iBrother

In 1984, Apple Computer was the upstart, and IBM was Big Brother. Naturally, they used a "1984" metaphor in their first Macintosh ad, the ad, that has become part of tech industry folklore.

Apple never became dominant, and Microsoft took over IBM's role as big brother. Apple lived on in the hearts of a bunch of dedicated fanboys. Then came the iPod, the iPhone and now the iPad. Microsoft looks increasingly dinosaur-like, trapped in a software model that is sliding into obsolescence.

A quarter of a century later, Apple's revenue model is based on a tightly controlled system where hardware, software and the channel for selling to the end customer are all controlled to the minutest detail, for your convenience of course. In spite of Jobs's public hand-wringing about DRM, Apple shows no signs of openness on content or in the hardware and software they sell you or in the means of accessing that content. You have zero choice, and that is good for you, they only have your Best Interests (TM) at heart. Rupert Murdoch, for one is excited.

For a while, we were all worried about Google becoming big brother. They seem to have got the point, and are taking the "don't be evil" credo a bit more seriously, what with getting out of China and all.

It's not Google that's Big Brother - it's Apple. In intent, if not yet in size.

This is why I do not own an iPhone. This is why Cory Doctrow isn't buying an iPad, and I am not either.