See, that makes sense. As smart as the Apple folks seem I just can't imagine that they'd be trying to dominate the market with the same strategy that didn't work last time around. If what you've said is truly their business MO than that would explain a lot.

Haha, astute observation. That makes me wonder if Clippy's problem wasn't an image problem this whole time. That stupid paperclip looks so damn smug, while HAL's red, shiny eye seems intelligent, cold, and omnipresent.

Wait though, I didn't say GNU/Linux... and it *is* using the linux kernel. Many distro's use a variant of the linux kernel and different user interfaces, gnome, kde even commandline UI's like screen. So it's perfectly valid to call Android a linux OS.

I'm sad that astronauts are running windows... I thought for sure some type of HAL like AI was their OS on the freaking *space* station... or at least linux :P

It's still linux regardless of your feelings about it's openness or utility. Although I don't disagree with you that it's annoying what the carriers do to the OS. I don't share your pain though, being a cyanogen user. :)

I'd guess it's wrong because that doesn't make the carriers any money? Although, it probably does in the long run if you consider customer experience an important factor.

Actually, Woz was saying android would win because of features and hardware choice, not because of openness. He's got a pretty good point there because it sure seems like history repeating itself after the PC race. And btw, Android IS linux.

I think it's been said before but it seems like apple phones are taking the same route that their computers do. I don't think anyone could say that Apple isn't doing well in their business so this isn't criticism of their business practices but if their goal is total domination of the phone market why are they going the same route?

Well, it's not quite that simple. There's some good reasons to cheer for your favorite platform. The platform that's doing the best gets the most attention from developers and hardware manufacturers. Also, some apps are more useful with a larger user base, like multiplayer games... Go android! :)

The problem with Wikileaks is that only half of the participants are anonymous. For it to work over a long period of time the people helping to disseminate the information need to be anonymous, too. I'm not sure if that's technically possible, though.

On a completely unrelated note, is there some sort of Amish, tin can and string based hotline system to report dangerous deviants? Not because of your farrier... it's... for research.

They might be on to something, if they changed most of the build materials to wood and put a hand crank on the thing they might open a whole new market up in the Amish community! :D

Wait, wut? Are you try to say, 'If man had been meant to mess with anti-matter, GOD would have given us anti-matter containment systems built into our hands!"? :)

Haha, I should probably be red faced but instead I'm grateful. After reading through the page a bit that's exactly what I'm looking for... Duh. XD Thanks for clue-ing me in!

I'm hoping a channel for voice and text will go away, just give me a fast data connection and I'll pick my own services to use. In which case a better system for emergencies would be to disseminate EB messages over a couple different popular channels (facebook, skype, IM) and let people choose their own way to be contacted.