doesn't reflect if it was driven on private roads or out of state

It isn't a perfect system, that's for sure, but it's probably good enough. If it's based on odometer readings rather than GPS data, there are fewer privacy concerns.

Perhaps there should be a way to file for a refund if you drive out of state frequently and are willing to prove it with GPS data.

it is not Linux

Of course it isn't. It runs on Linux the same way that Gnome does or Emacs does.

Android is irrelevant to the desktop, or server, market

Since Android is by far the predominant use of Linux, you might have it backwards. The desktop and server market might be irrelevant to Linux. I would argue the server market matters, but it would be very difficult to argue that the desktop market matters at all, except for things like Chrome books.

If desktop Unix is what you want, a Mac running OSX is what you should get.

About a billion Android devices ship every year and all of these are running Linux. Red Hat might yield a lot of power, but it's over a relatively small slice of the market.

understand consistency is needed

Of course one could also cite many companies that aren't afraid to aggressively move forward. Apple is the best example.

Sometimes backwards compatibility just isn't worth the cost.

AOSP sits on top of Linux. They are two separate things.

that isn't why Linux usage is low

Thanks to Android, Linux is the most popular operating system on the planet now.

You drink one regular soda per month and it's the reason you developed liver disease? How big is that soda?

That's not true for satellite radio.

Radio stations pay BMI and ASCAP.

I wish articles like this would provide some context. How much do the rights holders get per play on terrestrial radio? Satellite radio? Is internet radio higher or lower?

> Broadcast radio pays nothing

In the US, they pay BMI and ASCAP.

entertainment as a service

I'm okay with that if the price is reasonable. Netflix is a good example of an entertainment service that I think is very fairly priced.

The back-against-the-wall statement baffles me. Whose back is against the wall?

I don't think social programs like basic income and universal health will happen in the US until the unemployment rate gets much higher than it is now. Once enough voters are unemployed, the political power of that group will be formidable. It's going to be a rough transition, but we'll get there.

Why would view a program intended to help girls as a put-down on men?

I'm all for programs like this. Give it a try, see what the outcome is. If it fails, end it and start the next experiment. If there are successes, tweak the program and continue.

If Microsoft can do something to better integrate Cyanogen based devices into the corporate workflow they might have some leverage. Plus an operating system that gets bug fixes and security updates might warrant some attention.

What leverage? For what purpose?

The enterprise market doesn't really matter. Back in the IBM vs Microsoft days, the consumer market was tiny compared to the corporate market. Today, the enterprise market is a fraction of the consumer market. As long as the C-level executives want to use iPhones, that's what corporate IT will have to support.

Still, it makes sense for Microsoft. They have absolutely nothing to lose. Their new focus on going where the customers are (even on other platforms) is refreshing and smart. Cyanogen, on the other hand, is less interesting all the time. They seem to be trying to make a corporate version of FireOS. I guess you can't support a business selling themes.

Is anybody other than Google and Samsung making money from the Android ecosystem?