The Leopard Developer Beta will be distributed like wildfire

[DsurioN]

Now that Apple has delayed Leopard until june, the "near-final" beta copy received by developers will most likely be uploaded to the internet soon after the conference. Do you think apple will implement any "activation" or security measures to ensure only developers who paid their entry ticket can use it? It's definitely tempting to get an almost-finished operating system four months before release...

 

[Peace]

It's also illegal..

 

[72930]

I don't think they will: they didn't with Tiger (or the developer releases of Leopard so far), and activation is always a pain in the arse...it means one more thing to criticise in Windows

It will most likely be quite buggy in the bits that are improved from Tiger, but I'm sure a lot of people will illegally download it and use it as a second OS on an external HD...

 

[DsurioN]

It's also illegal..

Yes, that's why I'm asking if Apple will implement any security features this time 'round.

 

[TheAnswer]

Would be nice if they included just some unique strings of code on each disc that would identify which of their developers are illegally uploading them. Since they are pretty resourceful about stopping leaks through other avenues, maybe they will.

 

[stevehp]

I'd rather wait for a final version anyways...in fact, I will probably wait until 10.5.1

 

[aLoC]

When installing OS X it contacts Apple's servers to get your Apple id information. Every boot it contacts their servers again to sync the clock. Every time you open Dashboard it contacts their servers again. And then there's software update. So they will know *someone* is running Leopard.

But you say, I entered fake login id information so they don't know it's me. Ummmm... did you tell them your real name when you bought that Mac, the very Mac whose unique id is sent out with those server requests?

 

[twoodcc]

i doubt they will, since they didn't with Tiger. but you never know

 

[DeathChill]

When installing OS X it contacts Apple's servers to get your Apple id information. Every boot it contacts their servers again to sync the clock. Every time you open Dashboard it contacts their servers again. And then there's software update. So they will know *someone* is running Leopard.

But you say, I entered fake login id information so they don't know it's me. Ummmm... did you tell them your real name when you bought that Mac, the very Mac whose unique id is sent out with those server requests?

Someone's a bit paranoid....

 

[Markleshark]

Someone's a bit paranoid....

lol, just a little.

 

[elppa]

I think they will see it as "let the buyer beware". As in, if your a professional/consumer silly enough to go to great lengths to obtain running a system which isn't complete and only intended for developers then so be it.

I certain won't be illegally obtaining it, but will be pouring all over the screenshots and quicktime movies.

 

[Mac-Addict]

When installing OS X it contacts Apple's servers to get your Apple id information. Every boot it contacts their servers again to sync the clock. Every time you open Dashboard it contacts their servers again. And then there's software update. So they will know *someone* is running Leopard.

But you say, I entered fake login id information so they don't know it's me. Ummmm... did you tell them your real name when you bought that Mac, the very Mac whose unique id is sent out with those server requests?

Big Brother is watching your every move! AHA you blinked!

 

[xUKHCx]

Tracking the sources is most likely, rather than trying to track the people who download it

I will download it most probably

 

[SMM]

Yes, that's why I'm asking if Apple will implement any security features this time 'round.

If you were entitled to know, you would, right?

 

[PCMacUser]

When installing OS X it contacts Apple's servers to get your Apple id information. Every boot it contacts their servers again to sync the clock. Every time you open Dashboard it contacts their servers again. And then there's software update. So they will know *someone* is running Leopard.

But you say, I entered fake login id information so they don't know it's me. Ummmm... did you tell them your real name when you bought that Mac, the very Mac whose unique id is sent out with those server requests?

I doesn't really matter what login id you use. They can track you by IP address. If you connect to their servers, they have your address. All it takes is a court order to your ISP (which they can tell from the IP) and the ISP has to surrender your name and physical address. And then the cops turn up.

But I don't think they really care enough about a developer release to go that far, unless you were copying it up to thousands of other people.

 

[ReanimationLP]

They'll probably chase after the guys who leak it, but not the end users.

Personally though, I dont think they'll even bother. Its a developer beta version, not the final product.

Kinda like how MS didnt really give a crap about all the betas of Vista being leaked/distributed.

These kinda things are normally buggy, and have time bombs in them anyway.

 

[MacsRgr8]

Once they distribute a copy to developers, they know it will be on the net.
They put pressure on the usual 'torrent sites but it never really stops the leaking.

If someone really wants to run the beta, then he'll get it somehow. Apple know exactly what they're doing, and if there was some really secret stuff they simply don't put it in the developer previews.

In the end I don't think more than a couple of thousand people will download it, and probably only half would actually install it on their Mac.