jbdragon

tylersdad said:

loopless said:

Only people who have never developed an app for sale want this to happen. Apple takes care of everything for you, money just appears in your bank account. It's worth every penny.

Somehow I'm able to get my apps out to Windows users without the use of Microsoft's app store. Just like I've been doing since 1995. 

So how is that working out for you on the X-box???  By the way, even though you don't use Microsoft's app store on Windows, look at all the security issues and viruses on that platform from people just downloading whatever from anywhere. An issue you don't see on the Xbox CLOSED Platform!!!  You are trying to compare apples and oranges.

How about we look at the old days.  You know the days before the Internet.  You know where you had to get your Game or App massed produced onto floppy's or discs.  You don't want to have so many made and lose money.  Then there was Box Art, and instruction manuals.  All put together and sealed.  That is all costing YOU money.  Then you had the distributors get your software out to all the stores. They took a cut.  Then the Stores sold that software and they once again took their own cut.  

You really have it EASY these days.  A simple 30% cut and Ap[ple or Google handles everything.  All you have to do is upload it into their store.

If people don't like it.  They are FREE to create their own OS and Phones and have a completely open platform.  There is not a single person stopping anyone from doing that.  Create a better platform and people will flee to it.

What happens when employees start wearing Pro Isreal objects?  Do we get to watch Apple Employees fighting each other?  What you do on your off time is one thing.  What you are doing on the job is supposed to be working and representing Apple.   If you are going to break the rules, YES you should be FIRED.  That store is a private business.  Though walking through with their signs need to be thrown out also.  They have no right to do that inside the Apple store.  if they want to do that Outside on the Public sidewalk, great.  But you can't block the doorway and customers from going in/out either.

Even Android fans and Tech sites like AndroidAuthority Talks about RCS and why it's to late and what Google did and how much of a mess RCS really is  WHy would Apple want to use and Support it?  Its default for RCS is SMS, so that still doesn't go away.

https://www.androidauthority.com/rcs-google-3090142/

It is an interesting read. Even their own poll which asks if RCS stands a chance, 49% say NO!    Apple came out with iMessage and stuck with it.  Google like always, moved form one app to the next.  Not settling onto anything. 

Quote from the link above, "Google had not one, not two, but many, many, oh-so-many chances to get messaging right. Google Talk, Hangouts, Voice, Allo, Chat, Messages, not to mention the countless integrated chat features in other apps (YouTube, Photos, Pay, Maps, and so on). I’m sure I’ve forgotten dozens more."

Even over a year ago, Google is been trying to force Apple to use RCS.  It's nothing new and it only benefits Google, not Apple.   I know Google and Android users don't like the green Bubble for some reason in iMessage.   It's not like they can see the colors anyway.  It's just to let someone know it's going over SMS as some people may still be paying for that per message, and you don't have all the features like you do in iMessage.  It's never been something I even cared about.  I get Blue or green text, and I don't think, oh, an Android user, that person sucks!!!  It doesn't cross my mind.   Of course, I don't do all the other things you can do in text messages that kids are doing.

I don't see RCS as the solution.  I think we are already bast that point.  Just like with BlackBerry Messages finally coming out to iOS and Android when they were about dead.  It was just too late at that point to matter and no one uses that either.  Bye, Bye!!    The rest of the world is using WeChat and others.  I'M not a fan of that solution.  So you need 3-4 other Chat apps installed on your phone to deal with?  I just use iMessage.   1 App and keep it simple.  That is all I need.

gatorguy said:

omasou said:

 The only reason I can fathom for so much whining is maybe b/c Apple customers pay their bills and GS isn't making "as much" from interest and fees?

sunman42 said:

kelemor said:

All the billing is done electronically so how is hard to send it at the same time. Computers should be doing everything. 

I read the article as saying the issue with a single billing date was the impact on customer service: presumably, all the customers calling with billing issues call in the same, few days per month window, instead of spread out through the month. That leads to the conclusion that Goldman regrets having to hire more, low-wage, Tier 0 customer support people to keep us overprivileged Apple types happy.

For what it’s worth, I, too, have had zero problems with my Apple Card. Hope Apple can find a more competent, consumer-credit savvy home for it.

rob53 said:

omasou said:

Since when has airing your dissatisfaction publicly help to attract a company to take ownership of your problem child? /s

EDIT: Love the card, love the customer service, love the Apple Cash/Savings, love the first of the month billing. The only reason I can fathom for so much whining is maybe b/c Apple customers pay their bills and GS isn't making "as much" from interest and fees?

Last part is the key. Maybe, just maybe, people who buy Apple products are better at personal finances than non-Apple product users.

Reportedly, it's just the opposite.

Apple Card accounts have a higher write-off rate, meaning the account holder hits the trigger point of at least 6 months behind on payments,  than the industry average which is 2.93%. That rate of card write-offs is worse than even sub-prime lenders experience. 

Now couple that with the fact a whole lotta' Apple users have credit scores under 660, which resulted in nearly a quarter of the Apple Card accounts going to those with credit scores less than that. In an extraordinary and expanding economy, their ability to pay might be masked, but that's not what we have going on.  I realize this goes against the prevailing wisdom that Apple-using folks are inherently good money managers. Surely many are, but a good percentage have no business buying $1200 smartphones and $2500 computers because they can't keep up with the payments. 

So with other companies unwilling to take on the risk the Apple Card represents, it is putting GS in a quandary of what to do to right the ship. Apple got their money when the sale occurred, and now Goldman Sachs is left to figure out how get out of continuing to fund Apple stuff that's not being paid for. 

Interesting if true.   I don't have an Apple Card.  Never bothered to get one.  I don't want a bunch of credit cards.  I do have an Amazon Chase Card.  So I get 5% normally Cashback on anything I buy from Amazon.  But I have it automatically set to be paid off every month.  I hate having to pay any interest.  I live within in means.  I drive a 20-year-old truck that has been long paid off.  Clear coat is coming off and I just don't care!  My only debt is my House Mortgage.  Considering how much rent has shot up since I got my house, I'm glad I'm not paying into that more expensive money pit I wouldn't be able to afford.  I'm in CA where the average house price is $600.000.  My small house was nowhere near that price point when I got it during the housing market crash of 2012.  Again to save money, better deal, and lower interest.  Got a Lift Chair and a recliner chair for Ashly Furniture a little over a year ago.  Got their 1 year Interest free loan.  Worked out how much I'd have to pay each month to have it paid off in 1 year before I'd have to start paying Interest.  I had it paid off in 1 year, so zero Interest.   

I have a little money going into savings every week automatically.  That is my Emergency Fund.  When I had to replace the transmission in my truck, that was $3500.  Years ago in the past when I was dumb, I'd have to put it on a credit card and slowly pay it off and by the time it's done I'd have paid $6000 for that transmission.  Instead, I just paid for it outright from the emergency fund.  I think it's better to put a little into savings every week.  You do it every week, you get used to it, and don't miss it.   This way when an emergency comes along, you're not going into debt and then having to pay interest on that debt.  At some point in time, EVERYONE is going to have an emergency.  Maybe your roof leaks. Or you have a hospital visit or stay that can get expensive.  Do you really want to be putting that on a credit card?    Live within your means.  Not playing "Keeping up with the Joneses".  Buying a new Big screen TV is not an Emergency!!!  New Car payments these days are INSANE!!!  Being stressed out on credit card debt and collection agencies is not fun. $20 a week into savings is $80 a month.  So around $960 in a year. 10 years is $9600.   That is just cutting back on a few Starbucks.  Make your own coffee at home!   Save a bundle of money and time waiting in line.

gatorguy said:

rax_mark said:

The EU, unlike the US, believes in the spirit of the law, instead of the word of the law, Apple should have realised that.

Apple cannot win this one by using legal loopholes. I suspect if this continues we may see one of two possibilities:-

I) Apple exits the EU.

II) The EU bans Apple within its borders.

I suspect Apple doesn't want to give up the European market to Samsung and Google, so the first one is highly dependent on whether Apple can still get a profit with side loading existing.

Of course they can make a profit, a major profit in fact. Few people will sideload, and Google has managed quite a few billion in profit from the Play Store despite several 3rd party app stores on the Android platform. This is all about Apple muscle-flexing and not any signifcant danger to profits nor security IMO

Where Google doesn't exist, CHINA, their app stores are infested with viruses and other garbage.

Autopilot or whatever they want to call it these days.  In airplanes, you don't have walls to run into and a million other things.  You set the jet which is on a set course either a person is flying it or on autopilot.   Lots and lots of open space.   Then you have watch towers keeping track as you get closer to the airport, you are talking to them and flying the plane.  Autopilot is off.

On a public road, it's completely different.  Personally, if I have to keep my hand on the wheel and a lookout on everything myself and be prepared to take over in a split second like the car desires to veer off to the left or not stop for traffic, I would be stressed to hell.  I might as well just drive myself!!!  Making autopilot worthless to me.  I'll stick with your basic speed control  Keep my trck going at 65mph and not do what many do in speeding up and slowing down over and over.  So annoying following people like that.  Staying even speed going down the highway saves me money.  Better MPG using cruise control.  My hands are already on the wheel the whole time as I'm paying attention the whole time.

I've seen examples of Tesla Full Self driving which is still a joke!!!  Until there is REAL AI (like the fake K.I.T.T. but in real life) it shouldn't be allowed on public roads.  Both my Boss with his Modem Y and my brother with his Model 3, didn't pay extra to get that garbage.

You have a split second to get your hands onto the wheel when the car dives one way or another on you which throws your body one way or another making that hard and before you gain control, you've crashed into whatever and die.  Then Tesla is saying how it's not their fault once again.  

Does anyone care about this game anymore?

i played it a couple times years ago and never again.  

I didn't really get the ad. How does this get people to want to buy this device? That's what it comes down to. Having a growing Homekit house. Also having a Alexa Dot and a Google Mini to play around with. Asking questions only goes so far. So the one with having Mood Lighting, now that's where this is were it really matters, Home Automation!!!

Siri, especially on the Apple Watch, when you can just lift your wrist and issue a command is the greatest thing!!! Because it works EVERYWHERE. Every room in my house. In my garage. In my front yard and back yard. Away from my house. Many places these speakers, including the HomePod are locked into a room by a power cord. On the other hand, your own family can use them. So you litter your house with theses things, and then voice control your inside lights and adjust the temp, etc. Mood Lighting, no problem.

I do think Google's Assistant has the edge over Siri. For most things they are in fact pretty equal. Both are better then Alexa in most things also. Alexa does have a ton of Skills, most of which you'll never activate and use. You have to be exactly right in how you word something for it to work otherwise it's clueless. I like of look at it as what Apple's App store was early on, where it was a bunch of worthless fart apps. I also don't like that you have to ASK it or TELL it to do something and with what device, where Google and Siri are smart enough to know what I'm talking about.

This is why I'm playing around with all 3 of them. They all have their Pros and Cons. The Plus with the Amazon Dot is that since I'm a long time PRIME member, I get access to a lot of music without having to pay for a Music Service also. Last month in December, when I setup the Google Mini, which I have to say really doesn't sound that bad, and in fact sounds better then the Amazon Dot, music is just BAD on it. I had setup Pandora on the Google Mini and when I asked it to play some Music, "Hey Google, Play some Bing Crosby Christmas Music" it started to play just that, from Pandora. Didn't cost me a penny. I have free Pandora service currently. That was nice. I tried it again this month and it no longer works. Without paying for Spotify, that doesn't work by voice on Google's Mini using the free service. I havn't gotten around to setting up the Skills for Spotify and Pandora on Alexa yet, as I said, the Dot does sound like crap!!! It's OK for talk, but Music, no thanks.

I'd lay back on my Bed and ask questions to Siri to my new 12.9" iPad Pro. Then to Google Mini, and than to Amazon Echo Dot. It's something I like to play around with. How do the answers compare to the question I asked. Pretty similar. What am I going to get for news or weather when I ask. Where's that data coming from? Can I change it? For example, google was pretty easy to swap to the news service I wanted over the default.

netrox said:

I am definitely not buying a new MacBook Pro anytime. It's a huge disappointment. It's overpriced. It's underwhelming. Although TB3 is great but it will take a while for TB3 devices to come out. 

You know, throwing PRO in the name doesn't make it so!!! You need to do a whole lot more then that. At some point, people are just not going to take it anymore. Weak processors and limited Memory and now needing a bunch of DONGLES!!! You need you're USB-A dongles, and card reader dongle and so forth. I get the touch strip and I like that feature, but it is very thin and really skyrocketing the costs. To me it just looks like Apple wants even larger profit margins then they already have. How will they sell? We'll see, but I won't be buying one.

ktappe said:

Good for them. Don't let anyone tell you unions no longer have a place in our society; this is proof they do.

Sitting around for hours and getting paid sounds exactly like what UNIONS do!!! Rip off company's. Drive then out of business or force them to leave the country. It's a bus drive. It's almost a zero skill job. If you can drive a car, you can drive a bus. If you don't like your pay, leave and find another job, or startup your own business and see what that is like. Working 80+ hour weeks and making very little money and you try to get your new business going in what is a very hard market to get started in. Since the union is now involved, we'll see them drive themselves right out of a job in a few years.