Live from Austin!

2007: Apple introduces OS X 10.5, with its new quarantine feature. Applications which are downloaded from the Internet now show a warning dialog if you try to run them. At the same time, support is added for code signing, and notes that the user is likely to be bothered with additional dialog boxes and prompts for unsigned code that they don’t see with signed code. Developers are advised that they should sign all code.

2008: Apple introduces the iPhone SDK, and explains that for security reasons, the iPhone will only run code signed with a public key and co-signed by Apple.

2010: At WWDC, Apple introduces new security features for OS X 10.7. Developers are told that unsigned code will produce a new more strongly worded warning dialog every time it is run. A bundle of SDK, code signing key/cert and some new tools is announced for $99. Fanboys point out that you can turn the dialog off, so what’s the problem?

2011: Mac OS X 10.7 is launched with the new Mac App Store as an icon in the dock that cannot be removed. Anyone can sell signed applications via the App Store, with Apple taking a 30% cut of the profits and handling fulfilment. A developer feeding frenzy ensues. Soon, the Mac App Store is the main way to sell Macintosh applications. The old free OS X SDK is quietly discontinued. Fanboys point out that there are still the GNU tools and scripting languages, so what’s the problem?

2012: Mac OS X 10.8 is announced. OS X Server is rebranded as OS X Professional, aimed at developers, and shipped with Pro grade machines (MacBook Pro and Mac Pro) and servers. The regular OS X 10.8 is shipped on MacBook and Mac Mini systems. Development is still possible on the basic OS X, if you pay $99 for the SDK and a code signing key. Fanboys point out that you can easily jailbreak OS X 10.8, so what’s the problem?

2013: Mac OS X 10.9 no longer runs unsigned code. For that, you need to buy Mac OS X Professional, or the developer SDK and a signing key. The Mac is now locked up the same way as the iPhone or iPad. Fanboys explain that this was necessary for security reasons. Besides, what are you going to do, switch to Linux?

1. The world has been crying out for a $500 e-book reader and the chance to read books on an LCD.
2. Nobody reads books outdoors, so a screen I can’t read outdoors is perfect.
3. Nobody listens to music or has IM running while browsing the web, or edits documents with a web browser open.
4. The lack of multi-tasking brings back the joys of the authentic 1984 Macintosh experience.
5. Look, if I really want to listen to music while I’m working, I’ll use my iPod.
6. No, it doesn’t have a camera. I can use my digital camera for that, and then import the pictures using a USB cable and the USB cable dongle. Nobody uses video chat.
7. You don’t understand it, it’s all about convergence.
8. It’s not a computer, so it doesn’t matter that it can only run software Apple approves of.
9. It’s a computer, so I don’t need to carry my laptop or netbook around.
10. I love having a single vendor dictate what I can and can’t do with the hardware I buy.
11. Nobody uses Flash. That’s why nobody plays those stupid Facebook games or watches Hulu or uses Flickr.
12. Needing dongles for USB, storage and recharging the battery helps keep the initial cost down, as well as giving me more excuses to visit the Apple store each time I lose one.
13. Word processing on a glass touch keyboard will be great. Anyway, you can buy the keyboard dock add-on, at which point the iPad will be as good for writing as a $200 netbook with no multi-tasking that you can’t use on your lap.
14. Look, nobody wanted an OS X tablet.

© 2010 all Apple fanboys.

Mostly for Gareth.