Windows 8 is the solution to Microsofts problems, not the users' problems.

Bingo! We have a winner here. The guy several posts up that compared Ballmer and MS to Republicans was spot on.

"You can buy ANY phone you want, unlocked and then use it at least on normal SIM style networks. I am aware some carriers in the US have insane schemes but surely at least one sane European style phone company exists on US soil?"

No, wrong. Not like that at all in the states.

Oh, and take your medicine you fucking douchebag. The ridiculous crap you're spewing has zero to do with the fucked up cell phone landscape in the US.

In the early 70's you had to rent a phone from Ma Bell and a guy came out to your house and hardwired the phone (you had to rent) to the wall. You had no choice, and you paid them what the bill said or you didn't get a phone. When the monopoly was broken up you had modular jacks installed and you used whatever phone you wanted.

This seems no different.

Having an animal that's just as likely to get excited about smelling my butthole and crotch become an authoritarian figure in any kind of a crime investigation is simply ridiculous.

The defendants should also be allowed to put the dog on the witness stand.

they want to fine the company $25,000 because it 'deliberately impeded and delayed the investigation.

Translation:
Google has so much cash we can fine them for anything and they will pay it.

Lie and run the risk of being permanently banned from using the service.

That's at least the second time you've said this. Really, it's not a big deal. Go out and tell a few lies, get it off your chest, be like the rest of us.

Moral of the story: Nobody cares, especially these fictitious "service banners" you babble about.

An entire page of people "in the know" talking about their favorite "scanner" of encrypted, closed source who-knows-what.

Reality: nothing protects against a zero-day exploit. So you're all full of crap.

This is a sure sign there are far too many lawyers in the world.

Corporations are considered people in the US.

Can I recall the last 3-4 minutes of the road I traveled on in detail?

On the phone, no.

Un-distracted, yes.

That was my scientific test 7-8 years ago, phone is put away where I can't get to it now when I drive.

From TFA:

The experiment was done by antivirus firm Sophos, which acquired three bags of USB sticks lost by commuters on trains in the Greater Sydney metro area at an auction organized by the Rail Corporation New South Wales.

Sounds like something drummed up by their marketing department?

Crimethink

1980. Ronald Reagan became president.

Only if you are stupid.

Full disc encryption to keep the dick cops out of my phone with their Cellebrite cell phone extraction device.

Then I'll worry about malware from scripts on web pages.

http://www.npr.org/2011/04/21/135610182/aclu-upset-over-cell-phone-extraction-device