Some Re-Assuring Words From Ted Cruise
Apparently, Ted Cruise has decided to share some reassuring words on twitter :
Snowflake, believing online propaganda: "OMG w/o net neutrality, the Internet is gone!" Informed observer: "You know, the FCC issued that rule in 2015. The Internet grew up wonderfully free from govt regulation & this restores the status quo ante." Snowflake: "Uh, never mind…"
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) December 15, 2017
Oh, so no internet provider in the United States will ever decide to hinder access to specific sites that didn’t pay to access their customers? No-one will ever have their access hindered to specific services unless they pay more? And no-one will ever need to file class action lawsuits, to eventually get pennies on a dollar back?
For two years AT&T has demanded Apple block Skype because they were losing long distance fees. And did they learn their lesson? Nope. They blocked Facetime on iOS devices until 2012 and joined Sprint and Verizon in 2011 to block Google Wallet.
Why exactly would history not repeat itself?
Gmail/Youtube coming back to Fire ?
Amazon has decided to sell Google Chromecast and Apple TV products again and Gmail, Youtube and Google Play users may be able to access those services through the Fire TV or the Fire tablets again. These products have re-appeared on amazon.com should be re-appearing on the Canadian site soon.
RIP Net Neutrality
The FCC has voted to end Net Neutrality in the United States with a vote of 3 to 2.
So, what now?
Well, according to a vice president at Comcast everything would be pretty much the same for their customers, making me wonder why they needed to throw the baby out with the bathwater to obtain status quo?
What exactly did net neutrality hinder really? Where are the pro-consumer explanations as to why it had to go, beyond the vague generalizations provided?
What’s to stop the internet providers from striking deals with American companies to slow access to their competitors down now? Where are the rules to protect foreign companies from protectionism?
American consumers will now be beta testing whatever comes along, on their dime, until rules are established. And by then if actions are taken against anyone via the usual class action suits, the consumer will get pennies on the dollar back.
Seriously, what exactly is the average American getting out of this?
Ontario Scalper Bill Debate
The proposed law to regulate ticket scalping and the use of bots is being debated for the last time today in the Ontario Provincial Legislature. But apparently, some ticket companies are complaining that the proposed 50% above ticket value cap will simply drive scalpers to other sites.
As an event ticket purchaser, I can reassure them that I will never go out of my way to find more expensive tickets. And quite frankly I would distrust these rather shady scalpers, as would anyone else, especially if they sold their tickets on unregulated, questionable sites.
I suspect that most of these tickets would be fake so where’s the argument against the 50% cap, really? How exactly would legitimate sites profit by selling these fake tickets?
Steps need to be taken against the utter nonsense that’s happening. And this is simply the first step.
New Tablet
Amazon Canada has just released their 8″ Fire tablets in Canada, enabling people to access Netflix, Spotify, Facebook, Kindle, Prime Music and Prime video for 12 hours on one charge for less than $130.
The device has a 1.3 GHz quad-core processor and is available in with either 16 GB and 32 GB internal storage, which can be expanded by another 256 using a MicroSD card. It also has front and back facing 720p HD cameras, though these are 2 MP.
I personally don’t use my tablet for photography so I wouldn’t mind the lower resolution. But I prefer a larger screen, although this compact tablet would be great for those longer train or plane rides. I’d definitely consider one for those trips over my significantly more expensive Samsung tablet, which doesn’t have as much battery life and storage capacity as the Fire Tablet.
Yes, Youtube, Google Play and Gmail will not likely be available via an app on this tablet because of the ongoing issues in-between Google and Amazon. But you should be able to access these services through the tablet’s browser and Plex is available on this tablet, an app that allows people to access media on their personal computer.
Overall, i’d say it’s a great tablet for the price.
Cyber Monday
Looking through the Cyber Monday sales there still appears to be a few good deals to be had from Amazon.ca, its international counterparts, Best Buy Canada, Barnes & Noble, Indigo, NewEgg Canada, Second Spin, Sonos Canada and other retailers listed on my previous blog entry so i’ll be busy shopping around today.
I’ve already found a significant drop in price for the Deluxe version of Fleetwood Mac’s “Tango In The Night” and will be keeping my eye out for other deals. 🙂