Daily Pulse: Apple Isn't Winning Hearts & Minds, Oil Patch Investment Tanks, Airbus Wants to Sell Seating, not Seats
Don’t Do Us Any Favors: Apple shows no sign of easing its opposition to creating software that would allow the FBI to unlock an iPhone linked to the San Bernardino shootings. And despite pretty solid support in the tech community (Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg was the latest to say he was “sympathetic to Apple”) the company isn’t winning in the court of public opinion — even among iPhone users. According to the Pew Research Center, 51% believe Apple “should unlock” the iPhone. That was the majority or preponderant opinion in all but one cohort — every age group, every level of education, every political stripe and, yes, the very people Apple says on whose behalf it’s holding the line. Only political independents who lean Democratic back Apple.
Text Me: Google is teaming up with wireless companies to replace SMS with Rich Communications Services. The idea is to compete with “over-the-top” messaging services like WhatsApp, WeChat and Facebook Messenger — and to catch up with Apple’s iMessage — by offering such now-routine features as the ability to send large pictures and videos, create group chats and see when your correspondent is typing. By working directly with operators Google could ensure that its RCS was compatible with every Android phone, which would be a huge leap forward for the world’s most popular mobile OS.
Oil patch investment is at a 30-year low, according to the International Energy Agency. CapEx fell 24% last year and expected to drop another 17% this year. Oil prices have plummeted 70% over the last 18 months
#Stat: $130 Million
What Jeb Bush’s campaign spent in his failed presidential bid. Even more depressing — it’s a distant second spent by someone who didn’t even secure the nomination: Democrat Hillary Clinton burned through $250 million only to lose to Barack Obama in 2008. Slipping to #3 is Mitt Romney, who spent $113 million that same year and lost the GOP nomination to John McCain.
Editor’s note: Jeb Bush’s campaign spent $130 million. That’s million with an M. Obviously. We apologize for the error.
Wide Load: Airbus is seeking a patent for a "reconfigurable passenger bench" that would allow airlines to sell space instead of seats. So, families with two small children (say) could occupy what is now three seats, instead of buying four. And a three-seater could be configured for two without that middle-seat DMZ, and more room for more ample derrieres.
#Chart: Amazon increases the free-shipping threshold to $49 from $35.
“The move is a play by Amazon to entice more people — particularly repeat shoppers — to join its Prime service,” which offers free two-day shipping and other perks for $99 a year.
Cover Art: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series DAYTONA 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 21, 2016 in Daytona Beach, Florida.
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What you may have missed — and really should read:
- Joe Nocera is not on good terms with the NCAA: Is it exploiting young athletes?
- As MWC starts, TED ends: Here's what Bill Gross learned in Vancouver.
- A response to "An Open Letter To Yelp CEO": Takeaways For Millennials & Companies. Yes I linked it above, but you really should read it.
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Missed the last update? Catch up: ‘Samsung VR Gets a Little Help from Zuck, UK Businesses Stand Against Brexit, A Millennial's Letter to her CEO'
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Official Graphics Designer at teespring.com
9 年Good writing style, My blog https://www.touchclipping.com/blog/
Apple has it right Ask the question how many times has Apple extracted information from phones the government needed or wanted? The answer is many! The government just wants to be able to do it whenever they want. They want them to relax there security and we all know how secure they are especially with other countries hacking away. There are reasons Apple has a reputation for being more secure. Apple has not denied the government the information they have denied giving them the freedom to hack anyone of us they want and relaxing their own security. I'm with Apple on this one!!!!
Professor at University of Delaware
9 年I wouldn't be swayed by the "51% in the polls", given the popularity of Donald Trump's candidacy. Many people don't think this through in the context of a bigger, more problematic, picture. The FBI has an egregious history of abusing its authority, whether directed by a President (as has been substantiated by the release of Richard Nixon's tapes in book form), or in its overstepping of legal bounds in its seeking of "domestic terrorists". This yet again points out our nation's problem of having poor coordination among its myriad security agencies. Why the FBI has not simply searched the "metadata" collected by the NSA to trace connections to the phones in question is unclear. These are both federal agencies, with the NSA being much, much larger. The reality is that the FBI has been searching for a "smoking gun" on which to justify their push for breaking the new encryption of the iPhone. The San Bernardino shootings provide the perfect justification. I urge Apple to fight this tooth and nail, as we as individuals will never have the capital to defend against unwarranted (both figuratively and in the legal sense) tapping of our private conversations. The time to have this discussed before Congress is now, before the operating system is out of the bottle.
Senior leader with expertise in billing operations, revenue assurance and financial transformations. Proven ability to scale, optimize cost and grow revenues, delivering multimillion-pound efficiencies.
9 年I find the Apple comment interesting. The judgement isn't about access to a single phone but that Apple objects to deliberately creating a weakness in its security to allow anybody ("good" or "bad"), without oversight, to gain entry. I personally find that a terrifying thought. Where will it end? America has some of the best "separation of powers" in the world. If the Government has good reason to invade a private citizen’s life, let them argue that and obtain the legal necessities on a case by case basis. This is like using a black hole to crack a proverbial nut - total overkill. My opinion of Apple - and I own 0 Apple devices currently - is so enhanced by this I'm considering a purchase.