What has apple done that is unethical?
I consider lack of hardware recalls unethical. They always try to hoard as much money as they can.
A few examples are:
1-2007
iPod Touch inverted black issue that was a
HARDWARE related problem with the coating on it. Apple just
released a firmware update to cover the problem by changing the gamma settings.
2-iPhone antenna issue,
cheap 50 cent bumpers to cover the problem because they think everyone should just be a lab rat for them. Then their attitude that it wasn't a issue until the media exploded all over it. Then they
act like children and release all those youtube videos of antenna problems with a bunch of other phones like its acceptable.
3-2007 Classic/Nano, when initially released these were the biggest pieces of crap, it was like no one even bothered to turn them on before they released it and it wasn't until
6 months later that the classic was updated enough to work decent. Some issues were:
a) unable to retain ratings if you played any games
b) extremely slow navigation (esp the classic)
c) reboot loops for some
d) coverflow as useless on the classic (though I never used it anyway)
This was actually the 1st iPod I had to take back because it was so nonfunctional, from this point on it seems quality control has taken a backseat.
iTunes 7 was ridiculous when syncing any of the 2007 devices it would randomly freeze for 2-3 seconds when you tried to transfer files and it would take forever to get them to sync because of this. Took apple 2 months to even fix it.
4-The
App pack update they charged iPod touch users $20 for then barely
a month later they released a update and
charged $10 for it and it already included the $20 app... so
essentially the early adapters paid $30 in the end.
5-Their
discussion boards are heavily modded and anything negative about their products that they don't like they remove it for no reason. In otherwords, they refuse to look at the criticism with a open mind and instead try to cover it.
6-The iLounge 3rd gen shuffle review had a
not recommended rating on their site and as a response apple
denied them access to the next event. They are giant manipulators when it comes to 3rd party reviews of their products.
7-While I can't say if it is a music industry issue or apple trying to nickle and dime people, but I thought it was ridiculous that
they were charging 30 cents to get DRM files for the early adapters like myself (I had well over 700 songs in DRM format).
Essentially making people pay $1.30 for each song while if someone
new came to iTunes they could get the song for $1 still. (At the beginning iTunes was still a flat $1 charge).
8-Apple has had
SEVERAL display problems (the 27" iMac displays) over the years, once again
they attempt to fix these issues with "firmware" updates.
It seems since around 2007 apple has just dropped the ball ethically, since they are on top in several markets they seem to have cared about nothing but getting as much money out of consumers as possible.
Sorry but that is how I view it.
I think they make some amazing hardware and
I own several iPods and
I love every single one of them but I think
Apple as a company is pretty shoddy.