When the iPhone came out, I considered buying it. The price was a bit of a roadblock, but not too much of a big deal. What I realized was that after many years of using free and open source software, I really did not want to buy a computer (which is really what the iPhone is) that would lock its innards out completely. Now, the "garden variety" Nokia phone that I use every day is no different, but I don't have any expectations from it other than it being a phone.
Now that the Openmoko FreeRunner [1] is out, the Free Software Foundation is working its charm at telling people why the iPhone isn't worth it. Will people actually care? I know that I haven't bought anything from Apple because its so closed. One wrong move, and your warranty is gone. But, then again, I am not the usual statistic.
The five reasons that FSF gives us to avoid the iPhone are:
- 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 [2].
Also, the article writes about FreeRunner:
"We have a choice. The FreeRunner doesn't yet do as much as the iPhone and it's certainly not as pretty. But in terms of potential, the fact that it's supported by a worldwide community of people rather than a single greedy, dishonest and secretive entity puts it light-years ahead. We can trade our freedom and our money to get something flashy on the surface, or we can spend a little more money, keep our freedom, and support a better kind of business. If we want businesses to be ethical, we have to reward the ones that are. By not enriching companies that want to take away our freedom and by rewarding those that respect us, we will be helping to bring about a better future. "
Read the full article at http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/5-reasons-to-avoid-iphone-3g/ [3]