Why Apple Sucks…

Not to beat a dead horse… but here goes. I WANT TO TETHER and if Apple didn’t suck, I’d be able to do it right now. As a matter of fact, Apple even had an app in its app store on itunes that did just this. Of course after they PUBLISHED IT, they quickly said “OOPS” and took it back.

The application is called NetShare by a company called NULLRIVER. You can see a demo of their app here below.

Anyway, like many other people I immediately went to the iTunes Music Store when I hear about NetShare. I was glowing with anticipation - even though I didn’t own and iPhone I was going to get this right away and make it my reason to get one!

Anyway, I quickly located the app in the store, went to click the purchase button, I could feel the hairs on my back stand up and do the wave as I brought by cursor over to the buy now button, as I let gravity take my finger and the mouse button began to depress a grin came to my face because I was thinking of all the mischief I could do, the mouse clicked…. Doh! Guess What?

APPLE SUCKS THATS WHAT! A message appeared saying, “THIS APP WAS REMOVED FROM THE APP STORE”. So i started looking for more info about this and went to the Nullriver web site and imagine what i found?

The NetShare info page was down, with only a comment from Nullriver stating:

“NETSHARE, BANNED FROM THE APPSTORE”

Anyway, my hopes were dashed. And since then it looks like Apple has decided they will not be allowing any tethering applications in the AppStore even though they do not violate the developer TOS. We are seeing a lot of similar reports from various developers who’s applications were abruptly removed and banned from the AppStore without any violations of the terms of service. This is all unfortunate news for the iPhone platform end-users.

I really don’t get it Steve. Its my iPhone - I should be able to do anything I want with it. This means ANYTHING. Sure, I might do things with it that nobody else would do, or things that you would not like… but the fact is that I own it and I should be free to do what I please. Otherwise, its like if next time you went into Macdonalds for a Big MAC, then after you bought it - I told you that you can’t eat it. You can only use it to brush your teeth and as a mode of transportation.

Why would Apple do this? Lets see, hmm, there is a restrictive license for iPhone developers, ok, so because of the License terms developers cannot create applications that sends / receive MMS (no matter the iphone doesn’t have it). They cannot create a video recording application (it doesn’t matter if the phone is capable or not).

Its so bad that developers are filling a petition online with the following message:

“To: Apple Computer
Dear Steve

As iPhone users we would like to express our dismay at Apple’s ‘vaguerisms’, ineptitude and arrogance in it’s recent dealings with ‘App Store’ developers.

We are of the opinion that Apple’s lack of communication and clarity over rejected apps and inappropriate use of ‘NDA’ Non Disclosure Agreements has become completely indefensible. Furthermore Apple’s reluctance to comment publicly on these very public issues is fast becoming a stain upon its character.

As your customers we have great concerns over the future of the iPhone and you should be aware that if ‘App Store’ developers decide to desert the iPhone platform en masse we will have absolutely no qualms in following them.

A positive statement from Apple on this subject is long overdue.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned”

http://www.petitiononline.com/appstore/petition.html - Get everyone you know to sign this one - and lets force Apple to open this up for developers everywhere!

SJWWWYC - Steve Jobs What’s Wrong With Your Company!

Okay, to be fair, this one’s not totally to blame on Apple — AT&T can take part ownership of this suckage: The iPhone can’t be tethered to act as a high-speed modem for my laptop, and that would be more than half my reason to buy an iPhone in the first place. If I were to be one of those people who has a laptop simply to check email and browse the web, that’s one thing; I could use the iPhone just for that, and leave the laptop at home.

But that’s not me.

For the high cost of ownership (consider the cost of the voice and data plans, plus the phone itself), it’s amazing to me that Apple has the nerve to market the iPhone as a complete business solution without the tethering capability. Even my cheapo cell phone from Verizon lets me do it! For companies that supposedly are all about “the future,” Apple and AT&T both missed the boat on this one.

Could I hack the phone? Sure. But I shouldn’t need to. And heaven forbid I try to modify the phone … that would break my user agreement, so, if when one day something goes wrong with the phone, the folks at AT&T can refuse to help me out? (Actually, I can get into AT&T’s customer service record here, but that’s another topic for another post, perhaps.)

The current iteration of the iPhone is like a laptop that can’t be hooked up to an external hard drive: totally hobbled by its lack of a major feature.

I don’t get it!

Hello? Steve Jobs? Folks at AT&T? Are you listening?