Well have we seen release dates/pricing for Microsoft Surface or Office 2013? I love getting the inside track on up and coming tech - and besides if you don't think it's newsworthy then just don't then click on the story.

And we wouldn't want that, would we?

People aren't so much on the fence about that one though.

That was my thought exactly, that its similar to microsofts tactics. Not good. As for androids status, isn't it only really open to handset manufacturers? I mean unless I wanted to start up a handset company or am in the minority of geeks that like to hack my handset, isn't it true that what the average user ends up with is something as closed as apples platform?

For example nexus looks pretty cool and open but that would be a property of Nexus and NOT android. Similarly the kindle fire is a lot more locked down because that is how Amazon has decided to play. So I'm saying that we're all subject to the whim of the handset and carrier folk - they get the benefit of android not us. Not really seen any counter to this line of reasoning here on slashdot.

How you use your purchasing power is up to you, but you should know that geeks wield an influence of approximately zero. Also slashdot has become institutionally politicised against apple if you look at the kind of comments that are modded 4 and 5, which means that those that would provide a balance of opinion are leaving in droves. Not saying that you aren't entitled to voice your concerns but there is a danger that your arguments won't be strengthened through genuine debate and that there is a lot of preaching to the converted. If that's the endgame then I think it would be a hollow victory.

As for me I am an apple admirer (although not on this issue) and I specifically read slashdot to have my opinions challenged, but more and more I am saddened by the lack of reasoned debate. This is a word of caution to slashdot in general not just your post. For all the good that will do though, as if I have that kind of power!

Potentially insightful but I don't buy it, they have enough clout to play this game of brinksmanship behind closed doors. They haven't come out of this looking good at all.

Insightful 5 lol. Only on slashdot. They fucked up real bad, this wasn't part of some orchestrated marketing campaign. Do you rally think they don't have enough words written about them each day and therefore need to resort to desperate tactics?

Did they honestly ever have a good reputation though in the first place, at least among the tech minded? Anyway it seems to me that they've softened their stance somewhat with a few steps in the right direction, such as not making wild claims about being immune to pc viruses on their website. And requiring third party apps to be signed on mountain lion. And not installing java and flash runtimes by default. And disabling them if they haven't been run for a while. Oh and not creating a significant market for those biggest scareware mother fuckers of all, the virus scanning shysters.

You've presented a false choice, a third option would be to notify apple rather than try to sneak in an app past the terms and conditions. Perhaps it would be ok if I broke into your house in the name of security r&d?

The entire technology industry at large is doing badly, that's why. Microsoft are targeting those innovations that make money.

Do you really think they thought to themselves: "those slashdotters are right, apple are douchebags lets sue the bastards"? No, their motives were altruistic. In other words if apple die by the sword it has NOTHING to do with the fact that they have brandished the sword.

You can be sure they aren't suing as part of some moral deterrent, it's to improve their financial position. On that basis they should be hated to the same extent as apple.

Christianity 1.0 maybe but version 2.0 is a lot tamer. With Islam it seems to be the other way round.

A rare voice of reason, wish I had mod points.

Nah, it just shows that the moderators have a sense of humor and you didn't get that they were joking. Wait a minute - maybe you are joking and it's just gone over my head! Wooooooooosh