Locked-Down Tablets Endanger FLOSS For End Users

itwbennett writes "If you buy into the idea that tablets (and ultrabooks, and smartphones) in the enterprise are nothing more than glorified thin clients, then Microsoft's Surface presentation seemed more flashback than future. And if you're a fan of free software, the announcement might also have struck fear in your heart. While Microsoft has never locked out apps based on license, it's not impossible that they might chose a more locked-down Apple-esque approach for Surface, writes blogger Brian Proffitt. 'And that could put free software for end users very much at risk.'"

Comments

Re:Lock Out

[CanHasDIY]

+1 informative.

Does Apple ban redistribution of source code? No. VLC for iPhone's source code was available for download, before VLC was pulled on request of one of the authors.
Does Apple ban redistribution of the binary? Any iPhone is free to copy your iPhone backups, and send them to whoever wants them.... not that the recipient would be able to do much with them!
Does Apple ban the use of other people's source code in your own project? Of course not.

FMOTGFY (Fixed Most Of That Grammar For You)

Safe to assume English is not your primary language? Please let that be a yes...

What Apple does is prevent installation of anything that doesn't come from the Appstore. This is the so called "walled garden!" To be honest, I don't mind a walled garden, as I would rather not have a device that can be infected with Adware/Trojans/Viruses!.

Aww, there's still someone out there who thinks Apple products are immune to malware! How quaint!