Apple abandons the “white-glove” feature for Apple Upgrade iPhone users

Perhaps regrettably?

Apple has never lacked good ideas. Yet some seemingly strong concepts are not necessarily right to roll out and deserve further consideration. That was the case with the “white-glove” feature, which the Cupertino company ultimately decided to abandon after careful thought. Even so, it could have made life substantially easier for its users.

With “white-glove”, Apple planned to make switching from one iPhone to another simpler for members of its Apple Upgrade subscription programme. In practical terms, they would have received iPhones with their data already loaded, including favourite apps, all their photos and saved passwords, before they had even switched on their prized new device. Convenient? Certainly. However, Apple’s brand image would undoubtedly have suffered, so the company chose not to proceed.

Apple “white-glove”: privacy comes first

Apple’s proposal was far from a bad one. Setting up a new phone can undeniably be tedious, and everyone would rather avoid it. On paper, this feature was hugely appealing, but it ran into the issue of confidentiality.

The Apple brand does not truly conceal that it can access data stored on iCloud servers, and Cupertino’s customers are well aware of this. However, there is a significant difference between having access to that information and openly using and handling it. Introducing this feature would have generated considerable discussion and controversy. Apple feared that customers might feel betrayed and become particularly suspicious, concerned about their privacy. This is especially important because Apple prides itself on protecting users’ privacy and repeatedly insists that what happens on an iPhone stays on that iPhone. Such an intrusive feature would certainly have damaged its brand image.

Apple Upgrade subscribers must set up their iPhone themselves

The Cupertino firm therefore preferred to shelve this good idea and protect its reputation. Sometimes, it is better to consider the consequences of a new feature, however relevant it may seem. As a result, Apple Upgrade subscribers - the brand’s iPhone rental service - will need to configure their new iPhone themselves when they take it out of the box.

Encrypting an iCloud backup

If you are concerned about your personal data at Apple, it is worth knowing that you can easily encrypt the contents of your iCloud backup through the Settings app. It is always useful to know…