Apple Exploring Ad-Supported Operating Systems?

[coolfactor]

Just the "Research" side of R&D. Companies can learn lots from research that never develops directly into a product or service.

 

[Peace]

This could have something to do with the Tablet device folks.

It will run an O/S. And is supposed to be media/magazine/music/movie centric.

Makes perfect sense.

 

[Ramashalanka]

I think this would be OK as long as it was opt in, rather than opt out. I wouldn't ever opt in, but if it was just an option that you had to go and find on System Prefs that would be OK. I would hate to have to turn down the ads periodically. I would find a new OS then. My only worry is that it's a slippery slope, and it all ends up like some websites that are 90% flashing ads, 10% half-useful content.

The tablet comments could be on the money.

 

[exigentsky]

Ahhh!

If this ever becomes a reality, I'm switching to Linux or Windows in a heartbeat.

 

[Cinematographer]

I think the knee-jerk negative reaction is silly. It's obviously an optional thing.

arn

I think you miss understood all concept of Apple.

You might be right. Arn founded the most influential Apple rumors site missunderstandig all concept of Apple. That's probably the secret of his success.

You really made my day!

 

[Ramashalanka]

So yes sure, advertisements are one way to read into this, but we all know Steve Jobs is one of the few to get perfect scores on his SAT's... so there is always a practical purpose.

What's practical about the SATs?

 

[talkingfuture]

Looks to me like the kind of thing that Apple would never do, but they would patent it to make it harder for Google to do it.

 

[filmweaver]

Now that is a sure fire way to self destruction of Apple, just watch me migrate back to PC's.

 

[baryon]

Come on, OS X is cheap as it is, I don't mind paying for it, just don't give me ads! I'm annoyed enough by the ads on websites, at least let my OS be free of them!

 

[filmweaver]

Looks to me like the kind of thing that Apple would never do, but they would patent it to make it harder for Google to do it.

Interesting Theory!

 

[telecomm]

Isn't the iPhone—and not a desktop/laptop—the obvious device for this sort of thing?

 

[koobcamuk]

I think the knee-jerk negative reaction is silly. It's obviously an optional thing.

I don't know how much sense it makes for an OS. But the idea seems to be that you would get the OS for free (for example). In the past, people could get whole computers for free. Would you accept a free Mac Mini if it had ads in it? Some people would.

In my mind it makes more sense for an application (like MS Office) where you might not use it enough to justify the spend, but might use it intermittently and not mind seeing an ad to use it for 30 minutes.

arn

OK then Arn, I'll take my free Mac Mini and then install a crack to disable adverts.

I hate adverts and I wont have them on my OS. It's the reason I hate spotify.

 

[koobcamuk]

You might be right. Arn founded the most influential Apple rumors site missunderstandig all concept of Apple. That's probably the secret of his success.

You really made my day!

He does have a point though.

Apple hardly ever let you have something on or off "optionally" and usually just enforce it.

I think this would be OK as long as it was opt in, rather than opt out. I wouldn't ever opt in, but if it was just an option that you had to go and find on System Prefs that would be OK. I would hate to have to turn down the ads periodically. I would find a new OS then. My only worry is that it's a slippery slope, and it all ends up like some websites that are 90% flashing ads, 10% half-useful content.

The tablet comments could be on the money.

I think it should be opt-in but then people dont know it's their, so they'll make it opt-out

 

[baddj]

Well the hole idea is bad they can do it as long as it can my turned off and on and its off by default.

 

[alexmack]

What's practical about the SATs?

I was just trying to say that we all know Job's has a noggin...

 

[larrylaffer]

I think you guys are thinking about this the wrong way.

With all the rumors of an iTablet lately, I could see it being used for free access to a 3g network. Watch an advert, get 30 minutes of internet access. Or, optionally, spend $10 a month to get unlimited internet.

Personally I'd be more than happy to watch an advert in this kind of situation, especially because I doubt I'd use the internet on it enough to warrant paying $10 a month.

You make a good point. Companies hocking these junky netbooks want $299 in addition to a 2 year contract with a mobile provider. What if the tablet costs $299 or even $499, but has ad-supported internet access instead of contracts? Put me down for one.

Not to mention this sort of thing would be cracked in a heartbeat anyway.

 

[iZac]

Pointless patent, offensive concept.

 

[Peace]

Pointless patent, offensive concept.

Microsoft did it in the 90's. Nothing new. But it is a monumentally bad idea. I'm surprised Apple even went for a patent on this concept.

Unless it is Tablet related.

 

[pimentoLoaf]

Not on my computer.

Not ever.

Windows (or even Linux (shudder)) before that...

Agreed. And switch to OpenOffice.org under Windows instead of MS Office -- all the functionality without the cost.

 

[miknos]

I can't imagine browsing the net without adblockers [Adblock plus (for Firefox) or GlimmerBlocker for Safari (or whatever browser)]. Imagine advertising in the OS ?

 

[bug67]

Just stupid.

 

[cocky jeremy]

I'll put this simple: F that!

 

[theLastBeatle]

I think the knee-jerk negative reaction is silly. It's obviously an optional thing.

I don't know how much sense it makes for an OS. But the idea seems to be that you would get the OS for free (for example). In the past, people could get whole computers for free. Would you accept a free Mac Mini if it had ads in it? Some people would.

In my mind it makes more sense for an application (like MS Office) where you might not use it enough to justify the spend, but might use it intermittently and not mind seeing an ad to use it for 30 minutes.

arn

just because their reaction is different than yours doesn't mean it's a "knee-jerk reaction" they could have very good reasons why this would suck. personaly, I don't need to see any more advertising during my day. I'm busy, ads annoy and distract and get in the way. it hinders the user experience and personally I try to avoid them when possible. you say it would be fine for limited circumstances, I say don't get them started. someone already says it, money blinds people. ads suck for the user. just look at the positive/negetives of this thread. we are users, we overwhelmingly said NO! give them an inch and they'll take a mile. I'm willing to pay for no ads. I'm not willing to use something for free with ads if I can help it.

 

[theLastBeatle]

Not for me, thanks. I'll do without Scientology on my desktop. Remove your foot from my doorstep please ...

I hear you brother. it's the advertisers and the people that profit from advertisers that are always the ones behind this BS. a very low minority would swallow this BS.

 

[kwikdeth]

as of this post, 4 positive votes, 126 negative votes.

the "knee-jerk" reaction, aka the "gut reaction" aka instinct, is probably the right one. the last two years of Apple's "direction" have been especially hard on me, as a mac user for over 20+ years. Unfortunately, I dont see this as totally unexpected from the Apple of today. Even worse, I can see people lining up for it if it meant free stuff.
Of course, if apple opens the floodgates on advertising, it's only a matter of time till we're forced into locking down our computers with over-priced antivirus software subscriptions and having to have every download scanned for trojans.
I guess in one way, I should be glad that most of my macs are PowerPC and will never get any more OS updates. They'll never have to deal with this *********.