster communication and increase individual productivity. The whole line about "protecting consumers" is bullshit. I think the public at large can be fooled about many things, but they start to take notice when companies hamstring their hardware for their own benefit. It's getting old. Microsoft is slowly coming to that realization, as well as many others. It's becoming glaringly apparent to everyone else except Apple and Sony it seems. It's about time for you and your peeps to get it together, Steve. The world is watching.