I agree law shay.
Personally I don't think that Apple thought this all the way through. First, Apple iOS and Android are both based on unix/linux, who do you think will win that war? I will wager on Android.
The next thing I see down the road is potentially a company like Palm going after Apple and Android for not only stealing their PDA like functionality and putting it into smart phones, but also completely destroying their revenues.
Personally I am afraid that this will start an all out lawsuit war with any company that had bits and pieces of their product stolen. That scares me. This will be bad for the economy and innovation. These things should never have been allowed to be patented. What is next breathing? Drawing lines? Eating? Sleeping? Thinking?
Android and Google will still be around, just in every country but the USA. If Palm or whoever quickly buys them starts filing lawsuits, this will put a dead stop to smart phones. Can you imagine a smart phone that has no PDA functionality whatsoever? No calculator, contacts, memos, voice recording, games, apps, etc.? Who would buy it?
With the US patent office allowing things like "one-click" button (Amazon) to be patented and the US court system to allow them to litigate over it, this makes it hard for start ups companies/small companies. It is just a button with different text, you click it and it takes you to whatever it was programmed to take you to. All web pages have buttons, this was in existence before Amazon. Just like some of the non touch items Apple has patents over where in existence else where. These things should not be allowed to be patented.
Everyone would have to start using the Palm iPhone or the Palm Android phone.
I fault the US Patent office and then the US court system, and Government for not reviewing/revamping the US Patent system. Unfortunately the lawyers are taking advantage of the system for big bonuses.
I had an iPhone but switched to Android because Apple made me feel locked in. If you want more storage, you have to get a new phone. If your battery dies, you have to get a new phone or repair your phone. The whole anti mp3 thing Apple used to have annoyed me also. If I buy a song I want to actually own it, not only be allowed to play it on an Apple device. I'm glad Apple switched that.
I agree, when a company starts blocking your freedom it is time to move on. Unless it is for a good reason, like removing or banning an app for hidden viruses, etc. But each person will have to decide that on their own.
I was considering gong back to Apple, depending on the iPhone 5, but will not now. I look for innovation and features that suit my needs, which Android phones does and the iPhone doesn't meet. I was hoping with the iphone5 that maybe that would change, but now I really don't care if it does.
I for one lost a lot of respect for Apple over this move. And will lose respect for any company that does this. To the point that I will not support them. I would rather go to a Windows phone or back to flip phones and PDAs.