Apple censors iPhone criticism within five minutes
28th September 2007
Apple are evidently nervous about criticism of their new iPhone and its just released assassin firmware update as the following post on their discussions board was deleted after less than five minutes:

I was very excited to see the launch of the iPhone earlier this year - having been an avid (and exclusive) Mac user since 1984. But in the latter years I have felt increasing disillusionment about what it means to be part of the Apple way.

As a Mac user I have got used to paying a premium for a much higher quality machine and accept that when I look back at the early iPod prices I probably paid for the privilege of being an early adopter. But since the launch of the iTunes store - especially in the UK - things have all the appearance of an out of control greed stimulated corporation. Why we are expected to pay about 60% more for iTunes tracks because we live in the UK is beyond extracting the urine. Besides, it is often cheaper to buy the CD with none of the limitations of DRM and a permanent, uncompressed, playable on your HiFi, hard copy with real printed artwork etc. for less than the total cost of the separate tracks on the iTunes store. Am I the only person to notice this? The reported success of the iTunes store would suggest that I am in the minority! I have never bought a single track from the iTunes store and whilst there are discount CDs available from the likes of play.com I never will.

Then there are the plethora of iLife facilities only available to .mac subscribers - not complex server side stuff but basic functions like iSync. Microsoft would be crucified in court if they pulled stunts like this - not that I have any time for Microsoft.

But then comes the iPhone. I don't think I need to specify any of the issues here except for the Apple assassin firmware update which has just been announced. I'm glad I didn't hang around waiting for the UK launch of this money black hole. The estimated cost of an iPhone with an 18 month contract could be £1000 - depending on the launch price. I just got a Nokia N95 which will (shrewdly but legally) cost me (including 500 minutes plus 500 text messages a month) a total of £150 (£8.33 per month) with Orange and having used it for a month I wouldn't swap it for an iPhone. It pretty much has all the same facilities and isn't even locked to Orange (honest!).

I still doubt I will ever wed myself to another machine or operating system but I am not going to but into this brand loyalty when the cost is clearly either a rip-off or the result of badly costed design and manufacture coupled with prison contracts to cash in on over confident branding.

In the words of the new Dragons' Den catchphrase, 'I'm out!'.

And in short, Steve, in the French vernacular, you have started to break wind higher than your rectum.

Routine deletion
Since monitoring the discussion forum it has become apparent that any posts which are in any way critical of Apple or the iPhone are being routinely deleted including a post linking to this report of censorship.

Apple says:
Your post, was removed from the Apple forums as it does not follow the guidelines specified in our terms of use. These areas are intended to address technical issues about Apple products. Posts that do not conform to the Apple Discussions Use Agreement are inappropriate.

Reasons that your post was removed may include but are not limited to:
Speculation or Rumors
Discussion of Apple Policies, Procedures or Decisions
Off topic or non-technical posts
Rude or inappropriate behavior/language
Polls or Petitions

Please read our Apple Discussions Use Agreement so that you may discover what constitutes an appropriate post to our service. Section two, "Submissions," is most germane.

Please see the Apple Discussions Use Agreement at http://discussions.apple.com/help.jspa for more information on the proper use of Apple's Discussion forums.

Each Discussion user is required to agree to these terms before gaining posting privileges. You reserve the right to not post on Apple Discussions should you disagree with these terms.

If you would like to send feedback to Apple about a product, please use the appropriate selection at http://www.apple.com/feedback/

So There!

See also:

Apple iPhone warning proves true
An Apple software update is disabling iPhones that have been unlocked by owners who wanted to choose which mobile network to use. Earlier this week Apple said a planned update would leave the device 'permanently inoperable'.