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Apple: You Must Be 17+ To Use Opera
An anonymous reader writes "From the techspot article: 'This week, the Opera web browser became the first non-native browser made available in Apple's Mac App Store. While Apple approved the browser, it still managed to hurt its competitor by putting this ridiculous label on it: "You must be at least 17 years old to download this app." Opera has reacted in good humor. "I'm very concerned," Jan Standal, VP of Desktop Products for Opera Software, said in a statement. "Seventeen is very young, and I am not sure if, at that age, people are ready to use such an application. It's very fast, you know, and it has a lot of features. I think the download requirement should be at least 18."'"
And right around the time when those kids turn of-age, the other browsers will finally be implementing all of those features
Last night couple of teenagers approached me near a liquor store and asked me if they could use my Opera.
Seems FUD, I downloaded other Safari-based browsers and they give a warning since you can get to adult content via the browser. I'm over 17, but I just had to say "OK" in the message box to proceed, Seems pretty reasonable...
The cookie told me to.
After reading this, I just want to go shake Jan Standal's hand. It's not often you see a a suit invert a rival's rhetoric against them so pointedly and humorously. Usually it's all serious business, especially, you know, with the internet.
It is because Safari has hooks into Parental Controls and Opera has not, therefore Opera gets the 17 years old limit.
All apps that have unfettered access to the Internet have the 17+ nag screen. Browsers, RSS readers... This isn't a story, this is Apple bashing.
The more 17- kids will want it. Doing something forbidden is always more fun! But the kids will get bored of it soon, and say, "What was the big deal about this app?"
Schroedinger's Brexit: The UK is both in and out of the EU at the same time!
if i say, at this point, that Apple has become a rather villainous, control whore.
Nonsense.
They always were control whores.
Hush, don't tell the hipsters. They still think that using Apple is a symbol of individuality, creativity, and rebellion. Just look at how many douchebags you can find on YouTube looking into their MacBook cameras ranting about the evils of capitalism.
SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
It's subjective. In a debate on the matter, I once posted an image featuring not just a naked woman, but provocative posing and implied bestiality with a swan. Draw that today, it'd be called porn. But this painting was drawn by no less than Leonado da Vinci, and obviously someone so famous would never draw porn. Therefore it can't be porn.
And this is the whole point.
1. There are parental controls in iOS. Including for Safari. Thus no need for a warning.
2. Opera ignores these parental controls.
3. Apple gives a warning because of #2.
There is no one-sided-ness. No overt control for a competitor. Just trying to be more consistent - parental control or warning. And ironically, after being tarred and feathered for being one sided, when they're more consistent, there's even more whinging.
In the bigger picture, most kids are given sex-ed at around 10...America thinks they have to wait 7 more years for better pictures.
There are two types of people in the world: Those who crave closure
Safari respects Apple's Parental Control system. Opera does not. Therefore, Safari does not require a warning since parents can lock it down if they choose, Opera cannot be locked down using any Apple controls so Apple has to warn parents that it falls outside of the "safe zone" and can be used to access porn no matter what Parental Controls are set for the iDevice.
"This post contains words, known to the State of California to cause thought. Wash brain thoroughly after reading."
The OS has built-in parental controls that apply to Safari. And to the Mac App Store. Had Opera not been given a 17+ rating, a parent could have set restrictions on Safari, set the Mac App Store not to allow installation of apps allowing access to adult content... and little Johnny could have still installed Opera and gotten himself unrestricted web access.
The idea that this is some plot by Apple to undermine Opera is absurd. Apple gives the same 17+ rating to any app that allows access to sufficiently unrestricted Internet content, including things like Wikipedia apps, which last time I checked Apple wasn't competing with.
This space unintentionally left unblank.
I'm not saying the Parental Controls work. We all know they don't really work. The problem is that Safari is subject to them, and Opera bypasses them, therefore Apple cannot even claim a good-faith effort to protect the chilluns from seeing sausage and meatballs or melons and bush on Opera.
It's a legal disclaimer.
"This post contains words, known to the State of California to cause thought. Wash brain thoroughly after reading."
You do realise that TFA is about the Mac App Store right? Not the iOS App Store!
You can still get Opera the old fashioned way.