Apple to Consumers: We Own You

Everyone has recently heard about Apple, Inc’s latest censorship move to remove items that it defines as pornographic from its iTunes Store.  Every iPod and iPhone owner knows that if you want applications for your device that you own, you must go to their store and abide by their policy.  It is very creative marketing with an even more creative legal framework to force you into an unwitting marriage with Apple.  God help the consumer that decides to jail break their device so that they can actually use other apps and do other activities that, in Apple’s eye, should be illegal.  So, in effect, iPhone and iPod owners have just sold themselves to Apple for a fraction of what they are really worth.  What consumers spend in content for their device annually, could purchase maybe three or four new iPhones.  It is a cash-cow.

Consumers flock to the iPhone like goats following the “judas goat” to the slaughter house simply because the device looks flashy and trendy.  The iPhone is generally more of an impulse buy than a carefully thought out purchase. Apple’s ads and prevalence have almost hypnotized people into psychological inferiority if they do not have one.  In many ways it has a sparked a “Keep up with the Jones’.”  I am sure the Republican Party would drool at the ability to get the masses to flock to them in the same way Apple has managed.

With this background in mind, I find it a sorry shame that consumers have not paused to consider the terms of service and their rights that come with this device ownership.  This is honestly a disturbing trend because it mirrors citizens and Government.  In this case, the Apple and consumer relationship is very governmental, perhaps autocratic.  We as citizens would never knowingly allow our Government to exert this kind of control over us so why do consumers willingly allow Apple to do this?  The answer is simply apathy and ignorance – how do you know you have any rights if you do not know what they are?  Because consumers never raised the hue and cry early on with the applications, content, and media, it emboldened Apple; much like when citizens do not contest their government.  Market penetration has become so pervasive that Apple has reached dictator status when it comes to their device and they have the legal protection to do so.  It is amazing that Apple is doing this legally considering it is illegal to force car owners into buying all GM or Ford parts – Sarcastically speaking, I wonder how Apple got around this one.

Because I am a careful, thinking consumer I bought an iPod Touch – I am the ultimate hypocrite but I saw some utility for entertainment while on long flights.  That said, I do not have an iTunes account and I make my own movies and music from media that I own and add them to my device.  I have even, perish the thought, jail broken my device so I can customize it but never will I tell Apple.  I will now be moving to Android for its openness and the ability to create your own applications without the censorship of the United States of Apple, Inc.

Android seems to be the great consumer wake-up call, queue the 1984 Apple Superbowl commercial.  My how the tables have turned as it seems that Apple has now become the Orwellian, big-brother.  Android represents the best of both worlds: open for those who want to do magical stuff with their device yet with prevalent app stores for those who are apathetic.

Posted by maschwar on February 24, 2010. Filed under Opinion Editorial,Science and Tech,WorldNewsVine. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.