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Why are you people defending Apple?

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Re: Why are you people defending Apple?

#141

Post by bonch »

InclinedPlane wrote: post #4
Bossman wrote: post #2

And people wonder why I hate the walled approach Apple takes. The article makes another great point about people not being able to leave iOS devices for a competitor because all their music, movies, apps, etc are in Apple's DRM format and won't transfer to other devices. Apple deserves to have control over their own platform, but this is getting a little crazy. The extra fee wouldn't be so bad if developers could inc…

Now everyone should know, if they didn't before, why Apple is no Microsoft. Apple isn't content to create a platform, they want to own everything. They want a walled garden, they want captive users, they want to be able to demand exorbitant profit margins in perpetuity. Mostly benign monarchies may seem very attractive at first glance, but over time abuse of power is inevitable and then it's too late.

Apple doesn't want to own everything. They're happy being the BMW of tech and generate massive profits.

Comparing this situation to monarchies and abuses of power is stupid. It's just an in-app subscription model for a mobile OS that nobody is being forced to use.

Re: Why are you people defending Apple?

#142

Post by d5tryr »

catshirt wrote: post #110
d5tryr wrote: post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

'normal' people? Normal people is a pointless term. You may as well just say people. Saying 'These things weren't difficult for me, but they're a pretty big hurdle for people.' would sound horrible and arrogant, but at least it would be honest. You, and the author of this article, shouldn't use such a lazy and condescending phrase.

what do you mean pointless? if you find "normal people" condescending you'd probably be shaken to know that i actually prefer "muggles". to be blunt, i can't even find the arrogance in the quote you fabricated. are you suggesting that people who are considered tech savvy don't have an easier time navigating new technology?

'Muggles' I prefer, at least it's sincere. The problem I have with the term 'normal people' is that it is a polite way of referring to 'the unwashed masses'.

Which isn't a polite thing to say no matter how you phrase it.

In the context of this article in particular, in order to bolster a flawed argument, 'normal people' are presented as people so stupid as to be unable to comprehend a second brand of telephone.

This is simply untrue, and to imply that people don't have the power to choose between two products, because 'normal people' are too stupid to use more than one type of phone is absurd.

If you have a problem with Apple's 30% cut of in app purchases, that's fine. But please use something a little more substantive than a silent, and most likely non-existent, underclass of sub-humans as your justification.

Re: Why are you people defending Apple?

#144

Post by fpgeek »

mryall wrote: post #81
coffeedrinker wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sure, not everything can be a web app, but a lot of the subscription world can easily be ported to web app, since the content will likely be delivered in HTML.

Interestingly, serving e-books over HTML would destroy the DRM models that Amazon and others have developed to "protect" their content. I can't see there being a Kindle web-based reader unless Amazon takes the same road as Apple with regard to DRM [1], and tells all their content providers to get on board. [1] http://www.apple.com/fr/hotnews/thoughtsonmusic/

http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1000...

Re: Why are you people defending Apple?

#145

Post by catshirt »

d5tryr wrote: post #142
catshirt wrote: post #110

Earlier quoted context omitted.

what do you mean pointless? if you find "normal people" condescending you'd probably be shaken to know that i actually prefer "muggles". to be blunt, i can't even find the arrogance in the quote you fabricated. are you suggesting that people who are considered tech savvy don't have an easier time navigating new technology?

'Muggles' I prefer, at least it's sincere. The problem I have with the term 'normal people' is that it is a polite way of referring to 'the unwashed masses'. Which isn't a polite thing to say no matter how you phrase it. In the context of this article in particular, in order to bolster a flawed argument, 'normal people' are presented as people so stupid as to be unable to comprehend a second brand of telephone. This…

ah. well said, i misunderstood your point. and agree. though i think the concern with "normal people" as a phrase specifically is still misdirected. it is a concept that warrants some word or phrase, and there is no harm intended.

in fact, i know several "normal people" who'd probably prefer considering themselves "normal people". at the very least, as opposed to "computer nerds". which incidentally is a term i've never found offensive.

Re: Why are you people defending Apple?

#146

Post by fpgeek »

sethg wrote: post #108
46Bit wrote: post #64

I'm looking forward to Antitrust.

If I understand correctly, antitrust concerns would only kick in if Apple uses its monopoly power to screw its competitors . For example, if iOS apps were required to sell content for less at the App Store than through competing channels, then Amazon et al. could rightfully cry foul. But screwing your customers is not an antitrust violation: it’s capitalism as usual. :-)

Given the impact of these new policies on music streaming services like Rhapsody et al and Apple's dominant share in the digital music and digital music player markets, I think antitrust will become part of the story sooner rather than later. Especially if Apple launches their own streaming service (as has been rumored).

Re: Why are you people defending Apple?

#147

Post by mambodog »

coffeedrinker wrote: post #29
chc wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wish that were practical, but Web apps just don't measure up for a lot of domains. Personal example: I was recently toying with the idea of porting a design program to be a Web app, but even just getting very simple typography right is pretty intractable.

Sure, not everything can be a web app, but a lot of the subscription world can easily be ported to web app, since the content will likely be delivered in HTML.

Unless they want any kind of DRM.

Re: Why are you people defending Apple?

#148

Post by dasil003 »

d5tryr wrote: post #93
jkincaid wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I did suck it up and switched to Android. It isn't painless. I now like Android better than iOS, but you need to change your muscle memory and learn where various options are. And all of the apps and content you purchased on iOS are no longer accessible, which is the real pain-point. These things weren't difficult for me, but they're a pretty big hurdle for 'normal' people. If Amazon pulls the Kindle app, a user is p…

'normal' people? Normal people is a pointless term. You may as well just say people. Saying 'These things weren't difficult for me, but they're a pretty big hurdle for people.' would sound horrible and arrogant, but at least it would be honest. You, and the author of this article, shouldn't use such a lazy and condescending phrase.

Whoah! Settle down there. "Normal" is not an offensive term, unless you yourself deem geeks to be superior.

Re: Why are you people defending Apple?

#149

Post by stanleydrew »

d5tryr wrote: post #93
jkincaid wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I did suck it up and switched to Android. It isn't painless. I now like Android better than iOS, but you need to change your muscle memory and learn where various options are. And all of the apps and content you purchased on iOS are no longer accessible, which is the real pain-point. These things weren't difficult for me, but they're a pretty big hurdle for 'normal' people. If Amazon pulls the Kindle app, a user is p…

'normal' people? Normal people is a pointless term. You may as well just say people. Saying 'These things weren't difficult for me, but they're a pretty big hurdle for people.' would sound horrible and arrogant, but at least it would be honest. You, and the author of this article, shouldn't use such a lazy and condescending phrase.

He is the author of the article.

Re: Why are you people defending Apple?

#150

Post by d5tryr »

catshirt wrote: post #145
d5tryr wrote: post #142

Earlier quoted context omitted.

'Muggles' I prefer, at least it's sincere. The problem I have with the term 'normal people' is that it is a polite way of referring to 'the unwashed masses'. Which isn't a polite thing to say no matter how you phrase it. In the context of this article in particular, in order to bolster a flawed argument, 'normal people' are presented as people so stupid as to be unable to comprehend a second brand of telephone. This…

ah. well said, i misunderstood your point. and agree. though i think the concern with "normal people" as a phrase specifically is still misdirected. it is a concept that warrants some word or phrase, and there is no harm intended. in fact, i know several "normal people" who'd probably prefer considering themselves "normal people". at the very least, as opposed to "computer nerds". which incidentally is a term i've ne…

I'm probably being a bit too pedantic.

I just don't see why the author would choose to use the loaded term 'normal people' instead of just 'people'.

edit: Unless he was being lazy and hanging his argument on an unfair caricature.

Which I believe he was.

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