I write this on a MacBook Pro running on a hotspot off my iPhone. I love Apple. In first grade, I got to work on an Apple II. By third grade, our school had an Apple IIe. By fourth grade, we had a computer lab filled with Apple IIe’s where we learned to type, learned the programming language logo, and learned how to use AppleWorks. In sixth grade, we had BASIC programming on an Apple IIe. By eighth grade, we were rolling over to Macs and I fell in love with an Apple IIgs.
I really like the iPhones I have had; first a 1st generation SE, then an XR, and now a iPhone 13 Pro Max. But now, I'm seriously considering buying an Android phone out of my complete disgust with Apple's kissing up to Xi Jinping and his tyranny.
And does Elon Musk really think that having given the CCP the lion's share of Tesla's intellectual property, which is the normal price of admission for a Western company desiring to do business in China, that he'll now be able to make a boatload of cash selling Chinese made Teslas? He'll eventually discover that he's hurt his company when Geely, the CCP linked Chinese car maker, begins making electric vehicles using Tesla technology at a lower price than Musk can charge.
Germany's ZF has developed an EV architecture which supports rear and all-wheel drive applications, is scalable to any size car or light duty truck and can be manufactured with almost no Chinese sourced rare earth metals used. And ZF insists on getting proper licensing fees from anyone desiring to use its products, something I'll bet Apple doesn't.
Now, Apple is having problems because its facilities in China are affected by the protests by fed up Chinese citizens. Too bad, Tim Cook; live with it.
People are really, really good at rationalizing. It is an evolutionary advantage. People compartmentalize and prioritize so they can spend as little time as possible expending energy and time on the mundane. Put another way, if it's not deemed a direct threat we try not to consider it.
On the other side of the equation is what gives us an advantage. Technology fits here.
It is very easy to disconnect our technology from where and who made it. It is even more abstract to consider the impact of Apple's decision on people in a far off land, and apply a moral judgment, while at the same time you have the feature they are denied.
The executives at Apple are driven by the same things. They ultimately may care personally, but the company they run is publicly owned.
Nothing will change unless Apple's executives fear a threat or see an advantage. That can only come in the form of money. Market share (competition), revenue (customes), stock price (investors).
Everyone bows to the CCCP. Why pick on Apple? Does anyone in the Biden Administration recognize China as a threat to America? If Hunter Biden doesn't, no one does.
I'm reminded of an interview with a reformed white-collar criminal that I heard many years ago who stated that he never intended to become a criminal. He likened his journey to a ship that leaves port just 1 degree off course but ends up thousands of miles from his destination. I don't believe Apple or Tesla intended to become shills for the CCCP, they just overlooked inconvenient facts like human rights abuses which, in fairness, were NOT as well publicized when these decisions were made as they are today. But pulling AirDrop from the protestors in China is, at best, Apple's attempt to course-correct by 1 degree or at worst, turn a blind eye to the fate of millions. Either way, Apple's decision was driven entirely by a desire to mitigate impact to profitability. Apple fans, will you remember this come Christmas?? Apple is hoping you won't.
I retired from the railroad a couple of years ago and I compare that to Apple. I liked my job but didn’t care for the company I worked for,Apple is a great product but it could be made somewhere else as well as Teslas and Nike
I have a lot to say, but not much time (be grateful). I have never been an Applemaniac, primarily because I first learned on a PC. (I did want an Apple2e because my last name was Tuey.) My husband is PC guy. I learned Photoshop on PC. I understand that Apple products are more user friendly than PC, especially for artists, but learning a new system did not appeal. Samsung makes superior cameras in their phone. I have an iPhone because all my adult kids have them and communication on the same platform is easier. That brings me to my primary complaint about Apple; it doesn't play well with others. I like options to use 3rd party accessories and Apple insisted for a VERY long time that Apple products required Apple accessories.
Here's where you went wrong ; "This is not the first time Apple has had to bend to the will of its Chinese masters." Apple has NEVER HAD TO BEND to the will of its Chinese masters. But the same almighty dollar that Apple used to insist people only buy Apple (usually at a higher cost than would-be competitors) is the same almighty dollar that motivates Apple to kowtow to the Chinese leadership from manufacturing to apps. It's a choice they make. Apple could easily afford to move manufacturing to the US. It could easily limit Chinese data collection through popular apps. But the profit margin would decrease and investors would be mad.
No one "has had to bend to the will of its Chinese masters." It's a decision that Apple made. They will eventually have to bend to the consequences of that choice either on this world or the next.
What would you do if you lived in the rise of Fascism? You are living it now. Big Brother and Big Business are becoming the two sides of the Totalitarian coin.
The duty of a company is to make a profit for the owners and investors. Off shore manufacturing allows them to provide a product that would be cheaper than if it were produced here. How much would an IPhone cost if made here?
NBA, Nike, LeBron James, etc all bow to the $$ flowing from CCCP. They hold enormous sway over American youth. Biden admin removed almost all of Trumps sanctions on day one. Can you blame Apple for following the “leader” of the free world. Looks like bribes paid to Hunter are paying off.
First, I think it was Tony Blair that oversaw the turnover of Hong Kong.
Second, why the need to lump Musk into the Tim Cook criticism? There is always an ethical and moral line in business. The fiduciary responsibility of a CEO is to maximize immediate and long-term financial success of the company. But when the company is a mega large multinational corporation that monopolizes critical markets, and it is American-based, it crosses an ethical/moral line when it participates in oppression of the individual freedoms of people. Musk launches Starlink service to Ukraine. Cook turns off features for the authoritarian CCP. Musk buys Twitter motivated to protect free speech. Cook removes apps for the authoritarian Democrats. They are not the same at all.
What Apple is doing is in-American. Totally despicable. I’ve used Apple products for over 20 years. This will be my last iPhone, MacBook Pro, etc., if they keep doing what they’re doing. They can and will go to hell.
Is the PRC lying about COVID?
They lied about it when it broke out, they lied about having it under control earlier.
Are they using the spector of COVID to justify government control?
More over, are they provoking the West to reimposed COVID restrictions? They know it that would result in
1) civil revolt against the government
2) civil unrest "no more" vs "blind compliance"
3) ecconomic destruction
Remember, the eschatology of COVID is if your neighbor doesn't comply you will die.
I really like the iPhones I have had; first a 1st generation SE, then an XR, and now a iPhone 13 Pro Max. But now, I'm seriously considering buying an Android phone out of my complete disgust with Apple's kissing up to Xi Jinping and his tyranny.
And does Elon Musk really think that having given the CCP the lion's share of Tesla's intellectual property, which is the normal price of admission for a Western company desiring to do business in China, that he'll now be able to make a boatload of cash selling Chinese made Teslas? He'll eventually discover that he's hurt his company when Geely, the CCP linked Chinese car maker, begins making electric vehicles using Tesla technology at a lower price than Musk can charge.
Germany's ZF has developed an EV architecture which supports rear and all-wheel drive applications, is scalable to any size car or light duty truck and can be manufactured with almost no Chinese sourced rare earth metals used. And ZF insists on getting proper licensing fees from anyone desiring to use its products, something I'll bet Apple doesn't.
Now, Apple is having problems because its facilities in China are affected by the protests by fed up Chinese citizens. Too bad, Tim Cook; live with it.
People are really, really good at rationalizing. It is an evolutionary advantage. People compartmentalize and prioritize so they can spend as little time as possible expending energy and time on the mundane. Put another way, if it's not deemed a direct threat we try not to consider it.
On the other side of the equation is what gives us an advantage. Technology fits here.
It is very easy to disconnect our technology from where and who made it. It is even more abstract to consider the impact of Apple's decision on people in a far off land, and apply a moral judgment, while at the same time you have the feature they are denied.
The executives at Apple are driven by the same things. They ultimately may care personally, but the company they run is publicly owned.
Nothing will change unless Apple's executives fear a threat or see an advantage. That can only come in the form of money. Market share (competition), revenue (customes), stock price (investors).
I think it is clear that neither party takes China seriously enough.
Just another reason for me to loathe Apple. My previous job provided me with an iPhone. I despised it. Gimme my Samsung!
Everyone bows to the CCCP. Why pick on Apple? Does anyone in the Biden Administration recognize China as a threat to America? If Hunter Biden doesn't, no one does.
I'm reminded of an interview with a reformed white-collar criminal that I heard many years ago who stated that he never intended to become a criminal. He likened his journey to a ship that leaves port just 1 degree off course but ends up thousands of miles from his destination. I don't believe Apple or Tesla intended to become shills for the CCCP, they just overlooked inconvenient facts like human rights abuses which, in fairness, were NOT as well publicized when these decisions were made as they are today. But pulling AirDrop from the protestors in China is, at best, Apple's attempt to course-correct by 1 degree or at worst, turn a blind eye to the fate of millions. Either way, Apple's decision was driven entirely by a desire to mitigate impact to profitability. Apple fans, will you remember this come Christmas?? Apple is hoping you won't.
I retired from the railroad a couple of years ago and I compare that to Apple. I liked my job but didn’t care for the company I worked for,Apple is a great product but it could be made somewhere else as well as Teslas and Nike
I'm a tech early adopter...I like tech.
I don't "love" it.
I don't love a tech brand.
I don't understand love of a tech brand.
I choose tech that works best for me. That ends up being a combo of Win/Goog/Appl.
Similar to politics...I don't love a candidate, I vote for those I believe will do the most of what I want.
Once you fall in love with a brand, that brand will disappoint.
I have a lot to say, but not much time (be grateful). I have never been an Applemaniac, primarily because I first learned on a PC. (I did want an Apple2e because my last name was Tuey.) My husband is PC guy. I learned Photoshop on PC. I understand that Apple products are more user friendly than PC, especially for artists, but learning a new system did not appeal. Samsung makes superior cameras in their phone. I have an iPhone because all my adult kids have them and communication on the same platform is easier. That brings me to my primary complaint about Apple; it doesn't play well with others. I like options to use 3rd party accessories and Apple insisted for a VERY long time that Apple products required Apple accessories.
Here's where you went wrong ; "This is not the first time Apple has had to bend to the will of its Chinese masters." Apple has NEVER HAD TO BEND to the will of its Chinese masters. But the same almighty dollar that Apple used to insist people only buy Apple (usually at a higher cost than would-be competitors) is the same almighty dollar that motivates Apple to kowtow to the Chinese leadership from manufacturing to apps. It's a choice they make. Apple could easily afford to move manufacturing to the US. It could easily limit Chinese data collection through popular apps. But the profit margin would decrease and investors would be mad.
No one "has had to bend to the will of its Chinese masters." It's a decision that Apple made. They will eventually have to bend to the consequences of that choice either on this world or the next.
What would you do if you lived in the rise of Fascism? You are living it now. Big Brother and Big Business are becoming the two sides of the Totalitarian coin.
The duty of a company is to make a profit for the owners and investors. Off shore manufacturing allows them to provide a product that would be cheaper than if it were produced here. How much would an IPhone cost if made here?
NBA, Nike, LeBron James, etc all bow to the $$ flowing from CCCP. They hold enormous sway over American youth. Biden admin removed almost all of Trumps sanctions on day one. Can you blame Apple for following the “leader” of the free world. Looks like bribes paid to Hunter are paying off.
First, I think it was Tony Blair that oversaw the turnover of Hong Kong.
Second, why the need to lump Musk into the Tim Cook criticism? There is always an ethical and moral line in business. The fiduciary responsibility of a CEO is to maximize immediate and long-term financial success of the company. But when the company is a mega large multinational corporation that monopolizes critical markets, and it is American-based, it crosses an ethical/moral line when it participates in oppression of the individual freedoms of people. Musk launches Starlink service to Ukraine. Cook turns off features for the authoritarian CCP. Musk buys Twitter motivated to protect free speech. Cook removes apps for the authoritarian Democrats. They are not the same at all.
What Apple is doing is in-American. Totally despicable. I’ve used Apple products for over 20 years. This will be my last iPhone, MacBook Pro, etc., if they keep doing what they’re doing. They can and will go to hell.
Dead on. Just remember: Jeremiah preached his whole life without a convert. It wasn’t because he was unfaithful; his listeners were.
"Furthermore, I am of the opinion that Carthage should be destroyed" - Cato
Carthage being China here