# Why I hate Apple (long)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-apple-long/640528>\
**Category:** The BBQ Pit\
**Created:** [November 9, 2012, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-apple-long/640528 "2012-11-09T22:53:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 4

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**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-apple-long/640528/61 "2012-11-12T13:44:02Z")

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> [@Giraffe](#):
>
> , I feel fully qualified to say that you’re two dollars away from having all the complaints in your OP rendered irrelevant.

Spend two dollars and lose out on the ability to complain? Good day to you sir, good day!

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**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-apple-long/640528/62 "2012-11-12T14:22:18Z")

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> [@Nonsuch](#):
>
> Last year, our marketing department developed an iPad app, and so IT procured us a new iPad for testing purposes. But it took days for it to make its way to us, because our IT department insisted on finding a way to use it without iTunes. Needless to say, they did not have much success.
> 
> iOS devices are designed to be synced with a computer. You can argue the whys and wherefores of that decision, but Apple doesn’t make a secret of it, and the moment you decide that that limitation is too restrictive for you, you consign yourself to a second-rate experience.

Not any more. Apple have made a big thing about not having to use a PC or Mac anymore. With iOS 5 they brought in things that really should have been there from the beginning, like setting up without having to connect to a computer, updating the OS without syncing … that sort of stuff. They go on a lot about “Post PC”, one of the important parts of which being that your device no longer requires a PC (or Mac) to be fully usable.

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**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-apple-long/640528/63 "2012-11-12T15:36:29Z")

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> [@kidchameleon](#):
>
> Spend two dollars and lose out on the ability to complain? Good day to you sir, good day!

Not being willing to spend $2 on a great app actually sounds like the OP fits right in with a lot of iOS users. 😛 Too many people think that an appropriate review on iTunes is “wish it was free” no matter how awesome it might be.

I use Pocket Casts and think it’s great, but that’s $1.99 as well.

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**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-apple-long/640528/64 "2012-11-12T15:39:38Z")

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> [@Mach Tuck](#):
>
> You seem to have me confused with a person who values your opinion.

The confusion is yours, you apparently don’t understand how message boards work. If you don’t want your opinions commented on, don’t post them.

As kushiel points out there is a bias against Apple on this board that is afforded no other. We’re not talking about human rights or nuclear power plants, this is a consumer end luxury item. Don’t like it? Don’t use it. The fix is really easy. Don’t like the way Apple addresses its end users (most of who love it)? Fine, no sweat off my back but let’s not make it seem like you are fighting the good fight against the evil empire.

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**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-apple-long/640528/65 "2012-11-12T18:55:04Z")

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> [@Sleel](#):
>
> Yep, don’t get what the problem is. If you don’t like the way Apple does things, you should buy something else. There are, apparently, Android tablets that will let you dick around with the guts as much as you want. Yeah, the build quality probably isn’t as good, and you might have to pay more for crappier hardware (or much less for much crappier hardware) but there are other tablets out there. Root 'em, install crashy beta software on 'em, go nuts.
> 
> Or, you could jailbreak your iDevice and do just about whatever you want with it. Technically savvy people seem to like doing this. It puts everything into a completely unsupported state, and probably is a huge security risk (considering that jailbreaking is voluntarily letting someone hack it) unless you really know what you’re doing, but you can do it. And Apple can’t stop you. They will, however, laugh and point if you expect them to fix anything wrong with it after you hack and bork it.

> [@Mach Tuck](#):
>
> **I got an iPad a few months ago. It’s for work, and there’s one app I have to use and keep updated.** But I can also use it for other stuff, and I like to listen to podcasts. Here is the step-by-step issue I had today that crystallizes why I think Apple sucks donkey dick. Although, part of it is I’m also a stubborn ass.

Bolded for reading comprehension. Don’t make the assumption that the work app has an Android counterpart.

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**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-apple-long/640528/66 "2012-11-12T19:02:52Z")

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> [@sleestak](#):
>
> This is bullshit. I run Windows and BSD at home and I do not pay for the vast majority of my software because there are free options out there. I use Open Office, Thunderbird and GIMP. The only software I buy are games and music recording software. Technically I could use free recording software but I prefer Pro Tools due to the hardware.

What?!? You had to pay money for additional software simply because it had options you wanted that the free versions did not?? This is a travesty! :mad:

> [@](#):
>
> I hate Apple because I am a technically proficient adult who doesn’t want Steve Jobs ghost limiting what I can do.
> 
> The whole Apple ‘It Just Works’ line of bullshit is based upon limiting options. If you do what Apple wants, it works, until it doesn’t. When it doesn’t work you get shit for support. If you want to do something more, well, you are fucked. Not only that, according to the dumb ass Apple fanboys and girls, it is your fault if you want to step out of the little box designed by Apple.
> 
> Apple makes shiny, very expensive toys.

As a technically proficient adult with experience with all three major OSes, this is borderline gibberish. Have you ever used OSX? And what exactly is it you want to do with an iPod/iPad that you believe Apple won’t let you do?

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**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-apple-long/640528/67 "2012-11-12T19:03:35Z")

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Drag and drop.

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**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-apple-long/640528/68 "2012-11-12T19:10:52Z")

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> [@Inner\_Stickler](#):
>
> Drag and drop.

Does that exist on any mobile operating system?

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**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-apple-long/640528/69 "2012-11-12T19:16:47Z")

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Dunno what you mean by mobile. I can drag and drop files onto my zen which makes transferring music a snap and it supports every file format that I’ve run across. If I were to get an ipod, I would want that capability. If I can load music onto an ipod without needing itunes or the like, I would be interested in purchasing one but my understanding is that is not possible currently.

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**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-apple-long/640528/70 "2012-11-12T19:22:29Z")

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> [@D\_Odds](#):
>
> Bolded for reading comprehension. Don’t make the assumption that the work app has an Android counterpart.

I’m in a similar situation. One of our vendors gave\* me an iPad as part of a training course on their stuff. The purpose of the iPad is to enable the vendor to distribute technical documentation and keep it updated without mailing out stacks of binders. Prior to handing out the iPads, they set them up with Goodreader and set it all up to sync a set of folders to their servers, so if they correct an error on an installation manual all they have to do is update the copy on their server.

This is all well and good, but it means that the iPad comes to me configured with their iTunes and iCloud accounts. The vendor is in the US; I’m in Canada. I couldn’t so much as update the free app Goodreader initially, because you can’t do anything on iTunes in Canada if you’re trying to log in with a US account (which must suck for tourists). Okay, getting the iTunes account switched was easy, except for the bit where it still wouldn’t update the apps that were loaded under the vendor’s iTunes account, but I think I’ve got that sorted. Switching the iCloud account was also easy _once I determined how to do it_. Determining how to do it was not easy. All the information I could find on it was internet discussion type stuff, and initially it was looking like by changing the iCloud account I would destroy the Goodreader sync setup.

So now I think I have it set up to be usable as a work device. I intend to get one of those indestructible Otterbox cases for it, sync it up with a Dropbox account of my own where I can store pdf manuals for other vendor’s stuff, and use it on job sites as an e-reader for manuals. And since some other manufacturers are coming out with smartphone control apps, as a test bed for those (I’m all Android otherwise).

But still, it most emphatically did not “just work.” And frankly, I’d rather not have to use Dropbox to get new pdf’s onto it. I’d rather be able drag and drop them so as not to have any reliance on wireless data. I can make it work, but manual file control would make it easier.

All that said, at this point I think the OP is going out of his way to find problems. Ultimately all he wants is file syncing without using iTunes, and he could do it with Dropbox or Google Drive or one of the podcast apps being recommended. That Apple forbids the straightforward manual approach is stupid, but it’s not an insoluble problem.  
\*For values of ‘gave’ which include ‘paid for by the fee for the training course’

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-apple-long/640528/71 "2012-11-12T19:27:27Z")

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> [@Giraffe](#):
>
> Does that exist on any mobile operating system?

Does it _not_ exist on any mobile operating system besides iOS? It certainly does in Android, Blackberry OS, and Windows 8.

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**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-apple-long/640528/72 "2012-11-12T21:07:04Z")

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Why I hate Apple:

I want to just copy my music to and from my iPhone. Don’t assume I’m a criminal.

Would it hurt you to add a micro SD slot so I can put in more memory if I want it?

Please, for the love of Og, give us a standard micro USB connector instead of your proprietary crap.

I briefly had a Galaxy S3, and loved the way it treated me like an adult. I didn’t care for the flimsy feel of the thing, and the overall size, and the fact that AT&T was delaying the new version of the iOS to put in their own bloatware, so I returned it and got an iPhone 5.

But damn, there are some things I miss about the Android OS.

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**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-apple-long/640528/73 "2012-11-12T21:12:07Z")

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> [@Giraffe](#):
>
> Does that exist on any mobile operating system?

Android. You can easily do it on the Android OS, either over a USB cable, or over wifi (with a little bit more effort). When I (briefly) had an S3, I was able to to copy all of my music over to it in just a few minutes. But with the iPhone 5, it took me about an hour to get iTunes up and running on my machine and then have it reinstall all of my music. I’m not going to pay extra for cloud storage of my music, so Apple makes me jump through hoops to install the music I’ve had for years.

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**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-apple-long/640528/74 "2012-11-12T21:13:55Z")

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> [@Ferret\_Herder](#):
>
> Not being willing to spend $2 on a great app actually sounds like the OP fits right in with a lot of iOS users. 😛

Android users too, including me! I think this cartoon demonstrates it well.

> **[This is how I feel about buying apps - The Oatmeal](https://theoatmeal.com/blog/apps)**
>
> My feelings regarding buying apps from the app store.

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**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-apple-long/640528/75 "2012-11-12T21:24:32Z")

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> [@Gorsnak](#):
>
> Does it _not_ exist on any mobile operating system besides iOS? It certainly does in Android, Blackberry OS, and Windows 8.

Exactly. OP, sell your iPad (it probably has retained a lot of it’s initial value), and buy an Android tablet. A Google Nexus is probably your best bet, it should be well supported and other than lack of SD card is a great piece of hardware. Drag and drop to it all you want, you have access to the full file system just like it’s a flash drive.

iPads are computers, they have a file system just like any other computer but Apple doesn’t want you to have access to it.

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**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-apple-long/640528/76 "2012-11-12T21:50:01Z")

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> [@control-z](#):
>
> Exactly. OP, sell your iPad (it probably has retained a lot of it’s initial value), and buy an Android tablet. A Google Nexus is probably your best bet, it should be well supported and other than lack of SD card is a great piece of hardware. Drag and drop to it all you want, you have access to the full file system just like it’s a flash drive.
> 
> iPads are computers, they have a file system just like any other computer but Apple doesn’t want you to have access to it.

He can’t sell it. He needs to run a work-related app that’s iOS only.

He could, of course, use it only for work and buy a Nexus 7 or 10 for his personal use.

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**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-apple-long/640528/77 "2012-11-12T22:20:59Z")

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> [@Sleel](#):
>
> There are, apparently, Android tablets that will let you dick around with the guts as much as you want. Yeah, the build quality probably isn’t as good, and you might have to pay more for crappier hardware (or much less for much crappier hardware) but there are other tablets out there.

Who do you think makes the hardware for Apple? Hint: it isn’t Apple.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-apple-long/640528/78 "2012-11-12T22:29:17Z")

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> [@Gorsnak](#):
>
> Does it _not_ exist on any mobile operating system besides iOS? It certainly does in Android, Blackberry OS, and Windows 8.

Ah, I misunderstood Inner’s point. I thought he meant drag and drop within iOS, not getting files onto the device from another computer without having to use iTunes. Fair enough, that’s something you can’t do out of the box with iOS.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-apple-long/640528/79 "2012-11-12T22:33:40Z")

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I wouldn’t even begin to know how to drag and drop files from one ipad application to another. It’s one of the reasons I haven’t bought a tablet yet although the surface is looking quite interesting to me.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\
**Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-hate-apple-long/640528/80 "2012-11-13T04:44:53Z")

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> [@amanset](#):
>
> I don’t have my iPad to hand,but isn’t the iPad like the iPhone, where there is a “Podcasts” app? I can start the app, click on “Store” and the app then opens the Podcasts section of the store. From there I can click on “subscribe” (or indeed “unsubscribe”) to subscribe to a new Podcast. Alternatively, from there you can download individual episodes (by clickign on the arrow to the side of the episode name). Then you can click “Library” to go back to the your Podcasts and play what you want.
> 
> There is no need to use an “iTunes” app. Everythign is done from within “Podcasts”.
> 
> You can. I just tested it on my phone. All from within the Podcasts app.
> 
> Just use the Podcasts app.
> 
> Or just use the “Podcasts” app.
> 
> “Podcasts” does what you want it to do. I just tried it on my phone.
> 
> [‎Apple Podcasts on the App&nbsp;Store](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/podcasts/id525463029?mt=8)

So do you think that “Podcasts” might solve his problem?  
😃

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