Today's the day...
Today's the day Apple finally crossed a line with me. I'm officially unhappy.

#1 Reason: $200 price drop for the iPhone. I understand why they did it (it'll sell a lot of phones this Xmas), but it's bullshit to do it 2 months after a launch. 12 months is standard for a price drop on new technology. And by that much money? Not $50 to goose sales a bit. Not even $100. $200 cheaper. Every single early-adopter is brutally punished? Extremely not cool. (Damn good news for people who wanted one but couldn't afford 'em, though. No question about that.)

#2 Reason: They're CHARGING you a second time if you want to turn a song you've ALREADY PURCHASED into a 30 second ringtone on your phone. You literally have to buy it again. Want a ringtone? Buy the song for $1. Then edit it yourself to :30. Then pay ANOTHER $1 to use that edit on your phone. Why?! You already bought it! It's yours to use as you want! I hate to say it, but with a move like this, they've become like Microsoft. I feel like I don't know what Steve Jobs stands for anymore. It's almost sick.

So, with this... I am not going all insane and switching to PCs or selling off my iphone. (It's still a great phone and I still like Macs better than Windows PCs.) However, I will be taking matters into my own hands. I will be hacking my iPhone tonight. In case you're curious, here's a link to how that looks: LINKY LINKERTON

Here's what it accomplishes that I think make it well worth it:

- Install any software you want to the phone. It becomes unlocked. (This is the main thing.)
- No-additional-charge ringtones from your own music library. As many as you want. As it should be.
- Built-in iChat client so you no longer need to pay for SMS Text messages via AT&T.
- Games, including a Ninetndo emulator that plays Super Mario Brothers, iPhone Doom, etc.

-m

PS - I do think the new iPod touch is a good announcement (that we all saw coming). And I also think the WiFi Apple Store was a good announcement. It was ridiculous that you couldn't download songs directly to your iPhone from the start. But I'm still pissed. This whole thing just feels a lot less Apple than normal... almost stockholder driven, and that's never been what they were about ('til now). But yeah. They'll sell an assload of phones and iPods this holiday. Shoulda bought stock, I guess.