BoogyMan
02-09-2007, 09:35 PM
This is an interesting read. I don't put much stock into it happening, but found it to be a brush with irony that was fun to consider.
Source: Link (http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2007/02/08/is-apple-the-new-evil-empire/)
The signs are all there: The technological superiority. The ruthless march to galactic domination. The musical devices that from a fashion standpoint would be the perfect accessory for any Stormtrooper uniform. Once but the student (see their classic 1984 ad, their PC vs. Mac ads and oh, everything else that’s ever come out of their mouth), it seems that little ol’ Apple finally could be turning into the Master.
It sounds ridiculous, we know. Apple? Really? Don’t only a couple of loser bloggers and the hopelessly out-of-touch publishing industry (ahem) use those things? Well, consider the recent evidence that goes well beyond the limited world of desktop computers:
The announcement of the impending iPhone at last month’s MacWorld conference set off shockwaves that rippled beyond the assembled geek alliance. It won’t even be out until this summer, and it’s already the most buzzed-about tech innovation since, well, the iPod, stealing the thunder of every gadget unveiled at Las Vegas’ Consumer Electronics Show. Verizon recently revealed it turned down the chance to be the exclusive carrier of the iPhone because Apple wanted to maintain tight-fisted control of the service. So now Cingular (which was just bought out by original Evil Empire AT&T) gets to be the exclusive provider, forcing everybody to figure out how to dump their current wireless plan and switch over.
To this date, Apple has sold 90 million iPods and more than 2 billion individual songs through the iTunes store — that’s almost one song for every three people on the planet (many of them not huge fans of “Fergalicious”).
Steve Jobs announced Tuesday that he has asked the record labels to scrap their proprietary DRM software that prevents music from being shared, as he feels it’s ineffective and merely hampers consumers from being able to listen to music how they please. Sounds good, right? Well, it’s propaganda. Lost in his release is that that the largest source of proprietary DRM software is Apple, which prevents songs purchased from iTunes to be played on any competing player (and prevents the iPod from playing songs purchased from competing online music stores).
When problems cropped up between iPods and the new Microsoft Vista operating system — songs purchased through iTunes wouldn’t play, and some users found their iPods corrupted after connecting to their PC — Microsoft engineers hurriedly worked to try to solve the problem and make their system compatible. Apple, on the other hand, officially warned PC users to avoid installing Microsoft Vista — at least until Apple gets around to updating the iTunes software in the next couple weeks or so.
Apple has reached a deal with Apple Corps Ltd. which will allow the entire Beatles’ catalogue to be purchased from iTunes (alluded to when Jobs played tracks from Sgt. Pepper at the iPhone announcement). Will it put the Fab Four back in the Top 40? Some experts think it’s a certainty. With the size of the Baby Boomer generation combined with the power of iTunes, it’s not hard to imagine a world where it’s all golden oldies, all the time.
Don’t get us wrong — we definitely don’t feel sorry for the Bill Gateses of the world. But the fact that Apple now seems to be calling all the shots is more than a little bit unnerving. First they dominate publishing, Web design, and music, then TV and movies, mobile phones…when Steve Jobs flips the switch, the all-seeing “i” will be everywhere. When you wake up tomorrow to find a folder with a question mark where the sun used to be, don’t come crying to us.
Source: Link (http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2007/02/08/is-apple-the-new-evil-empire/)
The signs are all there: The technological superiority. The ruthless march to galactic domination. The musical devices that from a fashion standpoint would be the perfect accessory for any Stormtrooper uniform. Once but the student (see their classic 1984 ad, their PC vs. Mac ads and oh, everything else that’s ever come out of their mouth), it seems that little ol’ Apple finally could be turning into the Master.
It sounds ridiculous, we know. Apple? Really? Don’t only a couple of loser bloggers and the hopelessly out-of-touch publishing industry (ahem) use those things? Well, consider the recent evidence that goes well beyond the limited world of desktop computers:
The announcement of the impending iPhone at last month’s MacWorld conference set off shockwaves that rippled beyond the assembled geek alliance. It won’t even be out until this summer, and it’s already the most buzzed-about tech innovation since, well, the iPod, stealing the thunder of every gadget unveiled at Las Vegas’ Consumer Electronics Show. Verizon recently revealed it turned down the chance to be the exclusive carrier of the iPhone because Apple wanted to maintain tight-fisted control of the service. So now Cingular (which was just bought out by original Evil Empire AT&T) gets to be the exclusive provider, forcing everybody to figure out how to dump their current wireless plan and switch over.
To this date, Apple has sold 90 million iPods and more than 2 billion individual songs through the iTunes store — that’s almost one song for every three people on the planet (many of them not huge fans of “Fergalicious”).
Steve Jobs announced Tuesday that he has asked the record labels to scrap their proprietary DRM software that prevents music from being shared, as he feels it’s ineffective and merely hampers consumers from being able to listen to music how they please. Sounds good, right? Well, it’s propaganda. Lost in his release is that that the largest source of proprietary DRM software is Apple, which prevents songs purchased from iTunes to be played on any competing player (and prevents the iPod from playing songs purchased from competing online music stores).
When problems cropped up between iPods and the new Microsoft Vista operating system — songs purchased through iTunes wouldn’t play, and some users found their iPods corrupted after connecting to their PC — Microsoft engineers hurriedly worked to try to solve the problem and make their system compatible. Apple, on the other hand, officially warned PC users to avoid installing Microsoft Vista — at least until Apple gets around to updating the iTunes software in the next couple weeks or so.
Apple has reached a deal with Apple Corps Ltd. which will allow the entire Beatles’ catalogue to be purchased from iTunes (alluded to when Jobs played tracks from Sgt. Pepper at the iPhone announcement). Will it put the Fab Four back in the Top 40? Some experts think it’s a certainty. With the size of the Baby Boomer generation combined with the power of iTunes, it’s not hard to imagine a world where it’s all golden oldies, all the time.
Don’t get us wrong — we definitely don’t feel sorry for the Bill Gateses of the world. But the fact that Apple now seems to be calling all the shots is more than a little bit unnerving. First they dominate publishing, Web design, and music, then TV and movies, mobile phones…when Steve Jobs flips the switch, the all-seeing “i” will be everywhere. When you wake up tomorrow to find a folder with a question mark where the sun used to be, don’t come crying to us.