LoneStar88

smalm said:

"Corning is a great example of a supplier that has continued to innovate and they are one of Apple's long-standing suppliers. This partnership started 10 years ago with the very first iPhone, and today every customer that buys an iPhone or iPad anywhere in the world touches glass that was developed in America. We're extremely proud of our collaboration over the years and we are investing further with Corning who has such a rich legacy of innovative manufacturing practices."

As a non US customer I'm missing something like "Corning is our supplier because their product is the best". Otherwise Apple should use the alkali aluminosilicate glass from whoever is the best.

Well, "As a non US customer" you certainly are "missing something", namely: American citizenship, and the accompanying pride and excitement this American citizen is feeling for my country under the leadership of President Trump. Another thing you may be missing is the relative freedom of "free enterprise" in which companies such as Apple can determine their own courses and make their own choices as to which other companies they choose as suppliers. "America first" and "Buy American" have already and will, in the near future, take on very real and vital new meanings as our country recovers from the enforced lethargy from which it has suffered from for far too long.

Mike Wuerthele said:

LoneStar88 said:

More of the obligatory negative references to our President. Nothing but surmise, and totally uncalled for. And nothing like continually dredging up old news to try to prop up the propaganda mill. Good job, AI.

This is a new initiative, and obviously NOTHING has been determined yet as to what will be implemented or what any company's specific involvement will be.

But cheap politics certainly don't have to be a factor in any contracts written.

I'd say both Trump and Cook are pragmatists, so this is Cook's chance to sell his products/services/computing philosophies, etc. to the federal government, whose money is just as good as anyone's. And what about IBM's likely involvement as an important Apple enterprise partner. This could be a choice opportunity for Apple.

Major contracts would also mean jobs creation—right here in River City (USA)!

You liberals need to get off the pity pot and get with the program, if not fully on the Trump Train, because America WILL be great again with our without your help.

What are you even talking about? We didn't say anything about the program other than it exists. The author didn't criticize the president at all, not with even one word.

Also, speaking as somebody from inside the beltway, this will generate exactly zero new jobs -- and I have no problem with that. Federal IT sourcing and contracting is brutally inefficient, and if any efficiency can be eked out that's good, but will literally cost hundreds if not thousands of contractors their jobs.

You're proving my point. You can't even resist injecting your own skepticism over something that just started to develop, saying something won't happen even before any programs have started. Great objectivity, there.

volcan said:

Like putting Trump, Cook, Gates and Musk around a table to discuss IT makes any sense. None of those people know anything about IT. But that is apparently how government works. Let's put a bunch of people with zero knowledge about a given project in charge of it.

Such talks have to start at the top, obviously. Valid recommendations/opinions/questions, etc. can certainly be made and asked. No amount of carping skepticism will alter those facts and future actions.

More of the obligatory negative references to our President. Nothing but surmise, and totally uncalled for. And nothing like continually dredging up old news to try to prop up the propaganda mill. Good job, AI.

This is a new initiative, and obviously NOTHING has been determined yet as to what will be implemented or what any company's specific involvement will be.

But cheap politics certainly don't have to be a factor in any contracts written.

I'd say both Trump and Cook are pragmatists, so this is Cook's chance to sell his products/services/computing philosophies, etc. to the federal government, whose money is just as good as anyone's. And what about IBM's likely involvement as an important Apple enterprise partner. This could be a choice opportunity for Apple.

Major contracts would also mean jobs creation—right here in River City (USA)!

You liberals need to get off the pity pot and get with the program, if not fully on the Trump Train, because America WILL be great again with our without your help.

2old4fun said:

bitmod said:

I looked at one last week. The Apple store employee was touting the health feature of tracking pulse.
I told them my phone can also check my pulse. I then proceeded to show them how as they had no idea you could.
As the watch still needs to be paired to the phone - the only advantage of the watch is a little bit of convenience.

I could see it being handy for the fitness enthusiast who wants to monitor pulse while working out, (you have to be still for phone to work).
At this point in time thou, I still can't find a compelling reason to get one.
Anyone who is going to drop some serious cash on a watch for fashion isn't even going to consider a techy watch. They are going to get something mechanical that can be passed down to grandchildren. What's the shelf life of these watches? A couple years?

I think it would have to replace a phone to be compelling - and that tech is at least 10 years away.

The only advantage of a iPhone is a little bit of convenience. Being able to use ApplePay without taking my phone out of my pocket is a little bit of convenience. Being able to read and respond to text messages without taking my phone out of my pocket is a little bit of convenience. Being able to answer my iPhone when I left it in another room is a little bit of convenience. Being able to use "Hey Siri" to turn on/off lights in my home is a little bit of convenience. At some point all of the "little bit of convenience" adds up to a large amount of usefulness. I am 76 years old and fitness is not a major concern (but my doctor says it should be) but being able to do these other things is very nice.

I'm 67, and I love my Apple Watch for its little bits of convenience, too. Adding to your list:

I cook a lot, and I use its timer a lot. Its tap on the wrist is much better than an audible alarm. If my hands/fingers are covered with stuff, Siri will set a timer if I ask nicely.
When I'm driving, I like the turn-by-turn chime and vibration warnings for turns coming up.
I can start/stop/skip songs from my watch without hauling the phone out of my pocket
I like the Breathe app with its reminders