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120 replies to this topic
Posted 2012-09-13 01:18:51
 The iPHONE 5 UNDERMINES western DEMOCRACY 5 Reasons why owning one will be the badge of an utter foolBy Lewis Page • Get more from this authorPosted in Mobile, 12th September 2012 13:34 GMTComment Thinking of buying a new iPhone 5 after it gets announced later today? Don't. Owning it will mark you out as an easily-led simpleton - and worse, the purchase will undermine western democracy.
Our last digest along these lines was published prior to iPhone Day last year, but as it turned out - and who are we to say just why - the masterminds of Cupertino declined to bring out their latest offering then, producing only the unexciting 4S. However this time they have written "5" all over the announcements, so they'll find it hard to avoid revealing what they've actually been doing for the past couple of years.
Indeed, as is normal, we already have a pretty good idea what's coming and it isn't much different in detail from what was expected last year - perhaps illustrating rather well just how little in the way of actual new technology one normally sees from the fruitchomp-branded darling of Wall Street.
However it would seem not exactly cricket to merely republish our piece from last year: and furthermore,ten reasons not to buy into the Fifth Coming of the Jesus Mobe, with hindsight, isn't as punchy as five. Then it's always possible, for instance, that the new iPhone (unlike its predecessors) will actually be a good phone*. So we've revamped things overall and gone for just five bullet points.
Here they are: 1. iPhone and Apple fever are undermining the bedrock of Western democracy
No, really. One of the main underpinnings of your real Western democracy, like it or not, is the capitalist economy. We're not saying it's perfect - or even all that great - as a way of doing things and making decisions, but nothing else yet tried seems to work nearly as well. One of the main things which makes capitalism function is people doing things with money which make sense.
It makes no sense at all that Apple - whose contributions have consisted mainly of good but not exceptional UI and case designs - should be one of the most valuable companies in the world. It makes no sense that the iPhone (which is in many important respects less good than other smartphones) should command such an outrageous price premium among consumers, to the point where iPhone sales can measurably affect US economic performance.
That's massive irrational behaviour - it's money being spent and invested in ways which are against the decision-makers' interests, rewarding behaviour which does little or nothing for the common good (or even in various ways acts against it). As such Apple hysteria is hurting our economies and undermining one of the main things supporting our way of life.
2. No swappable batteryThis, for example, is one of the various reasons why the iPhone is just plain and simple less good. You don't need 4G data connections to run flat a smartphone battery of any reasonable capacity very quickly - turning on GPS, playing video, merely using the thing and keeping its display lit up, all these things eat up power rapidly. For the serious smartphone user, then, the ability to swap in a fresh charged-up battery quickly is extremely useful, if not indispensable. It's trivially easy to provide, and its absence on all iPhones for fairly cynical reasons should always have been a deal-breaker on its own.... Full story
Posted 2012-09-13 01:40:53
That's why I've got a lovely juicy Blackberry.
Posted 2012-09-13 02:05:04
Well they did say it gets 8 hours on LTE and 10 hours on wi-fi so I would guess you can find a charger by then - just saying - I have never had nor ever will have an apple product so it don't really matter. As for #1 well you can't change the way people think - if you could - MS would have failed by now too.
Posted 2012-09-13 06:39:18
"The iPHONE 5 UNDERMINES western DEMOCRACY". I quit reading after this...pure BS!
Posted 2012-09-13 07:17:51
I don't own a phone full stop so I don't give two shits about it really i like my freedom ... 
Posted 2012-09-13 08:32:53
I think pointing to all the issues at Foxconn would have been a better argument.
Posted 2012-09-13 08:59:58
Thanks Phil, not seen that article yet. I do enjoy The Register take on things with articles like this............... 
Posted 2012-09-13 09:18:25
What a BS article.
Posted 2012-09-13 09:33:46
I think the price tag is sufficient enough to signal = idiot.
Posted 2012-09-13 09:41:22
POPULAR
iSheep
Baa baaa
Edited by eeeya, 2012-09-13 09:41:56.
Posted 2012-09-13 10:56:35
Something from BBC http://www.bbc.com/n...nology-19557497Nokia was exiting way long time ago. Then the long time CEO stepped down and let an number -cruncher take over the company.Nokia became boring (inside and outside). Now this same thing seems to be happening to Apple.
Posted 2012-09-13 10:58:25
Don't really care what it means. I get loads of practical use out of it.
Posted 2012-09-13 11:02:47
POPULAR
Looking forward to reading the "Sent from my diamond encrusted iPhone 5" signatures. 
Posted 2012-09-13 11:49:00
I bought a Nokia1200 four years ago for 800 THB
It has been dropped on average of once a month for 4 years
and it keeps on working. I can make and receive calls and can
send and receive SMS
What else do I need a phone for?
My GF has had an Iphone for a year and it has broken 3 times
..
I will not buy a new or old Iphone ... no need.
My 800 THB phone will last me forever
Posted 2012-09-13 11:54:32
Interesting article. 
Posted 2012-09-13 12:14:06
STILL no removable battery and no expandable memory.
Unbelievable.
Posted 2012-09-13 14:41:11
Good article, I don't really get the bad for capitalism angle, but it is true the iphone is not made for the consumer. It is simply more idiot tax for the fan boy club.
Posted 2012-09-13 14:50:14
Any Apple product that breaks must be sent at your expense to Singapore. They will return promptly with someone elses repaired product, no doubt dropped and abused but passed inspection.
Apples older stuff could be repaired but they have done all sorts of wizardry to prevent you from fixing your own stuff.
Then there is all the DRM issues and iTunes the slowest most bloated crap software on the planet.
New phone, no hd screen either - for that kind of money you really have to be stupid no with jellybean launched.
Posted 2012-09-13 15:01:13
They wouldn't know what to do with them.
Does apple sell iSD cards?
Posted 2012-09-13 15:45:54
They wouldn't know what to do with them.
Does apple sell iSD cards?
If they did they'd be double the price of everyone else's.
Posted 2012-09-13 16:54:52
With such industry insight , I'm sure all of you invested in AAPL at $70 right?
Posted 2012-09-13 17:17:01
With such industry insight , I'm sure all of you invested in AAPL at $70 right?
Nope, but if I would have their shares, now would be time to sell those.
Posted 2012-09-13 17:27:47
With such industry insight , I'm sure all of you invested in AAPL at $70 right?
Try $52 
Posted 2012-09-13 18:11:49
Isn't the Apple cult also suppose to sacrifice a virgin on each new iPhone release?
Posted 2012-09-13 18:21:26
Isn't the Apple cult also suppose to sacrifice a virgin on each new iPhone release?
Yup, but they can't find any virgins since Facebook appeared on the scene. 
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