I was listening to MBW and this topic got me intrigued. We can ignore the stupid remarks about the high prices of apps due to them only being available in the app store. My real concern is the idea that users could get apps outside Apple's app store. It sounds weird becasue a long time ago I used to Jailbreak my phone. However I have so many concerns about this whole thing and how it would impact "mainstream" users. My first issue is that whatever is decided no one will come out and let consumers know. The government wont put out an ad saying "you can now get apps for iOS devices outside the app store. However if you do then Apple is not responsible for the damage done by the apps". I can see it now because I know people will take the phone to the Genius Bar and scream that it wont boot, their data has been stolen, etc. When the genius tells them that Apple is not responsible for 3rd party apps bought outside the app store what kind of hell will break loose? Who are customers going to sue when their data is mined or they get malware on their iPhone? Good luck finding some developer half way around the world.
I used to think that Apple should put an expert switch in iOS or collaborate with the Jailbreak community like Saurik etc. Except that is also a disaster waiting to happen. Adding an expert switch means that Apple provided the function and would have to support it. They will be accountable for any damage as a result whether there is a disclaimer or not. The PR damage which will result is just not worth it. In the same way that the JB community does not have the resources or want to vet the apps that can be loaded through a JBen iOS device. I can't say how many people I've connected with back in the day on iMore because they were having issues JBing their device. Whether they couldn't get it into DFU mode, it was throwing up errors, they didn't have a Mac and needed custom ipsw files. It is just not for the everyday consumer. Personally I keep coming back to the fact that for me the negatives far outweigh anything else. I could link to a site that sells tools to forensic experts and penetration testers. It would make you put a tinfoil hat on knowing what can be done especially to JBen iOS devices.
Wondering where everyone else falls on the subject?
U.S. appeals court revives antitrust lawsuit against Apple | Reuters
I used to think that Apple should put an expert switch in iOS or collaborate with the Jailbreak community like Saurik etc. Except that is also a disaster waiting to happen. Adding an expert switch means that Apple provided the function and would have to support it. They will be accountable for any damage as a result whether there is a disclaimer or not. The PR damage which will result is just not worth it. In the same way that the JB community does not have the resources or want to vet the apps that can be loaded through a JBen iOS device. I can't say how many people I've connected with back in the day on iMore because they were having issues JBing their device. Whether they couldn't get it into DFU mode, it was throwing up errors, they didn't have a Mac and needed custom ipsw files. It is just not for the everyday consumer. Personally I keep coming back to the fact that for me the negatives far outweigh anything else. I could link to a site that sells tools to forensic experts and penetration testers. It would make you put a tinfoil hat on knowing what can be done especially to JBen iOS devices.
Wondering where everyone else falls on the subject?
U.S. appeals court revives antitrust lawsuit against Apple | Reuters