I’ve had my iPhone for 3 weeks now and couldn’t live without it. I love having a great phone, camera, iPod, and internet with me wherever I may go. But the iPhone has its flaws, and Apple is ignoring us.

3rd Party Applications

I didn’t pay much attention to the iPhone ‘hacking’ arena before my purchase because I didn’t really see anything interesting there. I didn’t have the phone, so I didn’t realize what was lacking. Now that I have one, it’s painfully obvious what is great about the phone, and what is missing.

All other Smart Phones allow users to install applications. It’s even a major feature, the ability to extend the phone’s use as people develop applications for it. In fact, that is what made the personal computer what it is today. Adaptability. The simple fact that I can buy a computer and with software, allow it to accomplish several tasks. With the introduction of the personal computer, consumers didn’t have to buy hardware to perform a single task. It revolutionized the industry.

The iPhone is revolutionary.

So why does Apple block consumers from installing applications? Apple encourages, thrives, off of the growing and supportive Mac OS X developer community. For the iPhone, Apple is actively blocking these enthusiastic and creative individuals to bring innovative possibilities to the platform. I don’t understand the rationale at all. There are applications for GPS, themes, games, and a Terminal. These only add to the value of the device. Why? Because I can now perform more than one task with my iPhone.

War

The iPhone community is at war with Apple. You read it. War. With the release of the v1.1.1 firmware, Apple has made it blatantly clear that it will not allow the iPhone to be modified in any way. This is different from the previous position on the matter, which was simply a lack of support.

Apple’s current position on the unlocking of phones seems reasonable to me. Apple has a contract with AT&T. I have a contract with AT&T. We all need to honor our contracts. I have no problems with Apple working fervently to prevent unlocking of the phone. I don’t think the severity of the punishment fits the crime at the present time however. Just because the phone was unlocked, doesn’t mean that it should be bricked and unusable, even as an iPod.

The harsh attack on the 3rd party development community is a step in the wrong direction. Apple is risking, and indeed is, alienating its customers (read:1 million+ iPhones) just so we don’t play Yahtzee or have an application to help us split a check up at dinner.

Is the Mac a great computer without the 3rd party applications? No.

Is the iPhone great without 3rd party applications? I rest my case.

Ringtones

To add insult to injury, this super modern cell phone is handicapped when it comes to ringtones. To add a ringtone to your iPhone, the current model is:

• Search for intended ringtone on iTunes Store
• Make sure before mentioned song is ordained by Jesus to be a ringtone
• Purchase the song
• Use awesome iTunes ringtone making feature to create ringtone
• Purchase the same 30 seconds of the same song you just bought, except now it’s a ringtone

This bothers me. I almost wouldn’t mind paying to make ringtones from songs in my library. Maybe not 0.99, but I would pay. Just to use the awesome ringtone maker in iTunes. However, I would want to make ringtones from lots of music that I have from CDs. Or that was free. Or I even downloaded from the iTunes Store, but is not an “approved” ringtone.

Where I Stand

Here is a short clip found from iPhoneAlley which really nails the issue.

I love my iPhone. But when I say love, I mean I love it with v1.0.2 of the firware, so I can have a few games and have a background on the phone. And with v7.4.1 of iTunes, so I can add ringtones, even of legally purchased songs, imagine that.

Until Apple realizes that locking out developers is holding the phone back, the road will continue to be bumpy. I’m stuck with the expensive phone now, so I hope to see a treaty between the development community and Apple soon, for everyone’s sake.

Go forth and let others know of this. Knowledge is power.