Apple Corporation is Bad for Technology

Wilber · September 30, 2014

This is what I mean. I don't think there's much difference between Apple and its competitors. They're different flavours of ice cream to me, so I don't get all the hating on each others' preferences.

I agree. Not being a techy, I couldn't say which system is the most capable but the Apple stuff just seems a little more integrated and I'm more into simple than performance. Not without suprises though, the default setting to backup everything to the cloud without making it clear to owners is one. That's really bad.

Bonam · September 30, 2014

I didn't even know you could do updates not OTA. What does "syncing" a phone even mean? Having to plug your phone into a computer just to keep it up to date? That sounds so last century. Lots of people don't even have computers any more. If Apple is all about simplicity... the first step in that should be to free the user from having to interface two devices just to keep one of them up to date.

As for the issue of files being corrupted in download... that's bs, would be amazed if that was the issue, even for Apple.

Step 1: download files

Step 2: run file integrity check, only proceed if no errors

Step 3: run the files

Seriously this is like a key part of any protocol that involves transferring files.

Boges · September 30, 2014

I agree. Not being a techy, I couldn't say which system is the most capable but the Apple stuff just seems a little more integrated and I'm more into simple than performance. Not without suprises though, the default setting to backup everything to the cloud without making it clear to owners is one. That's really bad.

That's actually not really all that true. Just like with the Apple ID your Gmail integrates with all Google based apps to make lots of stuff rather seamless.

Does Apple have that little share icon on top of most apps that looks like this?

http://www.athenna.com/pt/wp-content/themes/aramis/images/share_icon.svg

It allows you to share pretty much anything with anything that allows you to share. For example a Youtube video. Press that icon and you can share that URL with any applicable App that will take it on your phone (messaging app, social network, clipboard etc)

It's called App integration. That makes the Smartphone experience pretty simple.

Edited September 30, 2014 by Boges

Wilber · September 30, 2014

There is still a big hole in the android experience. No PC's.

Boges · September 30, 2014

There is still a big hole in the android experience. No PC's.

They do have Chromebooks but they're pretty much tablets that look like Laptops.

The Chrome Browser integrates a lot of Google/Android elements into a PC.

Boges · October 17, 2014

Apple unveiled the new iPad yesterday. With the gianormous iPhone 6 plus out now, the relevance of the iPad is less now than ever.

I still believe the future is 2 in 1 hybrids though, Why carry around what amounts to an oversized phone when you can just as easily walk around with a small, fully functional PC that looks exactly the same.

The one "innovative" thing they announced, if you can call anything Apple does nowadays innovative is the universal SIM Card.

I'm going abroad next month and I ordered a Pay-as-you-Go Sim Card so I can use my unlocked Android phone while travelling. Using a Canadian carrier to roam is just not worth the money, I don't even think Rogers offers reasonable rates for mobile data. And many people don't even use their phones to talk and text nowadays, it's all about the data.

Anyway this new feature should allow you to sign up for different plans without the need to swap out the SIM card. That would be cool in a phone but for a tablet that's rather redundant. I think putting it in the iPad is dry run to see if the tech actually works or is even adopted by carriers globally.

There's no reason a tablet even should need a SIM card. If you have a tablet, chances are you have a smart phone, which means you most likely can turn your smartphone into a mobile hotspot. Much more convenient that wielding multiple SIM cards.

Having a camera and mobile ability keeps the price of the iPad unnecessarily high. These are features you really don't need in a tablet. If you're willing to drop $600 for a tablet, might as well just go the phablet route if you really want it to have mobile date.

That being said the universal SIM, if widely adopted, will make travelling a lot easier. There I was somewhat positive about something Apple did.

http://online.wsj.com/articles/apples-real-ipad-surprise-a-sim-card-that-lets-users-swap-data-plans-1413570034

Edited October 17, 2014 by Boges

msj · February 11, 2015

Well, it's obvious now to everyone that "Apple can't innovate anymore."

First company to make it past $700 billion.

I must now seriously consider the "law of large numbers" and determine an exit point for my fourth best investment of my life (even though Tim Cook doesn't believe in the "law of large numbers." - see, even us iSheeples can disagree with our master Shepard!).

Looking forward to the iWatch and to hear all the haters hate it.... perhaps I will sell 4 shares and buy one.

Edited February 11, 2015 by msj

Boges · February 11, 2015

It would be foolish to think that next fall when the iPhone 6S or whatever it'll be called will rake in excessively more profits than the release of the iPhone 6. People who have their 6 or 6 plus aren't going to just get a new one right away.

The 6 was the first major redesign of the iPhone since the iPhone 4 was released.

I just find it amusing that Apple found its most success when it finally did stuff that Android phones have been doing for years.

As for the watch. I'm curious to see what "innovation" that product will bring.

msj · February 12, 2015

Given that Apple earns something like 75% to 90% of all smartphone net profits there is no doubt concern here. Hence the law of large numbers reference (the financial meaning rather than the statistical one).

But given that Apple is stealing Android sales now who knows. They may be able to keep this up for a few more quarters and then we are onto the 7.

Add in an ecosystem of loyal customers who number into the hundreds of millions and you have streams of revenue from ever increasing and diversifying sources.

It's also easier for Apple to continue to reinvest in its ecosystem since it has actual profit margins.

So I am holding for now.

Oh, and design is innovative for those people who appreciate it.

GostHacked · February 12, 2015

http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-31438699

Apple has banned the practice of bonded labour - where new recruits are charged a fee - from its factories.

In its latest audit of factory conditions, the iPhone maker said that any such fee must be paid by its supplier and not the employee.

Apple began the audits following criticism of the working conditions in some of its factories.

It comes as a report from labour rights group China Labor Watch questioned the low wages earned by some Apple workers.

Enjoy that new iPhone !

Boges · February 12, 2015

What do they want, a cookie?

msj · February 13, 2015

What's the relevance?

I care as much about Apple's subcontractor problems as much as anyone buying anything from that part of the world cares about it.

I think their small hands makes it better. :rolleyes:

And yes, I do enjoy my iPhone 6 plus and everyone loves my Pad & Quill case for it.

So many women touch the wood and say "is that wood?" and I always tell them "yes, you're touching my wood."

Does not go over well with the wife.

AngusThermopyle · February 13, 2015

What's the relevance?

I care as much about Apple's subcontractor problems as much as anyone buying anything from that part of the world cares about it.

I think their small hands makes it better.

And yes, I do enjoy my iPhone 6 plus and everyone loves my Pad & Quill case for it.

So many women touch the wood and say "is that wood?" and I always tell them "yes, you're touching my wood."

Does not go over well with the wife.

Even though its soft wood?

cybercoma · February 13, 2015

What's the relevance?

I care as much about Apple's subcontractor problems as much as anyone buying anything from that part of the world cares about it.

I think their small hands makes it better.

And yes, I do enjoy my iPhone 6 plus and everyone loves my Pad & Quill case for it.

So many women touch the wood and say "is that wood?" and I always tell them "yes, you're touching my wood."

Does not go over well with the wife.

I went with the Apple leather case. It's sleek and offers the grip that the phones were missing. I was going to go without a case, but the backs of the phones and the rounded sides are insanely sippery on the 6.

GostHacked · February 13, 2015

The last few replies are interesting. No cares about the slave conditions in which people are building your phones and ipads.

Boges · February 13, 2015

I also don't see people raving about how their iPhone actually works. I guess they're resigned to talking about how awesome 3rd party cases are.

Regarding the working conditions. It does sort of question the idea of "quality". It's being made in the same conditions as the sweatshop that makes your Walmart product. Phone for the Rich indeed.

GostHacked · February 13, 2015

Also the question of equality. We are told that companies taking advantage of cheap labour in another country also helps those people out with an elevation in their standard of living. However in a lot of the cases I fail to see how that is actually accomplished. Companies don't go to these places to elevate the people living there, only to take advantage of the labour and environment.

TimG · February 13, 2015

Also the question of equality. We are told that companies taking advantage of cheap labour in another country also helps those people out with an elevation in their standard of living. However in a lot of the cases I fail to see how that is actually accomplished.

The only reason companies can get away with the treating workers badly is because they offer opportunities that are better than others within the country. By offering better opportunities than currently exist companies improve life in the country.

Boges · February 13, 2015

The only reason companies can get away with the treating workers badly is because they offer opportunities that are better than others within the country. By offering better opportunities than currently exist companies improve life in the country.

I would agree with this, they're crappy jobs by our standards but they're great for people who live there. But does that wash with FoxConn? Who have to put up nets to keep people from jumping out of windows to their death.

TimG · February 13, 2015

I would agree with this, they're crappy jobs by our standards but they're great for people who live there. But does that wash with FoxConn? Who have to put up nets to keep people from jumping out of windows to their death.

High reward jobs are often high pressure jobs everywhere. Suicide is a consequence when people fear the loss of status that comes with the high reward job but can no longer handle the pressure.

GostHacked · February 13, 2015

High reward jobs are often high pressure jobs everywhere. Suicide is a consequence when people fear the loss of status that comes with the high reward job but can no longer handle the pressure.

These are high pressure jobs without the high wages. There is a serious disconnect with Foxconn/Apple. The solution to people jumping off the buildings is putting up a net. Why are people jumping?

guyser · February 13, 2015

Get the Passport. Love it !

Boges · February 13, 2015

Get the Passport. Love it !

:lol:

TimG · February 13, 2015

These are high pressure jobs without the high wages. There is a serious disconnect with Foxconn/Apple. The solution to people jumping off the buildings is putting up a net. Why are people jumping?

You seem to have missed the point about "high wage" being relative to the local market. These jobs are high wage/high status compared to other jobs available to people living in the country. It really makes no difference that you think the wages are low compared to what people expect to be paid here.