As stated above this really should be an inbuilt OS feature - "Reset for resale"

It shouldn't take an understanding or knowledge of the intricacies of how the device works or how to properly erase data. It should be automatically done by the OS since most phone users do not know how to do it properly.

This may only be true in some warped utopian view of the world, but I expect the issue is not the automation or job losses, it's the disproportionate distribution of the spoils of automation.

If we're all fed and don't need to work then I don't see an issue with being unemployed - we can instead pursue personal pursuits for the sake of enjoyment etc.

If we're not all fed then their will be opportunity for employment in creating food for us to eat, etc.

I'm probably wrong, but it seems reasonable.

Absolutely - it's call redistribution of labour.

The labour that is now tied up making widgets (of questionable real value) are freed to use their labour for some other task.

This "it will create unemployment" argument seems to occur all the time and I'm yet to witness any significant long term real world unemployment event due to automation. I doubt we ever will.

Actually isn't it that around 25% of a device cost goes to royalties/patent costs?

http://www.itnews.com.au/News/...
http://www.digitaltrends.com/m...

No.

More to the point - how do they know that's the code they're running?

Unless they can compile their own binaries with their own compilers it could be all smoke and mirrors anyway.

What ROM is that? I'd be interested in improving the performance of my Tab 2.

The video in the linked article had more that a word on cost :). $499 for the 10", can't remember the other.

Here's a direct link to the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

I own a Tab 1, 2 and Note (all 10" versions) and I must say that the Tab 2 is absolute rubbish compared to the other 2. It is amazingly non responsive (slow).

The Note is fantastic and the Tab 1 is pretty good - but what the hell did they do to the Tab 2? That thing was a step backwards from the Tab 1, I hate it.

Not here: http://www.fust.ch/de/r/tv-fot... (probably the most popular electronics store in Switzerland).

It was an idea, not necessarily something I desire or believe in, but something that may be worthy of discussion (even if it's just to highlight why it's such a terrible idea)

Having said that, utilities are not necessarily defined as you describe: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C.... I'm not in the US so my perspective may differ from yours.

I'm obviously aware of the NSA and Snowden. But in reality, this spying/monitoring/surveillance (or what ever you want to call it) is going to happen regardless of who controls the infrastructure, we've already witnessed that.

I certainly recognise that the idea of having it be a utility is suited to the utopian version of our world and while we're all living in a oligarchy it will certainly have its issues.

Yep, I expect that is the case. But that last leg is still an interstate delivery (for me) so there is still a massive discrepancy.

This may be an absurd suggestion, but given that internet access is somewhat required to participate in society today, perhaps it's time to class internet access as a utility like water and electricity/gas.

Good point except that it often costs more just to post an item here in Australia than the combined product price + postage cost from China to Australia - so something is still amiss.

Is there a similar agreement between the Chinese government and Australia Post? Since we obviously don't have USPS here in Australia.