freeassociate2

PS - Hagens BSS is a parasite.

ihatescreennames said:

lam92103 said:

Apple did restrict everyone else from their NFC hardware. Wallet apps may just have a standing here. Customers were harmed and were unable to use anything but Apple's own solutions

Consumer harm needs to be proven. How were consumers harmed by using Wallet? All of my credit cards and my debit card work as I expect them to from Wallet. It would be more harmful to me if I had to find and use a different wallet for each of my credit cards and my debit card. 

Not to mention that Apple’s approach gave vendors additional incentive to implement touchless payment systems. Now almost all card issuers have touchless compatible cards. (Yes, I know that at a certain point the COVID-19 pandemic pushed most of the remaining holdouts into converts.)

tmay said:

nubus said:

freeassociate2 said:

Also, I’d like the EU to open up all transportation systems to third party availability, with no tax subsidies. No more government monopolies.

Eh... USPS is running a government monopoly on letters and mailboxes with subsidies. Are you really that happy about service and pricing at USPS? And Amtrak... seems you just can't get enough services from government monopolies loaded with tax funding.

EU forced competition on rail in 2010 and the postal directive has opened competition on letters as well. We do add subsidies as needed, but we let real companies compete on services and pricing. No USPS or Amtrak here.

Actually, I am happy about the service and pricing of the USPS, which delivers to all communities at a fair price, thanks for asking, and given that the U.S. isn't as passenger train friendly as Europe is, almost certainly due to distances, I am also happy that the U.S. has Amtrak. Bet you weren't aware that the U.S. subsidizes air travel to smaller, rural communities.

Decades ago, I drove something on the order of 2800 miles in 4 days, from Reno to Fairbanks, so that I could have my vehicle with me for my summer job as a smokejumper. That would be similar to driving from Lisbon to Talinn. Dead Horse to Key West would likely be the longest trip at 5500 miles/8850 km, a significant portion through Canada.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkOLKzgjNj0

Key West, FL to Deadhorse AK

I threw the gov monopoly example in for shits & giggles, mostly over the fact that a central feature of governments is to act as a gatekeeper directly or anoint a proxy, yet think that’s a valid prerogative. I don’t necessarily disagree with that distinction, just pointing out the hypocrisy. (For example, for better or worse, governments have a monopoly on murder, and enforce it assiduously.)

But thanks for the little pointers on the train resources. I’ve worked as a subcontractor for a number of city and regional rail systems, so have an abiding interest in their evolution.

Europe’s rail systems are a real hodgepodge, with varying degrees of comfort and convenience to travelers. Most are showing signs of aging infrastructure, despite being seemingly well maintained and funded. (Watch a few YouTube videos — it’s a popular topic with some particularly well done material.)

Anyway, it’s clear that litigate and delay is the way to go. So many circumstances could change over time.

[Maybe this is all a conspiracy to funnel money to NATO countries for preparing to counter Russia’s current and future invasion plans.   Sorry, had to poke the tinfoil hat brigade. I’d really rather be shot by comrade murder squad than deal with the Randian drivel that’s been seeping in here. But I digress. Apologies.]

Maybe it’s time for platform companies to switch to a licensing model. Only the companies that pay for a license to the IP get to develop at all. No more open development whatsoever.

Also, I’d like the EU to open up all transportation systems to third party availability, with no tax subsidies. No more government monopolies.

I’d say it’s pretty obvious the EU wants Apple and others to leave their market. (Not Samsung tho, they know how to grease palms.)