Awe Dropping

Apple's iPhone event is in about a week and I don't care. I won't watch the event. I won't follow along live. I will check out the announcements that evening. The Launch will likely be my main media coverage of the event on the following day. In episode 33 Chris and Angela talked about moving their schedule to cover the event. I cannot remember the last time I didn't watch an iPhone announcement. There are a few factors causing my disinterest. I am unhappy with Apple's campaign against being forced to open their platform. And I dislike their focus on and inability so far to deliver on their AI goals.

I think Apple is stuck between providing and supporting platforms and profiting from those very platforms themselves. As an example, they prevent other wearables from allowing interaction with notifications. Apple says this is for security concerns and that this is their decision as having created the platforms. As the gatekeeper, their security concerns could be addressed by performing the app reviews that they have deemed necessary. As far as the platform is concerned, I think they aren't providing the functionality to third-parties because they don't want competition with Apple Watch. Why would I buy a competing wearable when it is limited compared to the Apple Watch? This is an artificial limitation created by themselves. They could make APIs available publicly for any developer to use. They have chosen to make them private for their own use only. They kinda have to since the success of their product depends on not having competition. I think it is an unfair advantage.

While I dislike their focus on AI, I do understand the need to provide those features. They are under immense external pressure, primarily from shareholders, to provide them. I don't see much benefit personally from the features. I also don't like their PR campaign convincing people why they haven't delivered on their timeline and the importance of the features. I think AI is more of a distraction for Apple and less of a positive driver of growth for them.

Apple along with other companies like Google are focused on locking their users into their platform and their own services and products. I used to think that features like Continuity were amazing. I still do think they are technically impressive. I also think it encourages people to increase their usage of Apple products and services without considering what they are giving up. Their products and services also make it difficult to leave the ecosystem.

My current slate of Apple products consist of: - 2020 MacBook Air M1 - iPhone SE 2nd gen - iPad 8th gen - iPad Pro 11 2021 - A few HomePod minis - A couple of Apple TVs. - AirPods Pro and Powerbeats Pro

I don't use the iPhone often; primarily to enter events with my Shortcuts and to use an app I don't want to install on my Pixel. I don't use the HomePod minis at all. The iPad Pro gets used a couple of times a week depending on how much streaming I'm consuming that week. The 8th gen iPad is used every weekday just for viewing my security cameras. Of all of my current Apple devices, I use one of the Apple TVs the most.

Typing that feels bizarre. I know this is the path I have been on since late January of this year. Still. This feels odd. What is most glaring is that I don't depend on them anymore. I use my MacBook every day but with Linux. I use my Pixel more than I ever used my iPhone. I enjoy using my MacBook more with Linux on it than I did with macOS.

Will I be a fan of Apple again? I don't think so; not anytime soon. I don't see Apple changing their approach. They are pretty focused on protecting their interests, and I am pretty happy with my current devices. Happy enough. I would like to have an optical zoom on my Pixel. I miss Shortcuts; Tasker and MacroDroid are not the same. Running Linux on arm still has its difficulties. My current smartwatch isn't an Apple Watch, but it's good enough. I am discovering what is important. Not being in an ecosystem has its challenges. I feel at times like I am building my own ecosystem which at times is exhausting and frustrating. It also feels more intentional. I make choices. I decide. I don't just accept what is provided to me by Apple or Google.

An example of this is photos. I have used Apple Photos and iCloud Photos for many years. There have been years that I didn't like the Photo app on iOS or iPadOS; I especially disliked the iOS 18 version. I've never really liked the macOS app. I find it unintuitive and I dislike the navigation. I kept that in mind when I looked into how to access my exported iCloud Photo library. I installed Immich because it is considered the Google Photo killer and after researching options, I tried three others. After trialing all of those, I have settled on Immich and Synology Photos. Yes, this was work. A. Lot. I'm pretty happy with both for different reasons. I wouldn't have tried either if I hadn't decided to move away from Apple.

On September 9, Apple will be telling us all how these are the best iPhone's they have ever made. Sure thing. They should be. I won't care.