> This gives Apple the power to censor software and is the a step towards App Store-only software on the desktop.

And that will lead to more open platforms being where consumers find the most innovative software, as well as being where commodity software is cheaper and/or better because competition will necessitate it.

Locking down your platform to prevent crapware that users don't want getting onto it is one thing. Locking down your platform when noncrapware that users do want is also available but only one someone else's gear is how you turn Apple back into being what they were before the iPhone: a footnote.

Of course, this does mean those developing for more open rival platforms will have to actually produce noncrapware, not the poor excuse for software many places ship today. It's about time our industry grew up and stopped pretending that shipping junk and charging for it is acceptable anyway.

What about virtual machines?

Let's say your OSX is locked down, but you can get a virtual PC app from the store that allows you to install Linux without affecting your OSX setup.

Now you can use your Linux VM to program anything you want and share it with a whole community of others who run Linux inside a VM.

Perhaps at this point this whole community grows big enough that it becomes the main target market for companies who produce "power user" software.

I would like to see a network enabled virtual machine approved for the iOS App Store, or the basic human decency of allowing sideloading on iOS, before trusting Apple with the OS of the future.

Now, Tim Cook has shown a good track record of undoing the most extreme abuses from Steve Jobs megalomania (you supporting employee charitable contributions, paying dividends to investors, admitting imperfections in factory working conditions), so there is hope that he will do the right thing for humanity with this issue too.