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The iDevices are NOT computers.

In contrast to 'dumbphones' or some so-called 'feature phones', the current generation of smartphones are general-purpose computing devices.

how can you call them that when you are not allowed to install your own software on those devices? Calling them computers is something I refuse and I suppose hacker news people understand why.

At work, I'm not allowed to install arbitrary software as well - but policy doesn't make my workstation any less of a computer. Also, not all smartphone vendors are as anal as Apple, and there are always workarounds [1],[2].

I don't think we actually disagree - it's just a matter of definition; please note that I intentionally didn't say (personal) computer, but (general-purpose) computing device.

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rooting_%28Android_OS%29

[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IOS_jailbreaking

I would draw the line at what the device's technical capabilities are, not what I am "permitted" to do.

If you use permission in your definition then it becomes impossible, by definition, to restrict the use of a computer. If Dell's next cheap desktop was locked down like Apple locks their devices down, would you buy "Well it's not a computer you know, since you are not allowed to run what you want on it."? No, of course you wouldn't.

The ironic thing is that dumbphones generally had no restrictions on installing your own Java apps, so the iPhone is actually a step back in that regard.

That's the norm with Apple, remember "You don't really need MMS and Cut/Copy/Paste do you?"?

Ironic; one could just as very well claim that America's mainstream media is among the most hype-driven in the world. Conversely, one could also make the claim that an app line Drones+ aims to take the hype out of the equation, by offering no-nonsense factual data.

Yeah knowing about drone strikes may provoke the audience! No need for people to think about stuff like that, they aren't nerds!

> While newspapers may report on drone strikes, that's not their primary function. The primary function of this app is obviously to make a bold statement about the atrocities of war.

The current primary function of most major newspapers however, seems to be to not make any statement either way, bold or not, and to ignore what's happening. People are being killed with the blood on the hands of the US, but because your soldiers are not directly involved, it's not being reported on, as if it's a minor thing.

It's not newspapers, it's information channels that tow the party line.

> Apple doesn't want to publish an app that is designed to provoke the audience.

Unless it's political cartoons. But only if you win a Pulitzer first and Steve jumps in ( http://www.niemanlab.org/2010/04/apple-approves-pulitzer-win... ).

> Letting everyone publish would drown out many good apps in favor of shit.

Everybody thinks their own shit don't smell. Personally I think a large chunk of the bland useless turds found on the Apple Appstore is a lot of shit[1], and a DroneTracker app is in fact pretty damn cool, original and fresh.

[1] I wouldn't normally do this on HN but since you've started it, I can enjoy slinging projectile poop as much as the next monkey.

Apple can't let just anyone post apps to the App Store, because the whole idea behind that store is to provide products that meet minimum quality requirements, so users don't have to search through all the crap to find the good stuff.

I just wanted to extract this out into its own post. I don't believe it requires any additional commentary.