Now pointlessly enhanced with AI
One thing I really hate about buying computers for the past few years is the absence of OS Installer Disc or The Recovery Discs. Of course there are exceptions to the rule.
Seriously, I need to burn 10 DVD’s for the recovery discs? Come on.
Some people blames Microsoft for their insistence on not giving end users Windows Installer Discs. After all, the consumer are all pirates inside right?
Apparently someone with affiliations to NBC mistaken the definitions of “jailbreaking” with “unlocking” the iPhone.
Jailbreaking is the hacker term for cracking software restrictions so the iPhone will work on other wireless carriers and allow any apps to be installed, not just those approved by Apple.
Jailbreaking does not automatically unlock the phone. In addition to that the article does not even use word “hacker” in correct context.
Haven’t I read this a while back?
Someone at NBC: “Hey, iPhone is now on Verizon.”
The other someone at NBC: “Let’s write something about iPhone with a shocking headline.”
Does NBC do some research before the “break” the news?
By the way NBC, Library of Congress called…….
It must be slow news day for you.
Related:
NYTimes
I am currently helping acquaintances with their new computer. The plan is to set-up the new one and transfer the files from the old one. So they decided to pick one up from Best Buy for there was one nearby and they needed to get it before they left for vacations. Best Buy is definitely not my first choice to buy computers and I prefer not to recommend it to anyone.
There are many reasons why I do not like Best Buy and this is one of them:
Best Buy breaks the seal from the box, takes the computer out, turns the computer on, installs some Best Buy programs and reseals the box. All of these are done before the computers are sold to customers. Best Buy tries to sell the already opened computers to customers as new and adding some extra fees. Customers can always refuse to pay the extra fees.
The problem is that Best Buy does all these before the computers are being made available for sale. Best Buy breaks the seal. Best Buy turns on the computers and agreeing to the license agreement imposed by manufacturers and Microsoft. When an end user buys a computer from Best Buy, the same computer that Best Buy took out of the box and agreed to the license agreement without user’s consent. Doesn’t it mean that the end user never agrees to those license agreement?
What would the manufacturers such as Lenovo say if you call them?
I will call Lenovo and ask them the question.
Well, one MacBook Pro MagSafe Power Adapter of mine bites the dust. I was in the middle of using the 15-inch MacBook Pro Core Duo which I bought back in 2006 when I noticed the screen was automatically dimmed. There was no change in the ambient lighting. I noticed the MagSafe connector was no longer lit-up then I heard a loud popping noise coming from the power adapter. I immediately unplugged and inspected the power adapter. I could smell a burning electric component coming from the power adapter. I guess I’d have to head out and get a replacement in the morning. It would be $80 plus sales tax at the Apple Store. I could also buy the 85-Watt MagSafe Power Adapter from Amazon and have it delivered on Friday. Either way, I’d have to spend the money. I do have one that I always leave at home.
Did Microsoft really sell 1.5 million of Windows Phone 7 devices in 6 weeks?
If you are Microsoft or Paul Thurrott, then you would say yes. If you are not either of them, you might have more questions about the number. If you are Paul Thurrott then you would argue that Microsoft did sell 1.5 million of Windows Phone 7 devices in 6 weeks.
In Windows Weekly 188, Paul Thurrott simply defends Microsoft’s sales number using some salesperson language. To paraphrase:
“Well, a sale is a sale. Microsoft does not sell any Windows Phone 7 phone to end consumer. Microsoft sells Windows Phone 7 licenses to phone manufacturers, It is obvious that Microsoft sells more than 1.5 million of Windows Phone 7 licenses. Phone manufacturers have sold 1.5 million Windows Phone 7 phone to retailers. So don’t you dare dispute Microsoft’s sales numbers! So sayeth Paul Thurrott, Microsoft P.R. Person.”
I might have taken some poetic license in paraphrasing Thurrott. Listen to Windows Weekly 188 and you’ll sense the tensions between Leo Laporte and Paul Thurrott talking about the subject. In the end, Leo Laporte took a step back and let Thurrott have his words.
Based on that, I am certain that there are a lot less Windows Phone 7 devices sold to end users than what Microsoft and Paul Thurrott want everyone to believe.
In recent Interview with The Wall Street Journal, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer says that there are licensing fees for Android.
WSJ: Are you trying to protect Windows or do you see Windows Phone 7 as a big revenue opportunity in and of itself?
Mr. Ballmer: No, I see it as a big opportunity. There’s the sale of the device, there’s potential for search revenue on top of that and commerce revenue. There’s potential for subscription revenue from various entertainment or productivity experiences.
Job One here will be selling a lot of phones, and if we sell a lot of phones, good things are going to happen.
WSJ: You’re still charging a license fee for the software.
Mr. Ballmer: Sure.
WSJ: Is that difficult in an environment where Android is free?
Mr. Ballmer: Android has a patent fee. It’s not like Android’s free. You do have to license patents. HTC’s signed a license with us and you’re going to see license fees clearly for Android as well as for Windows.
Since Google is not charging any licensing fees, then who is?
Well, Microsoft is currently going after Motorola for making Android phones. Motorola currently does not making any phones based on Windows Phone 7 platform.
Microsoft had signed “Patent deal” with HTC over Android. Some pundits “cheered” this move as a way for HTC to fend off Apple on the ongoing lawsuit.
Microsoft is poised to regain the “Evil Company” title with this move if only if the consumer cares about the issue. Unfortunately some influential Tech-Elitists are not saying anything much about Microsoft asserting “ownership” over Android and Linux.
Fortune reports that Microsoft is going after Motorola for Patent violations related to Android. Apparently Motorola won’t be going the Windows Phone 7 way in favor of Android. It is obvious that Microsoft is losing the grip and going lawsuit happy.
Anyone remembers that HTC signed a “Patent deal” related to Android with Microsoft? I really thought that Android is an Open Source Project led by Google. How can Microsoft asserting Patent right to someone else’s product?
Well, Microsoft has been claiming that another Open Source Project named Linux is violating their Patents. Novell was quick to “collaborate” with Microsoft. Linus Torvald disagrees.
There are a lot of people who feel disgusted with Apple suing HTC, and a lot of them cheered when HTC signe a deal with Microsoft. What is wrong with this picture? It is just like defending a castle from attacks by surrendering to another enemy with a bigger army. You still lose!
Shame on you, Microsoft. Is this how you innovate?