I really wasn't trying to go down the path of arguing how evil apple are. It may have sounded like I support their evil ways, but I was just trying to open up the discussion that sometimes you can't have everything. If the platform was as open as we would like, what would the technical side effects be? Or would it have worked if they just took an Android style approach.
Not allowing "free access" is one issue. Apple choosing not to include a card reader, avoiding "file systems" and having an UI paradigm that won't allow me to install IntelliJ, is another. If they choose not to allow iPhone tethering to keep the carriers happy, then of course we should be pissed. If they don't give you a unix shell, then that's their decision. The obvious response is "I should be allowed to install my own". How far do we take "freedom" expectations for what are becoming consumer devices? I don't get offended that I can't reprogram the firmware on my TV without voiding the warranty. It's just that these new handheld devices are so close to computers that we expect this right. I'm not saying which side of the fence I'm on, because I can see it from both sides. But I do see Casper's point that its just locked out "learners and hackers" from a big chunk of the computing world. Nintendo have always been the worst dictatorship. Back in the day I looked into writing games for the Gameboy (8 bit Z80). The problem is, you can't (without licensing through Nintendo). And here is how they do it with no fancy DRM. The Nintendo logo which appears on the screen is found in both the ROM of the Gameboy and the cartridge itself. When it starts, the bootstrap compares the logos byte for byte. They don't match, it won't start. So if you were to try to release a game (that worked) you would be in breach of their copyright. I'm sure the Wii has the same type of lock in (and the fact its some custom disk format). But it's just a game console so "who cares". -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "The Java Posse" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/javaposse?hl=en.
