The iPhone, free software, and DRM

[Dominus Atheos]

Free Software Foundation

5 reasons to avoid iPhone 3G

The 5 real reasons to avoid iPhone 3G:
[img=right]http://blogs.zdnet.com/open-source/imag ... design.jpg[/img]

• 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.

"This is the phone that has changed phones forever," Mr. Jobs said.

We agree. A snake oil salesman not satisfied with his business of pushing proprietary software and Digital Restrictions Management (DRM) technology into your home, Jobs has set his sights on getting DRM and proprietary software into your pocket as well.

There is a reason so much emphasis was put on the visual design of the iPhone. There is a reason that Apple is so concerned about unsightly seams that they won't even let you change the battery in your own phone.

Apple, through its marketing and visual design techniques, is manufacturing an illusion that merely buying an Apple makes you part of an alternative community. But the technology they use is explicitly chosen to divide people into separate digital cells, and to position Apple as sole warden. When your business depends on people paying for the privilege of being locked up, the prison better look and feel luxurious, and the bars better not be too visible.
Wait, locked up? Prison? It's a phone. Aren't we being a little extreme?

Unfortunately, we are not. The extreme here is represented by Jobs and Apple. The iPhone is an attack on very old and fundamental values -- the value of people having control over their stuff rather than their stuff having control over them, the right to freely communicate and share with others, and the importance of privacy.

The iPhone does make phone calls, but it is not just a phone. It is a general-purpose computer, more powerful in terms of hardware than the ones we might have had sitting on our desks just a few years ago. It's also a tracking device, and like other proprietary GPS-enabled phones, can transmit your location without your knowledge.

As of November 2007, 3.3 billion people in the world had mobile telephones, and the number continues to rise rapidly. For many of these people, phones are becoming the most important computers they own. They are vital to their communications and they are with them all the time. Of all the technology people use that could be turned against them, this is one of the most frightening possibilities.

But there is an important difference between the iPhone and prior general-purpose computers: The iPhone is broken, on purpose. It is in theory capable of running many different kinds of programs, but software applications and media will be limited via Apple's ironically named Digital Restrictions Management technology -- "FairPlay".
FoulPlay

Apple's DRM system monitors your activities and tells you what you are and are not allowed to do. What you are not allowed to do is install any software that Apple doesn't like. This restriction prevents you from installing free software -- software whose authors want you to freely share, copy and modify their work.

Free software has given us many exciting things on the desktop -- the GNU/Linux operating system, the Firefox web browser, the OpenOffice.org suite, the Apache webserver that runs most of the web sites on the internet. Why would we want to buy a computer that goes out of its way to obstruct the freedom of such creators?

This system is not Apple's only FoulPlay. iPhones can now also only be activated in stores -- despite the fact that in the U.S., the Register of Copyrights ruled that consumers have the right to unlock their phones and switch to a different carrier.
Fingerpointing (and we don't mean the touch screen)

Jobs would have us believe that all of these restrictions are necessary. He nods and agrees when we complain about them, and says that he doesn't like them either. He claims that Apple is forced to include them for our own good -- for the safety of the whole telephone network, and to allow access to all the movies and music we want.

But it's been a year and a half since Jobs, under pressure from the public, spoke out strongly against DRM and in favor of freedom. With great hesitation, he allowed a handful of files to go DRM-free on iTunes, but kept in place the requirement that they be purchased using the proprietary, DRM-infected iTunes software. Since then, he has done absolutely nothing to act on those words. In his movie and video ventures, he has continued to push DRM. And now he's bringing it to mobile software applications as well. It's become clear that those words were a ploy to defuse opposition.

The truth is that there are thousands of software, music, and media creators who want to share their work more freely. It's funny -- as in reprehensible -- because Apple's OS X operating system was in fact largely built on software written by people who voluntarily made their work free to others for further copying, modification and improvement. When people have the freedom to tinker, create, and innovate, they make exciting and useful creations. People have already been writing their own free software to run mobile platforms. The telephone network is still standing.

We know Jobs is afraid of competition, and is manufacturing threats and excuses. This is simply a business decision, and it's a kind of business we shouldn't support. Jobs wants the iPhone to restrict you because he wants your money and increased control is a means to that -- he wants to take as much from you as possible, give you back as little as possible, and keep his costs at the absolute minimum. He's trying to make sure that nobody writes software for the iPhone to do things that he doesn't want the iPhone to be able to do -- such software might make FoulPlay less foul, play alternative media formats, show the user exactly what's being communicated from the phone to the people monitoring it, or even disable transmission of that information.

ZDNet reminds us that the fight against Apple and their despicable business practices is only one front of the larger struggle.

Apple is not the real enemy of open source

The real enemy of open source remains what it has always been.

Not Apple Inc. The copyright industries.

Music companies. Movie companies. TV companies. Radio companies. Book companies. Magazine companies. Newspaper companies. (Often, now, the same company.)

Media has feared the Web since the day it was spun. The DMCA and No Electronic Theft Act were aimed at the Internet.

Turned out they were aimed at open source as well. Open source is a child of the Internet.

The copyright industries have demanded for a decade that before their content is released it must carry a Digital Rights Management (DRM) scheme. The other media treat this as a given, as obvious, as a necessity.

Of course it’s nothing of the sort. The success of Apple’s iTunes proved that the insistance on a DRM was counter-productive. Rather than assuring that people pay for each song, clip or pageview, it cemented Apple’s control of the music channel.

Despite a rush away from DRM by the music industry, it’s too late. Meanwhile, the video industries are demanding the same treatment. So you have Viacom’s suit against Google and the MPAA’s attempts to bankrupt BitTorrent users.

This has split the community. FOSS advocates refuse to accept the need for DRMs, so media won’t play on FOSS boxes. Open source companies give in reluctantly. The result is that Linux is a virtual content-free zone.

This is changing, slowly, but now resistance comes from the Linux user side of the divide. Many Linux users obey the FOSS imperative and resist DRMs. Right or wrong is not the question here. It’s just the reality.

Apple has used that reality to its advantage.

Apple embraces DRMs, and any other restrictions the copyright industries want. This is at the heart of its power. Its alliance with the copyright industries has brought Apple from the brink of irrelevance to dominance of the handheld Internet and gadget markets in this decade.

But don’t forget who gave Apple that power. If the battle with Apple is open source’s Vietnam, just remember it’s the copyright industries who began this Cold War.

[Stark]

oh no it won't play Theora lol

At least the second article actually takes an adult perspective on the whole environment Apple works in to be so cross-market; dealing with telecom companies, record companies, all out to protect themselves.

It just makes me giggle like a little child to hear pouting, foot stomping nerds complain about FOULPLAY when, say, a PSP restricts what you can use it for, too. So does a regular GPS system. Manufacturers even include lockdowns in updates and re-designs to prevent 'free' installation of whatever you want. I just can't work up any outrage over this; the only thing that would concern me is the 'ZOMG JOBZ KNOS WHAR U LIVE' thing, but that's true of most nav systems to my knowledge, and the article doesn't actually explain what this vulnerability is beyond' oh noez they could find you!!!!!'

Of course, it goes without saying that most consumers don't give a flying fuck about any of this shit, so profit-wise it probably doesn't make a difference. Needs more impotent fuming nerd bloggers, like the one I read the other day who was so stupid and intentionally failing he couldn't even install iTunes without problems.

[Pu-239]

This is even more retarded
http://defectivebydesign.org/apple-challenge

Last week, we announced 5 reasons to avoid the iPhone. This has been met with a lot of excitement and some great feedback.

Some important questions were raised in this feedback. So, here is an opportunity to have some fun and get answers, straight from the horse's mouth, so to speak.

In every Apple retail store is a so-called "Genius Bar" -- a technical support station, the purpose of which is to offer help and support for Apple products.

You can use Apple's helpful online booking system (no registration required) to reserve time slots at the Genius Bar. There are currently 217 Apple stores in seven countries, giving us plenty of slots to book. We want as many people as possible to book slots this Friday and Saturday. Why not book more than one? Having lots of slots booked will get Apple's attention and ensure that the Geniuses have done their homework.
Take these three easy steps to give Apple our iPhone Challenge:

1) Book a 10-minute slot now!

Book online: USA, Australia, Canada, Italy and the United Kingdom.

2) Let us know which stores you have booked using our online counter.

3) Digg this to encourage others to participate

At the Genius Bar....

Print out our handy questionnaire and information about how iPhone 3G restricts your freedom. If you have access to a color printer, you can also print out some of our snazzy iPhone flyers (Letter, A4) to hand out to people outside the store when you're done. There are also black-and-white versions: (Letter, A4).

Head over to your local Apple Store at your designated time. Be sure to get a business card from your Genius first and then politely ask them the questions. For each question, give them a score between 1 and 32, with 1 being a really bad answer, and 32 being an answer that really showed insight into the restrictive practices of the iPhone.

The total score will be out of 160 -- the IQ level of Einstein, a certified genius. Rate your Genius's iQ to the same score, and if they get over 130, they're a genius -- any lower than that, and they're screwed. Glory and infamy awaits!

If you feel your Genius did particularly well, or particularly badly, please let us know their name, email address, and the store address -- it'll be on their business card. We'll send prizes and information accordingly.
Questions

Start by introducing yourself to your Genius.

"I'm from the DRM elimination crew at DefectiveByDesign.org -- I'd like to ask you a few questions about the defects Apple has designed into the iPhone 3G."

1.

Why do all developers have to submit their applications to Apple before they can be loaded onto an iPhone?

Most smartphones, including those by OpenMoko, Nokia, RIM, Palm and even Microsoft, allow applications to come from a variety of sources, including free software developers. Free "as in freedom" software development requires that users and developers be able to share and modify the source code for programs they use. iPhone users are not permitted by Apple to share or load modified versions of programs distributed through the App Store -- even when a program's developer wants users to be able to do this! Apple markets itself as empowering, alternative technology -- How does Apple plan to support free software development?
2.

Why does iTunes still contain so much DRM-laden music?

Services like Amazon, eMusic, Napster, Rhapsody, Play.com and 7digital are all selling music without DRM. A typical response to this might be that Apple has no option to sell media without DRM, but this is simply untrue. Jobs is the largest individual shareholder at Disney, and he could insist that its films be DRM-free. Apple should be leading the way to promote DRM-free music, but instead is lagging behind. What is Apple doing to fix this? If it really is the RIAA's fault, can you tell me specifically what the RIAA said to Jobs when he asked for the ability to sell DRM-free music?
3.

The iPhone 3G has GPS support. How can users be sure that the GPS cannot be used to track their position, without their permission?

When the only thing preventing the GPS from being used is software, and the software in question is known only to Apple, why should iPhone users trust Apple? There is a privacy agreement, but how would I ever know that the agreement was violated?
4.

In 'Thoughts on Music', Steve Jobs said, "it is useful to remember that all iPods play music that is free of any DRM and encoded in 'open' licensable formats such as MP3 and AAC".

If Jobs really wants to see open formats, why doesn't the iPhone play Ogg Vorbis, Ogg Theora video and FLAC? These formats require no licensing costs, and are not encumbered by patents. How does Apple plan to support these formats in the future? Will Apple approve applications for the App Store that support these formats?
5.

Last question. Why can the iPhone 3G only be activated by Apple and AT&T?

In the United States, the Register of Copyrights has ruled that consumers have the right to unlock their phones and switch to a different carrier. How does Apple plan to remedy this discrepancy?

Next steps

Give your Genius their score, your contact information (if you want) and your handout, along with any additional feedback you have about the defects in iPhone 3G. Thank them for their time, and quickly and politely leave the store. Outside the store, distribute some of the flyers and spend some time talking to people about these issues.

Let us know how it went by sending an email to info@defectivebydesign.org with your Genius's information, score, and your comments.

I'm all for free software and open systems and all, but shoving ideology into people's faces and clogging slots for real paying customers isn't going to garner any sympathy.

oh no it won't play Theora lol

At least the second article actually takes an adult perspective on the whole environment Apple works in to be so cross-market; dealing with telecom companies, record companies, all out to protect themselves.

It just makes me giggle like a little child to hear pouting, foot stomping nerds complain about FOULPLAY when, say, a PSP restricts what you can use it for, too. So does a regular GPS system. Manufacturers even include lockdowns in updates and re-designs to prevent 'free' installation of whatever you want. I just can't work up any outrage over this; the only thing that would concern me is the 'ZOMG JOBZ KNOS WHAR U LIVE' thing, but that's true of most nav systems to my knowledge, and the article doesn't actually explain what this vulnerability is beyond' oh noez they could find you!!!!!'

Of course, it goes without saying that most consumers don't give a flying fuck about any of this shit, so profit-wise it probably doesn't make a difference. Needs more impotent fuming nerd bloggers, like the one I read the other day who was so stupid and intentionally failing he couldn't even install iTunes without problems. Laughing

A bit of a fallacy methinks. All because it's widespread doesn't make it less crappy and not worth getting annoyed about. These lockins are somewhat anticompetitive/overly restrictive, depending on the device, market, etc.

That said, the companies are within their rights to put whatever they want into their hardware. The consumer should have to the right to *try* to break these once they have paid for it w/o being litigated (more US-specific as we're very sue-happy here); but the company has the right to break it w/ updates.

There is a market for "open" systems (open as you can put stuff on it, not necessarily open source), eg pc vs console, regular smartphone vs iphone, so it's not really the end of the world anyway. If Apple doesn't open up their phone, I won't buy it and I'll get an N95 or something, their loss, everyone moves on.

[Sarevok]

oh no it won't play Theora lol

At least the second article actually takes an adult perspective on the whole environment Apple works in to be so cross-market; dealing with telecom companies, record companies, all out to protect themselves.

It just makes me giggle like a little child to hear pouting, foot stomping nerds complain about FOULPLAY when, say, a PSP restricts what you can use it for, too. So does a regular GPS system. Manufacturers even include lockdowns in updates and re-designs to prevent 'free' installation of whatever you want. I just can't work up any outrage over this; the only thing that would concern me is the 'ZOMG JOBZ KNOS WHAR U LIVE' thing, but that's true of most nav systems to my knowledge, and the article doesn't actually explain what this vulnerability is beyond' oh noez they could find you!!!!!'

Of course, it goes without saying that most consumers don't give a flying fuck about any of this shit, so profit-wise it probably doesn't make a difference. Needs more impotent fuming nerd bloggers, like the one I read the other day who was so stupid and intentionally failing he couldn't even install iTunes without problems.

There is something iphone haters won't admit. Most mobile phone software that is free sucks. It won't make a difference to most people who don't have 40 different msn clients on their phone if what apple gives works and works well. From a marketing point of view iphone would sell well regardless.

[Stark]

Well, the examples of things like Opera (and Symbian apps in general) is that you can spec out your smartphone with functionality. Since an iPhone is more on the PDA side than a regular smartphone, and NOBODY would buy a PDA that was restricted software-wise, I can see where they're coming from.

But everyone who buys one knows this, so I don't care or really see it as a big bad.

[Big Phil]

Of course, it goes without saying that most consumers don't give a flying fuck about any of this shit, so profit-wise it probably doesn't make a difference. Needs more impotent fuming nerd bloggers, like the one I read the other day who was so stupid and intentionally failing he couldn't even install iTunes without problems.

Count me as one of those consumers who don't give a shit what Internet permavirgins think about the iPhone 3G. I got mine last weekend, and am completely happy with it - if I ever feel the need to go weeks without bathing while I try to hack it, I'll start a blog and let you all know how it's going and why Apple is now as evil as Microsoft.

[General Zod]

The iPhone does make phone calls, but it is not just a phone. It is a general-purpose computer, more powerful in terms of hardware than the ones we might have had sitting on our desks just a few years ago. It's also a tracking device, and like other proprietary GPS-enabled phones, can transmit your location without your knowledge.

What? This is news to me. Since when was the iPhone advertised as a computer that makes phone calls as opposed to a phone that can do a few tricks that are available on PCs? Whoever wrote this article seems like a scaremongering idiot that's upset just because he can't do anything he wants with the hardware.

[Stark]

Listen, they're such scaremongers that of their 5 original bullet-points, 1 is an ad for nerd-tech silliness and 1 is a statement (you can be tracked) supported by a single sentence in the article (you can be tracked, like with other phones). There's no explanation of how this might work or affect people, or if iPhone's GPS is more or less trackable. I mean, any wireless device can be tracked, and pretty much all GPS systems too, but clearly saying this about iPhone is suddenly inspiring terrror. A single unsupported scaremongering sentence.

Of course, the other bullet points are pretty much nonsense; it doesn't use Format Nobody Uses #22, it 'supports' (ie, 'can play') DRM files (bear in mind this doesn't mean it ONLY plays these files, which it doesn't - they're complaining it even has the ABILITY to play DRM-d files) and you can only install Apple-sanctioned apps that I imagine you pay for. Only this last point is anything anyone but a FOSS maniac is going to care about, and they had basically a zero percent chance of buying an iPhone anyway.

[phongn]

Listen, they're such scaremongers that of their 5 original bullet-points, 1 is an ad for nerd-tech silliness and 1 is a statement (you can be tracked) supported by a single sentence in the article (you can be tracked, like with other phones). There's no explanation of how this might work or affect people, or if iPhone's GPS is more or less trackable. I mean, any wireless device can be tracked, and pretty much all GPS systems too, but clearly saying this about iPhone is suddenly inspiring terrror. A single unsupported scaremongering sentence.

I have an iPod Touch running the new software, and the system asks you if you want to allow third-party applications to determine your current location. You can always deny it. And, as you mentioned, of course you can be tracked by the network, and for things like E911 such tracking systems are of course needed.

Of course, the other bullet points are pretty much nonsense; it doesn't use Format Nobody Uses #22, it 'supports' (ie, 'can play') DRM files (bear in mind this doesn't mean it ONLY plays these files, which it doesn't - they're complaining it even has the ABILITY to play DRM-d files) and you can only install Apple-sanctioned apps that I imagine you pay for.

Developers have to pay $99/year for a license and code signing key to have officially-sanctioned applications. They also take a 30% cut. You can also publish free applications as well if you want to.

[Stark]

I have an iPod Touch running the new software, and the system asks you if you want to allow third-party applications to determine your current location. You can always deny it. And, as you mentioned, of course you can be tracked by the network, and for things like E911 such tracking systems are of course needed.

Is that what they meant? It's diffcult to know since they were outraged but uninformative - if they're complaining about a voluntary hook being offered to your other apps, that's wierd. I'd want my other apps to be able to use the GPS to track me (if that's relevant, like with the camera) but that doesn't seem external (unless the apps phone home).

Developers have to pay $99/year for a license and code signing key to have officially-sanctioned applications. They also take a 30% cut. You can also publish free applications as well if you want to.

Oh? I assumed Apple had some iron-fist control or standards over it to prevent xyz apps being added to the store at all. Do you know how these terms compare to things like Steam? Do you have to pay the $99/year signing if you want to publish it to the store for free download? You've got me curious now.

[phongn]

Oh? I assumed Apple had some iron-fist control or standards over it to prevent xyz apps being added to the store at all. Do you know how these terms compare to things like Steam? Do you have to pay the $99/year signing if you want to publish it to the store for free download? You've got me curious now.

The fee is mandatory. Apple also reviews applications for trademark infringement (currently affecting the BoxOffice movie listing application, for example) and presumably for egregious errors in coding. They're obviously not going to allow full root access or things that'd piss off the telcos (like VOIP over 3G).

That said, if you pay the fee, you can put whatever you want on your iPhone (and IIRC up to five others). Apple might not let you publish it on their store, however.

[Pu-239]

Eh, regarding GPS, the FSF has always been rabid foaming paranoid hippies- they've said the same paranoid things about TCPA/TPM chips and nothing came out of it, and this does nothing but hurt their credibility.

The last point which annoys me, I don't like requiring Apple to approve what I develop and run on my phone. PDAs and smartphones have generally been open. The PC is different, one doesn't have to deliver stuff over Steam. That said, 99$ isn't too egregious to run whatever on an iPhone, and it's still better than most phones anyway (Esp BREW-only CDMA phones).

$99/year does hurt the presences of freeware/F/OSS software on the iPhone a bit (or not, there's plenty of freeware (albeit a lot of crappy stuff) on Windows where most devs pay for dev software).
All because you have to pay for the software doesn't mean it's better; witness the plethora of shitty shareware on download.com, which don't do much more than the free equivalents on Linux; it's not until you get into expensive boxed software like MATLAB or Photoshop where they are clearly superior to FOSS equivalents.

I wouldn't get one (at least until 3g is jailbroken and I feel a need to get a phone better than my current RIZR z3 (AT&T contract about to expire)).
There's plenty of useful free apps that aren't in the apple store (i.e. vnsea or an SSH client or whatever).I can't confirm this since I be bothered to use iTunes ((yet another annoying thing about the iPhone, and probably the worst ) Mplayer w/ mkv support if someone bothered to port it would be interesting as well. Meanwhile, there are other smartphones; the free market is wonderful (sort of, in the US selection is limited, unless you import a phone for $$$).

Realistically though, the iPhone's target market doesn't mind being nickel and dimed for everything , so it makes business sense for them anyway. It'd probably end up cheaper getting an iPhone and buying apps compared to importing an N95 and scrounging for freeware, in addition to pay apps; the iPhone is at least partially subsidized by AT&T, which isn't the case w/ an N95. The freetards bitching about it should shut up and get themselves an openmoko or something; they wouldn't buy an iPhone anyway due to some religious objection against proprietary software on the iPhone.

[Stark]

Yeah, like I said nobody would buy a PDA if it wasn't 'install what you want', but the market for iPhones isn't wholly PDA users. It wouldn't surprise me if the Apple app store leaned more towards 'consumer' shit like crappy games and widgets rather than useful stuff like SSH etc, but since it's so unimportant nobody can be bothered paying $99 and sending it to Apple, it's clear that nobody cares.

I mean, a found a lot of PDA apps quite useful in IT work (like wireless sniffers, etc) and it's a shame the iPhone doesn't have those kind of apps, but I can't bring myself to be outraged over it.

[phongn]

There is actually a free VNC client out for the iPhone but it's a bit limited.

[Rogue 9]

Well, I say that if I buy the hardware, I should be able to put whatever the fuck I want on it without having to pay the manufacturer of the hardware a dime to do it; I already paid them for what I bought, and I don't want to keep paying them.

Hence, I shall use my free market prerogative and not buy an iPhone. *Shrug* No need for silly stunts like tying up their support lines; they'll learn the error of their ways if their product doesn't sell.

[Stark]

Well, I say that if I buy the hardware, I should be able to put whatever the fuck I want on it without having to pay the manufacturer of the hardware a dime to do it; I already paid them for what I bought, and I don't want to keep paying them.

Hence, I shall use my free market prerogative and not buy an iPhone. *Shrug* No need for silly stunts like tying up their support lines; they'll learn the error of their ways if their product doesn't sell.

They have to do that shit, because people AREN'T going to stop buying them. So they have to stomp their foot impotently and try to hand out flyers and shit, because the market doesn't agree with them.

Frankly, I think there's a big difference between the -capability- to install software on devices, and some -ethical need- for manufacturers to -support- it. Like I said, all kinds of 'consumer' electronics either has similar restrictions OR to do so you need to void warranty or use hacked firmware or whatever. Sure you can go bootleg software on Wii, but Nintendo -doesn't support it- and will -try to stop you with updates-. Oh no, the only way to get a browser on Wii is to USE THE WII SHOP OMG CALL JESUS.

[phongn]

I think they should open up the media framework on the iPhone for other formats if they don't want to deal with it themselves. Let the community do it instead.

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

Well, I say that if I buy the hardware, I should be able to put whatever the fuck I want on it without having to pay the manufacturer of the hardware a dime to do it; I already paid them for what I bought, and I don't want to keep paying them.

Hence, I shall use my free market prerogative and not buy an iPhone. *Shrug* No need for silly stunts like tying up their support lines; they'll learn the error of their ways if their product doesn't sell.

The iPhone is designed for ease of use. That disappears the moment every tom dick and harry design some crap software that's buggy and gets installed on the iPhone and potentially screws the device up. The mainstream market isn't going go grumble about it at all because they know they are paying for someone to make sure the thing works.

So "they will learn the errors of their ways" won't even register as a blip on their radar, because you simply aren't on their list of concerns.

[Rogue 9]

Which is fine, since no one's making me use one. I won't buy one, they won't miss the sale, everybody's happy.

And just for the sake of argument:

Like I said, all kinds of 'consumer' electronics either has similar restrictions OR to do so you need to void warranty or use hacked firmware or whatever.

So it's okay because it's the status quo?

[General Zod]

So it's okay because it's the status quo?

Why should the companies offer support to people who want to make custom modifications to the hardware they sell when the amount of people who want to do something like that are a relatively small (Read: unprofitable) minority?

[Stark]

Oh not at all - but things like iPhones bring out the FREEDOM LOL idiots with their foot-stamping and flyer-handouts, whereas nobody cares that you can't install Daemon Tools on a 360 or whatever. Like I said, I can see where this sense of entitlement comes from, but I simply can't get worked up about the issue, and the only people I've ever seen give a shit are FOSS messiahs, so it's hard to take the issue seriously.

But what the hell ever, let's all hate on Apple because it's cool to do so these days. After all, that article singled out iPhones for something it later admitted was common to many/most GPS smartphones, so they're clearly axe-grinding.

[Pu-239]

Someone reminiscent to Greenpeace singling out Apple for being environmentally unfriendly; it's because they're a high profile target, not because they're particularly egregious (from what I've heard, most Verizon smartphones have enven more draconian restrictions).