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Apple Exploring Ad-Supported Operating Systems?
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Look on the bright side.. at least any ad-supported OS is going to be locked down tight against 3rd party Adware! They wouldn't want anyone else muscling in on their territory now, would they?
I can't see Apple ever doing this, but I'm surprised that they would they even investigate such a thing. Ever since its inception, Apple has been associated with and strived for style and beautiful and aesthetically-pleasing products.
Advertising, being an arguably necessary evil, is totally antithetical to any sense of style or beauty.
Come on Apple--you don't want to sink to the level of a Walmart, do you? Stay classy!
Advertising, being an arguably necessary evil, is totally antithetical to any sense of style or beauty.
Come on Apple--you don't want to sink to the level of a Walmart, do you? Stay classy!
Pause
One of the most stupid ideas I have seen this week. Windows 7 looks pretty good.....at last.
One of the most stupid ideas I have seen this week. Windows 7 looks pretty good.....at last.
Ad-supported OS would drive me away
That would be one sure way to get me to stop using any given system. Ad supported apps is one thing (and I try not to use those, either) but putting that kind of insecure, privacy-depleted functionality into the OS itself would drive me nuts.
That would be one sure way to get me to stop using any given system. Ad supported apps is one thing (and I try not to use those, either) but putting that kind of insecure, privacy-depleted functionality into the OS itself would drive me nuts.
Hmmm "Apple understands its customers better than customers understand even themselves" Apple 1984 commercial comes to mind.
What do you think of the new shuffle? I actually believe it is a step backwards in user experience, do you honestly believe that making it much smaller and therefore loosing physical control on the device in favor of complicated controls in the headphones is a positive move (complicated compared to previous gen shuffle)?
Somebody joked yesterday that Apple should start moving into Google's territory since Google seem to be wading into Apple's. Maybe they were closer to the truth than they thought! All I can hope, if this ever comes about, is a Little Snitch or ClicktoFlash type applications called SkiptheAd!
I think this is a great idea if its used for software
For example, if Adobe did this you could use Photoshop without paying for it in exchange for seeing an ad every hour or something. Adobe would still make money (or even more since it's pirated so much)
Think of it as Hulu for software, I'm surprised this isn't done more.
Hulu is free because of ads, Google is free because of ads, I would like this.
For example, if Adobe did this you could use Photoshop without paying for it in exchange for seeing an ad every hour or something. Adobe would still make money (or even more since it's pirated so much)
Think of it as Hulu for software, I'm surprised this isn't done more.
Hulu is free because of ads, Google is free because of ads, I would like this.
This is by far the worst thing I could ever expect to hear about Apple. Sounds more like something Micro$oft would do.
Regardless if this were to happen and obligatory, outcry against it would be fierce.
Regardless if this were to happen and obligatory, outcry against it would be fierce.
Well, we still are allowed to discuss it, aren't we? I just don't see Apple doing this, ever. I mean, it is a terrible idea, and as you can see, people all around will complain about it.
I for one, cannot browse without some sort of adblocking plugin (adblock plus in Firefox or a nicely updated urlfilter.ini in Opera
)
That's such a good idea!
I hope Apple never implements this system. I hate ads... I don't even like watching ads on TV.
What's next... making us watch ads in our digital TV downloads?
that'll be the fastest way to make me spending 30 minutes to erase OSX in favor of Ubuntu on my (still) shiny Alu MB.
I was thinking the exact same thing. I'd accept an ad supported, free Mac Mini in an instant. And then I'd re-format the drive and install Linux, BSD or Solaris. I hope this happens. I'd take as many of these as they would give out.
Calm down everyone!
I can't imagine there is enough Apple market share to make an ad-supported OSX profitable for anyone. At 5%, there isn't enough interest to attract virus/malware writers. Take another tiny percentage of the over-all market share of people who will use this, and you have a very very small audience.
My guess? This is the evolutionary step for the iTunes store Genius. I imagine you could have a desktop widget that advertises shows, music, and movies, with discounts to the store if you run the ads.
Windows 7 Media Center has the same kind of desktop gadget that displays upcoming shows, and notifies the user when MC has finished recording a show, or what shows will be up next. It's actually pretty handy. Tie something like that to the iTunes store and I bet A LOT of people would use it.
I can't imagine there is enough Apple market share to make an ad-supported OSX profitable for anyone. At 5%, there isn't enough interest to attract virus/malware writers. Take another tiny percentage of the over-all market share of people who will use this, and you have a very very small audience.
My guess? This is the evolutionary step for the iTunes store Genius. I imagine you could have a desktop widget that advertises shows, music, and movies, with discounts to the store if you run the ads.
Windows 7 Media Center has the same kind of desktop gadget that displays upcoming shows, and notifies the user when MC has finished recording a show, or what shows will be up next. It's actually pretty handy. Tie something like that to the iTunes store and I bet A LOT of people would use it.
so we should all calm down because several million people, regardless of the percentage, isn't enough to make money, and also you believe in a demonstrated myth about virus writers.
i am teaching a critical thinking class next sem. feel free to sign up...
My reaction is extremely iffy. I definitely know I wouldn't want it if it were optional, and I have a feeling Apple can't possibly be considering making it a real part of their OS.
Then again, these are only patents... can we be angry or disgusted just because they're exploring options, however outlandish or seemingly un-Apple-like?
Then again, these are only patents... can we be angry or disgusted just because they're exploring options, however outlandish or seemingly un-Apple-like?
This is being blown way out of proportion, but logic and reason alone isn't enough for people not to be paranoid (after all, we still haven't landed on the moon......................................................................).
I'm guessing this will be a top story on Digg sometime this week, and will quickly slip out of memory. The only reference to this will be, "Remember when Apple..."
You'd have to be crazy to think Apple is stupid enough to do this for a full priced computer/OS. If they start subsidizing something then you are paying half the price, but then having to watch ads as well. That's a trade off that everyone lives with already using Internet and TV.
No one will be forced to do anything, because everyone would switch to a different OS if that was the case.
I think that's why some people are scurred. Apple doesn't traditionally issue patents for products that they won't use. Whether or not they are successful or come into production is another story though.
However, that of course doesn't mean they will implement this into every OS unless you are paying a highly discounted price (free), and know darn well what you are getting into. They aren't going to start sneaking this in to the OS for everyone because that would destroy Apple.
I'm guessing this will be a top story on Digg sometime this week, and will quickly slip out of memory. The only reference to this will be, "Remember when Apple..."
You'd have to be crazy to think Apple is stupid enough to do this for a full priced computer/OS. If they start subsidizing something then you are paying half the price, but then having to watch ads as well. That's a trade off that everyone lives with already using Internet and TV.
No one will be forced to do anything, because everyone would switch to a different OS if that was the case.
I think that's why some people are scurred. Apple doesn't traditionally issue patents for products that they won't use. Whether or not they are successful or come into production is another story though.
However, that of course doesn't mean they will implement this into every OS unless you are paying a highly discounted price (free), and know darn well what you are getting into. They aren't going to start sneaking this in to the OS for everyone because that would destroy Apple.
I would like to know how many of you screaming "BOO!" and "No Way!" actually have ad supported, free or discounted apps, on your iPhone? Think about it people!
In an increasingly capitalist society this IS the future.
In an increasingly capitalist society this IS the future.
Lol, your joking right? They have hundreds of unused patents. Most of them are simply to make sure no one takes an idea, even if they aren't implementing it.
Patented to keep out..
Ok, I agree as some posters have commented: to stop [M$ or insert competitors' names here].. But also, as SJ is one of the inventors, he can determine the price of the license of such a product.
This is important in the free (as in freebie) world where mobile phones have become essential free. If this was to happen with say netbooks, such an operating system could be seen as attractive to a low budget consumer. (also consider convergent devices.. )
Such a patent could put a floor on the price of such a product.
PS: How about embedded devices? Say a smart fridge, that uses embedded ads?
Ok, I agree as some posters have commented: to stop [M$ or insert competitors' names here].. But also, as SJ is one of the inventors, he can determine the price of the license of such a product.
This is important in the free (as in freebie) world where mobile phones have become essential free. If this was to happen with say netbooks, such an operating system could be seen as attractive to a low budget consumer. (also consider convergent devices.. )
Such a patent could put a floor on the price of such a product.
PS: How about embedded devices? Say a smart fridge, that uses embedded ads?