Is Apple losing its polish?

Has Apple seen better days?

(Credit: macinthebox.net)

That's the feeling you get while surfing the Web this week. The iPhone price-drop brouhaha was largely stopped in its tracks by Steve Jobs' $100 mea culpa, but a string of successive snafus have cropped up in Apple-land in the weeks thereafter. Digg users are asking, Is Apple giving up on its customers? According to The Consumerist, the answer may well be yes. Meanwhile, iPod enthusiast site iLounge highlights four of the recent sticks in the collective eye of iPod fans--the need to rebuy iPod games for new models, the breaking of backwards compatibility with iPod video accessories, bad iPod Touch screens, and the iPhone ringtone policy (repaying to use music you already own)--and asks, Is Apple going rotten? ZDNet's Jason D. O'Grady details how Apple may be "blacklisting" hacked iPhones (or is the company just enforcing the user agreement to the letter?). And Crave's own David Carnoy joins the Apple fray, suggesting that it's the wrong time to buy an iPod. It may well be time for Apple shogun Steve Jobs to issue another open letter to give his side of the story. Unfortunately, he's got some other pressing issues on his plate.

So, what do you think: Is Apple still the king of consumer electronics cool--or has it supplanted Microsoft as the new Evil Empire?

[bob donut]

This time, I think Crave is right.

Crave is known for liking to post anti-articles about Apple. I expect this and take them with a grain of salt, usually. However, this time I think Apple has gone too far, by invalidating the warranty of software-based iphone hackers, and by the doggedly controlling aspects of the market that don't need to be controlled, like carrier choice and third party software.

I was a loyal Mac user until about 10 years ago. I left when Apple killed off the clone vendors, even though I had a real mac, not a clone. This is the same attitude that drives what they're doing with the iPhone, and when Steve Jobs said that they'd fight iPhone unlockers, that changed my stance on supporting Apple.

I'll repeat: When Steve Jobs said that they'd fight iPhone unlockers, that changed my stance on supporting Apple.

If I wait a few months I can get a video media player close to the quality of an iPhone. It'll probably be a year before the phones catch up, but they will. But not being micromanaged after I make a purchase matters more to me than being at the pinnacle of "style" and "technological perfection."

I hope you're reading this, Apple.

[fleurya]

An unfortunate side affect of getting too big

Apple is just getting too big and moving out of the niche and into the
mainstream. Of course, the iPod was never really a niche, but the computers
certainly were. Apple wasn't making very much headway with their
computers, but they were making a fantastic quality product.

With the company expanding and changing it's image from a computer to
general electronics producer, the focus is definitely shifting and there are
different players in the decision-making seats: people who either listen to, or
are themselves financial number-crunching money grubbers who love to
launch ideas that "look good on paper" (read: good for their wallets, bad for
consumers).

It's impossible for a company to get big and maintain it's organizational
structure and control when it was small. Apple will change and I think we will
see more of this. It's been proven through business history and it's inevitable.

[i_am_ragnorok]

iPod has never been cool.

- For just the reason indicated in the "New Evil Empire" link. Get iPod ... use iTunes. NO other alternative. People who buys iPods deserve what they get ... a great device that works like a charm *within its draconian proprietary environment*.
- I don't support draconian proprietary equipment, no matter how well designed it is otherwise. Apparently zillions of others only only just now waking up and smelling the fecal matter.

[Nodack]

Has Apple lost it's luster?

Has Apple lost it's luster?

What are you kidding me? There has never been a time in the history of
Apple when they have done as well as they are doing right now and not even
close. If you own Apple stock you could attest to that. They even sold
400,000 more Macs than they had anticipated selling this quarter.

The correct question should have been, "Is Apple really pissing off Apple
haters by their success?"

Judging by the barrage of anti Apple stories being written I would have to say
yes, Apple is really getting under the skin of all those who feel threatened by
them.

[gonumber2539]

New iPod Nano too fiddle to use...

I have never found the iPod GUI speedy - despite the fact it's so popular. And
today, I got to play with both the new Nano and the Touch. Both have serious
design flaws. You get lost in the Nano's menus, unlike the joystick/dpad
driven interface on most mobile phones where it is much easier and quicker
to navigate around features and files. And of course, you always have
independent volume controls - a massive flaw in most iPods. And that brings
me to the Touch. The multi-touch interface is fantastic and I CRAVE the iMac
Touch! However, try adjusting the volume while listening to a track! (Go on!)
And how does one change track and adjust volume when the thing is in your
pocket while you are jogging? There is no Bluetooth for a remote control.
Madness. The iPhone is not so bad featuring hard buttons. And I'm getting
one when it comes out on Vodafone in the UK - as long as it has 16Gig, a
better camera and HSDPA for decent connectivity. </rant>

[xizor2000]

Apple - The Hypocrisy That Don?t Get Hyped About

Well, I once wrote about Apple's (and Steve Job's) hypocrisy on my blog abput 2 weeks back. I admit I might not be objective, but I wonder what took everybody so long to figure that out.

If anyone is interested in reading my biased blog post can always just google with the subject I used here.

[riscx1]

Come on! Are you serious?

This article is really a bunch of mindless drivel, much like a cat moaning in the
night, slightly annoying but harmless and totally useless, just like my response.
Hey I have an idea for whoever wrote this pile of tripe, why don't we both
compete in the special olympics, no matter who wins we will still be retarded :)

Thank you for your order, please drive forward.