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Apple Tops Holiday Sales With 44 Percent of All New Device Activations (macrumors.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the top-of-the-list dept.

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Mac Rumors: Apple's iPhone and iPad were the most popular mobile devices gifted during the holidays this year, according to new data shared by Yahoo-owned mobile analytics firm Flurry. Flurry examined device activations by manufacturer between 12/19 and 12/25, finding Apple devices to be twice as popular as Samsung devices. 44 percent of all new phone activations were Apple iPhones, while Samsung smartphones accounted for 21 percent of activations. Huawei, LG, Amazon, Oppo, Xiaomi, and Motorola trailed behind with between two and three percent of activations each. Google's Pixel smartphone, which came out in October, did not make Flurry's list. Last year, Flurry released a similar report, and Apple devices made up 49.1 percent of all device activations, while Samsung devices came in at 19.8 percent. Phablets, or smartphones and tablets ranging in size from 5 inches to 6.9 inches, continued to grow in popularity. In 2016, the phablets category, which includes the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus, 6s Plus, and 7 Plus, was responsible for 37 percent of total device activations. Medium-sized phones, like the 4.7-inch iPhone 6, iPhone 6s, and iPhone 7, were responsible for 45 percent of all activations. Activations of full-sized tablets, like the iPad, have continued to wane. From Flurry's report: "While Samsung is slowly growing in popularity throughout the holiday season, up 1% from last year, Apple devices continue to be the gift to give. Holding the third and fourth positions for activations are Huawei and LG; which is remarkable, as both manufacturers do not have an individual device within the top 35 devices activated. Their high rank is likely due to the fact that they have wide variety of devices and affordable options (hundreds of phablet and medium phones) for consumers to choose from."

136 of 188 comments (clear)

  1. In other words by lucm · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The majority of new device activations (roughly 56%) was Android phones.

    --
    lucm, indeed.
    1. Re:In other words by grub · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Apple takes home the lion's share of all mobile profits by a huge margin. Cheap Android phones don't make much money for anyone and they're the bulk of what is sold.

      --
      Trolling is a art,
    2. Re: In other words by lucm · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Sure, and that 56% accounts for 30% of device revenue, 20% of app sales, and only 10% of devices with the newest OS installed.

      You're looking at this ass backwards. The huge profit margin and the planned obsolescence that is at the core of Apple business model is the exact reason why they are losing their grip on the market. They could dominate this industry for a long time if they focused on building good phones at a good price, but instead they're on a money-grab strategy (minimum investment, maximum profit) and they're sinking.

      You can't keep selling average phones at a huge premium for a long time, people wise up and ditch you. Historically there's been a small segment of Apple fanatics, roughly around 10% of the market, and that's where Apple is headed. Back home, to the small niche of people who don't mind overpaying for what they think is prestigious.

      --
      lucm, indeed.
    3. Re:In other words by lucm · · Score: 1

      Apple takes home the lion's share of all mobile profits by a huge margin.

      And you consider this a good thing? Bragging material? When everyone knows that they stopped innovating years ago, that they're exploiting Chinese workers and that they're piling up billions upon billions of dollars in offshore bank accounts, severely hurting the American economy in the process?

      Meanwhile Apple customers are probably the first to get their panties in a bunch over Walmart business practices and their impact on the American factories. Such a bunch of hypocrites.

      --
      lucm, indeed.
    4. Re:In other words by WarJolt · · Score: 1

      On top of that, I would barely consider the bastardized OS that Samsung offers Android at all.

      An OS in the Android world is really a runtime. The Android runtime runs all the Android apps it needs to, so who cares how much lipstick they put on that pig?

    5. Re:In other words by grub · · Score: 1

      Businesses only stay in business when they make profit. So, yes, that is a good thing for their business.

      I don't go to Walmart, but I'm also not in the US, so its impact on American factories means little to me.

      --
      Trolling is a art,
    6. Re:In other words by lucm · · Score: 1

      Businesses only stay in business when they make profit.

      Businesses stay in business when their business model is sustainable. That's why Apple took a nosedive in the 90s and had to be saved by Microsoft, and that's why they're again heading straight for the wall. They don't learn.

      --
      lucm, indeed.
    7. Re:In other words by Tough+Love · · Score: 1

      the majority of all profits (roughly 95%) goes to Apple

      [Citation needed]

      --
      When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
    8. Re:In other words by Tough+Love · · Score: 1

      Cheap Android phones don't make much money for anyone.

      Rubbish. Well over a billion Android handsets per year drives a huge industrial supply chain, making billions for everyone from suppliers of raw materials to foundries to manufacturers to retailers. Oracle says the Android industry generates $32 billion annually. I say that's an underestimate, and I say enough wishful thinking from bitter Apple groupies.

      --
      When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
    9. Re:In other words by grub · · Score: 1

      So when Apple's business model is sustainable (profitable), it's bad? What wall are they headed towards? It sounds like this story is more good news for Apple.

      --
      Trolling is a art,
    10. Re:In other words by lucm · · Score: 1

      So when Apple's business model is sustainable (profitable), it's bad?

      Profitable and sustainable are two different things. For instance, one can operate a very profitable business as a bank robber or Ponzi scheme instigator but this is not sustainable.

      Fucking your customers over consistently by forcing them to upgrade power cables or headphones on top of selling them antiquated hardware at a premium compared to the vastly superior hardware sold by the competition is not a sustainable business model.

      --
      lucm, indeed.
    11. Re:In other words by lucm · · Score: 1

      44% Apple, 55.9% Android, and don't forget 0.1% the late great Microsoft.

      The Microsoft smartphone strategy will always remain a mystery to me. It's like they did all they could to scare developers away and to only allow low-end models to be sold via telecom providers.

      I used a high-end Lumia for a while and it was very nice. I installed Gmail because Outlook is just brain-damaged but besides that, all the built-in apps were pretty good, I was surprised. Good battery life, good gps and maps, terrific camera. Of course the app store is a joke - and that by itself is a shame because Windows is the only smartphone o/s that allows you to create native apps with html5 and javascript (without faking it like phonegap).

      --
      lucm, indeed.
    12. Re:In other words by unixisc · · Score: 1

      What percentage were Windows phones? If it was anything more than 12%, then Android would not be 56%. On a different note, tablet activations would decline, since a lot of the apps that work on phones are disabled on tablets - particularly on the Android side of things

    13. Re:In other words by lucm · · Score: 1

      If Apple were in the dire position of _ever_ actually losing money again, say at a rate of a Billion a year.... they have cash on hand to limp on for... over two centuries.

      Wrong. Most of their cash (about 230 billions) is abroad and they can't touch it without giving a huge chunk of it to the tax man. They also have huge debts, to the tune of 75 billions.

      If they were to bring back their money, pay their taxes and pay their debts, Apple would have less money than McDonalds. Apple is a market bubble all by itself.

      --
      lucm, indeed.
    14. Re: In other words by BronsCon · · Score: 1

      Every single app in the app store still works on my 5

      Only because they haven't opened up the NFC APIs; once they do that, there'll be an entire class of app that won't work for you.

      Oh, I'm sure there are games, and possibly other apps, which absolutely rely on force touch. You can't really use those, either.

      In the future, maybe be careful with absolutes; there's no quicker way to be wrong than to only require one counterexample.

      --
      APK quotes people (including myself) without context and should not be trusted. Just thought you should know.
    15. Re:In other words by BronsCon · · Score: 1

      a lot of the apps that work on phones are disabled on tablets - particularly on the Android side of things

      Examples? I'm not saying that's not true, but I haven't encountered it; just a bit curious.

      --
      APK quotes people (including myself) without context and should not be trusted. Just thought you should know.
    16. Re:In other words by unixisc · · Score: 1

      I have. There were some apps that I wanted to install and run, such as Android Auto, so that I could try connecting it to my car's navigation. It listed my device as incompatible, while the app states that it's designed for phones. There are some others I've tried before where I've run into this - can't recall of the top of my head.

    17. Re: In other words by ceoyoyo · · Score: 2

      All of those things apply to Android phones as well. Improving your hardware isn't planned obsolescence.

    18. Re: In other words by Dog-Cow · · Score: 1

      Being an irrational bigot means not having to care about logic.

      Apple is routinely acknowledged to be the best manufacturer when it comes to long-term support. It would be nice if they would encourage App developers to support older versions of iOS, but I don't really expect them to.

    19. Re: In other words by Plumpaquatsch · · Score: 1

      Sure, and that 56% accounts for 30% of device revenue, 20% of app sales, and only 10% of devices with the newest OS installed.

      You're looking at this ass backwards. The huge profit margin and the planned obsolescence that is at the core of Apple business model is the exact reason why they are losing their grip on the market. They could dominate this industry for a long time if they focused on building good phones at a good price, but instead they're on a money-grab strategy (minimum investment, maximum profit) and they're sinking.

      Or the fact that the others are on a throwing-money-away strategy (maximum investment, negative profit) in their battle over marketshare is the reason why that share rises, but also the reason why many of them will not be showing up in the list next year because they went belly up. Just look at the number of companies with more than 1% share: 2 years ago there were 5, just as last year, with Xiaomi replacing Sony, but this year we have 8, with Nokia/Microsoft dropping out, but with all the smaller ones but Apple and Samsung at (rounded) 2% (Huawai at 3%).

      You can't keep selling average phones at a huge loss for a long time, investors wise up and ditch you.

      And remember, unplanned obsolescence due to company failure is at least as bad as an (imagined) planned one.

      BTW: Samsung only grew a little over one percentage point, not 2 as you want to make it appear. IOW they couldn't even take up the share left from Nokia/Microsoft folding.

      --
      Of course news about a fake are Fake News.
    20. Re:In other words by amiga3D · · Score: 1

      They've put so much lipstick on it that the pig can't see where it's going. I've been using Android for a while now and it's getting more and more bloated. With every update my two year old phone gets slower. It's a shame that my next phone will have a cpu with twice the cores and almost double the clock speed of the current one but thanks to the pile of bloatware they ship on them it'll probably run slower, not faster.

    21. Re: In other words by BronsCon · · Score: 1

      As I look around my apartment, at all of the Apple hardware, including 4 different model iPads and an iPhone 6s Plus, I wonder if I was actually just called an irrational bigot for saying something bad about Apple.

      --
      APK quotes people (including myself) without context and should not be trusted. Just thought you should know.
    22. Re: In other words by BronsCon · · Score: 1

      My point wasn't that Android was any better; I'm not after a pissing match as I use both platforms extensively. The irony of the other poster calling my an irrational bigot and saying I don't care about logic in response to my pointing out the logical fallacy of your argument, however, is stunning.

      My point, since you (and the other poster) plainly missed it, is that not every single app in the app store works on your iPhone 5 and it is fallacious to even claim such as only one counterpoint is required to prove your statement completely false.

      --
      APK quotes people (including myself) without context and should not be trusted. Just thought you should know.
    23. Re:In other words by Plumpaquatsch · · Score: 1

      So to you Apple was in a better shape when they were still losing money. Well thanks for that insight.

      --
      Of course news about a fake are Fake News.
    24. Re:In other words by Plumpaquatsch · · Score: 1

      Cheap Android phones don't make much money for anyone.

      Rubbish. Well over a billion Android handsets per year drives a huge industrial supply chain, making billions for everyone from suppliers of raw materials to foundries to manufacturers to retailers. Oracle says the Android industry generates $32 billion annually. I say that's an underestimate, and I say enough wishful thinking from bitter Apple groupies.

      That's Google's total revenue on Android until Jan. 2016. What's that number supposed to prove exactly in relation to the question asked? Again, this is neither profit (as in "making money") nor "the industry".

      Just to make sure you understand: Apple had more revenue on iOS last quarter.

      --
      Of course news about a fake are Fake News.
    25. Re: In other words by Plumpaquatsch · · Score: 1

      Yes Samsung only grew a little, but thats still infinitely more than Apple going backwards :)

      Gee, could this have something to do with most Apple users buying their own phone when they come out in fall instead of waiting until they get one for Christmas?

      --
      Of course news about a fake are Fake News.
    26. Re: In other words by dilvish_the_damned · · Score: 1

      Worked for Gateway 2000

      --
      I think you underestimate just how much I just dont care.
    27. Re:In other words by Tough+Love · · Score: 1

      Oracle says the Android industry generates $32 billion annually. I say that's an underestimate, and I say enough wishful thinking from bitter Apple groupies.

      That's Google's total revenue on Android until Jan. 2016. What's that number supposed to prove exactly in relation to the question asked?

      You are right, that number is a small fraction of the total Android industry, what was I thinking?

      Again, this is neither profit (as in "making money") nor "the industry". Just to make sure you understand: Apple had more revenue on iOS last quarter.

      You don't mean "on iOS", you mean from all its operations. Six times as many Android phones are sold as Apple phones, and for more than 1/6th the price. Inescapable conclusion: worldwide Android revenue is considerably more than Apple's revenue. Sure, it's divided up between many companies, and we care about that exactly why? Then there's the trend: Apple volume down ~7%/year while the world phone market increases 4%/year. Oops.

      --
      When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
    28. Re: In other words by dnaumov · · Score: 1

      Sure, and that 56% accounts for 30% of device revenue, 20% of app sales, and only 10% of devices with the newest OS installed.

      You're looking at this ass backwards. The huge profit margin and the planned obsolescence that is at the core of Apple business model is the exact reason why they are losing their grip on the market.

      Sounds like somebody needs a reality check. Planned obsolescence? I can only dream Android manufacturers were as good as Apple at this planned obsolescence thing, considering no Android vendor comes even close to supporting their hardware for so long.

    29. Re: In other words by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      Apple is routinely acknowledged to be the best manufacturer when it comes to long-term support.

      But for no particular reason, since they are actually as likely to do something evil as something sane and only overwhelming pressure from customers will lead them to do anything about it. Holding it wrong? B&W G3 data corruption "buy another IDE card with a mac tax sucker"? G4 cube cracking, "suck it up fanboys"? G5s leaking and Apple first tried to bury the story, then tried to deny repair claims as the warranty had expired, and then only when it became broadly known did they repair or replace machines.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    30. Re: In other words by nomadic · · Score: 1

      Yeah, it would be nice if they had just adopted Linux without adopting the Linux bloat mentality.

    31. Re: In other words by nomadic · · Score: 1

      Disagree. And I'm an apple hater. As obnoxious as it is, the strategy of steal-and-market will probably continue to sustain them as social climbers in the developing world look for prestige. So even when the beanie-and-Arcade Fire crowd runs out of trust fund money they will be replaced.

    32. Re: In other words by nomadic · · Score: 1

      You're just angry that he/she gets to pay 4 times as much as you for their phone. Jealous much?

    33. Re: In other words by amiga3D · · Score: 1

      You mean the Ubuntu bloat mentality I'm sure. It's a distro thing. Android is just another distribution.

    34. Re:In other words by jareth-0205 · · Score: 1

      Yeah, this I always find hilarious too - people being *happy* that 2/3 of the cost of their phone is pure profit for the badge mannufacturer.

    35. Re:In other words by krisbrowne42 · · Score: 1

      Most likely accounting for 1% of profits...

    36. Re:In other words by unixisc · · Score: 1

      Wasted hours trying to get a friend's iPad to unlock with their PC-base iTunes. Neither end worked, etc, etc. It reminded me of why Apple products are banned in my household.

      Should have sent your friend to the nearest Apple Store

    37. Re:In other words by Plumpaquatsch · · Score: 1

      Oracle says the Android industry generates $32 billion annually. I say that's an underestimate, and I say enough wishful thinking from bitter Apple groupies.

      That's Google's total revenue on Android until Jan. 2016. What's that number supposed to prove exactly in relation to the question asked?

      You are right, that number is a small fraction of the total Android industry, what was I thinking?

      Not much, you just grabbed the first number that you "thought" supported your point and posted it without checking the facts. Which is your MO.

      Again, this is neither profit (as in "making money") nor "the industry". Just to make sure you understand: Apple had more revenue on iOS last quarter.

      You don't mean "on iOS", you mean from all its operations.

      Nope, I meant from iOS. Check it out, you imbecile. Problem is you can't, because you are too stupid. Tough Love, indeed. Certainly not Loves Thought.

      --
      Of course news about a fake are Fake News.
    38. Re: In other words by nomadic · · Score: 1

      I think it's a kernel thing too. At least, Linus concedes it is, but argues that they can just rely on faster processors and more memory, which I think is a bad design philosophy. Even "small footprint" distros seem waaay too sluggish today.

    39. Re: In other words by fbobraga · · Score: 1

      "Adroid bloat" in this case :P

    40. Re: In other words by fbobraga · · Score: 1

      it's the contrary of my perception...

      * and for Android: cyanogenmod seems to remove all carrier/maker insane bloat, to me...

    41. Re: In other words by BronsCon · · Score: 1

      I expect updates to allow the app to run on the most recent OS version, if for no reason other than they're still trying to sell the app to new users who will be running that version. But, really, that has fuck all to do with app running on old devices; in fact, apps that don't get updates will run on those old devices for longer.

      So... What was your point?

      --
      APK quotes people (including myself) without context and should not be trusted. Just thought you should know.
    42. Re:In other words by Tough+Love · · Score: 1

      Apple's war chest builds up for the long term

      More like a horde chest. Tim Cook is too squeamish to use it in any effective way. Meanwhile, Apple's race to the bottom of the market share pile is gathering steam.

      --
      When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
    43. Re:In other words by Tough+Love · · Score: 1

      I felt more stupid after reading your post.

      --
      When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
    44. Re: In other words by amiga3D · · Score: 1

      cyanogenmod is dead I've heard. What options are there going forward?

    45. Re: In other words by amiga3D · · Score: 1

      I've used some lighter distros and they run fine on Pentium 4 laptops. Puppy in particular and PeppermintOS are blistering fast even on older stuff. The new Raspberry Pi 3 runs on a pretty anemic arm system and yet it's serviceable as a linux desktop. I have an atom dual core 1.6ghz netbook that struggled with win7 starter and yet is pretty snappy with PeppermintOS. I briefly tried Ubuntu on it but it was as bad as win7.

    46. Re: In other words by lucm · · Score: 1

      Gee, could this have something to do with most Apple users buying their own phone when they come out in fall instead of waiting until they get one for Christmas?

      No.

      --
      lucm, indeed.
    47. Re:In other words by lucm · · Score: 1

      So to you Apple was in a better shape when they were still losing money. Well thanks for that insight.

      Look pal, you can twist words all day long, it won't stop Apple from continuing their freefall into irrelevance.

      --
      lucm, indeed.
    48. Re:In other words by lucm · · Score: 1

      Yeah... it's been four decades now of Apple pissing people like you off, and any minute now that bubble will burst... but guess what... you just aren't a sharp enough prick.

      Dude. Apple almost went bankrupt in the 90s. The "bubble" started in 2010-2011, that's hardly four decades.

      --
      lucm, indeed.
    49. Re:In other words by Plumpaquatsch · · Score: 1

      So to you Apple was in a better shape when they were still losing money. Well thanks for that insight.

      Look pal, you can twist words all day long, it won't stop Android from continuing their freefall into irrelevance.

      FTFY

      --
      Of course news about a fake are Fake News.
    50. Re: In other words by Plumpaquatsch · · Score: 1

      Gee, could this have something to do with most Apple users buying their own phone when they come out in fall instead of waiting until they get one for Christmas?

      Yes.

      FTFY

      --
      Of course news about a fake are Fake News.
    51. Re:In other words by Plumpaquatsch · · Score: 1

      I felt more stupid after reading your post.

      Then I did my job: to inform you of your stupidity. I hope you keep up feeling even more stupid every day, because lets face it: you are.

      --
      Of course news about a fake are Fake News.
    52. Re: In other words by fbobraga · · Score: 1

      cyanogenmod is dead I've heard.

      Really? It's seems a HOAX to me...

    53. Re:In other words by Tough+Love · · Score: 1

      Yes, you did your job of spreading stupidity

      --
      When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
    54. Re: In other words by baristabrian · · Score: 1

      "Freefall ..." You're fucking stupid. But funny.

      --
      -- "I'm not in a hurry; I'm in Hawaii." The Homeless Guy
    55. Re: In other words by baristabrian · · Score: 1

      Yeah it sucks; you need a typical grade schooler to figure out those DAMN Apple products.

      --
      -- "I'm not in a hurry; I'm in Hawaii." The Homeless Guy
    56. Re: In other words by baristabrian · · Score: 1

      Ding Ding Ding! We have a TRUMPOPHOBE!

      --
      -- "I'm not in a hurry; I'm in Hawaii." The Homeless Guy
    57. Re: In other words by lucm · · Score: 1

      "Freefall ..."

      You're fucking stupid.

      But funny.

      I could have gone with "slow but constant decline in market share, innovation, quality and brand prestige" but I figured that freefall covered all that.

      --
      lucm, indeed.
    58. Re: In other words by amiga3D · · Score: 1

      https://www.xda-developers.com...

      There's talk of a fork but things are pretty dire it seems.

    59. Re: In other words by fbobraga · · Score: 1

      mod parent up

    60. Re:In other words by Plumpaquatsch · · Score: 1

      Yes, you did your job of spreading stupidity

      Yeah, because I quoted him - and you. Spread it out real thick to thin it.

      --
      Of course news about a fake are Fake News.
    61. Re:In other words by Tough+Love · · Score: 1

      I suppose that life in the Apple world means being constantly subject to the word farts of your ilk.

      --
      When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
    62. Re:In other words by Plumpaquatsch · · Score: 1

      I suppose that life in the Apple world means being constantly subject to the word farts of your ilk.

      No it means constantly being subject to the brain farts of your ilk. And boy do they stink.

      --
      Of course news about a fake are Fake News.
  2. Compatibility by MikeB0Lton · · Score: 1

    But, but... headphone jacks?!?

    1. Re:Compatibility by Ash-Fox · · Score: 1

      Have you tried the universal business adapter?

      --
      Change is certain; progress is not obligatory.
  3. Re:Wow! Android is almost Dead!! by lucm · · Score: 1

    Apple had 49.1% of new activations last year. They can't even keep their numbers in their strongest quarter.

    --
    lucm, indeed.
  4. Apple Holiday Sales Share Shrinks by Tough+Love · · Score: 4, Informative

    Fixed the headline.

    --
    When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
    1. Re:Apple Holiday Sales Share Shrinks by ahabswhale · · Score: 1

      Except they were up today.

      --
      Are agnostics skeptical of unicorns too?
  5. Yes, Apple keeps the profit by lucm · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I'm sure the Chinese slaves who work in Apple sweatshops for $3/hour will rejoice. It will ensure them many more months of working 64h/week before they earn more than they spend on basic living conditions.

    It would cost $12 per device to Apple if they were to ensure a decent wage to those workers but that would slow down the insane piling of money in Apple offshore accounts so it will never happen.

    Thank you Apple and Apple customers! You all contribute to making the world a better place.

    --
    lucm, indeed.
    1. Re:Yes, Apple keeps the profit by ahabswhale · · Score: 1

      Interesting factoid! Please tell my which brand of cellphone I should buy that is so generous to its laborers, making the most commoditized electronic product in the world?

      --
      Are agnostics skeptical of unicorns too?
    2. Re:Yes, Apple keeps the profit by lucm · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Interesting factoid! Please tell my which brand of cellphone I should buy that is so generous to its laborers, making the most commoditized electronic product in the world?

      According to China Labor Watch, pretty much any brand except for Apple.

      Also if your argument is that smartphones are commoditized, can you explain why you and other fanbois applause and cheer a company that makes $400 per device they sell, while a simple $12 chunk of this profit could make the Chinese workers who do all the work live well?

      Anyone who buys an iPhone is complicit of this outrageous exploitation of human beings.

      --
      lucm, indeed.
    3. Re:Yes, Apple keeps the profit by dugancent · · Score: 4, Informative

      Companies that use Foxonn.

      Acer Inc. (Taiwan)
      Amazon.com (United States)
      Apple Inc. (United States)
      BlackBerry Ltd. (Canada)
      Cisco (United States)
      Dell (United States)
      Google (United States)
      Hewlett-Packard (United States)
      Huawei (China)
      InFocus (United States)
      Intel (United States)
      Microsoft (United States)
      Motorola Mobility (United States)
      Nintendo (Japan)
      Nokia (Finland)
      Sony (Japan)
      Toshiba (Japan)
      Vizio (United States)
      Xiaomi (China)

      --
      SJWs are the new boogeyman. -Me
    4. Re:Yes, Apple keeps the profit by lucm · · Score: 1

      They prefer their factory jobs?

      That must explain all those suicides. Overabundance of happiness and hope.

      That also must explain why Apple prefer installing safety nets to prevent workers from jumping from the factory roofs rather than sacrificing $12 of their $400 profit per device. Otherwise, what's next? They're gonna ask for picnic tables or some kind of free water supply in those hot factories? Must draw the line somewhere. Besides, working for Apple should be a reward by itself.

      --
      lucm, indeed.
    5. Re:Yes, Apple keeps the profit by lucm · · Score: 1

      Citation or gtfo

      <-- wikipedia is that way, and 4chan is that way -->

      Slashdot is for people with at least a working knowledge of search engines.

      --
      lucm, indeed.
    6. Re:Yes, Apple keeps the profit by lucm · · Score: 2

      Ok I will have to assume that you don't know how this works.

      It's not a one-size-fits-all situation. First, Foxconn is not the only supplier, there's also Pegatron (who pays the workers on Apple production line even less than Foxconn, an impressive $1.85/hour). Second, the conditions for each production line is not the same. Apple has dedicated plants and they are by far the worst: extreme pressure, poor working conditions, etc. It's well-documented to the point that even poor Chinese workers no longer want to work in those plants, which led Foxconn to implement a new policy: only workers who bring in new recruits are eligible for overtime (which, given the low wages, is vital to pay for basic living conditions).

      You would assume that things have improved since Steve Jobs had them install those safety nets. But here's an interesting story from 4 months ago (Aug 2016) in the WSJ:

      Early one day last week, a 31-year-old man finished his night shift on an iPhone assembly line, climbed to the top floor of Foxconn Technology Group’s L03 production building and leapt to his death. He had been on the job for a month.
      [...]
      [The workers] were especially anxious to learn details of the suicide, which they said occurred during a time of intense pressure on workers as the factory ramps up for iPhone production.

      Now, please provide a list of suicides in Foxconn factories on the production line from any of the companies on your list:
      Acer Inc. (Taiwan)
      Amazon.com (United States)
      Apple Inc. (United States)
      BlackBerry Ltd. (Canada)
      Cisco (United States)
      Dell (United States)
      Google (United States)
      Hewlett-Packard (United States)
      Huawei (China)
      InFocus (United States)
      Intel (United States)
      Microsoft (United States)
      Motorola Mobility (United States)
      Nintendo (Japan)
      Nokia (Finland)
      Sony (Japan)
      Toshiba (Japan)
      Vizio (United States)
      Xiaomi (China)

      Take your time.

      --
      lucm, indeed.
    7. Re:Yes, Apple keeps the profit by ceoyoyo · · Score: 2

      When you say "according to" you need to supply a citation, not just "google is that way." As far as I can tell, Chinal Labor Watch has stories (they are stories) about lots of different retailers and manufacturers, including both Apple and Samsung. There aren't any real numbers and there are no comparisons. So calling bullshit on your post.

    8. Re:Yes, Apple keeps the profit by Dog-Cow · · Score: 1

      Apple owns sweatshops? Interesting. When did they diversify into manufacturing?

    9. Re:Yes, Apple keeps the profit by Plumpaquatsch · · Score: 1

      Well, I'm sure the Vietnamese slaves who work in Samsung sweatshops for $1/hour will send you some of their money because you speak out on Samsung's behalf.

      --
      Of course news about a fake are Fake News.
    10. Re:Yes, Apple keeps the profit by Plumpaquatsch · · Score: 1

      Interesting factoid! Please tell my which brand of cellphone I should buy that is so generous to its laborers, making the most commoditized electronic product in the world?

      According to China Labor Watch, pretty much any brand except for Apple.

      Yup. Could be related to the fact that China Labor Watch didn't even look at any other company but Apple (or rather their suppliers). Hard to find any flaws with them that way.

      --
      Of course news about a fake are Fake News.
    11. Re:Yes, Apple keeps the profit by timmyf2371 · · Score: 1

      The suicide rate for Foxconn workers is actually lower than China as a whole. This could indicate that the workers at Foxconn are indeed happier than the norm.

      --

      Backup not found: (A)bort (R)etry (P)anic
    12. Re:Yes, Apple keeps the profit by Plumpaquatsch · · Score: 1

      Well, Apple isn't Pegatron's only customer either. And if you are so cock sure that the conditions aren't the same - why don't you post actual numbers? Should be easy to do.

      --
      Of course news about a fake are Fake News.
    13. Re:Yes, Apple keeps the profit by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      Companies that use Foxonn.

      Not all Foxconn contracts are equal. Do a bit more Googling.

    14. Re:Yes, Apple keeps the profit by antdude · · Score: 1

      I expected this list to be way longer.

      --
      Ant(Dude) @ Quality Foraged Links (AQFL.net) & The Ant Farm (antfarm.ma.cx / antfarm.home.dhs.org).
    15. Re:Yes, Apple keeps the profit by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      Well, Apple isn't Pegatron's only customer either. And if you are so cock sure that the conditions aren't the same - why don't you post actual numbers? Should be easy to do.

      The prevailing wisdom is that Apple is worse, backed up by what we know so far. If you want to disagree with the prevailing wisdom, it's your job to provide a citation if you want to be taken seriously. The ball is in your court, sir.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    16. Re: Yes, Apple keeps the profit by nomadic · · Score: 1

      Corrected for income, age, and health status?

    17. Re:Yes, Apple keeps the profit by Plumpaquatsch · · Score: 1

      Well, Apple isn't Pegatron's only customer either. And if you are so cock sure that the conditions aren't the same - why don't you post actual numbers? Should be easy to do.

      The prevailing wisdom is that Apple is worse, backed up by what we know so far. If you want to disagree with the prevailing wisdom, it's your job to provide a citation if you want to be taken seriously. The ball is in your court, sir.

      Prevailing wisdom is that the reports are biased, because they only ever looked at Apple. Prove that they aren't biased before sending me to China. Heck, there are reports of other companies being worse ehich constantly get disregarded. Samsung poisoned it's workers for years for example. Never gets mentioned here, because they didn't make parts for Apple in that factory

      Heck, you guys pointed to Mike Daisey's work as evidence until it was proven he made it all up.

      --
      Of course news about a fake are Fake News.
    18. Re:Yes, Apple keeps the profit by Megol · · Score: 1

      Then the prevailing wisdom isn't backed up with verifiable facts. Give us that if you want reasonable people to believe your version.

    19. Re:Yes, Apple keeps the profit by lucm · · Score: 1

      Well, I'm sure the Vietnamese slaves who work in Samsung sweatshops for $1/hour will send you some of their money because you speak out on Samsung's behalf.

      Discussing the crooked business practices of Apple is not the same as "speaking out on behalf of Samsung". It can be hard to fathom for a fanboi but not everyone is blinded by A Brand.

      --
      lucm, indeed.
    20. Re:Yes, Apple keeps the profit by lucm · · Score: 1

      The prevailing wisdom is groupthink spurred on by activist media.

      Wait, are you saying that the media are biased against Apple and that people who disagree with Apple shady business practices are the ones doing "groupthink"?

      --
      lucm, indeed.
    21. Re:Yes, Apple keeps the profit by Plumpaquatsch · · Score: 1

      Well, I'm sure the Vietnamese slaves who work in Samsung sweatshops for $1/hour will send you some of their money because you speak out on Samsung's behalf.

      Discussing the crooked business practices of Apple is not the same as "speaking out on behalf of Samsung".

      In your case it is. Do they pay well?

      --
      Of course news about a fake are Fake News.
    22. Re:Yes, Apple keeps the profit by david_thornley · · Score: 1

      The media finds that "Apple phone workers mistreated" gets a lot more eyeballs than "Motorola phone workers mistreated". It isn't exactly "activist media", but it has the same effect.

      As far as "Apple shady business practices" go, exactly what do you know about them and how? This looks like potential groupthink, and the fact you don't recognize that it could be makes it seem more likely.

      --
      "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
    23. Re:Yes, Apple keeps the profit by lucm · · Score: 1

      The media finds that "Apple phone workers mistreated" gets a lot more eyeballs than "Motorola phone workers mistreated".

      Maybe it's because Motorola workers are not mistreated. Lenovo has an excellent track record in that regard, unlike Apple.

      --
      lucm, indeed.
    24. Re:Yes, Apple keeps the profit by lucm · · Score: 1

      Well, I'm sure the Vietnamese slaves who work in Samsung sweatshops for $1/hour will send you some of their money because you speak out on Samsung's behalf.

      Discussing the crooked business practices of Apple is not the same as "speaking out on behalf of Samsung".

      In your case it is. Do they pay well?

      Do you high-five yourself when you post this kind of childish reply? If you're not interested in having grown-up discussions why are you wasting your time here?

      --
      lucm, indeed.
    25. Re:Yes, Apple keeps the profit by Plumpaquatsch · · Score: 1

      Well, I'm sure the Vietnamese slaves who work in Samsung sweatshops for $1/hour will send you some of their money because you speak out on Samsung's behalf.

      Discussing the crooked business practices of Apple is not the same as "speaking out on behalf of Samsung".

      In your case it is. Do they pay well?

      Do you high-five yourself when you post this kind of childish reply? If you're not interested in having grown-up discussions why are you wasting your time here?

      Why would I want to have grown-up discussions with somebody who isn't? You are certainly not wise beyond your age. You just are a dumb troll, paid or not, who claims Apple is going down the chute for years now. Grow up. Not that I would want to have discussions with you then.

      --
      Of course news about a fake are Fake News.
  6. Funny by Trogre · · Score: 3, Informative

    I don't recall activating my new Android tablet, whatever that means.

    Where do I sign up?

    --
    "Nine times out of ten, starting a fire is not the best way to solve the problem." - my wife
    1. Re:Funny by Plumpaquatsch · · Score: 1

      I don't recall activating my new Android tablet, whatever that means.

      Where do I sign up?

      You install an app that uses Flurry Analytics. Done.

      --
      Of course news about a fake are Fake News.
    2. Re:Funny by jareth-0205 · · Score: 1

      I don't recall activating my new Android tablet, whatever that means.

      Where do I sign up?

      You install an app that uses Flurry Analytics. Done.

      Flurry isn't an ideal sampler though - it's much more used in iOS than Android apps, and seems to be persistently under-counting Android because of that.

    3. Re:Funny by jareth-0205 · · Score: 1

      I don't recall activating my new Android tablet, whatever that means.

      Where do I sign up?

      You install an app that uses Flurry Analytics. Done.

      Flurry isn't an ideal sampler though - it's much more used in iOS than Android apps, and seems to be persistently under-counting Android because of that.

      Claim all the Fandroids, because Flurry proves that Android users use less apps. Which is easily shown by comparing cross platform apps that of course show usage patterns on both platforms fairly.

      *Sigh*. Android users use less apps, yes we all know this. That also means doesn't it that the thing that's being claimed here can't be accurately measured from what Flurry can tell you. If Flurry only knows about a device when a suitable app is installed, then Flurry being less used for Android apps, and Android users installing less apps, is going to undercount Android *devices*. This article is trying to measure *device* numbers, which it's unsuitable for doing so. Give me comparison figures from Facebook, or some ubiquitous cross-platform app, but Flurry itself is flawed.

    4. Re:Funny by Plumpaquatsch · · Score: 1

      *Sigh*. Android users use less apps, yes we all know this. That also means doesn't it that the thing that's being claimed here can't be accurately measured from what Flurry can tell you. If Flurry only knows about a device when a suitable app is installed, then Flurry being less used for Android apps, and Android users installing less apps, is going to undercount Android *devices*. This article is trying to measure *device* numbers, which it's unsuitable for doing so. Give me comparison figures from Facebook, or some ubiquitous cross-platform app, but Flurry itself is flawed.

      So you admit counting all Android phones towards smartphone market share is bullshit because most are actually used as dumb- or feature-phones. And it doesn't really matter whether "Flurry being less used for Android apps" is actually even true - you just need to run one Flurry app once, and you are counted.

      He's referring to Flurry's other big selling point: a trove of mobile-app-user data that is bigger in reach than Google and Facebook.*

      More than 400,000 apps now use the tool and, in return, funnel much of that user data back to Flurry. Flurry thus has a pipe into more than 1.2 billion devices globally and is inside seven to ten apps per device. It continuously triangulates among them all, collecting on average 3 terabytes of data each day.

      * On Flurry's reach: while the company sees app activity from 1.2 billion devices each month, Facebook’s last released figure for its mobile products was 819 million monthly active users. In May 2013 Google said it had activated 900 million Android devices in the last five years.

      And those numbers are three years old. At that time a total of 421 million iPhones had been sold If you add that to Google's 900 million, and pretend that every single one of them was active at least once a month, Flurry would reach 90% of them.

      And even if you pretended that all those phones were still in use and so were (a very optimistic) 100 million more across Windows, BlackBerrys and other app capable phones, and you pretend that Flurry was on every single one of the non.Android phones - Flurry would still see more than 2/3 of all Android phones.

      Stop pretending until you can come up with some actual numbers instead of just innuendo.

      --
      Of course news about a fake are Fake News.
    5. Re:Funny by jareth-0205 · · Score: 1

      So you admit counting all Android phones towards smartphone market share is bullshit because most are actually used as dumb- or feature-phones.

      Bit of a leap from "fewer apps installed" to "most are used as dumb phones" don't you think? You seem to be very personally invested in OS usage patterns. If that makes you happy - go for it, I don't care.

    6. Re:Funny by jareth-0205 · · Score: 1

      I am the 'guys'? There you go, making assumptions again. I'm open with Android's flaws, it has several. I don't feel the need to personally insult people who disagree with me, unlike you based on your posting history.

    7. Re:Funny by jareth-0205 · · Score: 1

      It must be a wonderful reality inside your head.

    8. Re:Funny by Plumpaquatsch · · Score: 1

      It must be a wonderful reality inside your head.

      Well, at least the reality inside my head is shared with most of the rest of the world, while all you guys have is your Collapsed Reality Distortion Bubble.

      --
      Of course news about a fake are Fake News.
  7. Big phones are the norm. by SeaFox · · Score: 1

    Phablets, or smartphones and tablets ranging in size from 5 inches to 6.9 inches, continued to grow in popularity.

    Need to adjust that definition. 90% of Android phones now have screen of 5" or larger. It seems it's only once you hit 5.7" or above people really start throwing around the term "phablet" now.

    1. Re:Big phones are the norm. by Plumpaquatsch · · Score: 1

      Phablets, or smartphones and tablets ranging in size from 5 inches to 6.9 inches, continued to grow in popularity.

      Need to adjust that definition. 90% of Android phones now have screen of 5" or larger. It seems it's only once you hit 5.7" or above people really start throwing around the term "phablet" now.

      Where did you get that idea? According to Google's own statistics, 90% of all screens are "small" or "normal" with "normal" ending somewhere below 5" on their vague "definition" chart. https://developer.android.com/about/dashboards/index.html . https://developer.android.com/guide/practices/screens_support.html#range

      --
      Of course news about a fake are Fake News.
    2. Re:Big phones are the norm. by unixisc · · Score: 1

      I have seen people talk on them, holding them like phones next to their ears. Which looks weird

    3. Re:Big phones are the norm. by SeaFox · · Score: 1

      Where did you get that idea? According to Google's own statistics, 90% of all screens are "small" or "normal" with "normal" ending somewhere below 5" on their vague "definition" chart. https://developer.android.com/about/dashboards/index.html . https://developer.android.com/guide/practices/screens_support.html#range

      The documents you are citing appear to date back to Android 3.2 and are obviously out of date in regards to current handset specs. Average screen densities and diagonal measurements have grown quite a bit the last few years as manufactures try to one-up each other on numbers for marketing purposes.

      Go on PhoneArena.com or GSMArena.com and do a search of Android handsets and sizes. As someone who has just recently bought I new phone, I can tell you from first-hand experience that the vast majority of Android phones are 5" or larger. Smaller-screened ones I've found are generally low-cost phones meant for sale as BYO or MVNO devices, and many were older leftovers as they were selling with Android 4.x or 5.0 (and are non-upgradeable). You might want to look at this previous comment I made on this.

    4. Re:Big phones are the norm. by Plumpaquatsch · · Score: 1

      Where did you get that idea? According to Google's own statistics, 90% of all screens are "small" or "normal" with "normal" ending somewhere below 5" on their vague "definition" chart. https://developer.android.com/about/dashboards/index.html . https://developer.android.com/guide/practices/screens_support.html#range

      The documents you are citing appear to date back to Android 3.2 and are obviously out of date in regards to current handset specs.

      Well, the second link comes directly from the first, so it's hardly my fault if Google's documentation is out of date. More proof that they don't care about Android any more.

      Go on PhoneArena.com or GSMArena.com and do a search of Android handsets and sizes.

      Well, what I find is current Android phones with smaller screens than the original iPhone. Anyway, you are confusing released models with actual sales numbers across those models.

      --
      Of course news about a fake are Fake News.
  8. Samsung is the winner here by lucm · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The interesting figure is that Samsung *increased* their new activations, going from 19% to 21%, in the same year that they had to recall every single one of their new phones because they exploded. Meanwhile, Apple activations went down again. I mean, it takes a real optimist to spin that as a win for Apple.

    And it's a long-running trend.

    2014: Apple 51%, Samsung 17%
    2015: Apple 49%, Samsung 19%
    2016: Apple 44%, Samsung 21%

    Now all Samsung has to do is ship a phone that doesn't explode or doesn't catch fire and they'll probably get a tie with Apple within a year or two. All of this after Apple had a complete monopoly in this market just 5 years ago. They'll probably end up in business textbooks as a case study of how companies can go from winners to total obsolescence within a same decade.

    --
    lucm, indeed.
    1. Re:Samsung is the winner here by lucm · · Score: 1

      Yeah don't get me wrong here, I'm not a fan of Samsung. I had a Samsung phone a while ago and it was the worst of the androids I ever had. Bloatware, terrible keyboard, awful battery life. But the fact remains that they're taking over the market from Apple and that's Apple's fault.

      --
      lucm, indeed.
    2. Re:Samsung is the winner here by ceoyoyo · · Score: 2

      Possibly. More likely they'll go into a textbook about how shipping few units with a large profit margin is a viable alternative to shipping many units with razor thin margins. Actually, they already have.

    3. Re:Samsung is the winner here by jhecht · · Score: 1

      Did Samsung count new units activated to replace the ones recalled before they blew up?

    4. Re:Samsung is the winner here by rbgaynor · · Score: 1

      Last quarter Apple had 104% of the profits. I wouldn't call Samsung "significantly profitable." http://www.investors.com/news/...

      --
      "Good things don't end with eum, they end with mania or teria." - H. Simpson
    5. Re:Samsung is the winner here by SeaFox · · Score: 1

      The interesting figure is that Samsung *increased* their new activations, going from 19% to 21%, in the same year that they had to recall every single one of their new phones because they exploded.

      Uh, "every single one"? Last I checked Samsung makes more phones than the Galaxy Note 7.
      Where were the recalls for the Galaxy S7, Galaxy A3/A5/A7, Galaxy J, etc.? I never heard about them.

    6. Re:Samsung is the winner here by lucm · · Score: 1

      The interesting figure is that Samsung *increased* their new activations, going from 19% to 21%, in the same year that they had to recall every single one of their new phones because they exploded.

      The only surprise here is that the increase in Samsung activations is so small. Think about it – all the recalled Samsung phones will have been replaced with new Samsung phones, so each Note customer will have at least two activations.

      But it's just during the Christmas week not the whole year

      --
      lucm, indeed.
    7. Re:Samsung is the winner here by lucm · · Score: 1

      no, this was during the holidays which occurred months after the recall

      --
      lucm, indeed.
    8. Re:Samsung is the winner here by lucm · · Score: 1

      The interesting figure is that Samsung *increased* their new activations, going from 19% to 21%, in the same year that they had to recall every single one of their new phones because they exploded.

      Uh, "every single one"? Last I checked Samsung makes more phones than the Galaxy Note 7.
      Where were the recalls for the Galaxy S7, Galaxy A3/A5/A7, Galaxy J, etc.? I never heard about them.

      Yes you are correct. But they did recall all the devices of that model and one would assume that the experience for users was bad and that the whole thing was a PR nightmare, which is even worse for a company that doesn't really have a huge brand following. And yet they're still increasing their share.

      --
      lucm, indeed.
    9. Re:Samsung is the winner here by SeaFox · · Score: 1

      Yes you are correct. But they did recall all the devices of that model and one would assume that the experience for users was bad and that the whole thing was a PR nightmare, which is even worse for a company that doesn't really have a huge brand following. And yet they're still increasing their share.

      Samsung most certainly does have a large brand following. It's nothing like Apple's cult-like group as far as dedication, but people still get excited surmising on what the next Galaxy S will have, or even what's in store for the midrange (Galaxy A) trio since the styling and features of the S can find their way into them, too sometimes. At this point most Apple fans consider Samsung to the only "real competitor" Apple has in the marketplace. I think that's hogwash with LG and now Google's Pixel, but they only focus on the sales numbers of individual makers, so since Samsung has such a large chuck of Android...

    10. Re: Samsung is the winner here by baristabrian · · Score: 1

      You only say that because you have a cheaply made piece of shit phone in YOUR pocket. Jealous much?

      --
      -- "I'm not in a hurry; I'm in Hawaii." The Homeless Guy
  9. Yeah, because I didn't have a fucking choice. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    We had three iPhone 4S units in the family. All of them started to exhibit battery issues about a month ago. One had a dangerously swollen battery (which, according to Apple, is apparently "normal"). The other two refused to hold a charge. All three devices were happily running iOS 7.1.2.

    We took them into the service centre, and had the batteries replaced for ~$100/pop. They were good solid phones, and in stellar condition for their age, so why should we upgrade?

    Apparently Apple thought otherwise. I wasn't told this beforehand, but apparently "standard procedure" is to upgrade the software on the device prior to installing a new battery. Something about diagnostics- the tech basically said it was bullshit, the diagnostics from the older iOS software was identical to the new diagnostics, except for the version number- which Apple refuses to accept, and therefore will not ship the service centre a replacement battery.

    So we got all three devices back with new batteries... running iOS 9.

    Now they're virtually fucking useless.

    It takes a good 10-20 seconds to open the phone app. I can have exactly one tab open in Safari, switching to any other tab causes that page to reload (which is great for my 3G data plan). Switching to another application causes the new application to re-launch itself (presumably because it got terminated in the background). Switching back to Safari will cause Safari to reload the active page. Before, I used to be able to have 3-4 apps open at the same time (without having them get terminated by the OS) and 4-5 tabs in Safari no problem.

    Likewise, the new OS seems glitchy as fuck. Mail used to work fine with all my business IMAP accounts, now it's a crap shoot if half my inbox even loads (and it's a coin toss as to which half shows up). Even iCloud is a mess, some things are getting synced, others aren't. Almost nothing is working 100%. I've tried doing factory resets and setting up the phone from scratch, but it never makes any difference.

    We've purchased exactly one replacement phone (an iPhone 7). The shit show that came with that (had to upgrade iTunes, except the new version of iTunes required us to upgrade the OS as well, which broke a whole bunch of other stuff)... I don't know.

    We've still got a week to return that phone, and I honestly think we're going to do that and just switch to Android.

    I'm tired of Apple's shit. It's pretty clear that a large part of their business comes from planned obsolescence and forcing people to upgrade, rather then producing products that people actually want to go out and buy. And I've had enough. They can ram their activation and adoption numbers up their ass for all I care.

    1. Re:Yeah, because I didn't have a fucking choice. by unixisc · · Score: 1

      I've never used an iPhone for business, and neither do I use it for the bulk of my work. My main use of it is doing video calls using either FaceTime or WhatsApp. For my work, since my employer uses Google to host their email, I simply use my Android phone - a Moto X. From there, I use Hangouts, Mail and the other applications, as well as 8x8's VOIP package

      That's for this scenario. Had my employer used an MS Exchange server, I'd have gone w/ a Lumia. In fact, if a business licenses Office 365, they'd get 5 accounts each w/ 1TB of OneDrive storage. One downside is that there were no good video calling apps for it, but I believe that may have changed since WhatsApp added video calling to their package.

    2. Re:Yeah, because I didn't have a fucking choice. by ceoyoyo · · Score: 1

      You're on Slashdot, so assuming you can use a screwdriver, you can replace the battery in an Apple phone in about ten minutes, for about $20. Batteries on Amazon, or lots of other online retailers. They even come with screwdrivers for the annoying security screws.

      It's impressive that your batteries lasted 5+ years.

    3. Re:Yeah, because I didn't have a fucking choice. by antdude · · Score: 2

      This 4S, with iOS v9.3.5, still works even though and unsupported. Its battery hasn't blown up, but its life has shrunk. Pokemon Go + Cellular can drain it in 30 minutes. :( I doubt I will replace its battery since it is old and slow since I got it for free from my king ant who didn't want it anymore.

      --
      Ant(Dude) @ Quality Foraged Links (AQFL.net) & The Ant Farm (antfarm.ma.cx / antfarm.home.dhs.org).
    4. Re:Yeah, because I didn't have a fucking choice. by jareth-0205 · · Score: 1

      Yeah - this is exactly my worry about the enforced OS upgrades. It's all well-and-good having your device upgraded to the latest version, but if that version is next to unusable then what have you really gained?

      I'm hardly saying that the Android situation is great, but one side-effect is that old devices don't get upgraded into obsolescence, and Android app developers don't assume that everyone's running on the latest OS like iOS developers do so you can usually still use the apps you want.

    5. Re:Yeah, because I didn't have a fucking choice. by Just+Some+Guy · · Score: 1

      TL;DR you got five years out of a device that's build for 2-3, and it still works even though it's 5 generations obsolete. It does suck that they forcibly upgraded you past the 2.5 year old version with unpatched security vulnerabilities that you'd been enjoying, but pick yer poison.

      --
      Dewey, what part of this looks like authorities should be involved?
    6. Re:Yeah, because I didn't have a fucking choice. by Zerohm · · Score: 1

      It's a good thing you don't like updating your OS, because with Android you truly will not have a choice.

  10. AirPods by dohzer · · Score: 1

    AirPods: The gift that requires you to keep on giving.

  11. Flurry? by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 1

    Isn't that a frozen dessert sold at McDonalds?

    --
    #DeleteChrome
  12. Activated tablets by unixisc · · Score: 1

    They're probably talking about tablets w/ cellular capabilities that can be added to the carrier's network. You could buy a cellular iPad or Galaxy tab at a Best Buys, Costco or any such store, and get it activated while you're there

    1. Re:Activated tablets by unixisc · · Score: 1

      True, except for Verizon and Sprint. Maybe they are talking about a combination of selling someone a tablet and activating the cellular service on the tablet

  13. How do they know they were gifts? by mbeckman · · Score: 1

    "Apple's iPhone and iPad were the most popular mobile devices gifted during the holidays this year."

    They could have been purchased for the end-of-year tax write off.

  14. Re:What happened to Apple? by amiga3D · · Score: 1

    Steve Jobs died and it's been downhill since. Considering how far up the mountain they were it looks as if it'll take another 5 years or so for them to fall to where Samsung is.

  15. So what, a better comparison by p51d007 · · Score: 1

    Would be Apple versus "Android"...since there are basically TWO OS's, Apple and Android. Now, given that, it would show more android devices sold, than apple.

  16. Apple saved me money this year by bobm · · Score: 1

    Loyal Apple fan for years but this year I just finally gave up. I was due for a laptop upgrade but was holding out for > 16G. That didn't happen and there is no way I'll be going to the new MBP. Saved > 2k there.

    Then I was going to get the Apple TV but it doesn't play nicely with my Harmony hub so I decided to do an Amazon Fire TV. It's impressive, 4k, runs Plex and everything I need, I can still AirPlay (granted I needed to buy an app for that but I can live with that) and it's 1/2 the price of an apple tv.

    I was also going to go from my 5s to the new phone (every 2 or 3 years it seems) but the 7 had too much courage for me and I use a headset for over an hour a day and although I tried bluetooth headset, a wired headset just works.

    So Apple saved me a bunch of money and that is going to my new motorcycle fund, thank you apple.

  17. Re:What happened to Apple? by amiga3D · · Score: 1

    I was pretty happy until Lion was released. That was the first time my computer actually slowed down after an upgrade. I now have a 2012 Macbook Pro 15" model and it may be the last Mac I buy. I don't really like the choices they've made since then.

  18. Gift horse in the mouth by rat_herder · · Score: 1

    I don't see one comment here that takes a positive view on this story. Is it really surprising? A company with a fruitful focus on design, customer satisfaction and privacy and appears to continue being pretty successful.

    I'm usually impressed that Apple managed to demonstrated the race to the bottom with a cheapest at all costs approach wasn't the only way to succeed in consumer electronics. Google Microsoft and Samsung have been forced to follow and everyone wins. Who cares what happens over the next 10 years. Right now we have an awesome array of gadgets with healthy competing ecosystems to choose from.