Traditionally Users don’t seem to care about the walled garden, in fact they
seem to like it. Many of the complaints against Android and Linux are
surrounding the inconstant appearance of apps (personally I find this is mostly
due to bad ports of iOS apps..) and fragmentation of hardware. The lack of
these in the iOS world is directly a result of Apple being in complete control.
They decide what content you are allowed to see and which apps you are allowed
to use. Isn’t this just the kind of control large media companies want, and
hoped to accomplish via laws like SOPA and PIPA?
Thousands of calls, millions of emails and signatures. It’s very clear we
don’t want them messing with the Internet.
How long will it take for users to see Apple as one of these groups seeking to
control them? Apple is more than a hardware or software vendor, they sell a
lifestyle. What happens if suddenly we all discover we don’t want to give up
the freedom required for that lifestyle? Will we all stand up and smash our
iPads with a sledge hammer? Irony of the 1984 commercial is simply overwhelming.