bb-15

GeorgeBMac said:

AppleInsider said:

...

Why Apple should do all it can to disengage from the Saudi regime.
....

That's kind of a slippery slope with a lot of fine lines...   An equally valid case could be made that Apple should disengage with the U.S.:

--  During the Bush administration we kidnapped, tortured and imprisoned private citizens without charges or legitimate trial.

--  During the Obama administration we executed countless people guilty and innocent alike using drones and special operations.

--  Our current leader has been termed a racist, fascist and misogynist who regularly incites hatred and violence -- particularly against the press and its reporters -- that recently resulted in a rash of domestic terrorism.

That's not to trash the U.S. or any of its presidents.  Similar allegations could be made against most countries.

It is meant to point out that going there not only crosses a very fine line but it starts down the infamous slippery slope.

Agreed. Many nations in the world do questionable/violent things; like China, Russia, the US, several nations in Africa, Asia, the Middle-East and Latin America. 
If Apple stopped selling products (disengaged) in nations which do inappropriate violent behavior, then Apple will cease at least half of its sales.
* Apple is correct to speak out for human rights. Apple is right to improve the working conditions in making its products and to maintain a high level of safety (compared with the industry) in designing & supporting its products.  
- But it is not up to Apple to change the political systems of the world.
* Apple sells products. If people want to buy what Apple sells, no matter where they live, then Apple should do its best to sell their hardware/software/services to these customers.  

GeorgeBMac said:

Mike Wuerthele said:

GeorgeBMac said:

radarthekat said:

GeorgeBMac said:

"That couldn't ever happen" with our system is the claim of pretty much every security system -- until it happens.  It wasn't long ago that science "proved" the "the Negro" was not human and man could not ever fly.

It will be interesting to see if they are able to bury this embarrassing story.  It's possible since, in these times, truth seems to be whatever one wants it to be or what serves one's purpose the best.

Again with more of this claptrap nonsense?  Nothing will convince you because you have the mind of a conspiracist.  You should read up on what that implies about you more than what it implies about the world you live in. 

Conspiracist?   LOL...   Actually, quite the opposite.

Bloomberg presented a wide range of detailed evidence of what happened and how.  All we have on the other side is outrage and blanket denial.

I'll go with the facts as they are presented and unfold.   We've heard part of this story but, since it is still under federal investigation there is likely more to unfold.    

Sorry, but your personal insults won't change either the facts or my opinion.

Bloomberg presented no proof at all. All they have are allegations and a strung-together theory that doesn't hold up. Logically, how are you asking for Apple and Amazon to prove a negative?

Denials from a company under SEC laws and regulations versus Bloomberg with no real accountability to speak of? Yeah, guess which I'm going with.

OK,,, That's fine.   I'll go with U.S. Intelligence and the industry whistle blowers (including three from Apple) -- none of whom have any reason to lie or make up a story.

But more importantly, as I pointed out earlier, the informants pointed the finger primarily at Amazon and its AWS -- which Apple was using for its cloud services at the time (2014 & 2015).   So:
1)  How does Apple credibly deny that Amazon's servers were not affected?  They can't.

2)  Why did Apple move from Amazon to Google the next year?  It could be for the same reason they severed ties with culprit SuperMicro:  Distancing themselves from the debacle.

While Apple can credibly deny that it ever installed infected servers, that proves pretty much nothing since Bloomberg's sources never claimed that they did.  To claim that they weren't a victim (which is all Bloomberg claimed) is not particularly credible.

And also, as I pointed out earlier:  the truth likely lies somewhere in the middle between the overly simple, black and white:   "Yes you did -- No I didn't" nonsense we have going on here. 

Evidence? This is my standard of evidence. It is the same that Neil deGrasse Tyson discusses about UFOs.
- As Tyson states; Eye witness testimony is weak compared with physical evidence.  
With the Apple server issue; show a server board with the chip which does the hack which can be examined.
- Anonymous informants with just theories/speculation can be wrong.
* An example; several informants in the early 2000s had theories that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. The informants never produced any solid evidence of WMDs (including no photos).
The US led invasion in the Iraq War found no evidence of WMDs in Iraq.
* Theories by informants by itself does not = solid credible evidence.     

saltyzip said:

I'm sure all that extra performance makes Facebook, WhatsApp and phone calls rock, not!

The value of speed in a smartphone includes; 1. Intensive games like Fortnite. 2. 4K video at high frame rates in which the latest iPhones lead the industry. 

For used, I only buy Apple refurbished (which has a full warranty & is like new).
Apple doesn’t sell the X refurbished so, that’s not an option for me.

gatorguy said:

lkrupp said:

tylersdad said:

mark fearing said:

It's only important if someone beats Apple. Then it's VERY important I guess. Samsung should have a new slogan...I'm thinking: "Making the phones no one wants but some people end up with."

People who have Galaxy phones are just as happy with their phones as you are with your iPhone or I am with my iPhone. Can we stop pretending as if Apple is the only company who makes good products or products people want?

Why should we when the other side refuses to admit it? Try getting a Samsung sycophant to admit Apple products are good. Let us know what happens. The only thing you’ll ever get is a big fat “yeah but..."

https://www.androidpolice.com/2018/09/12/apples-cheap-iphone-xr-just-ate-googles-lunch/
https://www.androidcentral.com/iphone-x-review-second-opinion
https://www.forbes.com/sites/moorinsights/2016/11/15/a-month-with-the-iphone-7-plus-as-a-lifetime-android-user/#28a3438668d8
https://www.androidcentral.com/five-important-things-ios-does-better-android
https://www.androidpolice.com/2017/11/21/ive-never-used-iphone-part-one-switching-iphone-x-first-thoughts/
(Note: that last link is part 1 of a 3-part article, and an excellent read IMO)

Android fan sites that I've come across really aren't afraid to talk about the iPhone or admit to it's advantages over Android. A lot of dedicated Android experts are also iPhone owners and users too. I'm not aware of any AI equivalent super-fan, sometimes over-the-top forum on the Android side. Not saying there might not be one. Somewhere.
But AppleInsider's forum membership is, well...
unique AFAICT.

Certainly this is a forum I personally appreciate for the interesting and quite lively discussions, tips, and techniques.

I have a different experience on internet tech sites and YouTube tech channels. 
The anti-Apple discussions, mostly uninformed, is a constant theme in most web tech/YouTube tech comments.
It’s just a fact of life that most people who have smartphones use Android, most don’t know about Apple products and most think they have infallible knowledge to trash Apple. The recent UnBox Therapy uninformed beauty gate accusation is part of a long running anti-Apple agenda in tech media and the comments / views support that.
   
The anti-Apple bias in tech journalism is followed by the Macalope / MacWorld column. 
And why does that happen? Because most of the audience believes it. 

For less biased discussions about Apple, I mostly go to the Ars Technica website.
On YouTube Jon Morrison and Apple Insider do some very informative/balanced videos imo.