Tim Cook sold Apple's soul

[mikemccaffrey@wandering.shop]

@kevinrenskers Is there a rose gold version available?

[devolute@mastodon.social]

@kevinrenskers @kevinashworth Do you think you'd change your mind if he realises it was once again profitable to pretend to care about social issues?

[kevinrenskers@hachyderm.io]

@devolute cynical today, are we?

But the answer is no.

[devolute@mastodon.social]

@kevinrenskers Respect. I've been cynical since I realised large corporations don't ever have 'souls' and their primary objective is to make money, almost always at the expense of absolutely everything else and I think it's terribly naive to think anything else.

[kevinrenskers@hachyderm.io]

@devolute I could’ve titled it “Tim Cook sold his own soul to save Apple’s profits”. Maybe that would’ve been more precise.

But he damaged Apple’s reputation alongside his own. And I think calling Apple’s reputation its “soul” isn’t unfair.

[danieldk@mastodon.social]

@kevinrenskers @stuartm I have been exploring /e/OS on a phone and so far it works fine? My primary annoyance is that in-app purchases do not work (less money to Google, yay!).

In some ways it's a bit of a downgrade. But enough people have to accept a bit of a downgrade so that the alternatives get enough funding to improve.

Best of all, it does not have liquid glass.

[kevinrenskers@hachyderm.io]

@beno interesting!

[dain@hachyderm.io]

@kevinrenskers I think the conclusion is great, the only way to escape enshittified big tech services is to keep trying and incrementally migrating to self hosted or even just more honest smaller providers, but it's definitely way too daunting to try to do in one fell swoop and destined to fail. Progress beats perfection!

[kevinrenskers@hachyderm.io]

@dain True! And thanks.

[kevinrenskers@hachyderm.io]

@franksting no worries :)

[tux0r@layer8.space]

@kevinrenskers nothing in Linux is not U.S.

[dennyhenke@social.coop]

@kevinrenskers @axel_hartmann

I was in the same position in early 2025. I took some time to write my friends and family making my case for switching. I explained why and what the benefits were. I shared what would they would need to do to add Signal. I let them know I'd be turning off Messages is a week. Almost all installed Signal. A couple days later I sent a follow-up in Messages to those that hadn't installed Signal to let them know I was turning it off.

Then I turned it off.

[dennyhenke@social.coop]

@kevinrenskers @dgriffinjones
I think reduction of Apple Services is a great way to go about it. Honestly, I turned it into a bit of a game and challenge which puts a twist on it. And it helped get me there.

For Music, have you considered presenting it to your family as a family challenge/project? Like, if there is some agreement about the problem of Apple, perhaps they would be more willing Perhaps thinking outside the box and discussing it as a group might be useful and even kinda fun.

[kevinrenskers@hachyderm.io]

@dennyhenke If all I end up with is an Apple Music subscription and get rid of the rest, I’m happy.

[dennyhenke@social.coop]

@kevinrenskers Yeah, any progress is great!

I'm glad to see you sharing about it. I really hope more folks do as it helps shift perceptions and discussion. And folks helping each other too. Users helping users through the process adds to the over-all vibe. I don't know, maybe it's in my head, but we have this great thing in Mastodon where we're all just a keyboard away from offering advice. It's an opportunity to learn and grow together.

We can empower each other. I wish you well!

[kevinrenskers@hachyderm.io]

@dennyhenke Thanks! 🙏
And yea I’ve seen lots of people agreeing with the article. Maybe it convinced a few people to take another look at their walled gardens.

[olokolo@mastodon.social]

@kevinrenskers I developed a bad feeling towards Apple few years ago, although I used to praise them. Now it got much worse than I imagined. What is in store for Apple users? Glad I am not one of them anymore.

[uneerie@chaos.social]

@kevinrenskers thank you.

[kevinrenskers@hachyderm.io]

@olokolo Right, for me this feeling has been growing for a few years as well. I used to build iOS apps for a living until 2023 when I decided to switch. So it’s not new but it’s getting worse and worse, Cook’s cozying up to Trump.

[laorobob@troet.cafe]

@kevinrenskers
Thanks for this insight. As an Apple user since 1992, I really started to feel uneasy only when Tahoe arrived. Before that, while I noticed the embarrassing behaviour of Tim Apple, I thought it wouldn’t affect the product. But now, there is no denying any more.
And for the first time I start to feel the dilemma since I need the stuff to work and there is no viable alternative (and no, for my needs, Linux is not there yet).