Change of policy needed
Instead of delving into geopolitical 'solutions', the US should in fact look internally to solve its real problem.
You know, things like education and manufacturing etc.
94 publicly visible posts • joined 15 Jul 2010
Perhaps it's the natural decline of an empire.
Granted, the US land mass is sufficiently large, geographically advantageous and resource rich, however the decimation of Europe during the world wars contributed to the USA's climb to dominance.
Now it's China's turn. However, it should be noted, that through the ages, China has always been a constant.
"No, it's because knowledge in itself is useless if you lack the industrial infrastructure to make use of it."
You probably haven't any experience of China I see. When was the last time you lived there? They are literally the leaders in industrial infrastructure.
"Behind the West's scientific and technological superiority is an enormous industrial and financial might"
Clearly you've not been paying attention to what China has been doing through the past 40 years. Also, you've not read the article aswell...
You're all over the place here; trying to fit in a narrative that is incorrect.
"But their isolation will rob them of money and influence and turn them into a hermit kingdom."
Maybe pay attention to what the Middle Kingdom has been doing for the past 40 years or so.
Also don't conflate China's track record of non-interventionism and keeping to themselves with isolationism.
Hint, it's the US and it's lackeys who are trying to isolate and contain China.
"but we've come to the realization that China won't change in the way we'd like them to so it's time to turn off the tap."
Spoken like a true Imperialist.
"China won't change in the way we'd like them to" - To think you have the morals and right to cast judgement and punish a sovereign nation because it goes against you're own agenda is a product of entitlement and arrogance.
As for 'turning off the tap'... that opportunity has long gone. Gone are the days when the US could bully everyone into submission. At least there is now another actor on the world stage who can balance out the US, and I think everyone agrees, this is a good thing!
It's so sad to see people here not embracing the Microsoft option. It's as if you are happy with just having Google Apps unchallenged.
On another note, Office 365 is in a totally different league to Google Apps. Cue excuses that users don't need the full functionality of Office and Google Apps are just 'good enough'...
These phones are exactly what this market requires where feature phones and dumb phones reign supreme. Only but the very affluent can afford an iPhone in China - where it actually costs more than in the UK!
Yes, Huawei and ZTE are aiming for the same market as Nokia, but you obviously don't understand the chinese mindset; where all things equal in price and feature set, given the choice, they will go for the foreign brand; the perceived prestige is what, as you've intimated, the upwardly mobile people want in order to show off their new found wealth.
Another thing that you do not realise are the ties Microsoft and Nokia are making with indigenous companies and their services. They've already signed on the dotted line for Weibo Sina integration (Chinese Twitter) and Tencent's QQ - which is absolutely massive, amongst other things.
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It's interesting that whilst Apple and Android are in the market of upscaling, Microsoft have gone in the opposite direction and are streamlining the OS code for low spec smartphones.
From the hands on shown (Verge and Engadget) i'm actually quite impressed, very fluid considering the hardware.
Also interesting that possible fragmentation is limited to 'apps' and that MS are actively informing developer's of the 5% or so apps that they are not functioning correctly.
"Being able to spot and call out BS + hyperbole does not imply awkwardness.
But falling for it does imply a certain lack of critical facility."
Sounds like you are wrapped up in your own hubris.
BS+hyperbole? That's your opinion. Implying that it's a fact and criticising someone who thinks otherwise is arrogant beyond belief.
By and large, these type of people have a constitution which is generally 'closed'. The problem with this character flaw is that they are generally unimaginative and resistant to change; They latch onto something and are unable to let go no matter what!
In this case: - Google is now 'open source' - 'shiny key word, that attracts certain types' - Therefore take-up of Google ecosystem is justified - Leading to Google can do no wrong no matter what.
Which is ironic, since the IT world is a rapidly moving entity and Google's accumulating track record of naughtiness should be an obvious warning for people to jump ship - or at least latch onto something else (temporarily!)...
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Apple and MS are in no way little angels, BUT people here really need to get a grip. Google have done wrong here!
Why are people trying to put a different slant on things by spreading blame to other parties? Why come up with these excuses and attempts to justify and lessen Google's culpability?
Only brainwashed fans react in this way. I get the Register doesn't like MS or Apple, but this article doesn't warrant any MS/Apple bashing. It's all about Google here...
Once again we are subjected to an extremely biased Register article that loaded with negative commentary and that's just the first paragraph!
Whatever happened to journalistic impartiality?
Perhaps the writers look at Ars Technica for inspiration. It's also a far superior site in terms of content and the look.
Yes there are better specced Android phones out there, BUT, even with that state of the art hardware, the quality of the User Experience and Interface is no where near as fluid or refined as iOS.
That's the truth.
Apple are not going to price match any of the competition, they're clearly high-end - and they've been getting away with it for decades. It would be extremely stupid for them to price drop, why should they? Considering iPhone sales trump any other single handset out of existence.
iPhone > Android High-End
I like your post/review. It was unbiased, which is refreshing, because a lot of people on The Register are so blinkered and rigid that anything that goes against or beyond their beliefs (Google Love Beliefs, for the most part) are instantly rejected.
It is some kind of brand fundamentalism - The only form of IT type in my experience, that rejects the new, or finds difficulty in being flexible are those that are or have leanings towards IT Support!
Far too rigid and unimaginative. They should be let out to pasture. forever.
I don't own any Apple tech but you can't deny Steve Jobs changed the perception of technology vs consumerism and brought it to a much wider audience.
Some might dislike him/his philosophy/Apple on a number of levels, including myself, but no one can deny he was instrumental in a lot of positive developments that steered the tech world to where it is today.
"Microsoft and many others are doing exactly the same (location database), and none of them offered an opt-in either, so this article is another sad excuse at Google-bashing. Shame on you, El Reg."
Another attempt to deflect attention to someone else! What Google are doing is bad. Shame on you for condoning this behaviour!
What's laughable is that you even claim this site is 'Google-bashing'!!! Strange really, because the Register is obviously a Google-Faux-Open-Source stronghold!
Your reaction towards a (rare) impartial article just reinforces you're rabid fanboism...
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Just a comment on the people who down voted this post.
WHY?
What Artic fox wrote was very, very reasonable. The fact that it got down voted says a lot more about those people than the actual comment. Sounds like, these people don't like the truth - and the only way to vent their anguish is to down vote! [Obviously they can't post a credible response].
BRAND loyalty, FORCED or otherwise - call it what you want - the consumer knows what they will get with Apple, and these people want what Apple are offering.
You can call them all manner of names: iSheep, Mactards whatever (i'm not one of them BTW), but making the point about being 'locked-in' to a single device is not a major concern, nor an important factor to the consumer in general.
You make this mistake, by taking the tech-enthusiasts POV - a very small minority indeed.
The fact is, iOS is very good. It works slickly and smoothly, the hardware is very good (in general!) and the apps are plentiful and as good, if not better than Android equivalents. It also helps that iOS and Apple in general is consistent on all levels.
Android, on these terms is an almost complete fail. The thing is, this is what is important to the masses - not some silly fairy tale about 'openess' and the ideas of 'choice' that this suggests...
... give or take a few omissions and a few additions which other don't have.
Agree with Trib, Apple and Google will most definitely learn and perhaps borrow a few innovations here. They'd be foolish not to.
The problem with Android and iOS is that these OS' don't have the built-in deep integration that Windows Phone has from the start. It's this deep integration which is WP trump card.
I think a major reason was to gain a huge user-base overnight - Which makes sense. Obviously M$ can do as they want with the 'tech' they just bought aswell.
The overall plan is to integrate their gaming, mobile and desktop products. Very ambitious, something Google or Apple cannot compete with.
... what a farce!
Shaun 1 is right, M$ have never claimed the current fashionable fad of 'Openess' that Google does inccessantly!
The sad thing is that the supposedly intelligent, unbiased community on the Reg seemed to have fallen all over the feet of Google!
How sad to gorge on those toes...
Live Messenger is huge!
It has 330 million active users - M$ are not going to exchange this service for Skype.
More likely, they will integrate Skype into Windows Live (which also includes Messenger) - Skype has a few features that Messenger lacks - plus it's about the brand and increasing the Windows Live user base (Xbox Live, Windows Phone, Office, Messenger).
Yeah, it's about users and branding.
BUT, M$' Live Messenger doesn't have the call payment aspect of Skype. That is one difference - Live Messenger is free.
M$ tried to introduce (payed) calls a while back, but ended it, presumably due to users not willing to pay for this service. Skype users have no problem with this.
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You are most probably right, and by and large, most ITPro users are so stuck up their own ars*s, they are incapable of seeing how things really are!
Everyone knows (except the IT fangirl) that it's the end users opinion that matters. As it is, Hotmail IS superior to Gmail - saying it isn't so, doesn't change that fact! lol... Also it would be well advised to open a new hotmail account and set it up properly like a good IT fangirl does normally and give it a try. :)
For people who laud openness and the spirit of competition, I find it perculiar to see posts that are so closed and unwilling to change - even to the extent that they will refuse point blank to give something a try that has an M$ logo stuck onto it. lol...
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Not impressed with these 'subject-to-change' offerings unfortunately.
Sony hardware is undeniably near the top of the pile, but still, i'm a bit disappointed. Design-wise, it's very generic - the hinge on the smaller device is glaring.
But I guess the biggest problem is that they've gone the Android route. I'm no Apple fan, but Android cannot compete with iOS' usability and smoothness.
I not so sure that people would object to the Cloud nowadays. When it was first introduced, the concept was rejected by a lot of people, me included - but as with everything, it seems to worm it's way into 'acceptability'.
Certainly, the general public have been using the Cloud in various ways, in some respects unwittingly - the current spread of mobile devices, internet based mail, Flickr, social networks etc. all help the concept run along.
If the rumours are true, M$' Hotmail will replace the current Live Mail/Outlook Express application and Window 8 will have some form of Cloud integration built-in.