Sorry but this post is so full of rubbish it's almost trolling.
>for consumer-facing software, I don't think open source is the right solution..
Firefox, chrome, vlc, android.. think they work pretty well. Maybe not always, but yours was a pretty sweeping statement.
>..The auto-updating marketplaces provide tremendous value to the average consumer.
And have almost nothing to do with open vs walled-garden. What are these competing marketplaces on iOS? (besides, non-proprietary apps usually update themselves in the desktop world, which i can't see a big problem with).
Then you use windows as an example of 'open source' failure? Completely ignoring linux, which (as well as actually being open source and primarily running FLOSS apps) both won't get viruses in the hands of an average user (which i accept--android aside-- it is not normally in the hands of; but that's another discussion), and has also had package management for an eternity, as well as eg. ubuntu software centre for discovery (NB: not the only choice for software). That windows is not perfect is not an argument for the apple model (which IMO is largely better because it is much newer/no baggage; apple have made good software but that is no argument for its walled nature).
>Apple also did a magnificent job at creating a DRM-free marketplace for music. It didn't happen all at once
Apple created the locked nature with regard to the apps, it is not battling music labels to free them up. To insinuate that apple really wants an open system, but that it just needs time to mature, is.. contrary to reality (see also: the direction they are taking computer hardware).
NB: this, obviously, does not mean i share every opinion of RMS.
response: silent updating != walled-garden, FF is controlled by mozilla too, and basic VLC function is as easy to use as a DVD player. Yes moore's law has brought us great things, and apple makes nice stuff (relevance?).
Honestly, Chrome takes more of an app store model. It updates behind the scenes and always works. While it may be backed by open source work, it is released and controlled as product by Google.
Firefox is a disaster. I don't open it much, but I every time I do, it prompts for updates and things I don't care about.
VLC is wonderful program, and I use it almost every day. But it is way too complicated for most people. Something that plays videos should be as simple as a DVD player. VLC is a power tool.
I believe Apple wants to make computing that is easy, fun, and productive to use for non-programmers. They also want to make money. I don't think they want spy on and control their users for some arbitrary evil reason. At some point, there may be a need to take antitrust action against Apple, and those laws are there for a good reason.
I resisted buying an iPad for a long time. Then I saw Garage Band on the iPad. It is not a professional recording suite, that's true. But it's the modern day version of a home 16 track recorder + amp simulator + drum machine + MIDI sound back + effects unit. To get all this in a $500 package is literally quite amazing. 15 years ago, you'd have half a room full of equipment, a much clunkier interface, and endless wires. Even Garage Band on the Mac doesn't work as well.
I didn't insist that Apple wants an open system for apps. I said that it takes someone with negotiating skills to change an existing reality. You might even argue that free software would not be as successful today without someone like Linus who is more pragmatic.
I like freeform computing platforms for my programming tasks, like running web servers and the like. So long as Linux is around, we don't have to worry about that going away.
Not sure what is complicated about VLC? It's the simplest player I have ever used, you point it at a video file and it plays it. You get standard DVD player like controls for pause/play etc.
In contrast WMP refuses to play a bunch of filetypes altogether unless you mess with codecs and asks me a bunch of questions every time I start it up.
>for consumer-facing software, I don't think open source is the right solution..
Firefox, chrome, vlc, android.. think they work pretty well. Maybe not always, but yours was a pretty sweeping statement.
>..The auto-updating marketplaces provide tremendous value to the average consumer.
And have almost nothing to do with open vs walled-garden. What are these competing marketplaces on iOS? (besides, non-proprietary apps usually update themselves in the desktop world, which i can't see a big problem with).
Then you use windows as an example of 'open source' failure? Completely ignoring linux, which (as well as actually being open source and primarily running FLOSS apps) both won't get viruses in the hands of an average user (which i accept--android aside-- it is not normally in the hands of; but that's another discussion), and has also had package management for an eternity, as well as eg. ubuntu software centre for discovery (NB: not the only choice for software). That windows is not perfect is not an argument for the apple model (which IMO is largely better because it is much newer/no baggage; apple have made good software but that is no argument for its walled nature).
>Apple also did a magnificent job at creating a DRM-free marketplace for music. It didn't happen all at once
Apple created the locked nature with regard to the apps, it is not battling music labels to free them up. To insinuate that apple really wants an open system, but that it just needs time to mature, is.. contrary to reality (see also: the direction they are taking computer hardware).
NB: this, obviously, does not mean i share every opinion of RMS.
response: silent updating != walled-garden, FF is controlled by mozilla too, and basic VLC function is as easy to use as a DVD player. Yes moore's law has brought us great things, and apple makes nice stuff (relevance?).