Summary: Apple's actions as of late lead to backlash and work in the favour of GNU/Linux

AFTER heaps of public scrutiny, Apple bothered to allow some competitors to merely inter-operate. It did so not by helping but by withdrawing a legal threat.

After threatening to sue the operator of a public wiki site over an anonymous discussion about syncing iPods using software other than iTunes, Apple has changed its tune.

One Apple customer who is unimpressed by Apple's attitude is saying "Goodbye Apple". He explains why.

I've owned a lot of iPods. My wife has owned a lot of iPods.

Not anymore.

For the longest time, I could use gtkpod to seamlessly access my iPods from my Ubuntu desktop. It initially took some reverse-engineering effort to understand the iPod's data format to be able to access it from non-iTunes software, but it was possible. All of a sudden, Apple is trying everything they can to prohibit interopability.

First, they encrypted the firmware, blocking the use of third-party firmware like Rockbox and iPod Linux. This doesn't bother me much, as I always prefered the original Apple firmware anyway.

This is good news for GNU/Linux, which does not require marketing, unlike Apple and Microsoft -- two companies that fight over brainwash-propaganda campaigns and finally reach an agreement.

Bowing to pressure from Apple's legal department - and that pesky imperative known as "the truth" - Microsoft has edited one of its Laptop Hunter ads to reflect Apple's new MacBook pricing.

Let's remember ways in which Apple helps Microsoft. In fact, Microsoft has just hired an Apple executive whilst losing a major person to Adobe.

A high-powered programmer who'd left Adobe Systems to lead a Microsoft Windows interface design team is heading back after just over a year.

A lot of people leave Microsoft these days. Maybe the financial issues play a considerable role in their foresight and eventual decision. ⬆

"Microsoft does not hesitate to use its operating system monopoly power and application program dominance to try to eliminate competition."

--Apple Computer Senior VP Avadis Tevanian Jr.