|
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 11:08 AM EDT |
:) [ Reply to This | # ]
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|
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 11:17 AM EDT |
Isn't that the same charge that the EU and other levied against Microsoft with
regard to Internet Explorer? Wasn't Microsoft forced to unbundle Windows and
Internet Explorer?
Work issued me an Android phone. Google is so embedded in it, I was forced to
open a gmail account in order for the phone to work.... so... you know...
Microsoft might have a point.[ Reply to This | # ]
|
- Seems like a fair complaint to me. - Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 11:37 AM EDT
- No It's not the same. - Authored by: Ian Al on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 11:43 AM EDT
- Tried Win 8? - Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 11:50 AM EDT
- Tried Win 8? - Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 02:15 PM EDT
- Tried Win 8? - Authored by: archanoid on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 02:40 PM EDT
- Tried Win 8? - Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 04:53 PM EDT
- Tried Win 8? - Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, April 10 2013 @ 09:08 AM EDT
- Tried Win 8? - Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, April 10 2013 @ 12:06 AM EDT
- Please pay attention... - Authored by: JamesK on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 11:58 AM EDT
- Seems like a fair complaint to me. - Authored by: DannyB on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 12:03 PM EDT
- ROFL - Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 12:50 PM EDT
- Translation: - Authored by: miltonw on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 01:16 PM EDT
- You are not even wrong - Authored by: SilverWave on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 01:55 PM EDT
- Seems like a fair complaint to me. - Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 02:28 PM EDT
- Fair... - Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 03:18 PM EDT
- UnFair... - Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 04:03 PM EDT
- Seems like a fair complaint to me. - Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 03:34 PM EDT
- Seems like a fair complaint to me. - Authored by: BJ on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 03:38 PM EDT
- About that Google Account - Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 03:52 PM EDT
- Seems like a fair complaint to me. - Authored by: wklink on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 04:07 PM EDT
- Seems like FUD to me. - Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 05:14 PM EDT
- Seems like a fair complaint to me. - Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 05:42 PM EDT
- Seems like a fair complaint to me. - Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 06:54 PM EDT
- re; Seems like a fair complaint to me. - Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 08:18 PM EDT
- Try Windows Phone - Bing! - Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 10:35 PM EDT
- Seems like a fair complaint to me. - Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, April 10 2013 @ 05:22 AM EDT
- Seems like a fair complaint to me. - Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, April 10 2013 @ 06:53 AM EDT
- Seems like a fair complaint to me. - Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, April 10 2013 @ 09:01 AM EDT
- hilarious troll - Authored by: designerfx on Wednesday, April 10 2013 @ 10:23 AM EDT
- hilarious troll - Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, April 10 2013 @ 05:47 PM EDT
- No you don't - Authored by: ArtimusClyde on Wednesday, April 10 2013 @ 10:45 AM EDT
- So.... Bing into Win8 is OK, but Google is not OK ? - Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, April 10 2013 @ 01:51 PM EDT
|
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 11:52 AM EDT |
Looking at the complaint, here is what I see:
1. Google has a monopoly on search - not illegal monopoly, but true. Having a
monopoly puts restrictions on what can be done so that competition is not
inhibited.
2. Google subsidizes Android development using predatory pricing - true,
although Microsoft is trying to take this advantage away by pushing their
Microsoft license on Android device vendors
3. Google ties Android services like maps which it gives away to providing
default Google search tools, for which Google receives revenue.
My mixed feelings result from how I agree that Google is trying to do things
correctly, but is close to the antitrust borders. The problem is that I don't
want antitrust laws interpreted loosely for "good guys", for fear the
tool won't be available when a "bad buy" abuses antitrust.
Things we know Microsoft has done include a Windows license discount based on a
computer seller only selling systems with Windows licenses. Intel did a similar
thing with CPUs. Microsoft also had to put the browser selection because of
tying browsers to the OS.
Could a device manufacturer include a Bing search widget displayed as
prominently as the Google search widget and still get access to Maps? If not,
that certainly comes close to what Microsoft was doing with IE.
Google would be better off charging for the Maps software, and paying the device
manufacturer to prominently place its search apps. This puts the cost and
benefits where they belong. Amazon could then include Google maps without
including Google search, but it would cost them more. There are probably a few
details that need to be worked out, like how Google apps could be distributed
through the Amazon store, as I'm guessing Amazon never wants Play to appear on
its devices.
Bottom line is that I think Android itself is open enough that it's easy to
interchange different parts of the OS, that it should not be a monopoly. But,
tying installation of one Google service to the installation of another service,
particularly to one critical to the monopoly search business, may need some
changes.[ Reply to This | # ]
|
- Mixed feelings - Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 12:08 PM EDT
- Evidence please - Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 12:55 PM EDT
- Evidence please - Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 01:27 PM EDT
- Not A Monopoly, Just Dominant - Authored by: lnuss on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 12:59 PM EDT
- Not A Monopoly, Just Dominant - Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 01:32 PM EDT
- Illegal Per Se - Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 02:15 PM EDT
- BINGO! - Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 03:28 PM EDT
- Get access to maps? - Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 12:59 PM EDT
- Wrong - Authored by: SilverWave on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 01:57 PM EDT
- Mixed feelings - Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, April 10 2013 @ 09:04 AM EDT
- Search - Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, April 10 2013 @ 02:09 PM EDT
- Mixed feelings - Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, April 10 2013 @ 06:45 PM EDT
- Mixed feelings - Authored by: Anonymous on Thursday, April 11 2013 @ 12:22 AM EDT
- Mixed feelings - Authored by: Anonymous on Thursday, April 11 2013 @ 01:04 AM EDT
|
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 11:59 AM EDT |
:-) [ Reply to This | # ]
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Authored by: NigelWhitley on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 12:10 PM EDT |
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 12:09 PM EDT
Before anonymous posts take over the comments. Please post any corrections
under
this thread, preferable by including the correction in the title
e.g. FairSearch-->ProprietaryBandits
or more likely
monopolice-->monopolies
Thank you
----------------
Nigel Whitley[ Reply to This | # ]
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Authored by: NigelWhitley on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 12:15 PM EDT |
Please enlighten us on those matters not directly pertaining to this article by
commencing a thread beneath this one.
Thank you
--------
Nigel Whitley[ Reply to This | # ]
|
- Michael Jackson - Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 01:43 PM EDT
- Michael Jackson - Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 02:56 PM EDT
- VLC vs Sony on BluRay interop in France - Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 02:48 PM EDT
- Microsoft call for EU Android Probe .. - Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 03:11 PM EDT
- Really, really, Off Topic - Sand Won't Save You This Time - chlorine trifluoride. - Authored by: SilverWave on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 04:18 PM EDT
- Really, really, Off Topic - Sand Won't Save You This Time - chlorine trifluoride. - Authored by: SilverWave on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 04:34 PM EDT
- No Way, No How - Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 04:45 PM EDT
- Really, really, Off Topic - Sand Won't Save You This Time - chlorine trifluoride. - Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 06:21 PM EDT
- Not so Off Topic really - Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 06:29 PM EDT
- Hot dog - I was looking for something that would burn Asbestos! - Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, April 10 2013 @ 06:19 AM EDT
- That's nasty! - Authored by: albert on Wednesday, April 10 2013 @ 03:07 PM EDT
- That's nasty! - Authored by: Anonymous on Thursday, April 11 2013 @ 11:07 PM EDT
- AMP v. Myriad Genetics at SCOTUS (oral argument April 15) - Authored by: macliam on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 05:40 PM EDT
- Why Canada's Digital Divide Persists - Nation's broadband failure lies in both access & adoption - Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 11:33 PM EDT
- Access Copyright's Desperate Declaration of War Against Fair Dealing - Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 11:41 PM EDT
- Semi-Off Topic Quick Thoughts on Miscellaneous Smartphone Developments Awaiting Q1 Results - Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, April 10 2013 @ 06:47 AM EDT
- New Documents Suggest IRS Reads Emails Without a Warrant - Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, April 10 2013 @ 01:26 PM EDT
|
Authored by: NigelWhitley on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 12:18 PM EDT |
Kindly make any suggestions for or comments on the much-loved Newspicks section
beneath this thread. Thank you.
---------------
Nigel Whitley[ Reply to This | # ]
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Authored by: NigelWhitley on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 12:21 PM EDT |
Please paste them in plain text but with hypertext showing to allow PJ to easily
cut and paste them into the relevant sections.
Thank you.
-----------------
Nigel Whitley
[ Reply to This | # ]
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Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 12:21 PM EDT |
Are we missing something here?
Is this only ante Google? Or is it even deeper?
The complaint against a zero cost system, win against Google, then extent to
include all Open source OS.
We should track the bigger picture too.[ Reply to This | # ]
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Authored by: kuroshima on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 12:32 PM EDT |
I am European, and I often lament not being able to join you
in campaigns to call/mail the government (see SOPA). Now I
can, but I don't know how. I will investigate, but if anyone
can direct me to where I can find the proper channels and how
to properly draft such a letter, I would be really grateful. [ Reply to This | # ]
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Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 12:53 PM EDT |
Great article, Pamela. As usual. I'm following you since SCO
filed it's first suit. Have the same thoughts, understandings,
actions. Never buy Microsoft. Never use Bing or other
products, because I consider Microsoft immoral company. Always
recommend my family and friends not to buy Microsoft.
Have great respect for you and proud of you.[ Reply to This | # ]
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Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 12:56 PM EDT |
Is Microsoft's patent suit versus Motorola Mobility & Google in Germany part
of this assault? [ Reply to This | # ]
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Authored by: NigelWhitley on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 01:04 PM EDT |
PJ wrote "The proprietary companies realize, finally, that free and open
works out well for everyone but them and their old-fashioned business
model." but, unusually, I don't agree.
I believe they've always known that and have just had to change tactics as
Ghandi's process inevitably erodes their influence. In times past Microsoft and
its cohorts (allegedly *cough*) used illegal tricks to slow or prevent adoption
of FLOSS. When that proved an embarrassing and public failure, they switched to
misleading and inaccurate studies (Get the FUD anyone?). As people flagged the
disconnect between the pseudo-science and the truth and FLOSS continued to rise
in popularity, legal attacks began in the guise of protecting sooper-sekrit
interlekchul property. Now that the laughter is dying down a little, they are
trying to get states and super-states to protect their failing business model
under the flag of anti-competitive behaviour (pot, kettle, black?).
I'm not so surprised at US companies using claims of anti-competitive activities
to help them compete unfairly but I thought the Swedes had a sense of irony :
what are Nokia doing here? ;-)
I've posted before about why I believe MS is trying to undermine Android and
Google. They are still trying to drive a wedge between Google and the handset
makers. Originally that was by attacking individual manufacturers but leaving
Google alone, IMHO hoping to create the impression that Google were using the
handset makers as cannon fodder and would abandon them. Oracle v Samsung has
exposed that approach as a bullet to the tarsals and indirectly made it far
harder for MS to continue its "death of a thousand patents" campaign.
With this "complaint" (advertising copy) the usual suspects
acknowledge that they aren't good enough to compete with a cheaper product and
they want teacher to give Google a caning for being a meanie. They're clever
enough to say they want Google to get six of the best for bullying the little
kids. Of course, their problem long term is that the little kids will all say
Google gave them free sweeties and weren't mean but until then their tame
journalists can sing the proprietary song and try to sway the under-informed and
overcautious into sticking with good ole MS.
Unfortunately for those defenders of yesterday's technology, the ultimate result
will not be a caning for FLOSS but merely the flogging of a nearly deceased
gelding called Windows. But then the complainants, like Windows itself, have
never been that quick either.
----------------
Nigel Whitley[ Reply to This | # ]
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Authored by: tz on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 01:21 PM EDT |
OS News had a summary noting Windows has similar badges require the same if not
worse from Microslaver "partners".
Can I put Win 8 on a Pixel? Or even on my old Netbook?
Blackberry is really, really, interesting. It runs QNX, which is a unix-like
(posix) core designed for embedded so is much more power efficient, and
Blackberry has basically an android compatibility layer making porting nearly
trivial. I should note they have multiple APIs for developers from C up to Java
and I think HTML5 based. They are hungry and with just two models of phones,
the Z10 and Q10 might become the 3rd ecosystem.
(Yes, pj, I know it isn't fully "open", but google has their own
problems - or where is the opensource Reader replacement?).
Nokia is in a class by itself (see communities dominate brands) with ++Elop.
Yet the Antarctic and the Gobi desert are "ecosystems" even given
their lack of life. The Finnish Government should be suing or lynching someone
given the direct impact to the GDP of such incompetence (or worse, malice).
[ Reply to This | # ]
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Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 01:24 PM EDT |
I cannot see, how they would have any change of prevailing.
There real reason for suing is to draw as much publicity as
possible to try and taint Google's reputation and to make
Google coff up even more Lawyer fees.
Truly immoral and yet another reason not to buy any of their
products.[ Reply to This | # ]
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Authored by: tz on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 01:32 PM EDT |
http://winsupersite.com/windows-8/what-microsoft-could-learn-google-play-update
JCP has problems. There are stores which are memories like Montgomery Ward. MS
has decided to model their online like them. One can complain about Neiman
Marcus and/or Walmart but they at least have stuff you want that you can find
and pay for.
The article is brief. But it shows the difference in attitude.
Microsoft is also really, really stupid in another way. In the earlier message
I noted Reader is going away.
If MS even had one tiny spark of creativity (even evil empire lock-in
creativity) there would already be a Bing-reader. (I don't trust google, I
trust M$ less, but would consider it - also note there will be no iReader...).[ Reply to This | # ]
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Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 01:39 PM EDT |
Maybe things are done differently in the EU but I have bought and used Android
devices from Acer, LG, HTC, Samsung and Motorola. Did they have Googles apps?
Yes. Did they also have competing apps already installed? Yes. All except the
acer did not have some google apps very prominent. In fact they all did not have
gmail app on any of the screens, but did have some other email client on the
first page along with other non-google apps like facebook, amazon other that I
so could careless about.
Thing is Google is not saying these Android device can not have competing apps.
If they are not on there it is not Googles doing, it is either the device maker
and/or the sellers choice.[ Reply to This | # ]
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Authored by: SilverWave on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 01:49 PM EDT |
Hope they are being paid well - this kind of stain on your
soul isn't going to wash off.
---
RMS: The 4 Freedoms
0 run the program for any purpose
1 study the source code and change it
2 make copies and distribute them
3 publish modified versions
[ Reply to This | # ]
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Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 02:33 PM EDT |
At what point do these continuous attacks from Microsoft and their puppets,
though the courts, become an actionable offense?
It couldn't be more obvious that Microsoft (and puppets) are using the public's
courts as an attempted method to gain a competitive advantage.
Is there no downside for Microsoft and their puppets? Can they continue these
attacks forever and expect no repercussions?[ Reply to This | # ]
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Authored by: TemporalBeing on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 02:44 PM EDT |
I picked up my first tablet - ASUS Transformer Infinity. Works great, love it.
It's Android with Google's approval, and thus all the Google Apps.
At the same time, we also picked up a Nabi Jr. for our 2 yr old, advertised as
running Android 4. We'd like to have YouTube and a few other Google Apps on
there, but I'm going to have to figure out how to get them on as the makers
(Fuhu) are not certified by Google yet (reports are they are trying to be). It's
a great little device, and our son loves it. (He now rejects the iPod Touch for
it.)
And of course there is Amazon and B&N who both have their own tablets
running Android without the Google Apps on them either. Though they don't
necessarily advertise it as being Android - Amazon does, B&N doesn't.
So, it's kind of hard to see what they're complaining about.
As PJ said, it's Google gives permission to distribute the Google Apps when it
meets their definition of Android as a control for their own brand.
And it's not like Microsoft isn't guilty of that themselves - they do that with
Internet Explorer among other things for all OEM Windows vendors.[ Reply to This | # ]
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Authored by: the_flatlander on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 02:58 PM EDT |
Imagine, for a moment, if some company insisted that resellers of its DESKTOP
Operating System did something like what Google is accused of doing. Imagine if
they included a [horridly insecure] default browser that you could not delete;
whose home page and default search engine were set to that company's own
[worthless] offerings. Imagine if everyone selling desktop hardware had to pay
a fee to this supplier for every piece of desktop hardware they sold
*regardless* of what Operating System it actually shipped with. Wouldn't *that*
be worthy of an anti-Trust Complaint?
If anything like that were going on, we'd need to form a European Consortium,
and call ourselves "FairDesktop", and file our own complaint with the
EU.
The Flatlander[ Reply to This | # ]
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Authored by: kawabago on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 03:07 PM EDT |
I love them describing open source as 'below cost'. The
software was written with the intention of it's free
distribution. People who use it have improved it and donated
their improvements back to everyone else. So the 'cost' of
the software is the improvements each user makes to it. That
is simply a far greater value proposition than proprietary
software can offer.
Microsoft can either find a way to be more efficient in a
proprietary model so it can compete against the value
offered by open source. Or it can adopt the open source
model to develop it's own products. Of course, it's past
behavior will make it very difficult to convince anyone to
cooperate with it, so it may have no way forward.
It's death will be painful.
[ Reply to This | # ]
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Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 03:38 PM EDT |
Sure, Google is imposing its rule to keep the Android line pure.
So does MS, watch what happens to anyopne who wants to sell
an OS called Windows, or anything like it. I don't believe Google
requires OEMs to give Google apps “prominent default placement”
on the device. AFAIU the Google frameworks do that automagically,
if they are not adjusted by the OEM. Some OEMs do adjust these
settings to give default prominence to their own in-house apps.
e.g. Huawei sell devices in China as "Android" which behave as
Android in all respects except they don't have the Google frameworks
nor any of the usual Google apps. A suite of Chinese apps is installed
in their place, including the mobile operator's app store. Yet on the
other side we saw what happened when Ali Baba wanted to call their
device Android while it contained non-conforming apps.
The same Huawei hardware sold in markets outside China has
essentially the same OS but including the Google frameworks and
app suite. A common thread amongst the Android mobile device
hacking community is how to get the Google apps installed on devices
that were sold without them. Yes, most of the apps are available on the
"Play Store", but they don't run without the underlying frameworks.
These frameworks are normally available only to OEMs who toe the
party line. Unauthorized possession of them is nearly as bad as
possessing an Apple ROM, but hasn't stopped them circulating on
certain filesharing sites.
I sometimes complain how Linux forces users to select their own defaults.
Now I'm changing horses to observe that a user is always free to
change their defaults on Android devices. Perhaps that freedom is
frightening the horses.
[ Reply to This | # ]
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Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 04:14 PM EDT |
maybe not really.
http://upt
ime.netcraft.com/up/graph/?host=www.fairsearch.org
using
ubuntu.. hmm. just using some hosting company. [ Reply to This | # ]
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Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 04:22 PM EDT |
IANAL, but PJ's charge that these complaints are anti-trust
plots by the plaintiffs got my attention. Can Google send the
EU Commission a counter-complaint with that very charge? Or
will that be too hard to prove?
[ Reply to This | # ]
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Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 04:44 PM EDT |
Thank you yet again PJ. I didn't realize how badly I needed a
laugh today.[ Reply to This | # ]
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Authored by: knarf on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 06:45 PM EDT |
From PJ's update:
Is there a contact point for consumers on
competition issues?
The European Commissioner responsible for competition
created a Consumer Liaison Unit within the Commission’s Competition DG to ensure
a permanent dialogue with European consumers. If you have any question on
competition please contact our Consumer Liaison officer by using this address:
comp-consumers@ec.europa.eu
Do
be very polite and on point if you do write. No one listens to rude people. I
don't either, and neither do you. So be extra, extra polite, please, if you wish
to be listened to.
So let's write them some letters. Nicely
worded letters. Letters which explain the nature of free software, the fact that
Android does not depend on those Google services they harp about, the fact that
there are many Android devices which do not use any Google services, etc. Post
them here if you want so others can be inspired by them - or criticise them if
so required.
--- [ "Omnis enim res, quae dando non deficit, dum
habetur
et non datur, nondum habetur, quomodo habenda est." ]
[ Reply to This | # ]
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Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 07:07 PM EDT |
That it should be addressed against the device vendors, not Google.
First it would be interesting to read this "contractual obligation"
to give Google apps “prominent default placement”. Either we wait
for it to sift thru the EU machine, or wikileaks publishes it.
Second, whose fault is it that customers want to use Google services?
The device vendors can easily install Android without any Google
apps or services. I suspect comparative sales figures would quickly
decide their future course of action. And this is Google's fault how?
[ Reply to This | # ]
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Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 09:05 PM EDT |
FairSearch’s complaint is that “Microsft uses deceptive conduct to lockout
competition in mobile” — by, specifically, requiring OEMs that use Windows to
pre-load a suite of Microsoft services and give them “prominent default
placement” on the device in order to also get access to ”must-have Microsoft
apps such as Maps, Bing etc”. By doing this, FairSearch argues that Microsoft
“disadvantages other providers, and puts Microsoft’s Windows in control of
consumer data on a minority of smartphones shipped today”, adding that this
“predatory distribution of Windows at above-cost makes it difficult for other
providers of operating systems to recoup investments in competing with
Microsoft’s less than dominant mobile platform”....
“Microsft is using its Windows mobile operating system as a ‘Trojan Horse’ to
deceive partners, monopolize the mobile marketplace, and control consumer data,”
said Thomas Vinje, Brussels-based counsel to the FairSearch coalition, in a
statement. “We are asking the Commission to move quickly and decisively to
protect competition and innovation in this critical market. Failure to act will
only embolden Microsoft to repeat its desktop abuses of dominance as consumers
increasingly turn to a mobile platform dominated by Microsoft’s Windows
operating system.”[ Reply to This | # ]
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Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 10:00 PM EDT |
According to FairSearch, the "below-cost" policy "makes it difficult
for other providers of operating systems to recoup investments in competing with
Google’s dominant mobile platform".
So what about the other
"below-cost" software
like:
- Ubuntu
- Firefox
- Postgres
- Python
li>
- LibreOffice/OpenOffice
- Chome
Browser
- etc.
Let's get those banned as well. But not
Java, oh, no. Oracle would never give away software at below cost while tying
something else to it. Not and keep a straight face while complaining here. Their
complaint is based on the fact that the Java feature phone market has no future
in a world of smart phones. They gave away Java as a general purpose programming
language, but charged license fees for the version used in phones. It's easy to
see what they're unhappy about.
The complaint will probably focus on
the aspect of product tying - you'll get 'x' for free if you buy 'y'. The big
problem with that approach is that just about everybody in the software industry
does that to one degree or another.
The big problem from my
perspective is they are trying to get it declared "unfair" for software to be
"free of charge" if it competes with a product that someone else wants to charge
for. It won't take long for Microsoft to take a victory in this case and try to
stretch it to cover lots more.
[ Reply to This | # ]
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Authored by: Glenn on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 10:37 PM EDT |
So, when an operating system fires up, all we should see is a blank screen. No
logos, Microsoft, Google, Verizon, etc.
[ Reply to This | # ]
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Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, April 09 2013 @ 10:58 PM EDT |
“Google is using its Android mobile operating system as a ‘Trojan
Horse’ to deceive partners, monopolize the mobile marketplace, and control
consumer data,” said Thomas Vinje, Brussels-based counsel to the FairSearch
coalition...
Interesting. I've been telling people the same
thing about Microsoft since at least 2000. The problem with this FarSearch
argument is that Microsoft really DOES violate anti-trust laws, while Google's
software doesn't even come close to that level of swamp.
Google Maps
has nothing to do with the Android operating system, except that there is a port
of Google Maps for Android.
Now when Microsoft opens up it's software
so that their customers are actually "free" to use and modify the software to
their needs and wishes, I will perhaps give them more of an ear. Until then,
I'll remain convinced that swamp gas is, in fact, swamp gas.
[ Reply to This | # ]
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Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, April 10 2013 @ 12:34 AM EDT |
MS might argue that Catholics lockout competition in religion by giving
prominent default placement to the crucifix and devotional images in church, and
by distributing the Eucharist below cost. [ Reply to This | # ]
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Authored by: raindog on Wednesday, April 10 2013 @ 07:36 AM EDT |
Does antitrust law work differently in the EU or something? Because in the US,
you pretty much have to have a monopoly in one area and try to use that as
leverage to monopolize another area in order to even start to get in trouble.
Sure, Google has a monopoly on online ads, and search, pretty much. I don't
think Microsoft and its shills are even trying to claim that Google is trying to
abuse its monopolies on those two areas to obtain a monopoly on mobile phone
operating systems, nor do they already have such a monopoly with what, 55%
market share?
When Google hits 95% market share (installed base market share, not monthly
sales market share or anything so ephemeral) then we can talk about
browser/search engine ballot screens and restrictions on online ad networks. But
today they don't. And they won't for years, even if Microsoft and Blackberry
continue to be as hapless as they've been since Android's release.
[ Reply to This | # ]
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Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, April 10 2013 @ 09:24 AM EDT |
who they then? Microsoft and their partners in crime?
A fake grass-roots organisation?[ Reply to This | # ]
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- Both. - Authored by: jesse on Wednesday, April 10 2013 @ 01:41 PM EDT
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Authored by: maroberts on Wednesday, April 10 2013 @ 12:18 PM EDT |
Does anyone have a link or access to the full text of the
complaint to the EU?[ Reply to This | # ]
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Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, April 10 2013 @ 01:04 PM EDT |
While I fully support Google in this, saying "from a rooted
Android" is the same as saying IE can be removed from a
"modified windows machine".. Those apps should come off
easily rooted or not.[ Reply to This | # ]
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Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, April 10 2013 @ 01:10 PM EDT |
Could someone remind me what "rooted" means in this context? It's not
related to "root kit", right?[ Reply to This | # ]
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Authored by: SirHumphrey on Wednesday, April 10 2013 @ 05:47 PM EDT |
a maker of black pots and kettles Jack Hughes [ Reply to This | # ]
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Authored by: Anonymous on Thursday, April 11 2013 @ 05:24 AM EDT |
'...the "below-cost" policy "makes it difficult for other
providers of operating systems to recoup investments...'
It's all the fault of that evil Linus Torvalds creating a below cost operating
system called Linux. Someone should make that illegal.[ Reply to This | # ]
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