I think this deserves its own thread.
From
this video hands-on and Q&A, Stephane Maes said:
Palm, don't do this to me.
I've been a fan of Palm OS for several years now, I own four Palm OS devices (and actively use two of them - an original Centro (on Sprint,) and an Abacus Wrist PDA.)
You impressed me with the user interface and design of the Pre. (Not so much the name, but... I can deal with the name.)
Don't blow it all by requiring that all apps be signed.
Right now, for full API access, only two smartphone operating systems available on a standard current production phone allow unsigned apps - Windows Mobile, and Garnet. AFAICT, everything else has either restrictions on how much of the API can be accessed by an unsigned app (BlackBerry,) or is completely closed to unsigned apps (everything else.) Yes, I know about the Google Dev Phone, which is why I said
standard, the Dev Phone is a limited release model for developers, IIRC. And I don't want to beta test Android, anyway.
I don't have any problem with popping up a dialog saying that this app isn't signed, and it's not Palm or Sprint's fault if the phone crashes, or whatever. (HINT, HINT. That's what my J2ME phone did if I installed an unsigned app, and that's good behavior.)
I do have a problem with blocking unsigned apps.
That's all.