Jul11
FSFE - 5 reasons to avoid iPhone 3G
The Free Software Foundation published in its Community blog the 5 real reasons to avoid iPhone 3G:
- iPhone completely blocks free software. Developers must pay a tax to Apple, who becomes the sole authority over what can and can’t be on everyone’s phones.
- iPhone endorses and supports Digital Restrictions Management (DRM) technology.
- iPhone exposes your whereabouts and provides ways for others to track you without your knowledge.
- iPhone won’t play patent- and DRM-free formats like Ogg Vorbis and Theora.
- iPhone is not the only option. There are better alternatives on the horizon that respect your freedom, don’t spy on you, play free media formats, and let you use free software — like the FreeRunner.
At the beginning, I thought about buying for myself an iPhone 3G (launched today in Italy), but due to its high costs (especially for the version without a long-term contract) I’d probably end to disassembly it as the iFixIt guys did yesterday ;-).
Last but not least, I’m totally in agree with FSFE: it’s not a news that Apple doesn’t care about its customers and their rights (WTF is privacy?).
What on earth? “iPhone exposes your whereabouts and provides ways for others to track you without your knowledge.” you are aware that is OPT IN on software applications rather than an “always on” feature of the iphone?
If you are going to argue a point do please back it up with something factual.
“# iPhone endorses and supports Digital Restrictions Management (DRM) technology.”
iPhone does NOT, iTunes / Apple does. iPhone doesn’t ONLY play drm, you can rip your music easily to MP3 in itunes and use that. It’s only the store that uses the DRM and you could easily use a different store to get mp3 files and chuck them into your library.
Many devices don’t play Ogg Vorbis and Theora. So what?
“other options” is not a reason NOT to buy and iphone. It is just a reason to research and make sure it is the right / best device for you.
I am aware you did not write this list, but thought it worth mentioning
Oh there are ways to get 3rd party software into iPhone. You can even make applications yourself. It just wasn’t made easy.
Not that many iPhone users really want or need many applications though.
Those statements are blown out of proportion, especially the first one about free software. The truth is the FSF has been gunning for apple every since Apple has picked up traction. The problem I see with the report and the organization as a whole is they appear to only want you to use free and open source software on free and open source platforms. That approach seems more controlling to me.
There is a such thing as using Free software the platform of your choice. All of the statements above appear to me are to spark die hard free software people to call in to question the relevance of the iphone based on the fact that it is not free. This does not however negate the technical accomplishments of apple or the device.
If you don’t like it make a better and free phone however that has not yet happen, openmoko is not a true competitor, Android is not on the market, and the infrastructure to spark customer interest is not in place like itunes, and the newly released app store to allow developers a central place to market their product.
How about the FSF develop something other than reports and controversy, I believe free software has it’s place, but a hammer is not always the right tool for every job either.
Fuck Apple, Fuck the iPhone, my OpenMoko arrives in 4 days!