[wellylug] 5 reasons to avoid iPhone 3G - Free Software Foundation

[John Rye]

On Sat, 12 Jul 2008 14:12:36 +1200
Rob Collins wrote:

> Bruce Hoult wrote:
> > On Sat, Jul 12, 2008 at 8:42 AM, Pete Black <pete at marchingcubes.com> wrote:
> >   
> >> GPS-enabled cellphones will report their location on demand to the
> >> carrier, with no user confirmation - ostensibly for emergency response,
> >> and must also be able to be activated remotely so their headset
> >> microphones can be used to eavesdrop on conversations - these
> >> capabilities are routinely used by to bust drug dealers etc.
> >>
> >> This is ongoing in the US, the UK, and probably anywhere else that
> >> privacy protections are no longer a significant issue for government.
> >>
> >> http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2220581/government-sued-tracking-mobile
> >>
> >> http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1035_22-6140191.html
> >>
> >> 'Absolute rubbish'? I think not.
> >>     
> >
> > In which case this is not a stick to beat the iPhone with.  It's true
> > of ALL new phones.
> >
> >
> >   
> I don't think we should be beating Apple over the head at all for 
> raising the bar and putting what appears to be an outstanding and 
> versatile product on the market. We should however be beating monopoly 
> vodafone NZ over the head with it though for their marketing manager 
> announcing smugly that a $6000 per 2 year iphone term contract is "good 
> value". Sure this is a great mobile gadget but it appears that for at 
> least those of us in NZ, only for the rich!

It's not only Vodaphone see:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/07/08/canadian_apple_stores_wont_sell_3g_iphone/

John