It was seven years ago when I bought my first iPhone.I never thought that I would ever be anything other than an Apple fan.My love for Apple and its products was not only restricted to smartphones. I was also a proud owner of the Power Mac G5 and Macbook Pro.However, after more than a decade of Apple loyalty I have finally lost my faith.

Stop, before you start thinking this is one of those ‘I am converting to Android’posts, and I prove you wrong, I will actually list the four majorreasons that forced me to finally losemy longstanding faith in the largest tech giant we all know asApple, Inc.

1. Apple Gone Wrong with Flat

This is perhaps the sole reason why many designers and developers have lost their longstanding love for Apple and its products. Branding is so important in this decade and the brand that was once synonymous with its unique ‘rounded edges’ design interface has now joined the footsteps of its competitors with a typically flatter design approach. Apple’s recent changes in design are mainly a resultant of John Ive’s vision and inclination towards minimalism. Since the day he took the leadership role of the Human Interface (HI) of Apple, we have witnessed substantial changes to the design aesthetics across the board in iOS and Mac OS X.

Source: 9to5mac.com

I updated iTunes to the latest version 11.0.3 and was flabbergasted by the horrible design interface (see image above). The realistic effect, once the hallmark of the Apple interface is gone. The icons and other UI elements have been altered to become straight and ‘relatively’ flat. This isn’t the only place where Apple has betrayed its loyal users. The latest versions of iOS 7 and Mac OS X have also lost the ‘round’ effect.

Moreover, even the website layout of Apple online store has been converted from a round-edge to a flat and rectangular design.

What I don’t understand is why Apple, a leader in innovation, would with a vision to “think different” suddenly decide to go with the crowd?

Really disappointed!

2. Smart Apple Products Make me Feel Stupid

Yes I know we all have heard that ‘change is constant’, but from a consumer’s perspective change is not always good. Especially for tech users, getting used to frequent changes can be quite annoying. Apple Inc., over the years, has picked up the habit of adopting changes on a regular basis in almost each of its products and services.

For instance, just when I got my hands on a new iPhone 4S, I heardthe news that an updated iPhone 5 would be available in a few months. Imagine how stupid it made me feel? I buy a $500 smartphone thinking I’m now in possession of the latest gadget in the market only to find out that I have been had.

Computers and laptops play the same way. The day I bought a shiny new Power Mac G5, Steve Jobs announced that Apple was switching to the Intel-based Mac computers.

Leaving me with a $1000 + worth of obsolete technology.

3. There is No Such Thing as ‘Free’ at Apple

There was a time when buying an Apple product meant solving your problem for good. But in recent years, it seems that the largest technology company has built aformula whereby once you become an Apple customer, you keep paying for life. Everything has a price tag.I mean isn’t spending $500 on a phone worthy of some freebies?How about some free iTunes? Where is the price of loyalty?

You visit iTunes, and they charge you for everything.It’s like they see our pocketsand try to squeeze out every single penny.Speaking of which, did you know that Apple is indirectly responsible for the increase in our cell phone bills? Even if you are not an Apple user, Apple’s secret deal with mobile operators (to sell a committed number of iPhones or else pay damages) is causing mobile subscribers to pay more so that mobile operators can foot the bill owed to Apple. Now that is pure evil.

4. Standing out comes with a Price Tag

The reason that made me let go of the final talisman of hope was because of Apple’s‘think different’ policy.Whatever it does must be, in one way or another, different from its rivals. While this is a good thing when it comes to universality, being different kind of sucks. You are always the odd one out of the lot.

Take the example of Apple chargers used for iPhones and iPads. They have their own unique USB connectors that are compatible with their devices. While the whole world has switched to a microUSB connector scheme, Apple has decided to stick with its ‘differentiation’policy by adopting the 30 pin adaptor (and most recently the lightning connector for iPhone 5).iPhone and iPad users know quite well how hard it is to find an Apple charger in a crowd of people. And when most of your friends are comfortable swapping their chargers for Samsung, Nokia and even Blackberry, you become the odd one out.

Steve Jobs Died. Is Apple Next?

For what it’s worth, I am not proud of parting ways with a top brand like Apple butit has really disappointed me over the recent years. Especially with Steve Jobs out of the picture, the innovation and visionary approach that was once the forte of Apple, Inc. seemsto have vanished.

What are your thoughts? Is your brand loyalty with Apple and its products/services still steadfast? how have you been disappointed? Give us your take on this.