majorsl

They get what they deserve if they are using any of the default Samsung bloatware.  Tons of SMS/MMS alternatives on the Play Store.

spice-boy said:

Facebook and Google have shown what companies in the USA who's technology goes unchecked and unregulated will "do evil". Google and Facebook (the two biggest offenders) leeches on our privacy and will sell it to anyone (or government) will to pay for it. If you want to be really "free" don't use free software and services. 

You're confusing web-based services with applications. I know it's sometimes hard to tell when you live in an "app" world where iOS makes it look like gateways to these services are a real application.

I'm talking about program that run on a computer and doesn't connect to anything "outside".  There are plenty with a lot of value, utility, and that do things that no paid for program does.  Take a look over the wall in the garden, you may find that a whole world exists outside with some wonderful things in it!

Hopefully the Developer ID/Notarize will have a free or small fee option (assuming it doesn't already) when it eventually becomes a requirement. There is a lot of great open source software that has been available for the macOS as zero cost for decades. Anyone has an idea about this?

I'm in IT at a small College. One of the things we use the Mac minis for are to offer a people a choice between Windows and Mac for the lower-end tier of users. We can standardize on displays with both platforms and, because of the lower cost of the mini, it allows the users choice which we believe in.  The price is on par with similar Windows systems and the budget conscious administration gives it a "pass".  The target user is typically using Word, Excel, PowerPoint and some low end desktop publishing.

We literally have 100s of minis deployed this way, our IT workload is almost non-existent with them, we manage them with free, open source tools, and (again) our users get choice.

If Apple abandons this line, there is no way we can justify much more expensive iMacs in this use case. It'd be a pity because I know Apple has gained a lot of home "switchers" with us doing this.

racerhomie3 said:

For those whining, go use Android!

I am! Apple's walled iOS garden is one of the reasons I do so for mobile and TV. I own my devices and what I want to install on them is my business, not Apple's.

macOS lets me do this (for now) which is why I'm still on the platform that I love since my first Mac Classic.

Only my opinion, but Apple should tier that wall a bit for known, "good" companies like: Steam. Adobe. Microsoft. should get a few more options for their platforms. This is a perfect example, Steam Link is awesome. Stream you favorite game from your high powered "gaming rig" in another room to a handheld in the living room while watching TV. iOS/Android games are nice, but those don't have the power that a computer has for some of them.