Hacker News: cremnob

New comment by cremnob in "Google’s iron grip on Android: Controlling open source by any means necessary"

cremnob — Mon, 21 Oct 2013 03:05:31 +0000

I don't think Apple will be a good defense if Android's market share is 80%.

New comment by cremnob in "Google’s iron grip on Android: Controlling open source by any means necessary"

cremnob — Mon, 21 Oct 2013 02:51:49 +0000

This is an opportunity for Yahoo. The article mentions that OEMs can't leave because they're afraid of losing Google services, Yahoo can be that replacement. They've been making beautiful mobile apps lately and they have some very polished services. They are a pure play service provider who isn't trying to compete with the OEMs; they have no conflict of interest.

If you work at Yahoo, this is something you should run up the chain. A relationship with OEMs would solve their problems, and allow you to get a foothold in mobile that you haven't been able to before.

New comment by cremnob in "Google’s iron grip on Android: Controlling open source by any means necessary"

cremnob — Mon, 21 Oct 2013 02:04:45 +0000

Open always wins, until it conflicts with your business interests. "Open" used to be the oft-repeated advantage over iOS in the early days, I wonder if that will slip away from the narrative like "SD card slots", "removable batteries", and "real keyboard" did.

New comment by cremnob in "Apple requires developers’ full contact details to be shown in Korean App Store"

cremnob — Sun, 20 Oct 2013 23:59:53 +0000

Probably local regulations related to operating in Korea.

New comment by cremnob in "Apple should buy big companies, says Scully"

cremnob — Fri, 11 Oct 2013 13:38:23 +0000

Buying back stock is the best use of cash right now.

New comment by cremnob in "Tesla's $110,000 Model S is now Norway’s best-selling car"

cremnob — Wed, 09 Oct 2013 04:24:26 +0000

High taxes on gas fueled cars make Tesla afordable.

New comment by cremnob in "And Then Steve Said, ‘Let There Be an iPhone’"

cremnob — Fri, 04 Oct 2013 22:49:14 +0000

They gained share on Android last quarter, which doesn't include their newly launched phones. Horace Dediu raised the idea that Android has peaked in the US a few months ago, and the latest numbers seem to back him up.

http://9to5mac.com/2013/10/04/comscore-apple-gains-on-androi...

https://twitter.com/asymco/status/386207186801917952/photo/1

New comment by cremnob in "Windows Phone doubles share in Europe, trails iPhone by only 1% in Germany"

cremnob — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 03:52:02 +0000

Interesting to note that iOS gained share in the US by 5.4% while Android declined by 5.6% in a quarter without new iPhones launching.

There may be some truth to Horace Dediu's hypothesis that Android has peaked in the US.

New comment by cremnob in "Windows Phone doubles share in Europe, trails iPhone by only 1% in Germany"

cremnob — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 03:13:10 +0000

Whenever you see a story about market share, it's for a quarter.

New comment by cremnob in "Android overtakes iPad in tablet race"

cremnob — Sat, 28 Sep 2013 03:30:31 +0000

This is a joke right?

New comment by cremnob in "Android overtakes iPad in tablet race"

cremnob — Sat, 28 Sep 2013 03:28:01 +0000

“The 7.9-inch iPad mini represented about 60% of total iPad shipments and 49% of iPad-related device revenues in the quarter.”

That's from the quoted report.

New comment by cremnob in "Google Hangouts/GTalk glitch sends chats to wrong recipients"

cremnob — Thu, 26 Sep 2013 10:21:50 +0000

I wonder if Larry Page will have to write an apology letter over this.

New comment by cremnob in "Why I Hacked Apple’s TouchID and Still Think it is Awesome"

cremnob — Tue, 24 Sep 2013 12:06:10 +0000

Apple acquired Authentec for it, so it's going to be difficult for competitors to replicate it. I'm sure there are other vendors that provide fingerprint sensors, but their implementations of it and how the tech works probably isn't going to be the same.

New comment by cremnob in "Fairfax strikes $4.7-billion deal to buy BlackBerry"

cremnob — Mon, 23 Sep 2013 18:28:54 +0000

Fairfax first invested in RIM back in 2010 and they've been adding to that position ever since. Their 10% stake was purchased at an average price of $17. He's been in the red on this investment for a while. I think this purchase is more about trying to turn the company around and try to recoup whatever they can. What JonFish85 posted is probably what's going to happen here.

> Take it private, do another, more aggressive round of layoffs and get down to a very core group. Then decide whether to chop it up and sell it off (patents alone are probably worth a good chunk of money). As far as I know, Blackberry has no debt, so that makes the math a bit easier.

Watsa is a great investor with a solid track record, but I think this has been a mistake for him.

New comment by cremnob in "Chaos Computer Club breaks Apple TouchID"

cremnob — Sun, 22 Sep 2013 20:14:34 +0000

That shouldn't be an issue considering most people don't have a passcode set.

New comment by cremnob in "Chaos Computer Club breaks Apple TouchID"

cremnob — Sun, 22 Sep 2013 19:53:27 +0000

You linked to a support document explaining how the technology works. You may have had a point if this was listed on their product page describing the feature, but instead you have them touting the convenience of using your finger to unlock your phone and make purchases:

You check your iPhone dozens and dozens of times a day, probably more. Entering a passcode each time just slows you down. But you do it because making sure no one else has access to your iPhone is important. With iPhone 5s, getting into your phone is faster, easier, and even a little futuristic. Introducing Touch ID — a new fingerprint identity sensor.

Put your finger on the Home button, and just like that your iPhone unlocks. It’s a convenient and highly secure way to access your phone. Your fingerprint can also approve purchases from iTunes Store, the App Store, and the iBooks Store, so you don’t have to enter your password. And Touch ID is capable of 360-degree readability. Which means no matter what its orientation — portrait, landscape, or anything in between — your iPhone reads your fingerprint and knows who you are. And because Touch ID lets you enroll multiple fingerprints, it knows the people you trust, too.

New comment by cremnob in "Chaos Computer Club breaks Apple TouchID"

cremnob — Sun, 22 Sep 2013 19:26:36 +0000

Overall security will be increased because of Touch ID because most people don't use a pass code at all.

New comment by cremnob in "Warren Buffett compares US Fed to a hedge fund"

cremnob — Sat, 21 Sep 2013 20:30:41 +0000

They have choices. They have complete flexibility. They are under no pressure to do anything that isn't explicitly their goals. They want to control inflation and increase employment. If the economy starts to heat up and inflation starts to rise above their 2% target they will then have the option of selling bonds or raising the federal funds rate, the latter of which is more likely.

I'm not really sure what you're trying to get at with the last comment. He doesn't know the exact number off the top of his head. The exact amount remitted last year to Treasury is $88.4 billion.

New comment by cremnob in "Warren Buffett compares US Fed to a hedge fund"

cremnob — Sat, 21 Sep 2013 20:17:32 +0000

The Fed can hold them to term. They are under no pressure to sell.

New comment by cremnob in "Amazon’s Music Download Site is Cheaper Than iTunes 78% of the Time"

cremnob — Sat, 21 Sep 2013 19:15:45 +0000

It is long-term. Opening up iBooks to any device or just being available on the web would increase profits immediately. Building out the ecosystem is the long-term part.