It started with the iTunes App Store, but now other consumer tech companies have cottoned on to this money earner. IMAGINE IF you bought a computer with an operating system that only allowed you to purchase software from one store and carefully vetted suppliers, Imagine, also, that the suppliers had to pay a fee to the original computer company each time a customer purchased software from the store. There would be uproar from consumers and regulators alike. However, when you purchase an iPhone or an iPod Touch from Apple, as the owner of the device you pretty much have to live with this scenario (although there are hacks allowing you to get round this). But, for the non-geeks, hacks and mods are as unpopular as monopolies.
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