With the release of the iPad now burned into the memory of anyone and everyone with ANY contact to the media, the questions from the big boys can start being answered. We’ve had our share of press conference “answers” that largely maintain “watch this space” as useful information: now it’s time for the nitty gritty.
PC pro published a news story today that summarised their conclusion on the price of things. It seems that Apple are likely to be taking a slice of the pie every time iPad users connect to the internet via their 3G connection. The boys in white are claiming that it’s aimed at forecasted usage-data that suggests a vast majority will opt out of the 3G option and rely solely on the wifi capabilities of the glorified iPhone.
It seems the going rate is around £5 per gigabyte, and “Industry expert[s]” are noting that if there is a spike in bandwith intense usage “particularly if people are downloading books” then the networks will suffer. This seems like roundabout justification for charging so much when iPhones and indeed OTHER mobile phones (YES! THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS!) have been enjoying “unlimited” data packages since the 3G battle began. If it’s going to be a strain on the network then don’t allow it, or make it an exclusive market. If this is just another product that’s going to be pedalled out by the slick-haired phone salesmen I can see a lot of debt crunching the new-media nation.
In my humble opinion this is all a bit of a ruse for Apple to continue their bid to take over the world. When large phone companies were asked if they were taking anything from the data-charge each one shyed away from the mic with a muttered “corporate confidentiality” blag. Not only have Apple arranged to get a lick of cash everytime you go online to find a new app, but they’ve had the foresight to tell their chosen service providers to shut the hell up. Maybe this is why we saw a slow trickle through the ranks in the first place as o2 had exclusive rights to iPhone contracts since the start.
Of course Apple also manage to continue the “MUST BE APPLE” line in order to get every last bronze coin out of their adoring fans – users will be expected to start a new contract in order to be given a differently sized sim-card! I can remember the days when you could plug anything into anything providing it had wires coming out of it: nowadays if it doesn’t have the same symbol and colour scheme you can whistle.
All in all it seems to me that the Fanboy nation is growing more blind by the day. I am afraid to admit just how easy it is to fall in love with Apple products: you really can’t fault them for the technology they fire out, but the ethos is a little bit too glossy, a little bit too friendly for what lurks beneath. Everyone with a t-shirt or a poster is going to have to carefully consider what will essentially be financial invesments. Kids will be failing to get to college and uni because the savings accounts their parents had set up will be drowned in a tidal-wave of bright-white technology. Shame.
Eh: what’s the terminology for more-anti-fanboy-as-the-days-go-by?
[Grape] The Vine: Shooting only 4 iPhones at a time just so the pop-up doesn’t load.
