sdw2001

Mac4mac said:

I must admit I was a skeptic when Apple TV+ was first announced, I mean NetFlix and Disney are very competitive and have massive media libraries, let alone all the other contenders in this increasingly crowded space.

Having just watched Macbeth (to quote another, “Shakespeare done right”) and Finch, and last week the show about how music changed the world in 1971. The platform has amazingly fantastic content. If you previously tried ATV+ And gave it up, try it again!

100% agreed.  I panned it because the library was so limited.  But it’s cheap and has fantastic content.  Tess Lasso, For All Mankind, Greyhound, and so much more.  My prediction is Apple will buy another, soon-to-be-failing streamer’s library.  Here’s looking at you, Paramount+ or Peacock.  Start packing, CNN+.  🤣

lkrupp said:

Politicians buy into the anti-consumer hype. How dare phone makers not include chargers and earphones. They are gouging their customers. And so on. Later they find out most of that extra stuff winds up in landfills because consumers use other products they prefer. Suddenly Apple’s argument that it reduces electronic waste makes sense. Go figure.

Passing laws about what they have to include its nanny-statism at its finest.  These things should be consumer-driven.  I personally don't care about EarPods being included, though I do think not including a charging block is cheapskate (not that I really would use its myself).  The thing is, I'm free to communicate my thoughts to Apple, and free to organize others to do the same.  What I don't need is the Feds "protecting me" from big, bad Apple.   

Honestly, this makes zero sense.  If we're talking about the MBA, I get it.  But why would Apple come out with a 14" MBP after they just updated the 14" to M1 Pro and Max? Are we saying the M2 will replace all of them?  Or are we talking about a lineup with two different models of 14" MBP?  M2 and M1 Pro/Max variants?  That seems silly and convoluted.  I find it hard to believe they will update the current MacBook Pros (14/16) before the end of the year.  I could obviously see a MacBook Air with M2.  

I'm not sure I have the answers, but I do think action needs to be taken to address Big Tech's power.  The problem is behemoths like Google, Facebook and Amazon have used their dominant positions to stifle competition, speech and even influence elections.  Apple may have some issues with its App Store, but I largely put it in another class.  Moreover, you have companies like Twitter who are clearly acting as authoritarian ideologues, and are violating the spirit of Section 230.   

There are few major actions I think that were should consider:  

1.  Break-up Google, Facebook and Amazon.  Google (Alphabet) should not be able to use its search dominance to dominate other areas, such as Video Sharing and Maps.  Facebook should not be able to use its vast data tribe and infiltration of the entire web to dominate other business areas and prevent competition in the social media sphere.  Amazon should not be able to use AWS to stifle competition in a number of areas, from online shopping to web services, to platforms they simply don't like.  These companies have become far too powerful.  Time to get out the Sherman Hammer.  

2.  Reform Section 230.  Make it clear that Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and other large socials are common carriers.  That is, they cannot discriminate against content by acting as publishers.  If they do, they can be sued civilly by both private parties and the government.  These mammoth platforms have become the new public square.  They should only be able to block or downgrade content that is illegal, contains specific threats, etc.   

3.  The FEC needs to be strengthened and needs to get involved in the impact of these large companies on elections.  Facebook and Google openly boast about their ability to push voter turnout in some areas but not others, suppress news stories, and more.  Privately, the CEO of Facebook spent almost half a billion dollars on the Center for Tech and Civic Life, which awarded grants to mostly Democratic areas for turnout and running elections.  In many areas, 90% of the money went to one side.  The privatization of our elections cannot be allowed, and should be a clear violation of campaign finance laws.   

This is clearly nothing but a technique to distract from the thousands of staffing-driven flight cancellations.  There is no evidence that this band of 5G interferes with aircraft systems.  None.  Heck, there was more evidence that my flip phone from 20 years ago or something. And that wasn’t much.