Nice! I didn't take any taxis while I was in Italy(rented car) so I can't comment on the European taxi quality but it sounds like the taxis in Berlin are nice.

Is there a way to easily get one or do they require you to call one provider or stand on the road for one to pass?

Ha, i dont konw what taxis you get into but the ones in chicago are usually in pretty bad shape. Brakes sound like they need to be changed, AC RARELY works and most times the smell is nauseating.

I have had some bad Uber-x cars as well but since they are owned by one person, they usually are able to take better care of it beyond what the Taxis that run 24/7 with different drivers are able to do.

The argument over rape/killer always gets me. When ever you get into an uber car, it automatically sends you the driver info to your email account and registers it with uber.

When ever I get into a taxi, I have to take the name and number down, then email or text it to a friend to make sure they dont do the same.

Did you know most people dont do that? How many times have you gotten into a cab and not remembered who the driver was? Or the Taxi number for that? Wouldnt it be nice if there was a system that automatically logged it all? I wonder which one does that, the "regulated" taxi or the "unregulated" uber.

If its unknown, how can anyone make assumptions that either is safer than the other?

Are you talking about the EU or US? Just giving an example but most of Chicago uses it. From hipsters to soccer moms to loop business professionals to college students.

Might be different in Berlin tho!

And yes, Lyft is the "hipster" one. I dont like those.

I know this link doesnt apply to EU but its worth sharing. I can only assume a lot of the people that are commenting happen to live in the US as well.

http://blog.uber.com/rideshari...

This pertains to uber-x(regular cars), not the taxis and black car services that already have commercial insurance.

I would like to direct this more towards those that talking about bundling and being forced into it. if it makes it cheaper, i dont underdtand the problem. no one can force you into a higher priced bundle.

Just so that I understand correctly, are you saying that if they give you extra services for free, they will knock 30-40 off your bill? Or are you saying that if you have, lets say a $100 internet bill, and they add phones for which is normally a $40 service to your account, that they will make your total bill $30-40 cheaper($60 total bill) or that with the bundled service, internet comes down to $60 and you pay $40 for the phone?

I doubt anyone is giving away *free* service and if you're paying more for a bundle, then you arent being forced into anything since you have a choice. They are discounting services on the line item but its still more because you are bundling. That doesnt mean that the internet service, which costs $100 normally is actually really only $60 and they are MAKING you get phone service as well for $40.

What Im trying to say is, nothing is bundled for free and they will never add additional services for free because you bundled. Youll always pay more for 2 services rather than one, even if they make it seem like a deal with each costing less separate but in a bundled pair. Im going to use $80 as the bundled internet option since thats more appropriate.
$100(internet) + $0(no bundle) = $100
$80(internet) + $40(phone) = $120

Youre not paying less because its bundled, youre paying more because youre adding service on. Also, IF on the chance your bill goes down because of the bundle, who cares that you have TV, dont use it!

And at that point, their service calls become quite the hassle for the end users, especially mom and pops and those who arent as versed.

Oh, are you using our modem? NO? Sorry, cant help you with your internet problems.

I think what hes saying is that someone could theoretically setup a wifi network with the same AP name, create a page that looks similar to the comcast login page and just steal customers credentials that try and connect thru it because they are familiar with the AP name.

Yes, I can confirm this. To use the "public wifi", you must first be a Comcast customer. When you connect to an AP, you are required to login with your comcast credentials to get connected to the net.

How are they forcing you to do anything when they dont get any additional money from the deal(if the numbers are correct)?

They are FORCED to get a free service if internet service is $65 and if they get TV added on its $0 a month extra? Im having a hard time following the logic of a forced bundle which increases the cost of this service.

You are never forced into a bundle at Comcast. I have taken tv and phone off my services list twice in the last 5 years. Currently in the OFF stage. I get calls every so often with promotions but you are not required to sign up.

What may be an option instead of the xbox is to get the Samsung smart tv, install skype and hook up a webcam(all supported btw). I have it installed on my tv but have yet to buy teh appropriate webcam.

I recently switched from using a jailbroken atv2 for media consumption to just the tv. Plex was the determining factor on this since atv2 doesnt support Plex(and dont tell me about Plexconnect, tried it and it just doesnt work the same) and having 2 Samsung tvs in my house has made the transition easy. I can pick up where i left off on a show i was watching in another room.

Either way, what im trying to say is that Smasung apps have been pretty spot on, its worth a look.

Its time ManBearPig entered society as well.