"However, the sad truth is that it looks like there is no business case anymore for a truly open platform based on custom-designed hardware"
Many companies, including ours, are deploying Linux and Android to an s-ton of embedded and custom tablet like devices. I see Linux being adopted more and more in many forms in the B2B market. Product development for consumers is a tough cookie but when you design/develop turn key solutions and services for other businesses the truth is the business customer doesn't really care if you use FOSS or M$ or Crapple. They want a product that works as you're sales team has sold them, is intuitive, adds value to their business and is reliable.
You'll find plenty of work for open source (and Linux especially) in the B2B space.
Don't get me started on passwords and security questions... I'm a senior software developer (not for a bank) and I can tell you there is absolutely no reason why a user must be limited to 12 characters! Also I don't need to tell you why "What highschool did you go to?" Or "when did you graduate high school?" are horrible security questions. When I see shit like this at a BANK I'm just appalled.
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Middleware** damn Autocorrect :)
"However, the sad truth is that it looks like there is no business case anymore for a truly open platform based on custom-designed hardware" Many companies, including ours, are deploying Linux and Android to an s-ton of embedded and custom tablet like devices. I see Linux being adopted more and more in many forms in the B2B market. Product development for consumers is a tough cookie but when you design/develop turn key solutions and services for other businesses the truth is the business customer doesn't really care if you use FOSS or M$ or Crapple. They want a product that works as you're sales team has sold them, is intuitive, adds value to their business and is reliable. You'll find plenty of work for open source (and Linux especially) in the B2B space.
Don't get me started on passwords and security questions... I'm a senior software developer (not for a bank) and I can tell you there is absolutely no reason why a user must be limited to 12 characters! Also I don't need to tell you why "What highschool did you go to?" Or "when did you graduate high school?" are horrible security questions. When I see shit like this at a BANK I'm just appalled.