http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-18996377

Seems like Microsoft maybe trying to limit access to it's OS in the same way that Apple already does. Another reason not to upgrade.

Indeed. They beauty of Windows is you can install what you want when you want, and you can do that without paying MS more money.
If Windows turns into iSO, then that (combined with Steam on Linux) might just make me switch OS.

The biggest action Valve could take is to not support Windows 8. It would make game manufacturers better consider Linux and OS X as gaming platforms and pull loads of people from the Windows platform.

However, I can't see that happening.

Errr... can't you do that with every other desktop OS

Steam will support win8. The big worry for steam is if game publishers want to go through the windows app store rather than through them. He is just worried their business model is just about to be trashed.

Any truth to the 'Apple have dropped Windows Safari' suggestions yet?

Whilst it's true they haven't released a Safari 6 for Windows (yet), I suspect it's more down to priorities - getting Mountain Lion out the door - rather than putting it out to pasture.

After all, the underpinnings that Safari runs on - WebKit - is also used by iTunes on Windows to power the iTunes Store, so WebKit will need to be kept updated for that - the added resources to keep Safari updated can't be that much, can it? I can't see them dropping Safari altogether, but you never know. Suppose we'll have to wait a while and see - my guess is we'll see Safari 6 for Windows next week or shortly afterwards.


Do you refer to Gatekeeper, that's included in Mountain Lion? Or are you referring to iOS - if so, that's fair enough as only apps from iTunes can be installed on iPads/iPhones etc, but it's not really a direct comparison with a desktop OS like Mac OS X or Windows 8.

The default behaviour for Gatekeeper on 10.8 is to only allow applications that have been signed with a developer's signature to be installed - which is a security measure and surely that can only be a good thing, right? If you're a legitimate developer, you'll already have a certificate - those that don't, aren't allowed to be installed unless you change Gatekeeper's preferences - which offers 3 levels of security...

1. Mac App Store - only apps bought and downloaded via the App Store are allowed.
2. Mac App Store and identified developers - this is the default setting for Gatekeeper.
3. Anywhere - This overrides Gatekeeper and you can install pretty much what you like, with no restrictions.

These options can easily be selected in System Preferences...


Not sure if this is actually restricting access to the OS in the same way as Windows 8 is going to though. Given that you can easily override Gatekeeper if you want, it's not a big deal really. Maybe when 10.9 or beyond is released, we'll see Apple taking a stronger stance with what is and isn't allowed, but unless the likes of Adobe and Quark sell their software via the App Store in the future, it would be pretty foolish for Apple to restrict installed software to just the App Store with no way of overriding that "feature".

Don’t forget there is the Sandbox, which every app on the App store has to implement. The Sandbox is designed to stop applications from borking your machine. A developer will have to ask for permission to do things outside of the Sandbox. Want to FTP? You need permission, etc.. The problem being is that this is so restrictive, that app some developers are pulling their efforts from the App Store, or releasing cut down versions. BBEdit, for example is one where functionality differs between what is available in App Store and their own distribution channel.

Want AppleScript? You can probably forget it. It is possible for an application to control or signal another application using AppleScript. Some apps which use plugins will do this. However, if you running a Sandboxed app, then this functionality goes.

Ah, right, I'd forgotten about the sandboxing, that's a good point. And, you're right, a substantial number of developers are so concerned that they're either pulling out of the App Store altogether or offering a "full-fat" version from their own website.

Although my point still remains valid - you or the developer aren't restricted to just installing software from the App Store, you still have the choice of installing software directly from a developer's website. It's only the App Store that has this restriction... at least at the moment!

Given the importance of some of the apps that simply cannot conform to the sandboxing rules - including much of Apple's own high end software - it's rather unlikely sandboxing will ever be enforced across the board, at least in OS X as we know it. If you enforce sandboxing entirely, you lose the ability to run Photoshop, much high end video production software, Xcode, Aperture, even Safari and iTunes. Can't honestly see it happening any time soon.

Jon

I love it when the BBC misreports a story!

The Appstore only works for Metro based apps. Anything which needs the desktop or which bashes the hardware (non-casual gaming) cannot be sold through the store and will still be loadable in the usual way.

Only Windows RT forces the use of the Appstore, because it doesn't have a desktop (just a castrated version for legacy IE and Office purposes). That is for tablets, so no different to iOS or Android. Windows RT is not full Windows 8.

If Valve support Windows XP and Windows 7 with Steam, they automatically support Windows 8 and nothing in their business model will change. The guy is just trying to spread FUD to push their Linux move into Linux.

Precisely. Just FUD from Steam.

If the games were available on both, I'd bet most gamers would buy from Steam. Their DRM system has proven to be a good one without the stupid restrictions that comes with others.

The great thing about steam is that with every desktop version (not sure about PS3) if you bought a game on one OS and it is available with the OS you are currently using, you get it for free. Other systems you'd have to buy again.

The SteamPlay stuff works with the PS3 yes, but so far the only Steam-enabled game on PS3 is Portal 2. To be honest, there's no great reason for anyone making a PS3 game to use Steam anyway...

Jon