Apple Historically Against Product Modifications?

As I'm sure you all know, the new firmware update has been receiving mixed opinions from users, to put things lightly. With the new firmware, installing 3rd party applications, custom ringtones, and unlocking the device from the AT&T SIM is a lot more difficult. Some suspect they might have even gone as far as to brick devices running the unlock, leaving a bitter taste in the mouths of owners.

I, for one, was surprised to see such actions from Apple, but MacRumors points out that Steve Jobs has historically been against user expansion of Apple hardware, going as far back as 1984:

Apple's other co-founder, Steve Jobs, didn't agree with Jef about many things, but they both felt the same way about hardware expandability: it was a bug instead of a feature. Steve was reportedly against having slots in the Apple II back in the days of yore, and felt even stronger about slots for the Mac. He decreed that the Macintosh would remain perpetually bereft of slots, enclosed in a tightly sealed case, with only the limited expandability of the two serial ports.

Nokia has decided to take advantage of the situation by running "Open To Anything" ads, promising phones that are " "Open to applications. Open to widgets. Open to anything" (at nseries.com/open).

In the meantime, the Dev Team and the usual assorted contributers have continued in their efforts to unlock firmware v1.1.1. Still, everyone seems to agree that it would be better if it weren't necessary.

[via MacRumors]