But it's very good for the studios, because it gives them complete control, and makes a new player emerging out of nowhere (as Google themselves did circa 2000, or Facebook did circa 2009) much less likely. It's not good for developers, and not good for innovation. Nintendo's been doing this for years with their consoles. (It took Apple to make Microsoft realize this was something they could actually get away with - thanks, Apple!) Everything else is small-time 'indie' stuff that hits big every once in a while, but is otherwise irrelevant.

The software industry is evolving into the 'studio model' just as the movie industry did decades before: 5-7 huge players controlling absolutely everything that sees the light of day. Once consumers forget they can even install their own applications (except through the app store), OS X distribution will be just as heavily moderated by Apple as iOS distribution.Įxpect Apple, Microsoft, and Google to exert ever more control over distribution.

This is all so well-played by Apple: evolve ever more locked down systems in seemingly consumer-friendly ways.

Lots of apple sandbox violating