[Cialug] podcast downloaders

[Tim Wilson]

On Wed, Feb 4, 2009 at 10:41 AM, Nathan Stien <nathanism at gmail.com> wrote:

> On Wed, Feb 4, 2009 at 10:11 AM, <ewenix at raccoon.com> wrote:
>
>>
>> While you see some of that functionality
>> available, I would say it's not mine in the Make magazine mindset.
>
>
> Well said.  I'm sure many of us on the list share this mindset.  I want to
> be able to change everything about the phone, not just write sandboxed
> applets.
>
> Linux kernel hacker Harald Welte recently discussed the G1 phone's lack of
> true openness on his blog.
> http://laforge.gnumonks.org/weblog/2008/12/09
>
>> I still think it's extremely weird that you actually buy a device, and
>> then don't own it. I would have no problem if the device is rented from the
>> manufacturer or the mobile network operator. Sure, then in this rented
>> device, only they control what kind of software you use. But this is not the
>> case. People buy it, pay money, legally own the device but technically
>> don't.
>>
>
Unfortunately, this isn't limited to just cell phones.  If you want to get
an HD-DVR from DirecTV (or any receiver for that matter),  you have to pay
upwards of $200 to get it.  However, if you leave DirecTV, you don't own
that box that you paid for.  You have to turn it into them when you
terminate service.  It is my understanding that is true even if you don't
have a contract when you terminate service.  They seem to treat it more like
up-front rent.  You pay $200 rent whether you use it for 1 month or 50
months.  Oh, and there is the monthly charges for the box too.  At least
with cell phones, at the end of the contract you can resell the phone if you
want to.


> - Nathan
>
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-- 
Tim
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