Google to charge Europe

[Arch_Enemy]

Of course, the 800 pound gorilla in the room is that most versions of Linux come with bundled apps, and if you try to uninstall some of them, you wind up also uninstalling large chunks of the desktop you're using...

mint@home ~$ anyone?

[xenopeek]

The problem with Android app bundling is that the consumer doesn't get a say or choice in what web services they get tied to, namely Google's. And the phone manufacturer also gets their hands tied as to what they can remove or replace.

That doesn't compare with Linux distros. Yes, sure, there are parts of the operating system you can't uninstall because of how your distro developers put it together. However, no distro developer gets told they can't make different choices. You don't get locked into some megacorp's for-profit web services.

[Moem]

Uh....anyone have a good flip-phone for sale?

Does it have to be a flip phone? There are plenty of non-smart candybar phones to be had for a song. If all you want is phone calls and text messages, it's a buyer's market.

[Arch_Enemy]

The problem with Android app bundling is that the consumer doesn't get a say or choice in what web services they get tied to, namely Google's. And the phone manufacturer also gets their hands tied as to what they can remove or replace.

That doesn't compare with Linux distros. Yes, sure, there are parts of the operating system you can't uninstall because of how your distro developers put it together. However, no distro developer gets told they can't make different choices. You don't get locked into some megacorp's for-profit web services.

True.

[Arch_Enemy]

Uh....anyone have a good flip-phone for sale?

Does it have to be a flip phone? There are plenty of non-smart candybar phones to be had for a song. If all you want is phone calls and text messages, it's a buyer's market.

I have a couple, and a couple that look like Blackberrys and some are even pretty good. One of them has excellent reception, but the sound isn't real good. The other has excellent sound, but the reception isn't very good.

One surprising one was a Nokia E63. Has everything I want. Can't get a signal if I'm standing next to the tower. It's a shame, because other than that, I like everything about it.

[sdibaja]

Uh....anyone have a good flip-phone for sale?

Does it have to be a flip phone? There are plenty of non-smart candybar phones to be had for a song. If all you want is phone calls and text messages, it's a buyer's market.

I have a couple, and a couple that look like Blackberrys and some are even pretty good. One of them has excellent reception, but the sound isn't real good. The other has excellent sound, but the reception isn't very good.

One surprising one was a Nokia E63. Has everything I want. Can't get a signal if I'm standing next to the tower. It's a shame, because other than that, I like everything about it.

your service provider needs to pay rent on that tower... not all are connected.

Here (Baja, Mexico), we have several cell providers. A couple provide real good coverage (Telcel is best)
I use a prepaid "plan" and seldom spend more than $25 USD per month.

I have little use for a portable telephone. The one at home serves well enough, I don't need a leash.
Being constantly tracked by the big businesses and a myriad of government agencies really sucks.

be careful what you do and say, always. Someone Is Recording Everything, and they WILL hold it against you in a court of law.
Gitmo has room for many more

*** does anybody remember when we were so so careful to not say things on the phone, and went to a phone booth in another neighborhood or city to make some calls?

[Arch_Enemy]

Does it have to be a flip phone? There are plenty of non-smart candybar phones to be had for a song. If all you want is phone calls and text messages, it's a buyer's market.

I have a couple, and a couple that look like Blackberrys and some are even pretty good. One of them has excellent reception, but the sound isn't real good. The other has excellent sound, but the reception isn't very good.

One surprising one was a Nokia E63. Has everything I want. Can't get a signal if I'm standing next to the tower. It's a shame, because other than that, I like everything about it.

your service provider needs to pay rent on that tower... not all are connected.

Here (Baja, Mexico), we have several cell providers. A couple provide real good coverage (Telcel is best)
I use a prepaid "plan" and seldom spend more than $25 USD per month.

I have little use for a portable telephone. The one at home serves well enough, I don't need a leash.
Being constantly tracked by the big businesses and a myriad of government agencies really sucks.

be careful what you do and say, always. Someone Is Recording Everything, and they WILL hold it against you in a court of law.
Gitmo has room for many more

*** does anybody remember when we were so so careful to not say things on the phone, and went to a phone booth in another neighborhood or city to make some calls?

I rarely take my phone with me anymore. When I needed it for my job I always had it...had to. Now...meh. But I just don't want a Google phone.

Telcel...is that one of Carlos Sims' companies? He has Tracfone and Page Plus in the US.

[michael louwe]

But I just don't want a Google phone.

.
OTOH, about 80% of the world use Android phones and about 90% of the world use desktop Windows OS. That's the real world.

Let's be honest, non-Google Android phones have been and will likely be a flop in the EU = most EU-ean users don't want non-Google Android phones.

[michael louwe]

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2018/10 ... one-in-eu/ - Google to charge Android OEMs as much as $40 per phone in EU. 10/20/2018

[sdibaja]

"charge Android OEMs" translation: consumers will pay every penny, and probably a little bit more.

darn we love that "protection"

[punkbiscuit]

Just a side note here, the UK will neither be part of the EU, or the EEA or EFTA after Brexit.
In theory, this ruling won't apply

As for all the talk about EU <> MS and now Google then I have this to say..

Since when has anything that the EU has done in the name of consumer / competition protection
turned into something that is tangible to the end user ?

I have never seen anything financially worthwhile trickle down to the end user, and never seen any product improvements come of it all.

Seems to me to be just a technical money making ploy to boost the EU coffers.

Just sayin'...

[xenopeek]

And with that we've run afoul of the forum rules. Locked.