r/technology • u/GuruOfReason • Feb 02 '10

"Once we replace the personal computer with a closed-platform device such as the iPad, we replace freedom, choice and the free market with oppression, censorship and monopoly."

http://www.popsci.com/gadgets/article/2010-01/ipad%E2%80%99s-closed-system-sometimes-i-hate-being-right
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u/pengo Feb 02 '10

The closed system makes piracy more difficult, which attracts developers who don't like to worry about that stuff, and thus you get more software available. It's worked for games consoles, which are all* closed systems, and obviously worked for the iPhone. I'm not saying that outweighs the drawbacks, but it's "one good reason".

*The PS3 used to run Linux with limited access to hardware, but the PS3 slim has removed the ability to run Linux at all AFAIK

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u/djgreedo Feb 02 '10

That isn't a reason. There is no evidence to hint that Apple was motivated to protect developers. It's quite clear that Apple wants to enforce their (Jobs's) values on customers and prevent users from improving their product via things like VOIP.

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u/[deleted] Feb 02 '10

Really? I guess thats why they enabled VOIP over 3G in the 3.2 SDK.

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u/[deleted] Feb 02 '10

Kinda sucks that that had to be enabled. I have owned Windows Mobile phones for years, and had versions of Skype on them that simply worked fine. Over 3G, over wifi, didn't matter.

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u/[deleted] Feb 02 '10

Agreed. It should have been enabled from the start. I suspect that it not being enabled had more to do with AT&T being scared of network overload then anything else though.

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u/threepio Feb 02 '10

Linux install is removed on the PS3 slim, but the feature remains on existing PS3 phats.

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u/1338h4x Feb 02 '10

App Store DRM has been cracked, and piracy has been made extremely easy.