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Comment by AnIdiotOnTheNet | Hacker News Reader

> Do you think that general purpose computing devices, which an iPhone is, should no longer have the capability to run software without third-party auditing and approval?

There are barely any devices these days which cannot meet the definition of "general purpose computing device" without drawing some arbitrary line somewhere. Certainly every modern game console qualifies. Are Roku boxes general purpose if it weren't for their locked down nature?

I mean, I'm all for legislation saying you can't lock down products like this, I just don't think that's what the people advocating for this want in most cases. They just want special rules for iPhones in particular.

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While it's true that almost all computers these days use "general purpose computer hardware" (x86/ARM CPU, GPU of some kind, fast RAM, slower disk, networking, etc), that's not the same thing as being a "general purpose device".

A quick search for the term "general purpose device" gives me definitions such as the following:

    Any computer-based device that accepts different applications.

With this definition in mind, I say that a general purpose device is one that you expect to be able to use for general computer tasks, factoring in the "out of the box" input and output methods included with that device. On a Roku, since I have only a simple remote, I do not expect to be able to write an email. However, on an iPhone, with it's touch screen keyboard, I do expect to be able to type out an email. Likewise, I don't expect to be able to edit pictures and video on a Nintendo switch (even though it can record pictures and video of games) since all you have are controllers, while on an iPhone I do expect to be able to edit videos and pictures. It is the breadth of tasks supported by the hardware and made easy by the input methods that make a device "general purpose".

Like I said, arbitrary line drawing. The only reason you can't do photo editing on a switch is that Nintendo hasn't approved a photo editing app on its store.

How is that really different than what Apple does?

I have no expectation of using the controllers of my Nintendo Switch to slowly and arduously type out an email. It features input devices made exclusively to be great at playing games. I cannot "daily drive" a Nintendo switch even if Nintendo allowed me sideload whatever apps I want, because all it has are game controllers. Because of this, while technically it contains general purpose hardware, practically it is a game machine.

On an iPhone, I do expect to be able to do general purpose tasks because it's input methods allow me to conveniently do those general purpose tasks.

> I have no expectation of using the controllers of my Nintendo Switch to slowly and arduously type out an email.

As far as I am aware, there is no reason other than artificially imposed limitations that a Bluetooth or USB keyboard could not be connected to a Swtich.

It's the same thing, the manufacturer arbitrarily chose what functionality to allow and what not to allow.

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