Evernessince
Posts: 5,469 +6,158
The difference with google is that it is fairly simple to enable the security function download and install apps outside of the Play store. This is a security and CYA feature. If you choose to install apps that are not approved by google then you can't sue when one of those apps hijacks your phone.
Apple has worked to develop an all inclusive ecosystem designed for users that do not want to have to deal with the worries of security and content. All products created by 3rd parties have to meet certain requirements and guidelines to be published in the store. This keeps the user safe and their store keeps out software with "Objectionable content". For the Mac you can install 3rd party apps from an outside source if you disable the security feature preventing this. If Apple didn't have such questionable business practices I would have bought an iPhone for my son.
With the beginning of UWP there doesn't seem to be any motive other than profit. Starting with Office 365 Microsoft seemed to be moving towards "software as a service" model offering software on a subscription basis to businesses as well as consumers. With the Windows 10 release it was pretty much confirmed that the policy moving forward is "windows as a service". Today we can still purchase Windows 10 in the traditional licensing but what they haven't specified is what the future cost of "windows as a service" will look like in the coming years.
Excellent breakdown. Most people haven't noticed but windows 10 does have a support end date. Unless there is serious push back Microsoft will turn windows completely into a service.
In my personal opinion, Licenses should be linked to people and not machines. I find it rather anti-customer that windows is moving to it's new "entitlements" system that replaces keys. Even more so, it has a bigger flaw than keys, in that it is linked to the motherboard. PC builders now have to either rely on the good graces of Microsoft to restore their windows license when they upgrade motherboards or buy an entirely new license.