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Google “bought off Samsung” to limit app store competition, 36 states allege

arstechnica.com

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Re: Google “bought off Samsung” to limit app store competition, 36 states allege

#51

Post by anotherman554 »

lotsofpulp wrote: post #31
Fnoord wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I’d definitely put Apple in the top tier of phone and laptop quality. Especially w.r.t laptops, the majority of Windows devices seem comparatively low quality. I’m not sure about their other products but I also don’t see them advertised as much. Every MBP/MBA/MB had design flaws. From butterfly keyboard to discrete GPU, only 1 port (USB-C, for battery), etc. They fixed the keyboard problem finally, but from 2016-20…

I have yet to see a better laptop for 90% of people who want a laptop than a MacBook Air. Battery life, portability, weight, heat production, reliability, adequate performance, price, ports. They seem to have made all the right compromises.

"Price" seems like a stretch. Windows laptops start at something like $700 dollars cheaper for a new device.

Re: Google “bought off Samsung” to limit app store competition, 36 states allege

#52

Post by modeless »

tyingq wrote: post #35
ChuckNorris89 wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>I assume it must resonate with voters. Most voters care more about things like their salary, healthcare, education, retirement and real estate prices, and in general just making ends meet, not which SV megacorp gets to be the defacto tech monopoly.

Perhaps, though if it's not voters, what is causing the uptick in interest among politicians?

Fear that tech companies were becoming more influential than the politicians. They're protecting themselves from a perceived threat.

Re: Google “bought off Samsung” to limit app store competition, 36 states allege

#53

Post by lotsofpulp »

deregulateMed wrote: post #49
lotsofpulp wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

…that’s why I wrote 90% of people. Maybe it’s 80% or 70%, but it certainly is top of the line for the average user.

You mentioned reliability, but I remember the butterfly keyboard debacle that was denied by Apple for years.

The MacBook Air never had the butterfly keyboard.

Re: Google “bought off Samsung” to limit app store competition, 36 states allege

#54

Post by lotsofpulp »

anotherman554 wrote: post #51
lotsofpulp wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have yet to see a better laptop for 90% of people who want a laptop than a MacBook Air. Battery life, portability, weight, heat production, reliability, adequate performance, price, ports. They seem to have made all the right compromises.

"Price" seems like a stretch. Windows laptops start at something like $700 dollars cheaper for a new device.

And they are made of inferior quality components not comparable to an Air. See used prices for evidence.

Re: Google “bought off Samsung” to limit app store competition, 36 states allege

#55

Post by bythckr »

ocdtrekkie wrote: post #45
post_break wrote: post #32

If true it makes their smart watch joint venture interesting. Did google force samsung to stop using tizen on their smart watches? Pay them a large sum of money to get wearOS back in the game?

Most of Samsung's seemingly odd back and forth antics can be explained by realizing that: Samsung is the manufacturer most capable of forking Android and telling Google to shove it, and that most of their product development has been making sure that it's possible to do so (Galaxy Store, Bixby, Tizen watches, etc.) And that Google, knowing Samsung has the brand loyalty and wide userbase to devastate Android's market…

I feel that the software products & services that Samsung builds is half-baked. It might be a pressure tactic to ensure Google keeps paying.

Also, I am wonder what happened of Samsung & Microsoft plans of Samsung shelving its app & services for Microsoft. I feel that was the "real motivation" for Google to start paying.

Google needs to be challenged for an improvement in Android space. They should stop rushing in half baked stuff and instead work on releasing reliable & well tested products.

As a person that actively used android, iOS, Linux, Windows & Mac, Apple's stuffs just work and it's high time the competition catches up.

As for Android, we need to have flavour / custom ROMs that is 100% degoogled and with proper alternatives. Ubuntu, Microsoft & LinageOS all need to up their game and get more people involved.

Re: Google “bought off Samsung” to limit app store competition, 36 states allege

#56

Post by lotsofpulp »

deregulateMed wrote: post #50
lotsofpulp wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have yet to see a better laptop for 90% of people who want a laptop than a MacBook Air. Battery life, portability, weight, heat production, reliability, adequate performance, price, ports. They seem to have made all the right compromises.

The price is poor and the performance is worse(compared to anything with a GPU). Reliability is questionable given the numerous hardware issues Apple denied over the years. And I'm shocked you thought to mention Ports. I've been at parties where someone couldn't present a PowerPoint because of the ports on the Air.

They started at $900, had 2 USB 3.0 ports, a headphone jack, an SD card slot, and a thunderbolt 2 port for many years.

Again, note the nuance in my statement that it serves the purpose for the vast majority of laptop users and its amortized cost over many years is certainly less than other consumer laptops, as evidenced by the used market.

Nowadays, they are $1k, and they have Retina screen, 2 USB4/Thunderbolt3 ports. While the port situation may have worsened, its performance due to M1 is surely unmatched. Unless you are bothered by the port situation, it's still probably the best bet you can make for a laptop that will be a good to go for 5+ years.

Re: Google “bought off Samsung” to limit app store competition, 36 states allege

#58

Post by anotherman554 »

lotsofpulp wrote: post #54
anotherman554 wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Price" seems like a stretch. Windows laptops start at something like $700 dollars cheaper for a new device.

And they are made of inferior quality components not comparable to an Air. See used prices for evidence.

I never claimed they had the same components, just that it's a stretch to think most people would obtain sufficient value by paying hundreds more.

Re: Google “bought off Samsung” to limit app store competition, 36 states allege

#59

Post by lotsofpulp »

anotherman554 wrote: post #58
lotsofpulp wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And they are made of inferior quality components not comparable to an Air. See used prices for evidence.

I never claimed they had the same components, just that it's a stretch to think most people would obtain sufficient value by paying hundreds more.

That is possible, but a new Air was $900 for the longest time. $700 cheaper is a laptop starting at $200, and I don’t believe any laptop even $500 or less would have been made with components likely to last for many years.

It’s like that story about a poor person having to spend more in the long run buying boots every year than being able to spend a little more to buy ones that lasted many years.

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