Over at The Register, there’s an interesting op/ed piece by Bill Ray, who talks about the iSlate/tablet as a launching pad for Apple to expand its draconian controls into more and more of your digital life.
The iSlate will take the iPhone concept into a decent-sized package, but more importantly for Apple it takes the security and control model into the realm of laptop computing. From there it’s a small jump to the desktop and Cupertino control over everything you do on your computer.
The piece is a touch scaremongering, but it does raise some interesting points. The iPhone is an incredibly stable and safe system because of the strict controls over apps. Consumers seem okay with this on their phones, but would they extend the same approval to the equivalent of a laptop? Not being able to download whatever you want, and run it? And what if Apple continued down that path? Would you buy your next MacBook if you could only run Apple okayed applications?
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Bill Ray is a notorious Apple basher. it’s a “small jump” to control “everything”? yeah, sure, Bill.
expanding Apple’s existing Software Update to include validated third party applications and updates would be a great thing. but locking down a desktop OS so nothing else could be installed would never be accepted by the consumer market.
oh btw, since everyone including Mr. Ray always forgets, Windows Genuine Advantage already provides Microsoft a “back door” to “control everything” on your PC today. without notice.
The consumer has a choice not to buy an Apple tablet computer. There will be many other tablet computers to choose from. I don’t understand this concern about Apple control. In the U.S. people really can’t just do anything they want. There are always some controls. Most people I know that use iPhones and iPod Touches are quite satisfied with Apple’s control of what can be downloaded. I’m sure there are always exceptions. I believe that most users feel safer with a “walled garden” approach. I look at Android as being far too open to have a very stable platform for low-tech users. I could deal with it but I think a controlled approach is better for low-tech users. A child can use an iPhone or iPod Touch from one generation to the next. With Android, companies are always slapping on their own unique IUs which could be rather confusing to users. I think that Android will have more users in the long run, but I like Apple’s approach of experience control since it think it makes for a more solid platform. I guess once humans get to a certain age, they think there is no need for restraint or control. They already know all there is to know and nobody should tell them anything.
I’m sure even tablets will end up jailbroken for those that absolutely must have apps that Apple doesn’t approve of. That’s up to the individual user and that’s their responsibility.