Apple forgets to 'Think Different'

Friday, September 28, 2012 by: Carolanne Wright
Tags: Apple, big brother, smartphones

(NaturalNews) It is easy to be lured into the techno sphere of walled gardens. After all, who wouldn't like a user experience that keeps out the cyber riff-raff of undesirable malware or offensive and questionable material. The problem is that the safe and cozy atmosphere of walled gardens can become a prison of censorship. Who draws the line for what is acceptable and what is not? Add to this features like the app lock on Apple iOS 6 along with the possibility of politically driven blackouts of photo/video functions for iPhones and it does seem as though an Orwellian world really is upon us.

Big boss is watching

Gone are the days when employees could load whatever software they wanted onto their corporate iPads and iPhones. IT departments will now have the power to lock down the iOS 6 operating system for these devices. What this means is that employers will be able to pick and choose what applications are allowed on the company's iPads/iPhones and what isn't. New software cannot be installed by the user. There is also a wallpaper feature that "allows the background of an iPad to be customized with the logo of a company so that these single purpose devices can be branded. This mode can be 'locked in' so that the background will only display what the IT group mandates," according to Zenprise in the Wired article, "Don't Think Different: Apple Adds Straitjacket Mode to iOS." So much for a little freedom and individuality in the workplace.

Smartphones - Avenue to freedom or censorship tool?

Unlike personal computers, smartphones generally cannot be programmed directly by the user (unless you're a hacker). This is a serious consideration since smartphones have bypassed PC's as the most popular avenue for connecting to the web. Software is tightly controlled on these devices, making open access to web content more limited. This control could easily lead to a vise-grip on free speech. An example is the recent Natural News article, "Apple granted patent to disable iPhone recordings near government buildings or political events" by J.D. Heyes, which exposes possible photo and video restrictions in the future for iPhones. And lets not forget about Apple removing a WikiLeaks app in 2010 because it "violated" developer guidelines. Or in 2009, Apple complied with a request from the Chinese government to banish Dali Lama apps from their store in China. Ironically, the Dali Lama was a key figure in Apple's "Think Different" advertising campaign during the 90s.

Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They're not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can't do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do. - Apple "Think Different" 1997

Apparently Apple has forgotten the misfits, rebels and troublemakers who are not fond of rules.

Sources for this article include:

"Walled gardens look rosy for Facebook, Apple - and would-be censors" Charles Arthur, technology editor, Guardian UK, April 17, 2012. Retrieved on September 18, 2012 from: http://www.guardian.co.uk

"Apple and Facebook Restrict Internet Freedom - Google co-Founder Sergey Brin" Alistair Charlton, International Business Times, April 16, 2012. Retrieved on September 18, 2012 from: http://www.ibtimes.co.uk

"Apple removes iPhone Wikileaks app from iTunes" BBC News Technology, December 22, 2010. Retrieved on September 18, 2012 from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12059577

"Why Apple Removed a WikiLeaks App From Its Store" Miguel Helft, New York Times, December 21, 2010. Retrieved on September 18, 2012 from: http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com

"Don't Think Different: Apple Adds Straitjacket Mode to iOS" Robert McMillan with contributor Christina Bonnington, Wired, September 13, 2012. Retrieved on September 18, 2012 from: http://www.wired.com/wiredenterprise/2012/09/apple-ios6-lockdown/

"Apple tries out new 'Think Different' campaign" Dan Farber, CNET News, August 31, 2012. Retrieved on September 18, 2012 from: http://news.cnet.com

"Mozilla Slams Apple's "Walled-Garden" Philosophy" Zach Walton, Web Pro News, May 11, 2012. Retrieved on September 18, 2012 from: http://www.webpronews.com

"Apple granted patent to disable iPhone recordings near government buildings or political events" J.D. Heyes, Natural News. Retrieved on September 18, 2012 from: https://www.naturalnews.com/037220_iPhone_recordings_patent.html

About the author:
Carolanne believes if we want to see change in the world, we need to be the change. As a nutritionist, wellness coach and natural foods chef, she has encouraged others to embrace a healthy lifestyle of green living for over 13 years. Through her website www.Thrive-Living.net she looks forward to connecting with other like-minded people who share a similar vision.

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