iMessage went down too

The iMessage outage wasn't the same as Blackberry Services going down and affecting your ability to communicate with your e-mail, BBM, and other Blackberry users. With the iMessage outage, you could chat via other services and it didn't affect e-mail. E-mail goes down and you're REALLY screwed. So, between this and the clueless CEO being asleep at the wheel regarding tablets, I'm no longer interested in BB10 anything and will wait for the Note 3.

Profits

I'm more interested in a statistic of the profits Microsoft is making from the sale of Android Phones made by OEM's who have a licensing agreement with Microsoft. That is info that is sneaking by under the radar. As for the whole Android versus Apple marketshare/profit discussion, it's true that the Android vendors will have made their profits for most of the year by the time Apple releases the next iPhone. So, if Apple does little more than incrementally upgrade the iPhone 5 with irrellevant upgrades that will only impress a limited number of hard core Apple fans, they will ultimately lose customers to vendors who are producing more compelling phones than Apple and right now, everyone including Blackberry, is producing more compelling phones than Apple. Cook can stick his head in a hole and believe the nonsense he's spouting about his competitors, but he's the only one who believes that nonsense. Customers are proving with their buying choices, that there are better choices out there.

Hmmmm.....

The first round of G-Glass Malware is sure to be just round the corner.

Pricing Stupidity

One would think that Android tablet makers would get a clue. They tried pricing their Tablets at or above Apple prices and failed. Attempting to sell convertible tablets at iPad prices won't work because consumers will look at the iPad mini, buy it, get a bluetooth keyboard, and call it a day. Why the Android Tablet makers can't figure this out is beyond me. This is why Windows RT and Surface Tablets aren't selling. PRICE. Drop the price to $299 and $399 and they will fly off shelves like nothing else on the market. Same thing with Ultrabooks. No one is going to buy them at the prices these clowns want to sell them. Consumers won't pay premium prices for any product that isn't Apple.

Hmmm....

If Google's Android and Chrome OS violate Microsoft patents, why hasn't Microsoft sued Google for Google to license those patents? Google is the maker of Android and Chrome OS, not these OEM's. Shouldn't GOOGLE be the one licensing those Microsoft patents? Or is it that Microsoft would make more money from OEM licensing than if just Google were to license those patents. And Google is rather silent about all of this, aren't they??

DISH NETWORK?? I HOPE NOT

Make up your mind, author. Is DISH's offer 10% above softbank or 13%? It can't possibly be both.

DISH Network is the worst possible option for Satellite TV. Word has it that their customer service is awful. While DISH is an American company, that doesn't make it the best option for Sprint or more importantly, Sprint's customers (of which, I'm one). And while there appears to be a higher share price in it for stock holders if Sprint considered DISH's offer, DISH has no experience to compete with in Mobile. The Softbank deal has already received regulatory approval and is set to complete later this year. DISH can buy some other phone network. Maybe they should bid for Metro PCS or Virgin Mobile.

It's not going to work

Zuckerberg would've done better to design a better Facebook App for all platforms that actually works well and is pleasant to use based on what FACEBOOK USERS WANT, not what he wants to shove down their throats. Everyone keeps trying the Steve Jobs approach without realizing that he's the only one that will EVER work for. Zuckerberg would like to think he's got the mojo of Jobs, but no one in the tech industry does. Facebook Home will fail miserably because, as others have pointed out, no one, including the most obsessed Facebook users, wants their entire phone experience to be Facebook. No one. Sure, some will download and try it and sure, some will even buy an HTC First, but people will quickly find it more annoying than the Facebook Timeline and rush to uninstall it more rapidly than they installed it. Besides, as has been pointed out, none of the big players in the industry will want Facebook Home to succeed in taking over the user experience. That alone guarantees Facebook Home's failure.

Low cost iPhone coming to China?

Oh yes, Cook must eat Crow and kiss ass. This isn't the first or last time. He will have to do more of it to get China Mobile as a customer. By the way, isn't Foxconn a Chinese manufacturer, who manufactures iPhones and iPads? That not enough state run factory business for China? Guess not. China is going to bend Cook and Apple over in order to get China Mobile as a customer. And China Mobile isn't going to give up any of what USA and EU carriers have, to get the iPhone. China mobile holds all of the cards and can wait Apple out while Android builds momentum there. Apple however, cannot afford to wait.

DAFT

Is this insanity driven by Balmer or is some other MBA at Microsoft responsible for this nonsense. Affluent customers don't want Windows 8 Tablets. If they did, they'd be selling in higher quantities instead of being crushed by the Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD, and especially, the iPad mini. The OEM's weren't jumping for joy to develop and sell Windows 8 Tablet's in the 10" size and don't be too shocked if they aren't rushing to market with 7" Windows 8 Tablets either. Someone should be fired at Microsoft for the ridiculous Windows 8 Hip Hop dance Tablet commercials, which are more about some director, choreographer, and dancers showing their performance skills than what Windows 8 Tablets are capable of. Hence tepid public response.

Not me

This is why I don't tell neighbors or anyone who isn't attempting to hire me for a job, that I've worked in tech support for years. Helping my mum with her usually self induced or "got a virus from some idiot in an e-mail" type of problem is one thing. Anyone else who needs tech support is expected to pay for it. I don't work for free. The author shouldn't either. Bills to pay and a family to feed. Not a volunteer for charity work.

Really?

So that means that Apple and everyone else having their computers and computing devices assembled in China with Chinese parts has to to stop doing business with the people's republic because the people's republic is affiliated with the businesses in their country? Or does Apple get a pass on that for some unknown reason?

"IDIOT"

Like someone else said- This idiot can find upskirt porn online for free without risking being knocked over the head with a brick weighted purse by an offended victim of his pervertiveness. And with an iPad? Really? Yes, I'd say he's an IDIOT. A perverted idiot, at that. Should be abundantly clear to a woman that a man with an iPad in view following her around, is trying to get point of view pictures of a perverted nature.

Awesome

Both the hardware specs and software capabilities of the S4 out do the iPhone 5. The iPhone 5 simply doesn't have these new software features that the S4 has. What is more significant is that anyone with an iPhone 4S or Galaxy S2 who has a two year upgrade coming this year, has numerous options available and if you ignore the hardware for a moment ad consider the new software features, NONE of the other phones currently available has ANY of those features (including the iPhone 5). So, unless everyone at Apple is asleep at the wheel, they had better do something more significant than an incremental upgrade, call it a 5S, and some slight underhood tweeks and lame Siri tricks in the next version of iOS. It's a given that this year's iPhone 5S will get some of last years Android hardware features (quad core. 2GB of RAM) but Apple had better rethink their strategy because consumers have numerous options this year that are far more compelling than an iPhone 5S, at this point.

Start8 ROCKS

First thing I did after installing Windows 8 is get Start8 for $4.99 to get the start button back. I'm rarely in Metro interface, but it's easy to escape and get back to the regular windows desktop with a start button.

Part of the problem. Not the solution.

Hey guess what Sir-gay,

YOUR ANDROID SMARTPHONE seems to be the Phone that the majority of penny pinching mobe owners are "hunched over" and being "emasculated" with. But you probably missed that while getting high and playing with your overhyped, over priced smart glasses. Ironic that your SMARTPHONES are particularly in the lead in developing countries where people can't afford your fancy glasses. Get over yourself. No one is falling for your word games and shelling out piles of cash for your POS glasses.

Really

Why is it that the whole gay thing seems to be so popular in America? Is this as popular in the UK and Europe. From what I've heard, it's a "don't ask/don't tell" type of thing in the Arab world. Maybe that's what they hate so much about the American "infidels"?

More for less

What Dell has managed to do here is offer more in their Windows 8 Tablet for a lower price than what MS offers their less well equipped Surface Pro. Wouldn't it be funny if Dell sold more of theirs than MS sells of the Surface Pro? Can you see the OEMs thumbing their nose at MS for producing their own tablets?

There's already an iPhone mini...

It's called the iPhone 4 and 4S. Making a smaller iPhone with a smaller screen than 3.5" just doesn't make any sense. Why would Chinese consumers buy a little toy like that versus an inexpensive Android phone that they don't have to squint at a tiny screen?

BULLOCKS!!!

Analysts are just guessing. They probably are invested in Apple, Google, and Samsung, in order to maximize their own profits. They don't want or need BB to succeed. The BB strategy of selling overseas before coming to America isn't going to result in pent up demand because between now and the time the Z10 and Q10 arrive, the HTC One and other superior phones, will show up. God help BB if an iPhone pops up here before the Z10 and Q10 arrive.

I don't think so

Microsoft is not in a position to push anyone into doing anything. There are alternatives to Office 365 and Office 2013. I won't be getting either of Microsoft's new Office extortion attempts. Good luck with that, Microsoft.

iWatch?

Just get yourself an arm band for you iPhone or your iPod Nano and there's your "iWatch". Who really wants an iWatch? Planning on queuing up in line for that?

Sure

Kinda like how Microsoft REALLY wants you to log into your Windows 8 PC with your Microsoft LIVE account? Don't think so. I'm happy with system authentication on my PC, Mac, Phone, and Tablet at present. Won't be signing up for this "ring on the finger" nonsense. It's daft. Criminals will just steal your ring to get your identity. Haven't these geniuses even figured that out??

Solutions

Microsoft went into this in a rather unfocused manner. There are ways out of it, however.

1. Price- Lower the price. Not many people are going to buy a hobbled Surface Tablet to get a hobbled OS and hobbled office suite when they can get an iPad mini for less and be able to do more than with a Surface Tablet. Add the keyboard into that lower price too. But before lowering the price, it needs to be un-hobbled.

2. Un-hobble the device. un-hobble Windows RT and Office RT so that users can get the complete user experience. Add Outlook to it. Allow it to join Domains. Eliminate all of the ridiculous restrictions that hobble the device and make it an expensive hobbled option in comparison to the iPad and in particular, the iPad Mini. Microsoft can't compete with Apple by giving customers a more expensive, less useful tablet option. Customers need a reason to opt for the Surface over the iPad and iPad mini.

3. Give consumers solid reasons to get a Surface RT Tablet- Obviously, no one at Microsoft has asked themselves the question- "Why should I buy the Surface instead of an iPad or iPad mini"? You can get a Bluetooth keyboard for your iPad, so that nullifies the keyboard add-on as an advantage. While the iPad doesn't come with MS Office, there are alternatives that are usable enough to make a hobbled version of Office on the Surface, no advantage for Microsoft. The app Ecosystem for the iPad is it's biggest advantage and Microsoft's app catalog isn't providing anyone a good enough reason to switch to the Surface. Big the big advantage that Microsoft is missing out on is the BUSINESS USE scenarios.

4. Add business use scenarios- Make MS Office 100% usable and Microsoft creates the big advantage it could have over iOS and Android. Right now, iOS and Android have MS Office use advantages over the Surface and that simply should not be. The Surface RT Tablet should be able to join a Domain, make use of the file system to copy, paste, and transfer files and documents, and MS Office on the Surface should be fully and completely usable, so that business users have a reason to opt for a Surface Tablet over iPad and iPad mini. A docking system that ties the SURFACE RT to a desk with monitor and keyboard would be good for office use, and the keyboard attachment works well enough for offsite use. Microsoft used it business use advantages to keep Apple at bay in the office. They could do the same with the Surface RT, if it's un-crippled and allowed to be fully usable.

Maybe these are all the things that Sinofsky pushed for but could not get, and thus, he parted ways with Microsoft. It makes absolutely no sense for Microsoft to overprice an ARM based Tablet, hobble it intentionally to make it unusable for business or personal use (FLASH NOT WORKING? BIG FAIL), and then expect anyone to want to overpay for something less usable than an iPad. Worse, with the Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD, and iPad Mini, there are so many less expensive tablet options available that are far more usable than Surface, Microsoft hasn't really given anyone reasons to buy them. Their daft ad campaign hasn't helped at all. The ad campaigns scream (UNUSABLE). I can do more with my iPad 2 than I could with a Surface and the iPad 2 came out in 2010. That's just embarrassing for Microsoft.

Advice from one of the worst CEOs of all time?

Yea,

Keep that advice, Scully. As one of the worst CEO's of all time, you're not fit to advise any company on how to achieve anything when you couldn't do so yourself, accept achieving wealth at the expense of the company you mismanaged.

REALLY??!!!

If Microsoft found that consumers and more importantly, businesses, were dragging their feet moving on from Windows XP, imagine Microsoft's surprise when they find that consumers and companies won't be willing to shell out for or use Office 2013, particularly MS Outlook. Open Office still supports .doc and .xml based Word and Excel files without the ridiculous expense. Sure, you may not get outlook or any of the rarely used features of that insane ribbon interface, but I don't personally care or need that. I will never use Office 2013, or Outlook 2013 now that I know that. Open Office or even Libre Office, will get the job done for free. Surprise, Microsoft. Balmer screwed up again.

EPIC FAIL!!!

I already don't use Facebook mobile on my phone. Just FB Chat. I rarely use FB on my iPad, but once these ads start playing, I won't be using it there. Chrome is already setup with an ad blocker and Flash blocker, so I never see FB ads in my timeline and no flash videos play by default. FB will liken this to TV ads, but again, data capped customers will be the ones to be in arms about this more than any others, and FB will find many many people using it less and less on mobes and blocking these ads on desktop platforms. I spend more time on Google+ and have more friends there anyway.

Vaporware

It's just not going to happen. The Cable and Satellite networks don't need Apple to gain subscribers, and after seeing how Apple worked the record companies and cell phone networks, they aren't going to play ball with Apple and give Cook any form of control or "lock in deals". Comcast in particularly, isn't going to play ball with Cook. Jobs couldn't inspire any of the TV networks to play ball. Cook has less mojo than jobs, so he can't accomplish this. Chinese TV OEMs aren't going to want to cannibalize sales of their own TV's just to make pennies on the dollar from Apple. The only vendor who's got "intense interest" in the proposition of an Apple branded TV set, is Apple. While some consumers may be interested in an over price/under featured LCD TV that is two years behind competitors in features and technology, the economy in Europe is in dire straights, so it's not going to sell in droves over there. The American economy isn't much better, so while some might claim interest, there's not going to be any standing in line for days waiting for an Apple TV. It's just not going to happen. Analysts bring this up to help raise Apple's stock price, which has been floundering recently. Cook brought this up for pretty much the same reason. Apple can't continue their momentum with two years behind everyone else technology. The trance is wearing off and vaporware products aren't going to change that.

Not getting either RT or Surface Pro

Neither of these Windows 8 Tablets will be replacing my iPad 2. I'd buy an iPad mini before I'd buy one of these. I can use Google Docs for document editing just fine, as well as other options. That takes care of the main selling point of Windows 8 Tablets. Also, I get 10 hours of battery life on my iPad 2 and would get the same on an iPad mini. So, never mind the Windows 8 Tablets.

Apple needs TV networks more than TV networks need Apple

TV Networks aren't the same as the record industry. They hold all of the cards. And while indie film makers can attempt to make indie TV shows and display them on Youtube, the big financial backing isn't going to happen because TV Networks hold the cards there and in content delivery. Viewing TV shows and movies on iTunes is as close as the TV and film industry wants Apple to get. They've all seen how Apple railroaded the record industry into iTunes. There is no way that TV networks will allow Apple to control any part of the content delivery food chain. It's just not going to happen. Comcast in particular, can already deliver it's content onto Laptops, Smartphones, and Tablets. They simply don't need Apple for delivery of content to an overprice, under featured "Smart TV". That model works in phones and tablets, but who is going to overpay for a Smart TV when a 42" LCD TV can be purchased for under $400 right now? Who really needs a "SMART TV", anyway? Apple isn't going to get it's way. Jobs couldn't persuade anyone and Cook definitely won't get anywhere with it.

I don't think so

The only way an employer gets to choose my mobile phone, is if they are issuing it to me and paying for the service. My personal phone is my personal business and I will use the platform that I bloody well please. They want employees to beta test a platform of their choice, then Zuckerberg can spend some of his billions and buy them the phones of his choice.

Overpriced Apple LCD TV for the rich?

Apple can get away with overcharging for computers and tablets, but in this economy, who is going to overpay for an LCD TV with an Apple Logo on it other than celebs and other idle rich? Clearly, they are in the minority. Such an overpriced TV set just isn't going to happen because Cable and Satellite networks just don't need Apple in order to get their content to customers. It serves no purpose given that there are already smart TV's in the marketplace and they aren't moving int he same quantities as regular LCD TVs. Perhaps in the future, it could happen, but the cable and satellite networks are in no rush to do so. They've all seen Apple's control freakery at work and have no intention of allowing it in their industry.

Hmmm

I guess the Razr HD Maxx, and HD, and M, are worrying bits of kit to mikersoft, eh? But only if you want to be beholden to Verizon. There are other carriers, and I've yet to meet anyone who desires to move to AT&T just to get a Nokia Windows 8 phone.

WHY??

Why would Sprint want to merge with T-Mobile/MetroPCS? MetroPCS network will be phased out and Sprint's network isn't compatible with T-Mobile's. Sure, LTE would work between them, but that won't get SPRINT as much LTE Network roll out as quickly as they might think. Plus, where is the money going to come from for such a merger? I don't think that is going to happen.

All I can say is that if the Note2 lands at Sprint, this iPhone 4S and Apple Maps will get sold to subsidize purchase of the Note 2. I will only tolerate Apple maps until my 2013 upgrade and it will most certainly NOT be an iPhone 5S.

Another rapper wannabee who acts and sounds just like every other rapper wannabee out there (minus the "permanent tan"), complete with pant sagging, obscene lyrics and gestures, and a total lack of class. This publicity stunt will surely get him plenty of thumbs up from thugs and thuggettes world wide. This may contribute to a short 15 minutes of fame before the lack of creativity and originality kick in (around the second album) and reduce him to being as unknown as he already is to most of us.

Sure. Until Apple makes a 7" or 7.8" Tablet and girlymen and girlies rush out to stand in line and buy it.

"Greed is good?"

This case and the remedies for it, were already decided by a jury. That trial is over. Apple is rich enough. No further financial remedy is necessary, and unless I missed something, wasn't the Galaxy S3 not found to infringe on Apple patents, therefore seeking a permanent injunction on the Galaxy S3 is invalid. But wouldn't it be hilarious if Samsung won an injunction on the iPhone 5 for infringing on it's LTE patents? The lawyers are getting rich off this greedy nonsense.

"Substantial"??

This deal was "substantial" for who?? Facebook and the Lawyers representing the plaintiffs. THAT is who this deal was substantial for. This didn't do not one "SUBSTANTIAL" thing for the plaintiffs. It made some lawyers richer though, and it appears that those lawyers didn't consult with their clients before accepting the deal, which in and of itself, is illegal, isn't it? Since when do lawyers have final say on what they CLIENTS WANT, as plaintiffs in a case? Lawyers.... HUMPH!!!