We are heading towards a sandboxed future, with apps coming from apps stores.

[urlwolf]

http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3191021

This describes OSX appstore.

Actually, Windows 8 apps are sandboxed too. Take a look at the Microsoft requirements to distribute a new Metro-Style app through their own app store. Same sandboxed requirements.

The future that Stallman used to write about, to scare children, is actually here.

[mahesh2k]

I doubt that for windows because large number of commercial domains use custom softwares.They are never known outside particular firm so i doubt MS will ever lock apps and drivers to their appstore.If that day comes by some chance then there is this bird in iceland to rescue.

[capitalH]

Off topic:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

there is this bird in iceland to rescue.

A penguin? In Iceland? Or Antartica?
There might not be penguins in Iceland (ok, well maybe in the zoo...)

[mahesh2k]

lol i wanted to make it sound like-alice in wonderland.

[40hz]

I think the original article is somehow lumping the notion of sandboxes in with 'walled gardens.'

One does not imply or require the other. Sandboxes are (almost always) a force for good. And you can run 'sandboxed' in a completely open and free environment with no need to let yourself be forced onto a captive platform or through a portal to do so. No need to even install anything. Just boot off any 'live' Linux distro and you're there.

[wraith808]

I think the original article is somehow lumping the notion of sandboxes in with 'walled gardens.'

One does not imply or require the other. Sandboxes are (almost always) a force for good. And you can run 'sandboxed' in a completely open and free environment with no need to let yourself be forced onto a captive platform or through a portal to do so. No need to even install anything. Just boot off any 'live' Linux distro and you're there.

Sandboxie was definitely a good thing while my kids were younger.  So sandboxed doesn't mean bad, IMO.

[Renegade]

I think the original article is somehow lumping the notion of sandboxes in with 'walled gardens.'

One does not imply or require the other. Sandboxes are (almost always) a force for good. And you can run 'sandboxed' in a completely open and free environment with no need to let yourself be forced onto a captive platform or through a portal to do so. No need to even install anything. Just boot off any 'live' Linux distro and you're there.

Excellent distinction.

I don't mind a sandbox if it's reasonable. Sure, protect the user, but don't be an idiot about it. e.g. Providing read access to a media library isn't too much to ask, is it? (iOS does not allow this last I checked.)

Walled garden... Not down with that.

Regarding that story by Stallman...

I once heard how science fiction eventually becomes science fact. We've seen it in our lifetimes. 

I believe that the same goes for horror stories... And we're seeing it right now. All the terror of the dystopian novels is becoming more and more real.

When Stallman wrote that, he wasn't a story-teller. He was a prophet.  

[mahesh2k]

Sandbox can be bad, if MS starts apple style commission based app store and drivers. Sandbox OS takes freedom from user, be it for file deletion or for custom software development or drivers. Asking users to use signed drivers or apps is no different than locking mp3s and images on cloud by killing hard-drives and charging users for every megabyte streamed from server. 

I see future in linux because of this. You can't control linux with mere corporation power (and this is what we need in future). Some biz like oracle or red hat may get into sandbox and user activity control but there are sane people who see future in better privacy, freedom and control.

[Renegade]

Ah... sandboxed development vs. sandboxed deployment... Big difference there...