If using SIP with an Android phone was as easy as installing Skype, then you'd have a point there. The problem with SIP is that it has a high barrier to entry for VoIP usage. Sure, I can figure out Ekigia, but most folks can't, or don't.

I looked at using Google Voice with my G1, I've looked at SIP, and a few options. I didn't see how it was anything more than "complexity for the sake of complexity." If it works for you, then good for you. It doesn't work for me. Skype does. Skype is easy to use, and in this case, ease of use counts.

Still, I applaud mercurized for actually taking the time to look at the permissions requested, and think critically about them. We do this with apps we install on our PCs, why not on our phones?

For starters, I posited the theory that if there was a better value provided, there would be less piracy. I didn't condone the piracy.

Additionally, piracy isn't "stealing" contrary to what the RIAA and MPAA are trying to program into our culture.

Oh for mod points.

So, rather than read the article, and comment, I actually went out and checked out the software package in question. It's Screebl by Keyeslabs.com.
There is a free version out there for folks to try out. That said, it does't actually do much of anything useful. All it does is use the position of your phone to keep your screen on. They want $2 for the app. Now we're talking about perceived value. In the case of this specific app, there is no value to me.

I buy apps regularly that work, work well, and provide a good value for their money.
If this app was actually useful, and provided some value, I suspect that the would see less piracy. Oh, and their report is crap. We really need stats to look at this.

I think the poster was referring to ROMs used by the phone, i.e. Cyanogenmod and the like. Those aren't piracy.

mod parent funny

I respectfully disagree. The only instances I've seen Pedo Bear being used is two fold 1) As a joke (95% of the time) 2) When someone is being skeezy about kids, someone will reply with a Pedo Bear reference, basically using it as a tool to call someone out on it. If there is a 3rd category, I haven't seen it, nor have I been able to find it in various searches, so I'm going to go with a [Citation Needed] in reference to pedophiles using it as a tool to discuss with minors. Law enforcement is being stupid in this case.

All good man. I'd mod ya funny had I the points.

I converted my wife to Ubuntu after the 8th virus in 3 months. I did buy Crossover Pro for Photoshop, but that's about it. She loves how much faster her laptop is. She games on Facebook, uses Evolution for email, and OpenOffice for writing, etc. She's got Hulu Desktop installed, and will dock her laptop to our home theater system and watch TV that way. The number of "Hey hon, can you look at this?" type things have gone down incredibly. She's been on Ubuntu for about 18 months now, and can't fathom going back. So, I don't think that your point of, "Granny just stopped asking for help" is really valid. People are people, if you mess up their PC, you'll hear about it at every family gathering.

There are other articles like this: http://localtechwire.com/business/local_tech_wire/news/blogpost/8228715/ floating around
Basically they say that Cisco is really looking at Smart Grid stuff, not Skype.

Anyone got a contact at any of the companies in question to actually confirm/deny/etc?

Assault is assault. Law Enforcement agents have the right to use force on you only to defend themselves.They can't just randomly assault you. They can restrain you, certainly, but that is a different story.
They can't just beat on you without consequence, at least not legally

Oh for mod points

Thank you! There is nothing wrong with the act of storing a bunch of cash in whatever way you see fit. Also, last I checked, that whole, "Innocent until proven guilty" thing was still around.