In the wake of the Path privacy fiasco, and after receiving a letter from meddlesome Congress dorks, an Apple spokesman tells John Paczhczhzkowski of AllThingsD that any iOS apps that are uploading user address book information are in violation of Apple guidelines and that from now on any app that wants to use your contact info will have to ask for explicit permission. Perfect response! Even better than the one from Path.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-57378450-83/lawmakers-ask-apple-to-explain-iphone-app-privacy-policies/
If only there was a mobile operating system that made users aware of permissions BEFORE downloading… Gosh, that would be revolutionary. Unfortunately, the commercials for this FICTIONAL operating system wouldn’t feature dancing hipsters, so people might not be aware of it (even if it existed).
You mean, uh, Android or Symbian, for example?
Comments on Spoiled Rotten Apple.
One would think that in the Tech section even leftist Newsweek would have people who know about tech writing the articles. Not so all they need is the political left perspective and this article is a perfect example. Dan says Apple is bad for making their electronics in China. Duh Dan where do you think most electronics is made. Do you think Dell makes motherboards, power supplies or any electronics for their PCs here? Of course not. Same for every PC maker and every phone and “pad” maker. Yes they get the microprocessors from TX but the 100 other parts in the unit are made in China. Dan does not mention GE which makes thousands of electronic produces – in CHINA. Is that because their CEO is a “jobs czar” for Obama? Heave forbid we mention Barrack.
BMWs made here – right but do you really believe that all the parts like the engine and transmission are made here? You would be wrong if you said yes. So yes Apple could make it all here by importing most of the parts from China and paying more to assemble here. They could then be at a steep disadvantage in price which affects volume. Get it Dan – high price = far fewer customers…..
That said we DO have problems with China that need fixing – like their currency value and intellectual property stealing – but that would be Congress and Obama – and you don’t want to say boo about him do you. He talks about it and does squat.
I have to say that I got this Newsweek as a gift subscription and am cancelling it. If the leftists even run the tech section its just over the top. No wonder this rag is bleeding red ink. This story is one of the least informed biased pieces of trash I have ever read…
I am a iPhone and iPad user but absolutely no Steve Jobs fan. My main reasons are that 1) He comes across as yet another billionaire who totally lacks empathy. 2) His business model – which he unsuccessfully tried on the Apple computers, and more successfully implemented on the iPhones and iPads are against my way of thinking, against what I believe to be smart business. Of course Mr Jobs has kind of proved me wrong – at least as things stand now. To be a little more clear, I am referring to his control needs, that he wants to force us to buy his products because we HAVE to – not because we WANT to. Apple computers were at least originally only produced in Apples own factories, no software except Apples software could be used etc…. Same with the phones and iPads where you can’t even change your battery (and end up buying new phones instead!).
All that being said – I have to disagree with your article regarding Apple and Jobs and the fact that jobs are moved abroad. I think you are making a huge mistake. “Huge” because without this mistake you have no article. You are making the point that American companies enjoy American help in selling their products, in protecting the shipping and in negotiating with foreign governments regarding issues like copy-right. And so they are. You make the point that because of these “favors”/benefits are paid by the American taxpayer, Apple should do their part in moving jobs back to the US.
As admirable as your point is, it is not correct. Here are my reasons:
1. First of all, Apple the company IS a taxpayer. I googled it and got this for example: 8.4 Bn $ in taxes 2010 or 2011 – see link : http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/aapl/financials
Its not the actual number that is important, but the fact that they DO pay taxes, and these taxes motivates the US government to help Apple (and other companies) to achieve the best results. In my point of view, this argument is enough to “sink” your article.
2. The US government does help itself also by helping companies that have both employees in the US and part of the manufacturing done abroad. If the US government would do nothing to counter for example copy products in China, then that COULD lead to the downfall of the company in question – for example Apple – that would lead to loss of jobs also in the US.
3. Apple, like all companies, exist to maximize – within legal and ethical boundaries – the profits for their shareholders. In the case of Apple these shareholders are not necessarily US citizens, but come from all corners of the world. From their personal point of view there is no reason to help the US government, more than their own governments.
Apple must also try to find a balance between making price-competitive (made in low-cost countries like China) products on one hand and high-quality (more expensively produced) products on the other hand. If they don’t do this they become less profitable and loose market share and then they risk going out of business – eventually…. not right now…
So from the Shareholders point of view, you are wrong, they have no obligation to the US government. Those of the shareholders who are US citizens, will most likely end up paying taxes on the profits they make on their Apple shares, as well they should. So they do have some expectations – perhaps – on the US government. But that is a lesser argument.
From the point of view of Apple the company, they are paying taxes, they are creating or at least maintaining jobs in the US (as well) and as such they should both expect and deserve the protection of the US government.
These are my arguments, and I hope you will see that I do have a point.
One last detail. I actually don’t think you are completely correct when you write that Apple benefit from US governments protection at sea. I mean, sure, if they send their cargo through notorious pirate infested waters like Somalia, they will benefit from the protection (not so successful protection but still) of the US government AND other countries. UK, France even Scandinavian countries are all patrolling these waters together. And for the rest of the oceans there is no protection. Just like all other transports by companies in all other countries, these transports are mostly going around the world peacefully, un-attacked and with no warships anywhere near…. But that is only a small detail, not the reason why I decided to comment your article.