Apple and the future of the computer

I just bought my first Apple product--a 32GB iTouch. Well, it's true that I already owned an iPod Nano, but I didn't buy it because it was given to me.

I bought an iTouch for two primary reasons: White Rabbit Press is planning to develop a Japanese language app for it, and I also thought it would be a nice way to tote around my photography so I can show it to others (several photographer friends of mine are already using their iTouch as a mini-portfolio).

I really wanted to like the iTouch, but--while the fanboys seem to have lost their ability to think critically about all things Apple-branded--I find the device to be very disappointing.

First and foremost: you can't save any files on it. Well, of course you can save stuff you buy from the iTunes store...but this state-of-the art touch-screen digital audio player with built-in wi-fi and Safari browser cannot save an mp3 file, a picture or any other file from anywhere else on the web. I'm flabbergasted. I have 30 GB of space, I have an audio player, a video player and a photo album app, and I can browse the web, but I can't save anything? You've gotta be kidding! I was able to navigate to my flickr account and thought I'd download some of my photos into my album, but I couldn't figure out how to download the images. I thought I just needed to learn the right multi-touch technique, but nope, it can't be done.

This is CompuServ all over again: corporate controlled network access which diverts you toward proprietary fee-based services.

Of course I could download the images on my PC, then import them into the iTunes App and then sync my iTouch, but why do I have to go through all that hoopla when I have all the necessary and required elements: free memory, a web broswer, an image viewer app, and wi-fi access?!

You can't save email attachments either. What if I'm on the road and I want to email a PDF document to someone? Guess you also need to carry a real touch-screen handheld computer for that.

OK, so moving on...

* No copy-and-paste: got a mail from my friend Kenn and wanted to add this info into my Contacts. His address and phone number is in his signature, but you need to have pen and paper handy because there is no way to copy-and-paste this information into the contact form

* limited web-based user experience: two words: no flash. Also, there is a YouTube app which allows you to search and view YouTube videos over the wireless network, but you can't login to your account in order to access your favorites. You can bookmark YouTube videos that you find, but those bookmarks can only be access from your Apple iPod...

* doesn't support many popular video formats: Only quicktime, MPEG4 and h.264 videos. No "live" video or audio streams (it can play "streamed" archival media as it is downloaded).

* can't upload: guess this goes without saying, but mp3 files, images or any other files cannot be uploaded (to flickr or basecamp for example) or attached to an email.

* predictive text seems to have a learning disability: I'm getting tired of typing things like "whiterabbitpress.com" over and over...my mobile phone does much better plus it allows you to keep a list of phrases which can be pasted into an email message or memo.

* Browser doesn't seem to be extensible: no way to access my Google Toolbar bookmarks?

* Apple Tax: Hadn't had it for 24 hours before I get hit with my first Apple Tax. An iTouch 2.0 firmware update was released today. I called Apple to explain that I just purchased my iTouch the day before. So new customers are effectively getting a $10 discount. I asked if I could get a $9.95 gift certificate so I could download the update for free. Sorry Charlie, no money no honey. Yeah, I know, it's only $10, but isn't the $500 I paid for this thing already enough? I've never had to paid for a firmware update for any audio interface, computer, camera or mp3 player I've owned. Besides, it's a penalty for buying these devices ahead of others, because future customers get it for free.

* doesn't come with any kind of case: my nano did, why doesn't the iTouch? Had to spend another $15 so that the metal doesn't get scratched to shit in my bag or pocket.

* if Apple is the first company to "get the interface right" then why can't you use the keyboard in landscape mode? That would make it much easier. Bigger keys = less mistakes. Guess no one at the Genius Bar thought of that one...

* wish the designers also thought of drilling a strap hole in the frame. There's nothing to attach a strap to, and this thing is pretty slick on a hot and sweaty crowded Tokyo train...

* the headphones could have benefited from a little plastic nub on one side, so that you can distinguish the left and right by touch alone because it's faster than looking and also possible to do in low-light. My Sennheiser cans have this feature.

* no voice-over-ip: for obvious reasons

* Devices like Microsoft's XBox, Apple iPhone and Amazon's Kindle are designed to lock you in to business model which funnels more-and-more money back to the gadget provider. I worry that if everyone has a gadgets like Amazon's Kindle and Apple's iPhone then they start to become a barrier to alternative ways of communicating and distributing digital goods. For example, if the PC were as locked-down as the iPhone, then you might not be able to install Skype and you’d have to use some Microsoft fee-based voice-over-IP service.

Imagine if Microsoft said that for every application that runs on Windows, we get a copy of the source code? Or if Microsoft took 30% of the revenue for each and every Windows application sold? You'd think they were greedy monopolistic sons of bitches, and you'd be right.

Furthermore, would-be iPhone application developers — at least those who aren’t well connected — can be waiting up to six months to be accepted into the Apple iPhone developers’ program. Only those in the program can submit apps to be distributed through the iPhone Apps Store, and with several minor exceptions the Apps Store is the only way to get an iPhone app distributed to the public. And once an apps is submitted, there’s still a review by Apple — which can reject it for any reason or no reason at all. No there's no guarantee that the $30,000 you just spend to develop an app will even be able to see the light of day.

If these devices are 'the future of the computer' as some people suppose then I really worry because they completely lack the sort of hands-on openness and limitless possibility which inspired young people (like myself) to think and learn and create.