How is this any different than MS stating in the past that updates required a certain Service Pack in order to be installed. It's worded very poorly, since everyone is going to assume the worst when you say 'Windows 8.1'. Mainly because they're not calling them service packs anymore or incrementing the updates. Windows 8.1 Update 1 would make more sense to people if they simply called it Windows 8.2.

Because with the exception of Win8, there have been core elements and behaviors of the OS that have been carried over all the way from 3.11 and Win95.

There's also the fact that Fluorinert is potentially toxic, but it's also a greenhouse hazard. One would hope that 3M learned their lessons in the development of Novec and it's not an environmental hazard.

Newtonian Physics 101: For every action, there's an equal and opposite reaction. So you want to launch a slug of metal at Mach 7, there's going to be an equivelant force pushing back on the gun and whatever it's mounted on. A plane just isn't going to survive those forces yet.

Considering the logistical nightmare it is to intercept, duplicate, re-seal, and store dead-tree comms? Pretty damned good.

With an iPhone? It's only 1,000 possible PINs for that lock. If you've got the hardware, take your time fingerhacking the pin. For Android, depending on ROM, the pin can get insanely long and you're pretty much boned.

It's as simple as: Power down device, remove battery, remove SIM, do not re-connect to wifi hotspots. All of which can be done by anybody in less than 45 seconds. If the battery is non-removable? Power down, remove SIM, don't use wifi. Find my phone and remote wipe are pretty much a big hilarous joke if the theif know how to handle phones.

Android already features full device encryption, you've just got to turn it on. Keep in mind that not all OEMs support the feature, CyanogenMod and most AOSP derivitaves do. There's currently no self-destruct option should the pattern/pin lock be entered wrong X number of times, though I'm surprised Google hasn't implimented one as of yet.

I'm not one of those people. There are more reasons than spyware to reflash to CM.. Like running TouchWiz. My personal case is owning a GS3, I reflashed to CM and installed GApps because I prefer Google's Services and the ease of use that an AOSP-based ROM provides.

This still doesn't prevent the individual user from re-flashing their phone to a version deviod of Google's software. Remember that custom ROMs by default are legally prohibited from including GApps by Google. It still means that if an end-user wanted to take it upon themselves, they can do it. It's just a whole lot more convienient to use GApps.

Android IS an open platform. It's entirely up to you if you want to be locked into Google's ecosystem or not. Install Cyanogenmod or another third-party ROM, then look as there's no GApps or Google all over your phone. But remember it's now up to you to sideload a new app store and get the APKs to what non-Google services you use.

And leave yourself with an increasingly insecure browser thanks to discovered bugs the updates you've blocked fix? No thanks. I'd swap browsers before leaving myself with an out-of-date browser.

I'd rather have the global menu. It's a lot cleaner than having menu bars in every damn window.

That's 4 years while frozen. Almost anything intended for refridgeration can handle being stored for long-term so long as the temperature holds. This however is 3 years on the shelf with no temperature controls at all. There are very few things that can make that particular claim. Just ask anyone that works in your local Target/Wal-mart/regional groccery about product rotation. Only candy manages to hit the 3 year mark, and that's pushing it.

Sounds like you've just got shitty delivery services in your area. I've never had a cold delivery pizza, ever.