Apple is even more controlling than Microsoft. Once you step into the Iworld you can’t get your stuff out without major gyrations. In this environment Apple can do whatever it wants whenever it wants. What’s funny is people are making a ton of noise but I bet it’s only noise…they’ll continue to buy the Istuff even though it costs them inflated prices. Once folks take their noise and put action behind it(like not buying Istuff) Apple will either change it’s ways or go bankrupt.
Apple charges firms to create accessories as part of its ‘made for iPhone’ scheme which approves add-ons, although the firm has never revealed how much it charges to join the scheme.
Manufacturers must also buy a special ‘authentication chip’ for some of their accessories, a move by Apple to cut down on unapproved accessories, and it is believed the chip is even found in some iPhone headphones.
‘It will be nearly impossible to make unlicensed devices,’ said Mr Scoble. ‘Unfortunately these design goals mean making obsolete the something like 10 power chargers in my home. Sigh.’
Sirio Brozzi of the website Awesome Robo hit out at the move, and blogged: ‘People are stunned by this possibility, myself included. I mean, why fix something that’s not broken?’
Mr Brozzi believes the move is planned to give both Apple and accessory makers a huge new market.’
Have you guys ever heard of “planned obsolescence”?’ he added. ‘It’s a practice which encourages planning and designing a product so it’s only useful for a limited time, before becoming obsolete.’