Open letter to Apple: Why didn’t you buy me a pony?

Written by

iLounge:

But we’d strongly suggest that you take this one step further. The right thing for Apple to do is to give every iPhone 5 customer a Lightning to 30-pin Adapter. Ditto for new iPod nano and touch customers.

Give me a fucking break.



  • Incredulous

    How long before Consumer Reports counts the “adapter issue” as a reason why they can’t recommend the iPhone 5?

    • http://crankygeek.com Jack Brewster

      Where is the 10x Like button? This one I just gave isn’t enough.

    • http://www.tumblr.com/blog/his-divine-shadow His Shadow

      What time is it now?

  • lkalliance

    I’m not sure why the issue. If they’ve invested in equipment with 30-pin connector interfaces, why upgrade to the iPhone 5? Or wait until they can get adapters on the resale market for less?

    • Peter Cohen

      There is no issue. It’s tech media furiously trying to invent a provocative angle that they can play up because they have absolutely nothing of substance to write about.

  • justin_horn

    Errr… I guess that article changed from last night. I still can’t see straight.

  • Canucker

    Apple did include the adaptor on their AppleStore website so this must have been their initial intent. It’s also a strong show of goodwill to customers (many of whom, like me, will need the adaptor). However, I wonder whether the adaptor is constrained and that’s why it was pulled? If so, expect a repeat of the free bumper program for the iPhone4.

    • gjgustav

      It would be a gesture of good will if Apple gave me an MBP Retina too, but I don’t expect it to happen.

      The iPhone 5 comes with everything you need to operate it. The onus (or even reasonable expectation) is not on Apple to give you adapters to work with accessories which were never advertised as working with this phone.

      The free bumper was done because there were public doubts of the phone working properly, not working with unnamed accessories that were not sold with or advertised as being compatible.

  • http://twitter.com/kipb Kip Beatty

    You gotta love the disclaimer “While a small group of die-hard fans might deem such “generosity” unnecessary.” That way, if you disagree you’re already marginalized as a diehard member of a tiny group.

    How about this, I’m not a “diehard fan”, yet I don’t think Apple is in anyway obligated to give away an adaptor many users will not need. I need one sure, but my wife, sister, and mother do not. Those who need one can buy one, but there is no need or obligation for Apple to pack in a $29 adaptor with millions of iPhones.

    Free bumper program? Give me a freakin’ break. This is in NO way related to the free bumper.

    • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_MGKMDABPUEAIAYIL5RC6WGE3AY Schuyler

      I want a free phone plan because the one with my existing phone is going to expire. Take responsibility, Apple!

  • http://www.yourmaclifeshow.com/ Shawn King

    iLounge whines Apple should give out free adaptors because of the change to Lightning. Should they give out free cases and clock radios too?

    • blanknogo

      iLounge is whining because Apple’s website claimed that an adaptor would be included…

  • http://www.thegraphicmac.com/ JimD

    I don’t remember this sort of uproar when Apple upgraded the iPod connectors from Firewire to USB to the current dock connector… This is nothing more than the Fandroid tech press collectively jerking off at Apple’s expense.

  • kvanh

    Wah, Apple used to include free docks with their phones, they owe me a free dock! And double wah, Apple sells a “UNIVERSAL” dock that doesn’t work with iPhone 5, not very UNIVERSAL now is it, they owe me a free dock for each of the universal docks i own.

  • D Pauw

    Apple should give us all new earpods because the old earbuds are bad! A pony sounds good too.

  • Boo

    What is it about moving beyond technology more than a decade old (30pin, floppies, DVDs etc) that brings out the rampant, weapons-grade stupidity in some people . . . .

  • Player_16

    Nice plead -or should I say beg.

    So if I bought an iPod, I too deserve a free Lightning Adapter for why should it go to only iPhone owners; but Apple has already made hundreds of millions of dollars licensing “Made for iPod” and “Made for iPhone” accessories. Apple can afford it?

    Lead, follow, GTFU.

    • http://www.yourmaclifeshow.com/ Shawn King

      “Apple has already made hundreds of millions of dollars licensing “Made for iPod” and “Made for iPhone” accessories.”

      Sorry but you’re going to have to back that assertion up with some facts.

      • Player_16

        I tried leaving this response on their site but it kept chucking me out. I’ll copy… err; quote your answer IF I can get in.

      • Jasper

        My gut feeling is that the made for iP* programs have over the years generated several tens of millions. Hundreds seems unlikely.

      • http://www.bynkii.com/ John C. Welch

        given the royalty paid to apple is under NDA, it’s a bit tricky to find out what they even get per unit. However, the various MFI programs are only required if you’re developing or making stuff that uses a dock connector of some sort to electronically communicate with the device.

        Cases don’t count.

        In addition, there’s two separate programs, one for people with a manf. facility, one for everyone else. (this isn’t a secret, it’s right here: https://developer.apple.com/programs/mfi/ . took about a minute to find on le goog.)

        So Apple is probably making good dosh, but without any clue as to specifics, well, we don’t know. I think estimating some number of a mil is probably not unreasonable.

  • Buckeyestar

    I don’t think it’s unreasonable. They did give out free bumpers once upon a time.

    And if the website said the adaptor was included, it doesn’t matter that they changed it now. They offer was there when some people ordered. Apple should honor that offer. I ordered through Verizon, so I saw nothing of the sort.

    I figure if there is enough of a stink made, there will be some free adapters coming. Just like the price drop on the original iPhone and the whole bumper situation.

  • Jbmurray

    Lets reverse this: If I buy a new adaptor I want the phone for free. I can’t use that new adaptor with my current phone.

  • http://www.tumblr.com/blog/his-divine-shadow His Shadow

    Remember how nobody gave a shit that Samsung went to a 30 pin cable? Good times.

  • Standy

    Sorry, Jim, I agree with iLounge on this one. To give away something that costs $1 – $3 to make, doesn’t even put a dent in Apple’s iPhone profits & generates a whole heckuva lot of goodwill among the Apple faithful. Buying a new iPhone is a hardship for me, so I have to wait 2 years between purchases, no matter how much I want a new iteration. iPhone 5 was finally my chance and now I need at least 3 lightning-to-30pin connectors, as well; that’s close to another $100! Dang!

    • gjgustav

      Who’s Jim? I think you meant Peter.

      So let me get this straight:

      Buying a phone is a hardship for you, but yet you have enough money to buy three devices with fixed dock connectors.

      Here’s a money saving tip for you: buy one adapter to use with your one phone on any of your three accessories. I don’t see why you need three.

      I’m still not seeing why Apple should sell products at cost (or give them to you) so you can use your new phone with devices that were never promised by Apple to work with your new phone. Should they give you a free case too?

    • http://www.bynkii.com/ John C. Welch

      OH yeah, well I need more than that. Apple should give me 12!!!!

  • http://twitter.com/RoadRacer DT

    The new Lightening interface doesn’t connect to the iPhone interface in my car … Apple owes me a new BMW.

  • pawhite524

    Initially, I admit I had a bit of a problem with the idea of a $29 adaptor and then came to my senses. Here’s why:

    There has been no explanation as to why it costs so much for what appears to be a piece of plastic and some copper. The price of the Thunderbolt cable was explained as having computer chips etc ameliorating the perception it was overpriced. The Thunderbolt adaptor (not cable) is considerably less. That piece looks like it is priced much closer to a “cost plus X% mark-up” while that perception is not present for the Lightning adaptor.

    And here’s why it is a non-issue for me:

    The only device that would need a Lightning adaptor is my excellent (to my ears) Harmon-Kardon GoPlay. I will continue to use my iPod Touch or Classic, and not an iPhone 5 or future model, as the music source for when I bring it to a party for music making.

    Do I think Apple could have handled this better? Who am I to say other than i would have preferred more info. Give them away for free? Bad idea IMHO.

    A story about “dog bites man” will not get published, or read if it is, but “Apple, Inc bites consumers” will get published even if it is a perception not supported by reality/evidence that it is true. Thus we have the continuation of the “-gate, tempest in a teapot, the sky is falling, screaming meemees” bloggers and pseudo-journalists

  • http://ComicsPundit.com/ Shawn L.

    The new cable IS an adaptor, of sorts.

    All the chargers for iphone/ipad/i-whatever, have the same connector… USB. The new cable is only about what plugs into the phone, I’m sure the end that plugs into your computer/charger will be the same USB connector.

    The only reason you’d buy a 30-pin to Lightning adaptor instead of a new Lightning cable is if you had a device that was hard wired with a 30 pin dock connector.

    The 30 pin connector lasted longer than any other manufactuer has stuck with any charger connector standard for any other cell phone brand. And even then they had to be dragged to the USB connector via European government agencies.

  • Garr

    Didn’t we have this problem when the speaker docks & such for iPod weren’t compatible with the iPhone? Yes we did, as I had such a dock that still doesn’t charge iPhones from Roxy.

  • Slurpy2k11

    Wow, cant believe the entitlement. I don’t want a damn adapter in my iPhone box, it will be wasted material and cost, because I don’t HAVE any 30 pin accessories. And I believe a shitload of people are in the same boat. Seriously, of all the iPhone owners I know, not a single one has a 30 pin accessory. And for everyone that has never owned an iPhone most likely will never need one. Yet Apple should include this thing with every single iPhone it sells, that a very small percentage of people will need/want? Unreal.

    If you can afford an iPhone 5, you can certainly afford a damn $30 accessory if this is about $$.

  • ort888

    I think you’re being harsh. The iLounge guys are good reasonable guys.

    It’s not that unreasonable of a stance. This new lightning connector, while a step in the right direction, is going to be a big hassle for a lot of people who have spent a lot of money on Apple products through the years. I’ve bought more devices with that dock connector thean I care to admit, and The transition is going to be a pain.

    It would have been nice for apple to throw us a bone. No, it’s not expected, but it would have been nice.

    It is true that not everyone needs one, so maybe they should have included a voucher to mail off for one or get it at the apple store.

    I think you guys are being excessively cruel in response to this article.

  • http://twitter.com/torkelh Torkel

    My SNES controller won’t work with my Wii. Nintendo should give me a free adapter.

    Also, since iLounge are now self-proclaimed champions of consumer justice, I think they need to “do the right thing” and give all their readers a free 30-pin to Lightning adapter.

    • http://www.bynkii.com/ John C. Welch

      I think they should do the right thing and give everyone a free case of beer, some oxy, and a scalp massage to alleviate the headache caused from translating stupid to a language spoken by normal people.

  • Juz

    I spent considerable time getting to know my last iPhone 4 in and out, and now Apple have gone and changed the chip inside this one which I, of course, bought. So I need an A5 chip sent to me by Apple please, as a show of goodwill.