iPhone ‘bricking’ creates user controversy

All I can say at this point is - there must be far more money riding on the Apple/AT&T contract than we think. It must be worth an absolute fortune to Steve Jobs - because he seems to be willing to sacrifice the satisfaction of significant numbers of existing Apple fans with the recent (and possibly intentionally malicious) iPhone 1.1.1 update.

Generally, when something doesn’t appear to make sense, its because you are missing a key piece of information…

Steve Jobs ‘appears’ to have made some fundamental mistakes with the recent release of its 1.1.1 firmware for the iPhone. Here’s an initial list to start you off:

Mistake no. 1 - assume you can control the Mobile phone industry just because you have a ground-breaking, extremely desirable handset that lots of people want.

Mistake no. 2 - assume most of your die-hard supporters will happily lie down and take it while you dictate the terms of exactly how they can (and can’t) use the phones you sell them.

Mistake no. 3 - assume that no one will notice that your original mantra of excellence and providing the best end-user experience has been usurped by your maddening drive for further share-holder profits!

I use the word ‘appears’ because on the face of it, the warning and then execution of ‘phone-bricking’ of unlocked or ‘jail-broken’ phones could only otherwise be interpreted as sheer arrogance. Surely we are missing something? Surely, that’s not the case?

Regardless of the Apple’s motivation, we are now definitely in the post-honeymoon era with the iPhone. A huge controversy appears to be developing - of the kind that Apple could definitely do without. Nokia, has already started its campaign to take advantage of Apple’s foibles, leading with “Phones should be open to anything” and ” The best devices have no limits”.

And, many users have been openly and emotively expressing there displeasure with Apple on the Technology Blogs (along with others joining in to support Apple’s moves). Here are just a few examples of comments I found on gizmodo.com:

“Consider this, in the past three days I have gone from wanting an iphone to wanting an ipod touch and just using a cell phone, to now wanting a zune and my phone. Yes, a zune. If any self respecting “smart” consumer does any research they can easily see that apple is having some issues. Not only in the aspect of glitchy hardware, but in execution of their own mantras.”

“I never modified my iphone, I was going to but I never did…. I did however, sell all of my apple stock today. I have been an Apple guy since the late 90’s - I am obsessed. People like me, the early adopter, are the ones that pay that early adopter premium that is pure net profit to a corporation. I wont be buying any more Apple gear, and I wont be advising my family or friends to either. Apple is quickly becoming the new Sony. Again, this hoopla hasnt personally affected me, but its the principal - Apple is arrogant, goodbye Apple.”

“Definitely malicious - you have some of the best engineers in Silicon valley and they don’t know how to create firmware that DOESN’T damage jailbroken phones (or unlocked ones) - please gimme a break! It’s all about money folks.”

Remember, for anyone outside the US (or soon UK, Germany, France), unlocking the phone is the only choice you have…

Macworld.com also did an informal (unscientific) poll on what people think of 1.1.1 - see the results here. 15 percent of the respondents indicate they are no longer planning on purchasing an iPhone, thanks to the inability to run third-party applications with the 1.1.1 update. And, an amazing 42 percent of the voters are simply not upgrading their iPhones.

So, how can Mr. Jobs redeem himself? I think Apple must do 2 things immediately:

(1) Release an official Apple iPhone software development kit that’s given away for free, and includes all the necessary tools to build compelling iPhone applications.

(2) Release a fully unlocked phone for sale in every market where an exclusive Network contract negotiation is not immediately pending.

If this crazy ‘cat and mouse’ game continues, it can only mean trouble for Apple in the long-term.

Update: Now even the Analysts are chiming in… “Vendors should separate functionality and security updates, says Gartner”

Update 2: Here’s another article by Christopher Breen also wondering if Apple on the wrong path?

Originally from TechGripe! by Brett Ryland (1 October 2007).