Mountain Lion, Mac OS X 10.8 coming later this year, will include a new feature called Gatekeeper. It divides all third-party software into three categories: from the Mac App Store, not from the Mac App Store but digitally signed by an official Apple developer ID, and anything else. By default the user will be able to only install software in the first two categories. But the setting can be adjusted to allow all three, or only the first one. The second category allows developers to create anything not allowed in the Mac App Store, like system tools, but still take responsibility for their work and allow Apple to take action if something malicious comes to light.
What do you think of this new feature of Mac OS X?
What Do You Think of Gatekeeper?
Comments: 15 Responses to “What Do You Think of Gatekeeper?”
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YeS! taKe caRe oF mE, AppLe..
Sounds good for all tech skill levels. (why do people persist in writing in random capital letters?)
It may keep neophytes from shooting themselves in the foot. Thankfully, it seems, Apple will allow the rest of us the freedom of choice without having to "jail break" our Macs.
I think it is a good idea. I am not a total neophyte, as some may suggest, but there are a lot of unscrupulous developers out there and the filtering process will give us a chance to better identify them. I think Apple is wise to incorporate this feature. As another person comments, we will have the option to override the Gatekeeper.
For me, I don't think I will be using it, but I am sure there are people out there who might find it useful.
I won't mind it at all, I might not use it but I just might opt to use it on my wife's Mac. This is a good thing. As long as well have all 3 options.
I think it is awesome,i wish Windows had this,then i would not have any worms on my PC
I hate that Apple is trying to be way to controlling if it's not easy to turn off I will not be upgrading
I just hope it'll have an off switch. How are people going to learn to use their computer if they are having their hand held through out the process. Learn to use your OS before anything else, then, sometimes you make mistakes and learn from them as too.
They're welcome to implement any half-brained intrusive nannyOS idiocy they like...so long as they show me where the switch is to defeat it.
I hope this will remain alterable with experienced users or I will not be upgrading anytime soon.
I actually think this is a smart way to do this, and it would be nice to see the feature in iOS. There are obviously big advantages to a closed system, but as evidenced by some of the elitist comments above, those advantages are not appreciated by some, and position Apple as too controlling. This allows the user to choose the level of contol/protection they want, which is ideal. But as I said, as Apple gives users options to close/protect their Mac, they should give the same options for folks to open/un-protect thier iOS devices if they choose.
You do not have to have it just as you don't need to upgrade to Mountain Lion.
Pfft! Big deal.
There's always Windows 7. That is starting to look better than Apple.
Your choice.
Great idea. Could avoid hours of debugging required after trying a bad app.
Great idea!