Alex_V

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Alex_V
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  • Facebook reports record ad revenue after grousing about iOS privacy features

    Alex_VAlex_V
    I agree with all the comments so far. I had an exchange with a guy on FB over this issue. (There is irony there, I acknowledge.) He was talking up Google’s recent privacy changes, as if to say that they were the same as Apple’s. I pointed out that they stopped third parties from snooping, but Google can still snoop. I asked him: Google doesn’t make money selling phones, and they provide Android for free. Why would they do that? How do they make money? The answer is: they sell data on their users. The guy responded that he knew that because he was in marketing. So, why was he arguing about it on the internet?
    StrangeDaysmobirdwatto_cobra

  • Thousands of undeclared Apple AirPods Pro, Apple Watches seized at Mumbai airport

    Alex_VAlex_V
    The products seized in Mumbai were authentic Apple. It’s a matter of the importer not wanting to pay duties.

    I don’t see why it’s being lumped together with a counterfeiting story. They are two different things. 
    muthuk_vanalingamwatto_cobrafrost_0ne

  • Google given two months to reform flight and hotel search results in EU

    Alex_VAlex_V
    jimh2 said:
    It’s a free service. How can someone regulate free. If one does not like it then look at all the individual websites to find the best price. 

    This is an example of wanting something better than free for free

    There’s no such thing as a free lunch. Google search is also “free” to me. That doesn’t mean that it can’t be abused by Google, nor does it mean that Google won’t unfairly exploit its monopoly. That’s why regulators take an interest in the matter. 
    williamlondon

  • Apple urging retail staff to wear masks again even if they're vaccinated

    Alex_VAlex_V
    tmay said:


    There were shortages fo N95 masks during the early and middle stages of the pandemic, but they have been readily available for most of this year.

    Unknown to most, China and their diaspora living around the world, bought up much of the existing personal protective gear that was available, and shipped it back to China during the initial stages of the pandemic. The U.S. attempted to do the same later, but by then, there weren't enough sources of production.

    U.S. manufacturers shipped millions of dollars’ worth of face masks and other protective medical equipment to China in January and February with encouragement from the federal government, a Washington Post review of economic data and internal government documents has found. The move underscores the Trump administration’s failure to recognize and prepare for the growing pandemic threat.

    What were we thinking? 
    Profits.
    Capitalism at its worst.


    Thank you for your well-reasoned and substantiated comment. 

    While it’s likely that China bought PPE on the open market during the early days, a few points:
    * China didn’t need to import PPE for long. They can licence products, and get them into production faster than anyone. 
    * China contained the disease pretty well. So their demand for PPE was limited. 
    * You’re right: it was foolhardy to export PPE to China when everyone could see (from Feb/Mar 2020) that this disease was on its way. 
    * The Taiwanese government did the right thing by sequestering production of PPE early on in the epidemic and banning their export. 
    Note: the masks mentioned in the UK study I posted above are N99 equivalent. 
    dysamoria

  • Apple TV+ to add multiple Russian-language shows in new deal

    Alex_VAlex_V
    FileMakerFeller said:
    Dead_Pool said:
    In episode one, a shirtless Vladimir Putin personally karate chops enemies of the Motherland.
    ... from horseback.
    As he solemnly accepts a constitutional amendment to extend his reign. 
    Dead_Poolwatto_cobra