Digital Chinese Take Out for the Expat's SoulPosts RSS Comments RSS

Why I am quitting Apple

A friend of mine asserted yesterday that Michael Arrington’s decision to end his courtship with Apple was in part due to a negative mindset created by recent attacks on his journalistic and personal integrity (Twittergate, LeWeb), the stalking and threats he says cost thousands of dollars to counter and the huge bulls-eye that every bombastic public figure, from Perez to Loic  pins on every time they post an opinion. I thought it a bit too much info and a bit too personal a view from someone who has never met Arrington. I haven’t met him either, but, I digress….I am writing this post to agree, free of psychoanalysis, with Arrington, albeit for a few more reasons.

Most of us who have used Apple products since the days of Pong feel a special, though almost unnatural, attachment to our sleek, fashion conscious companions. But, of the four loves, romantic is the most fragile even though it has taken me months to decide to pack Apple’s bags. They are now filled with hundreds of adapters I can no longer match to the devices they were meant to support–and I’ll leave them on the curb for one of my Chinese neighbors who needs to replace some long, lost proprietary AC plug….  Yes, I have long wanted to break it off with the brand that, had I not allowed myself to be seduced by, could have spared me the dough for a new car or a down-payment on an apartment while leaving me plenty of cash for several Dell desk and laptops. Damn, it is like a relationship with a shoe crazed character in some sitcom, isn’t it?

All kidding aside (for now), my distrust of Apple after meeting an Asian Apple executive from Singapore who euphemistically asserted that Apple was “not a very CSR minded company,” but if I ever contacted him that he would “see to it personally” that three charities, for whom I serve as a board member. could buy from Apple at a discount as long as they did not publicize the good deed. I understand: A company like apple might well be inundated with requests from Slumdogs looking to better their lots and after all, that it what Foundation money is for:  Allowing cash-strapped NGOs and NPOs to feel better that they supported the world economy by purchasing their MACs at full price. Apple’s Asian office has returned neither my phone calls nor emails.

Then, I met the guys at a local Guangzhou authorized repair center who fixed a cracked screen with a used one and charged me retail, at the same time they installed a bogus Parallels and Windows platform in my Macbook Pro–also at cost.

Then after buying my iPhone I found I was locked out of buying music on iTunes (and a podcast I wanted to hear by Stephen Fry) because I now reside in China– heaven knows we cannot get pirated music anywhere except iTunes here.I cannot even buy a ringtone, or add video capability to my dismal excuse for a camera, without “cracking” my phone or buying the new and financially improved model with features my friends have had for months on their bootleg versions…

Dropping the Google Voice development (Arrington’s chief beef) did not bother me, other than to signal that if Apple will bend  to AT&T to save it a few bucks in VOIP losses they will certainly kiss the PRC’s asks for blocking and censorship demands in the Chinese market. I don’t need any more difficult a time accessing the net, thanks.

Fake iPhone

And now they have entered into the dark side of brand gaffe creations generally reserved for companies like Sony and have remained silent (the old maxim of the law was “Silence gives consent”) about important issues regarding the reported suicide of a worker at Foxconn, Apple’s manufacturing partner in China, who has been under investigation before for worker abuse. The worker claimed  he was beaten by security personnel after he reported that a prototype of a new generation iPhone had disappeared. Apple showed incredible insensitivity and arrogance by letting Foxconn pay a paltry sum in compensation for his death, and worse yet, gave an Apple computer as part of their sad mea culpa deal.

I am done with Apple and headed to any company that looks to be more socially aware and less like a well- traveled mistress of conceit, repression and greed.

Beijing,Censorship,China Business,China Economics,China Editorials,Human Rights,Human Rights China,In the news,Taiwan,Twitter

7 responses so far

7 Responses to “Why I am quitting Apple”

  1. engrishon Aug 1st 2009 at 1:28 am

    “The worker claimed he was beaten by security personnel after he reported that a prototype of a new generation iPhone had disappeared.”

    We’ll never know if this worker was wrongly accused or if he was playing a dangerous game. According to various security firms quoted in this MSNBC story, Chinese employees are often bribed by counterfeiters to “borrow” a device from the factory for a few hours. Sometimes the design is copied before production. Reuters states that “a likely answer, according to security experts, is that the device ended up in the hands of Shenzhen’s notoriously entrepreneurial counterfeiters.”

    http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32217731/ns/tech_and_science-tech_and_gadgets/

  2. adminon Aug 1st 2009 at 2:37 am

    Yep, It is all conjecture at this point, but the crux of the matter is that Foxxcon was acting as its own brutish police force. And a quick settlement with the parents sure gives credence to some questionable activity on the part of the security forces.
    Industrial espionage is everywhere: A relative of mine, a designer for a major furniture manufacturer, used to hide cameras at trade shows and rip off ideas for future lines…
    Some how we get confused: Even if someone is presumed guilty or an accomplice in an act–and I have no reason to suspect this man was–that does not mean he should be mistreated by anyone, nor does it take Foxconn off the hook for abuses if they did commit them…
    Apple should be all over this and assuring the public that the future is going to be regulated in favor if human rights…
    And they should not be handing out product samples to a grieving family…

  3. engrishon Aug 1st 2009 at 3:59 pm

    The fact that China is a paradise for counterfeiters is widely documented and naturally this situation raises suspicion among the security experts quoted in the story. Besides, Foxconn claims that this worker had already “lost” several prototypes. The company has to protect its clients’ intellectual property, of course that doesn’t excuse the fact that he was beaten. The Chinese police is now investigating the case. According to Apple’s statement, the company is awaiting results of the investigations, I don’t think they can say much at this point. Apple should be all over this but only behind the scenes, explaining to Foxconn that it will bring its business elsewhere if at all possible, or helping them solve their shortcomings (concerning security, respect of labor laws, etc). A grand statement about human rights would sure sound good, but it wouldn’t accomplish anything.

  4. adminon Aug 1st 2009 at 8:05 pm

    I think we basically agree:

    That Foxconn kept on an employee who had lost several prototypes before does not have even the slightest ring of truth to it. It sounds like a conjured, after the fact, news report out of Xinjiang…

    and I do believe that a statement by Apple would be valuable. It would, at the very least, imply that Apple no longer intends to be another western accessory to worker exploitation in a country where it is easy to take the profitable moral low road when human rights are involved. If they cannot even speak out on the issue what are the odds of anything substantial changing?

  5. recnacevahion Sep 17th 2009 at 10:22 pm

    Lets take a new view:

    “Most of us who have used Apple products since the days of Pong feel a special, though almost unnatural, attachment to our sleek, fashion conscious companions.”

    It’s called the “Reality distortion field”:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reality_distortion_field

    “All kidding aside (for now), my distrust of Apple after meeting an Asian Apple executive from Singapore who euphemistically asserted that Apple was “not a very CSR minded company,” but if I ever contacted him that he would “see to it personally” that three charities, for whom I serve as a board member. could buy from Apple at a discount as long as they did not publicize the good deed.”

    So one person lied; now Apple is filled with all bad apples. Wow, you must think all Germans are Nazi’s. Get over it; people lie, people exaggerate about their abilities to make themselves look good.

    “Then, I met the guys at a local Guangzhou authorized repair center who fixed a cracked screen with a used one and charged me retail, at the same time they installed a bogus Parallels and Windows platform in my Macbook Pro–also at cost.”

    Hmmm… China has one of the highest piracy rates in the world; and you’re surprised that you were sold pirated software. Perhaps you are upset because you were charged retail for the pirated software; which would indicate you it wouldn’t bother you as much if the price was reduced. Do you get mad when you buy a TV from a guy in an alley selling it from his van? Just curious.

    “Then after buying my iPhone I found I was locked out of buying music on iTunes (and a podcast I wanted to hear by Stephen Fry) because I now reside in China– heaven knows we cannot get pirated music anywhere except iTunes here.I cannot even buy a ringtone, or add video capability to my dismal excuse for a camera, without “cracking” my phone or buying the new and financially improved model with features my friends have had for months on their bootleg versions…”

    A couple of things to learn.
    1) It’s not cracking your iPhone; it’s called jail breaking your phone.
    2) You’re learning that DRM and copy protection is a bad thing. If you haven’t learned that lesson, you may wish to contemplate about your current iPhone situation.
    3) DRM only inconveniences the real consumer and it encourages piracy.
    4) How do you fight piracy? Charge a reasonable price for what you’re selling. Many of business have failed in the US and China because they simply don’t understand how business works. It’s taken Microsoft more than a decade to get decent at selling their products in China; and they aren’t good at it.

    Sum it up:
    A) People lie.
    B) Business lie
    C) Not everyone in Apple is a liar because you got one silly jack off.
    D) Reality Distortion Field has an impact on your discretionary funds.
    E) People sell pirated software and you got jacked for retail.
    F) When in Rome (China) do as the Romans (Chinese) do. Or buy your software over seas; perhaps from a large company.

    Well point F may not entirely be accurate. Buying from a large company like Lenovo; they sold you a pirated copy of XP… So that’s out the Window. You have to wake up and smell the roses; not the paint fumes…. Tis a bit hazardous….

  6. recnacevahion Sep 17th 2009 at 10:31 pm

    One last thing:
    “Dropping the Google Voice development (Arrington’s chief beef) did not bother me, other than to signal that if Apple will bend to AT&T to save it a few bucks in VOIP losses they will certainly kiss the PRC’s asks for blocking and censorship demands in the Chinese market. I don’t need any more difficult a time accessing the net, thanks.”

    Apple didn’t bend as much as you think.
    1) Apple makes money instantly by having an iPhone sold.
    2) Apple gets a reoccuring revenue stream from AT&T from the 2 year contract.

    Yes, point 2 is what you should re-read. That is part of the monthly fee’s as well as the overage charges for people that exceed their minutes.

    Sample conversation:

    AT&T: Apple if you allow Google voice app on your phone; people make less calls and your pay check from us shrinks.

    Apple: Really?

    AT&T: Really!

    Apple: I better block that POS; cause I like money.

    Actually Apple isn’t that thick…. but you get the point. Apple and AT&T were both protecting their pocket book. Apple runs the show; not AT&T… Look at the history of Apple’s business deals.. they never play 2nd fiddle.

  7. adminon Sep 19th 2009 at 10:58 pm

    The reason why the negative team wins most frequently in a debate tourney is because it is easy to attack an affirmative position as they cannot possibly lay out all planks in their argument.

    I’ll skip all the smart-ass remarks in your diatribe and answer simply:

    I do not expect people to lie
    I do not expect blatant lies from “business” [sic] either
    I do not buy pirated software, but do expect an authorized Apple repair shop to give me what I paid for….And they should not be selling here if they cannot support their product lines ir police the people that do
    I won’t do as the Romans do as too much depends on my having a reliable machine and reliable software
    More than one “jack off” in Apple lied, but that would a a legal brief or a Forbes article, not a blog post if I had gone on with the number of people I contacted to get them to honor their commitment
    Here the locals calling it Jailbreaking and/or Cracking. Who cares? You followed what I said.
    Had I known that my iTunes account for applications would be tied to a HK account that has virtually nothing I want in it, I would have deferred my purchase to another brand
    There is no distortion in my thinking: Apple made, for years, the best product for my needs. Now that IBM style machines can do much of the same I see no reason to pay for cache
    Apple bent over plenty here: There is no wireless capability in the iPhone and I shudder to think about what else might be in there. Skype from Tom.com, Ebay’s local partner in crime, is loaded with spyware. No thanks. The gov’ is getting so good at censorship that most proxies and tunnels have caved in
    a guy died who worked or a factory Apple contracts for Billions of dollars of product creation and development in China and Apple let them buy their way out for a few lousy bucks and a grim reminder of the company that reportedly tortured him?

    I have missed you…Where have you been?

Leave a Reply