14 DAY TRIAL // Not surprisingly, voices on the internet that are not so fond of Apple's ways and its CEO (even as a person), have started emphasizing what owning an iPhone (or any other Apple product) really means. Over at the Free Software Foundation, it is being suggested that folks choosing to buy and use Apple products sign an invisible contract that puts them behind invisible "bars."
Listing a total of 5 solid reasons why you shouldn't throw yourself at the new iPhone 3G, here's how the Free Software Foundation feels lately:
"- 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."
The non-profit corporation then continues by posting a comment of Apple's CEO, Steve Jobs, which goes something like this: "This is the phone that has changed phones forever." The corporation agrees, but just to the words - not to the actual message Jobs was delivering when making this statement.
"We agree," the Free Software Foundation writes. "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."
The Free Software Foundation also believes that "Apple, through its marketing and visual design techniques, is manufacturing an illusion that merely buying an Apple makes you part of an alternative community." However, the Foundation upholds that Apple has explicitly chosen its technology "to divide people into separate digital cells, and to position Apple as sole warden."
The Free Software Foundation (FSF) is a non-profit corporation founded by Richard Stallman, on October 4, 1985. It supports "the free software movement," a copyleft-based movement whose main purpose is that of promoting the universal freedom to distribute and modify computer software without any restriction. Needless to point out, this goes against Apple's very principles (just in case anyone asks).
On the "who's right and who's wrong" topic, you are the editors now, so feel free to drop a line below.