LordeHawk

SpamSandwich said:

Good. Let competition for customers determine what is acceptable, instead of biased or self-interested rules pushed by Washington.

You and many others on this site don’t seem to understand the true implications of this change.  ISPs could charge the consumer more in regions where they hold a monopoly, but most likely wouldn’t in competitive markets.
In reality ISPs will charge the Netflix, YouTube, Apple and Amazons of the world.  In turn, these companies will pass costs on to the consumer over time, an ISP Trojan Horse.  If there’s no direct accountability, why would an ISP not charge more to these companies?  Truely consider that statement, ISPs can create new revenue streams in perpetuity without oversight or becoming the bad guy.  Think you hate how cable companies bundle channels now, apply that concept to internet accessibility....

Alternatively, an ISP could block/slow any content competing with their own, or accelerate their own content free of charge while leaving competitors at subpar speed.

The problem here is that we lose protections from the wizards behind the proverbial curtain.
I for one don’t trust a single ISP, maybe Apple’s satellite initiative will save us all.

kerpow said:

georgie01 said:

kerpow said:

I think its going to be fine and look forward to watching the companies who try the things you've described fail.

I’m all for small and limited government, and there are elements of net neutrality I don’t like, but in the absence of a replacement it needs to stay. We cannot have content in the hands of ISPs unless we also want the content to become profit driven.

Changes to the Internet, based on profit motivation, will likely be brought about in small doses, things that don’t seem too bad, or are at least tolerably bad. Then there will be another step. Rinse and repeat. And like any clever business tactic, by the time the changes have reached a level of ‘Oh wait, this sucks’, things will have already reached a level of near irreversibility. And the average person won’t really care anyway because they’ve become accustomed to it.

This approach happens endlessly in business, and government, and politics, and it happens because people are selfish and most people do things for themselves and will happily exploit others if they can. Very few people are there to serve others and do what’s best for them when it means a pay check is at stake.

So for something that is a national and even global service, to have decisions in hands of people who will take advantage of customers at every opportunity is a disastrous idea. The internet will change, guaranteed. If you’re saying you want these changes then fine, but it’s naive to think everything’s going to stay the same.

You act like customers have no power to sway the direction ISPs go on this topic, when in fact they (we) have all of the power. Yes, things will change but it doesn't mean its all doom and gloom. Imagine the public outrage  and boycotting that will come if any ISP tries the stuff you all are worried about. I guess I'm just not a hand wringer.

Remember these things are slowly rolled out.  Not overnight price increases.  Most of this will be charged to the companies that provide content, who in turn raise their prices to the consumer sector.  Telecom companies need another revenue stream.  Buy expensive content creators, new revenue streams for existing infrastructure or both.
im sorry, but the internet should be an essential service, a right.  It says something when Apple and every other tech company says this is a bad idea...

You have to admit that in its purest form greed is awe inspiring.  That certain repulsive companies would plunge us into a modern dark internet age.

The costs will without a doubt get passed on to consumers, squeezing those that already don’t have enough.  Essentially a toll lane to the internet, and a new kind of paywall.

Thank you Apple for standing up to the companies that our own government will not protect us from.

Time to stand up behind Apple and draw a line in the sand.  It’s never been so easy to fight back.
https://www.battleforthenet.com/?utm_source=AN&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=BFTNCallTool&utm_content=voteannouncement&ref=fftf_fftfan1120_30&link_id=0&can_id=99938e0e78ecbd59e0a8f02403bc2fb6&email_referrer=email_265023&email_subject=net-neutrality-dies-in-one-month-unless-we-stop-it

You can’t have access to my phone, you can’t break my privacy, and you can’t deny my right to acces the internet.
We the People are more powerful than your lobbyists will ever be!

Thoughts...

For many of us, our phones are one of our most personal and important possessions.  These devices provide a connection to not just the internet, but the people and data that underlie modern society.  To call the iPhone just a "phone" is a gross understatement, and such devices are available of one desires.

Many price guesses have been floated, none of which offer anything but speculation.  One logical guarantee, advancements in technology and material engineering will continue.  Historically, Apple always shares advancements down product lines as it becomes cost effective and supply improves.  No one should really expect Apple to implode their margins by pricing the iPhone Pro lower than the technology and market allows.  Such expectations within a free market are dangerous to far more than just Apple's margins.
Every year Apple pushes their devices further along the bleeding edge, regardless of a buyers intelligence or care to appreciate such relentless pursuit.  If one cannot appreciate the cohesive result of such engineering combined with quantifiable planetary betterment, perhaps another manufacturer would suit.

Personally, if the iPhone Pro can provide next generation technology with beautiful aesthetics, I'm willing to pay a few hundred dollars more.  I'm waiting for an iMac Pro as well, yet nobody seems to be upset that such an advanced device costs more than the iMac.  

At the end of the day, the current iPhone 7 series is an amazing product family that will handle fluid AR technology and takes great pictures.  As each generation iterates throughout the world, I'm excited that Apple champions such noble pursuit among all technology companies.

Thank you Apple.