It's fun but you can't leave the park. If I want to install a 3rd party app on my $1100 iPhone without using the App store i'm shit out of luck. I think it's unacceptable that if I'm paying that much for a phone I have to go to a different brand to get that freedom and flexibility. The App store is great but the consumer should have a choice to install apps without it despite the potential dangers. As an adult, if I want to install a Youporn or casino app on my phone I don't need Apple telling me that's not allowed.
That level of lockdown is a feature. I would like more freedom and control in iOS too sometimes, but I've gotten used to it. I'm still on my first iPhone (6s) and I'm happy with it for what it does. Contrast this with Androids. Every vendor has their own variation of the OS, APIs are inconsistently implemented across devices, and it's a good bet that the phone will stop receiving OS upgrades in 2 years.
I don't think iOS is perfect by any means, but I take Apple's Draconian measures along with the the long term stability and higher app quality. It's the best mobile OS on the market for me. I still won't get the iPhone X because of the price and face ID replacing touch ID. I'd probably pay to replace the battery and use this phone for another 2 years. It's nice that I can reasonably count on that.
Well it's not a feature for me. Not sure how allowing vendors to install apps onto iOS without the app store (and having a few warning popups) has anything to do with OS fragmentation on Android. Isn't it an interesting coincidence how those 'draconian measures' you mention that are so great have a side effect of being really, really good for Apples business.
I pay Apple $800 for an iPad so there won't be Youporn or casino apps in their app store. Either go to Android (no clue what their free for all store allows) or visit the website.
The closed system is what I want and I'm happy to pay a premium for it.
You agree with what is presently censored are you sure that this will always be so?
If you want a few players to control the gateway to most future communications and culture so that your kids will have to work harder to see boobs online then i question your judgment.
I like having fun and I love my iPad. I only ever touch a computer at work and that’s the way I like it.