If your like me and like most people as soon as you get a new computer one of the first thing you do is pull off all of that bloat ware that is placed on them. So why do computers come with so much bloat ware? Well it helps them keep cost down. I mean I think most come with built in anti virus, that free 90 day trial one. Why do they do that because they want you to be protected? No they do that because the anti-virus company pays them to do it. Adding bloat ware to a computer allows them to keep the cost down.

So advertisers are getting smarter and realize that folks either don't watch the ads or they remove the software. Along comes Apple with filing a patent that takes the cake for annoying a customer. Now granted this is geared for lower costing Apple items but here is the low down on what Apple wants to do.

The idea is that phones, computers, set-top boxes, etc. can be sold more cheaply -- or even given away for free -- if subsidized by ads. But because nearly everyone who doesn't work in the ad industry loathes advertising, the subsidizers need to ensure people are actually watching these horrid things. Per Stross:

Its distinctive feature is a design that doesn't simply invite a user to pay attention to an ad — it also compels attention. The technology can freeze the device until the user clicks a button or answers a test question to demonstrate that he or she has dutifully noticed the commercial message. Because this technology would be embedded in the innermost core of the device, the ads could appear on the screen at any time, no matter what one is doing.

In this scheme, once an ad starts running, you'll have to interact with it to prove you've watched it. Worse, the interaction will vary -- the required activity or location of the "clickspot" will change from ad to ad -- which makes them much harder to avoid.

I don't know about you but that would push me over the edge of dislike for Apple. This also has me thinking ok this is only for lower cost Apple items. So what if they offer this on iPhones and your able to get a discounted iPhone in exchange for the ads it still will hurt those who paid full price for their iPhone. How can it hurt them you ask? Well just think if AT&T starts giving away iPhones how many more users will now be on the AT&T network, a network that already is straining to keep up with all the users. Think you have dropped calls now just wait.

What do you think? Would this annoy you and would you opt in for it as long as you got the item for a great deal?