Richard Stallman: 'Apple Has Tightest Digital Handcuffs In History' 515
jrepin points out a discussion with Richard Stallman in which he talks about how the Free Software movement is faring in light of companies that have been successful in the long term with very different principles, like Microsoft and Apple. Stallman had this to say:
"I would say the free software movement has gone about half the distance it has to travel. We managed to make a mass community but we still have a long way to go to liberate computer users. Those companies are very powerful. They are cleverly finding new ways to take control over users. ... The most widely used non-free programs have malicious features – and I’m talking about specific, known malicious features. ... There are three kinds: those that spy on the user, those that restrict the user, and back doors. Windows has all three. Microsoft can install software changes without asking permission. Flash Player has malicious features, as do most mobile phones. Digital handcuffs are the most common malicious features. They restrict what you can do with the data in your own computer. Apple certainly has the digital handcuffs that are the tightest in history. The i-things, well, people found two spy features and Apple says it removed them and there might be more. When people don’t know about this issue they choose based on immediate convenience and nothing else. And therefore they can be herded into giving up their freedom by a combination of convenient features, pressure from institutions and the network effect."
Handcuffs are a good thing... (Score:5, Funny)
...if they stop you from eating the scabs on your feet.
Re:Handcuffs are a good thing... (Score:4, Funny)
YES YES YES YES YES.
I'm sorry, but after watching Stallman eat his own foot-candy *while giving a presentation*, I can no longer take *anything* he says seriously.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I25UeVXrEHQ
Re:Handcuffs are a good thing... (Score:2, Funny)
I don't think there is any danger of /. deciding not to respect someone who posts a rant against Apple :)
Re:Handcuffs are a good thing... (Score:0, Funny)
Please don't tell me he ate ass pies for dessert. I didn't watch the whole video
Re:Handcuffs are a good thing... (Score:2, Funny)
The entire point of taking someone like RMS's opinion is based on the assumption that he's more informed than the average person, has dedicated more thought to it, and has come to rational conclusions.
Perhaps he *is* and *has* - Has anyone tasted his feet or run a nutritional analysis on them?
[ I'm sure sure which idea here creeps me out more ... ]