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Apple Gives In, Drops iPad '4G' Tag To Avoid Lawsuits
Back in March, Apple was sued in Australia and criticized in Europe over its marketing of the iPad as supporting 4G speeds when it only did so in the U.S. and Canada. Now, reader TheGift73 writes with news that Apple has given in and changed the 'Wi-Fi + 4G' label to 'Wi-Fi + Cellular.' From the article:
"In the U.K., a number of complaints by customers pushed the ASA into acting against Apple for its misleading advertisements. The regulator had received 'dozens of complaints' from customers, and had pushed for Apple to remove any mentions of '4G' from its websites. It should come as little surprise considering Britain has yet to see its mobile networks divide up its 4G spectrum without bickering furiously about it. Some networks had even opted to avoid litigation directed at them by including stickers to inform potential buyers that the new iPad will not work on existing 4G networks, or even 4G networks that don't even exist yet. This should come as bittersweet news for consumers. Apple has already sold millions of iPads across the U.K., Europe and Australia, while the vast majority are unaware that they will not be able to connect to high-speed mobile broadband networks."
Americans are slowly waking up to the fact that their mobile networks, internet access, and communications facilities are all crap compared to the rest of the world.
You would think so, wouldn't you? But think about this: not even 30% of Americans have passports. Very few Americans even know that their sim cards won't work outside the country. If they find out they typically don't care.
And you forgot, America is paradise. The home of everything that is good and beautiful about technology and consumer gadgets. America is the land of the free. You just have it all wrong, bad you.
When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
Americans are slowly waking up to the fact that their mobile networks, internet access, and communications facilities are all crap compared to the rest of the world. Just wait until they find out that a farmer in rural China can get better cell phone service and a cheaper plan than they can in one of the large US cities...
So... this is a story about an arrogant US media electronics company being sued by Australians and Europeans because they label a gadget as "4G" in said markets despite not being compatible with those networks... aaaaaaaand somehow this makes Americans "wake up" to the fact that cell service is better in other countries... and something something rural China, USA baaaaad [grunt noise here] just for good measure?
Yeah. That's fully coherent. We'll... we'll go with that and give it all the concern it merits.
What were you talking about again? I forgot.
Apple doesn't advertise a feature that can't be used.
You're an idiot. Can the 4G that Apple advertises be used here on Oz? No. The onus is on Apple to be clear about what is supported in a particular country and saying "iPad 4G DC-HSDPA" in no way makes it clear to consumers. If you want to sell in a particular country, play by their rules. Our laws require advertisers to be clear about what they are advertising. If you don't like it, don't sell your product here. It is only because what Apple were doing is illegal in Oz that the ACCC was able to take action.
The issue isn't even a problem with the hardware at all - it is a marketing problem. Apple marketed the product as supporting 4G, but there isn't a single 4G network (as advertised in Australia) that it works on here. That is false advertising, and quite rightly they were taken to court. Apple are not bigger than the country.
And there is so much to be proud of in Europe: economic stagnation, economic collapse, xenophobia, discrimination, and a long and rich history of feudalism, imperialism, religious wars, genocide and totalitarianism.
And Europe is totally unique in that regard! I know I'm feeding but
- economy: the last major depressions have started in the USA.
- economic collapse: at least the EU is working to have its budget deficit removed.
- xenophobia: the USA doesn't have a Westborough church, KKK, private militias, and people from the USA can generally point out any given country on a world map. right?
- discrimination: the US was the last civilized country to have institutionalized discrimination. Ms Rosa Parks anyone?
- feudalism: won't even touch the subject with regard to US society but think of how you treat your (former) criminals.
- imperialism: no no sir the US does not have imperialist politics! no international army presence no sir!
- religious wars: didn't we have a decade of the USA vs Islam?
- genocide: there is a debate if killing 1000s of unsuspecting soldiers (drafted by their dictators) by just sending in very advanced weaponry, missiles is a form of genocide.
- totalitarianism: there are no states in the US trying to control what science can be taught in schools, right? Or try to be different in the US, like being openly gay, leftish or green.
You described common treats in all human societies. Yes we are that bad. Now get off my lawn.