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Submission + - FCC looks into Apple's rejection of Google Voice (wired.com)

Submitted by jbudofsky on Monday August 03, 2009 @11:10AM

jbudofsky writes: After Apple recently removed the Google Voice application from its iTunes store, the Feds have begun to ask why. The FCC has written letters to both Apple and AT&T to investigate whether these "closed" tactics are in fact hurting consumers. This may be an important step towards a more fair iTunes market.

Federal regulators want to know if AT&T and Apple worked to together to reject mobile apps for Google's innovative Voice service, sending letters to the companies asking them to explain this incident and the policies behind the secretive and lucrative iPhone App store....The FCC's new chairman Julius Genachowski made it clear Friday in announcing the letters that he was not pleased by Apple and AT&T's actions, while leaving wiggle room about what, if anything, the feds would do....The feds are already looking at mobile phone exclusivity — such as the lock AT&T has on the iPhone in the U.S. — to see if those deals hurt consumers. Outside groups are asking the feds to make mobile carriers adhere the same openness rules that apply to ISPs — e.g. letting them use whatever device, app or online service they want to use....The letters say the matter applies to two open matters before the FCC and clearly indicate that the FCC is at least considering whether it should regulate app stores, which are growing in popularity after the breakout success of the iPhone App store.

Comment Re:Ironic dichotomy of Apple's Family Values (Score 5, Insightful) 841

by shutton on Wednesday July 15, 2009 @07:19PM (#28709997) Attached to: Apple Update Means Palm Pre Can No Longer Sync With iTunes

You either are, or aren't a customer. If I'm using an Apple product that wasn't stolen, I'm an Apple customer. I received iTunes (along with iPhoto, and i-everything-else) when I purchased my MacBook Pro. That software helped sell the computer. iPhoto works fine with hundreds of different digital cameras. As it would happen, Apple doesn't make digital cameras. They don't even have to work very hard to support them thanks to standard file system layout. It's clear that Apple has made an exception for iTunes to drive their "attachment rates" in other business units. Sounds like the behavior of an up-and-coming monopoly, doesn't it? And, I'll conclude by saying that there are *plenty* of alternatives to iTunes, but Apple has been telling us for so long that iTunes is the greatest thing since gravity boots that we just all simply use it because it's the default media manager. Hm, that sounds familiar, too... :)

Comment Ironic dichotomy of Apple's Family Values (Score 5, Insightful) 841

by shutton on Wednesday July 15, 2009 @06:43PM (#28709601) Attached to: Apple Update Means Palm Pre Can No Longer Sync With iTunes

I interviewed at Apple a few years ago, and a consistent message from the developers was that *everything* they do is to make the customer experience better. Things are not done simply because they're cool -- they have to serve a purpose.

So I find it ironic that, as a MacBook Pro user, Apple has explicitly done something to make my experience *worse*. They went much further than simply failing to "provide support for, or test for compatibility with, non-Apple digital media players." They went out of their way to harm users.

Shame on you, Apple. Have you gotten so big that you've forgotten what it was like to be under Microsoft's thumb?

Wells Fargo Bank Sues Itself 445

Posted by samzenpus on Monday July 13, 2009 @01:37PM from the so-crazy-it-just-might-work dept.

Extreme economic problems require extreme solutions, and Wells Fargo Bank has come up with a good one. They have decided to sue themselves. Wells Fargo holds the first and second mortgages on a condominium that is going into foreclosure. As holder of the first, they are suing all other lien holders, including the holder of the second, which is Wells Fargo. It gets better. The company has hired a lawyer to defend itself against its own lawsuit. The defense lawyer even filed this answer to the complaint, "Defendant admits that it is the owner and holder of a mortgage encumbering the subject real property. All other allegations of the complaint are denied." On the website The Consumer Warning Network, Angie Moreschi wrote: "We've apparently reached the perfect storm for complete and utter idiocy by some banks trying to foreclose on homes."

Windows 7 RCs Shut Down To Force Updates 414

Posted by CmdrTaco on Monday May 11, 2009 @11:38AM from the please-resume-download dept.

nk497 writes "The release candidate for Microsoft Windows 7 will expire June 2010, and the software giant will let users know they need to pay to upgrade by shutting down the system every two hours for three months. According to Microsoft: "The RC will expire on June 1, 2010. Starting on March 1, 2010, your PC will begin shutting down every two hours. Windows will notify you two weeks before the bi-hourly shutdowns start. To avoid interruption, you'll need to install a non-expired version of Windows before March 1, 2010. You'll also need to install the programs and data that you want to use.""

Comment Thank goodness! (Score -1, Redundant) 285

by shutton on Tuesday March 27, 2007 @11:04AM (#18501543) Attached to: Best Buy Acquires SpeakEasy

I've finally run out of excuses to avoid switching to Comcast. I can finally kiss that slow DSL goodbye now that I no feel obligated to support a liberal-minded, independent ISP.

Of course, I'll lose some of that benefit when I have to bounce my traffic off a mule-mounted WiFi repeater in Estonia in order to avoid having my activities scrutinized by the marketing division of The Very Big Corporation of America.

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