The rollout of iOS 7 to Apple devices around the world has been going very well indeed, with adoption of the latest OS proceeding faster than any previous version, by some accounts. That’s not to say that the launch of iOS 7 has been entirely successful – there have been reports of various bugs throughout the OS, for example, along with iMessage failures and security concerns, while it has been claimed that apps crash twice as frequently on iOS 7 compared with its predecessor.
So it was perhaps only a matter of time before customers turned to legal options in frustration. As CNET reports, iOS user Mark Menacher has filed a claim against Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook, in the Superior Court of California.
His claim specifically requests the removal of the iOS 7 installation file, which downloads itself to devices and prompts users to install and upgrade to the latest OS version. This behaviour is no different to how iOS 5 and 6 were delivered to devices; however, the major user interface changes in iOS 7 – perhaps in addition to bugs and app crashes – are likely behind Menacher’s decision to take legal action.
But why take action against Tim Cook specifically, and not Apple as a company? Menacher explained: “Apple’s disregard for customer preferences in relation to iOS 7 is corporate thuggery. [Former Apple CEO] Steve Jobs was reportedly rough on company employees in pursuit of happy customers, but Tim Cook apparently cultivates a culture of contempt for customer satisfaction in pursuit of corporate profits. It is a policy that will eventually fail.”
Menacher’s action against Tim Cook asks only for a means to remove the iOS 7 installation file, along with $50 (yes, fifty - that"s not a typo) in compensation. The file remains on devices, occasionally reminding users to upgrade, until it is installed. For users who, for whatever reason, wish to avoid or defer upgrading, that can take up a considerable amount of available storage space, particularly on devices with more limited storage.
Source: CNET | image via Apple