Why Apple is evil: Allowing AT&T to screw iPad customers badly

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I almost didn’t cover this one, except Apple contributed to it.

AT&T decided to make the $30 unlimited data plan unavailable for the iPad, unless you already have the plan by June 7. Instead, they’ll have a $25 2 gig data plan.

Talk about a bait and switch…

But, you’ve still got time to get an iPad 3G before they do that, and get on the true unlimited plan, right?

Wrong.

Apple pulled the iPad 3G from the Apple Store.

Great job, Apple.

Update 2010-06-02 20:42Z: Turns out, not only that, but Apple’s pushed back pending iPad 3G orders to June 7. I think it’s safe to say that Apple’s evil bit is set on this one.

Source: Slashdot

Why Apple is evil: Their business model is contagious

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This isn’t news either, but I’m posting it anyway.

Many have made the argument that it’s OK if Apple makes a walled garden, because there’s always other choices.

The problem is when Apple’s walled garden is wildly successful, competing platforms may switch to a walled garden model. And, Microsoft, which is quite often accused of copying Apple at every opportunity, well, they’re copying Apple on this one.

Windows Phone 7 will be a walled garden, too. Sure, there’s some Windows Mobile 6.5 devices out there, and they’ll continue past Windows Phone 7’s release, but let’s face it – 6.5 is crap.

And, AT&T’s first Android device, the Motorola Backflip, requires some hacking to get apps from outside of the Android Market installed. Granted, they didn’t do a good job of securing it, but they did try.

Arguably, this is more of a “why Microsoft and AT&T evil,” but this points out why Apple’s walled garden is dangerous for everyone, even if you’re not an Apple customer.

Source: Engadget