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Re:Microsoft calls for a closer look at app stores by userbinator on Friday June 19, 2020 @09:35AM (#23574370)
I still remember Microsoft's chokehold on the entire industry in the 1990s, their "embrace, extend and extinguish" strategy, and nearly total monopoly.

But even during those times, you were still free to install/mod whatever you wanted on your computer, and even now it is (just barely) possible with Windows. Apple has always been far more controlling than Microsoft, although the latter is slowly moving in that direction too. Maybe this is finally a welcome change in direction, but I doubt it...

Re:Microsoft calls for a closer look at app stores by jdxcode on Friday June 19, 2020 @09:46AM (#23574464)
I agree with you in terms of iOS but macOS is super easy to run custom software on. I might have to click a security box for non-notarized apps (but not CLI tools) but I don’t see that as a bad thing.

When it comes to permission dialogs Windows has always been worse IMO

Re:Microsoft calls for a closer look at app stores by DeusExMachina on Friday June 19, 2020 @09:59AM (#23574586)
I would not characterize that as just "clicking a security box for non-notarized apps".

A few days ago I downloaded a non-notarized app. The dialog that I saw baffled me and it took me a while to recall how to run a non-notarized app.

You have to right-click on it and clock on "open", something that should be equivalent to double-clicking, but isn't. That's harder than clicking a security box. Someone with no knowledge might never find out how to run these apps.

Re:Microsoft calls for a closer look at app stores by jdxcode on Friday June 19, 2020 @11:16AM (#23575314)
We could debate the appropriate level of friction for running this class of software, but GP said:

> Apple has always been far more controlling than Microsoft

Notarization came out with Catalina.

Re:Microsoft calls for a closer look at app stores by DeusExMachina on Friday June 19, 2020 @01:20PM (#23576655)
I'm not disputing that. I'm just saying it's harder than checking a box.
Re:Microsoft calls for a closer look at app stores by nowandlater on Friday June 19, 2020 @10:52AM (#23575092)
Try getting a non-notarized VST to run in your DAW. At least in my experience, even after allowing the plugin in security and privacy it still never loads in Reaper. It's entirely possible, even probable, that I'm doing something wrong. But what a headache.
Re:Microsoft calls for a closer look at app stores by rvz on Friday June 19, 2020 @10:14AM (#23574712)
> But even during those times, you were still free to install/mod whatever you wanted on your computer, and even now it is (just barely) possible with Windows.

True. For the users, app installation wasn't a problem, until Internet Explorer came for Netscape.

The problem was mainly Microsoft having the majority of manufacturers like, Dell, IBM, HP, Compaq, Packard Bell, Hitachi, Toshiba having Windows pre-installed and threatening a rise in prices of their Windows license or even revoking their licenses if they sell PCs pre-installed with desktop OS competitors like Be Inc's BeOS. [0]

[0] https://web.archive.org/web/20131109045719/http://www.intern...

Re:Microsoft calls for a closer look at app stores by rootusrootus on Friday June 19, 2020 @10:10AM (#23574686)
> Apple has always been far more controlling than Microsoft

How so? Both MacOS and Windows for years had a completely unhindered app installation process. Though it was much simpler on MacOS because you didn't need a custom installer, and you could easily move apps from one computer to another.

Re:Microsoft calls for a closer look at app stores by zepto on Friday June 19, 2020 @10:57AM (#23575128)
I don’t see why this is downvoted. It’s simply true that since the original MacOS the Mac was less controlling of software installation than Windows before gatekeeper and the App Store.

It’s completely reasonable to argue that this is no longer true, but it’s denial to say that it has always been this way.

Re:Microsoft calls for a closer look at app stores by getpost on Friday June 19, 2020 @09:50AM (#23574499)
You were free to install whatever you wanted after you paid for a copy Windows (even if you didn’t want Windows).