25285120
submission
mario_grgic writes:
And so it begins, Apple will require that all Mac apps submitted to the Mac App store stick to strict sandboxing requirements. This means you must ask Apple for read or read/write entitlements for additional folders outside your Application Support folder before your app is approved. There are also restrictions on direct hardware access, communication to processes your app did not start, or even something simple as taking a screenshot.
All that is needed after this to turn your Mac into an appliance is to only allow app installations from App Store.
14535418
submission
mario_grgic writes:
Apple insider brings a story about expansion and renewal of current "Advertisement in Operating System" patent that Apple's Steve Jobs and other contributors have. The patent describes in detail (with OS X screen shots) how the forced ads would work (they would disable some OS functionality until the ad is viewed), but apparently it also applies to any device with UI including phones, TVs set top boxes etc.
With recent Apple entry into mobile ad business, and ambition to own half of all the mobile ads served in second half of this year, it certainly makes one wonder if Apple would dare and put something like this in its desktop OS. I wonder if this would push more people to open source alternatives?
3327241
submission
mario_grgic writes:
Recently announced Google Earth version 5.0 adds interesting new features like images of ocean floors and some detailed images of Mars.But it also brings another unwelcome change for Mac OS X users. Google Software update daemon is installed when the application is launched for the first time. The user is greeted with an uninformative message that does not really explain what is about to happen. After accepting the agreement, Google update agent is downloaded and installed. It updates all Google applications and not just Google earth. Also, it runs on schedule instead only when one of Google applications is launched, consuming system resources. Worst of all it can not be simply removed, since it is downloaded and installed again once Google Earth is launched. Users really have only two choices, live with it, or uninstall all Google apps. So fellow Slashdotters, has Google crossed the line?
