But there are other reasons why I don't recommend the Milestone. Bootloader locking. Crappy keyboard (which interacts with Android's own keyboard handler and sends multiple keystrokes). The camera button peels off (it was gold, now it's white. I don't use the camera!)
I have a milestone. You have to root it (with an app, universal androot i think) and then install android tether or something, i have it (if by tethering you mean using your phone as an wifi access point to your 3G).
Thats why I said people DON'T download and burn their own games here! They buy them on the street, for 10 pesos.
And I'm not sure what kind of prices you're getting...but a BD-R is 20 pesos here, and an original game, 400 pesos. Even if you sell the pirate version for 50 pesos, you get a big enough profit.
You have to go pick up your package at the nearest customs office. For me it's in another city. Then you have to open your package in front of a customs officer and show him what's inside. Then you have to pay all the taxes...unless he can find a way to keep you from "importing" the product for some technicality (meaning you have to pay a bribe).
I'm a latin american person - but I'm not a Latino. You know what's a latino, really? A dominican living in Miami... or a Puerto Rican. That's as far as latino goes.
The rest of latin america is SO different. Me? I'm 1,82m (6ft), green eyes, and white. Not quite your latino stereotype. But to the Average American (not literally), a latino is a short brown guy who can teach you to dance (I can't even dance). No one here wears a moustache and a sombrero either.
Latin music? Salsa, merengue, mambo? We know that, and we've been told that those are "latin" rythms. Because of central american influence in the US.
Near my area there are Russian, German and other central european communities. Down south the Welsh influence shows (they even have bilingual welsh-spanish schools).
Then what do I do to stop it? Give everything up, become a Gaucho and live in the Pampas? Sorry, I can't do that. To compete in today's world you HAVE to be connected.
Even american history has taught me that you should fight for what you think is not fair. Like sitting on the back of the bus if your're a black old lady... or, I dont know? Hacking the PS3 because Sony removed the option to install Other OS to it?
You see, the american dream, is something the whole WORLD is shoved down their throat every single day. The fact that I speak english, when I never took english lessons, is proof of that.
So it's not about nobility. It's about globalization. US companies, all the time, keep showing us their stuff. On the internet, magazines, ads, movies, everywhere. They keep telling us that THIS, the american dream, is the best. But then the whole world has to pay for the american dream. To pay for it, you mortgage your house (only americans do that), but then it turns out you can't pay for it - so the whole world enters an economic crisis, because some redneck can't pay his mortgage.
So you see, that's why the whole world hates you. That's why you're the only country that spends so much in war. Thats another part of your bully culture. You say my culture demands a more active action. Yes, we get a bomb in a local jewish bulding. What do we do? A long trial. You get a bombing in NY, and you start a war. The problem is that you, as an US-centric idiot, thinks it's the proper thing to do. It's not. You should just stop messing with every other country and you won't need such a big army.
There's something I don't understand about the US. You see, there's the EU... they are getting together to take some power off the US. You had the chance to make allies with every Latin American nation in the 70s but you just fucked up. Here's how it went. Latin America was a nice place before the end of WWII. That's when the US opened up to the world. From then on, you have crushed our economies again and again, as if we were a competition. By the 70s it was so bad, communism started to appear all over the place. The US was scared about communism, so you made us get De Facto (Military) governments, get a big debt (Brady Bonds) and from then on, just keep us on a short leash.
Why?
It's a huge market. The US could be the leader of a continental block, where everyone gets a benefit, and a huge workforce to stop depending on China for everything.
But you refused to do so, and you lost your chance. Now there's BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China). The truth is, with the EU and BRIC, the american dream will be just a dream in 20 years or so.
Just because your bully tactics won't work anymore.
The noble response here would be to take your business elsewhere.
Yeah? Where? All console makers charge the same price. I should just NOT play games? Should I resort to a Balero (Cup-and-ball) only because that's the "noble" thing to do?
Perhaps that's considered too passive or cowardly where you are from. Maybe your culture expects a more active response.
You, as an american, don't have the moral authority to say that. America is all about suing your way through life. You don't like something? Sue away!
Compare this to games and consoles, where an actual product has to be first manufactured, then shipped, then stored somewhere. But grey-market importers can do it. Why can't Sony?
Also, how do you know those movies in the theater aren't pirated?
Because the tickets have the INCAA approval (Instituto Nacional de Cine y Artes Audiovisuales), the local MPAA equivalent.
Down here, most of the piracy is in the form of someone selling a pirated DVD right on the street. Maybe simply because $80 is not a reasonable price for a game (BTW, the PS3 costs $800 here, instead of the US $200). We're also not allowed to join XBOX Live or PSN even if we pay for it. You have to lie and sign up as someone from US. For XBOX live, you have to pay using a xbox live prepaid card - they won't take your Visa because it was issued outside the US/EU/ETC.
And before you say anything, keep this in mind: Movie tickets cost $3 here and the release date is usually 1 day before US (premieres here are thursdays). So if Hollywood can lower their prices to match what the market can pay for, then why can't the video game industry do the same? BTW, PC games are much cheaper than console games, at about half the price. They're expensive, but still more reasonable than console games.
The whole piracy thing is a fuckup from Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo, etc. who keep insisting that "developing countries" like the ones from latin america are too poor to afford their systems, except for the rich people, so they keep their prices really high - assuming that only rich people, who can afford them, will buy them. Well, this isn't true. Most people buy grey-market import consoles which cost half the price and come already chipped.
So considering all this, will you tell me why sould I care about getting a $800 console (almost 2 months salary), pay $100 for a game, and be told by sony/MS "we don't allow your kind here, get the fuck out" on PSN/Live. For me, piracy is a form of boycotting sony, for treating me like a second-class citizen.
Keep all of that in mind before thinking people who pirate games are just "cheap".
"Unless this Court enjoins Defendants' unlawful conduct, hackers will succeed in their attempts to ensure that pirated software can be run on the PS3 System, resulting in the destruction of SCEA's business."
Ah, but sony continues to make PS2s, which have been cracked for years. So piracy doesn't destroy their business, does it?
No. You have to account for transformer losses (these lamps run on ballasts), and power factor if you didn't add the PFC cap.
Besides it's 1.5x more current for the 10-minute heat-up time. This applies to any kind of high-pressure discharge lamp (Sodium, Mercury, Metal-halide, etc)
The only rule applying to electronic products here in Argentina is that anything running with over 24V needs a special permit. It should be tested and certified by a local lab (Bureau Veritas, UL, TÜV Rheinland, etc). The certification process costs about ARS 2000 (USD 500) and it's a destructive process for 1 (one) power supply. It's good for two months and then they have to re certify it.
The problem with being represented by just an importer is that they give you the warranty they want. By law they're required to give you a 30-day warranty, but most give you 6 months. Brand-name machines come with 1 or 2-year warranties. Philips monitors come with 3 years. That, and the marketing behind it. Sony officialy imports the PS3 (at 4x the US price...) but they do lots of marketing. Movies, giant signs, TV and magazine ads, etc. That can't be expected by a small "niche" importer".
Let me clarify: they should sell the computers they already make. They don't do that. Apple doesn't have official support or warranty here, they do through a couple of "authorized" importers but they're not Apple itself. As opposed to HP, Dell, etc. Those do have official reps here.
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99,99999999% pure copper? There's only ONE market for that: HIGH END SPEAKER WIRES!
I don't think so. I can't find an option for it.
But there are other reasons why I don't recommend the Milestone. Bootloader locking. Crappy keyboard (which interacts with Android's own keyboard handler and sends multiple keystrokes). The camera button peels off (it was gold, now it's white. I don't use the camera!)
You guys don't speak spanish and you don't know about the motoFAIL issue.
The Motorola CEO for Latin America said they were not going to upgrade the Milestone to Android 2.2: http://www.celularis.com/motorola/motorola-milestone-no-tendra-la-actualizacion-de-android-2-2-en-america-latina.php (Article date: Aug 24 2010)
His words? "This is business", and he spoke about the 1% of customers who wouldn't like that, if they wanted Android 2.2 they would have to get a Milestone 2 or fuck off. See here: http://www.celularis.com/motorola/motorola-sobre-la-falta-de-actualizaciones-android-esto-es-un-negocio.php .
Basically they insulted every Milestone customer from Mexico to Argentina, including Brazil. So everyone started complaing at Motorola's facebook page, and twitter (see #motofail ), customer service phone and mail... and we got this: http://www.celularis.com/motorola/motorola-vuelve-a-evalar-la-actualizacion-android-2-2-para-milestone.php (Article date: Aug 26 2010)
A few weeks later, Motorola finally gave in, and we're going to get the 2.2 update: http://www.celularis.com/nokia/actualizacion-android-2-2-para-motorola-milestone-confirmada.php
So it's not like companies "don't give a fuck". They do.
I have a milestone. You have to root it (with an app, universal androot i think) and then install android tether or something, i have it (if by tethering you mean using your phone as an wifi access point to your 3G).
BTW, forgot to mention it... the PS3 price has always been $800, it's been like that since they started selling it here.
The price in pesos has gone up because the peso goes up with inflation. The USD price remains stable.
No, it doesn't work like that.
If your rationale was true, all of us would be driving Mercedes and BMWs.
Whatever.
As if attracting attention here in Slashdot will make any difference.
Thats why I said people DON'T download and burn their own games here! They buy them on the street, for 10 pesos.
And I'm not sure what kind of prices you're getting...but a BD-R is 20 pesos here, and an original game, 400 pesos. Even if you sell the pirate version for 50 pesos, you get a big enough profit.
BTW, 1 USD = 4 Argentine Pesos.
You have to go pick up your package at the nearest customs office. For me it's in another city. Then you have to open your package in front of a customs officer and show him what's inside. Then you have to pay all the taxes...unless he can find a way to keep you from "importing" the product for some technicality (meaning you have to pay a bribe).
I'm a latin american person - but I'm not a Latino. You know what's a latino, really? A dominican living in Miami... or a Puerto Rican. That's as far as latino goes.
The rest of latin america is SO different. Me? I'm 1,82m (6ft), green eyes, and white. Not quite your latino stereotype. But to the Average American (not literally), a latino is a short brown guy who can teach you to dance (I can't even dance). No one here wears a moustache and a sombrero either.
Latin music? Salsa, merengue, mambo? We know that, and we've been told that those are "latin" rythms. Because of central american influence in the US.
Near my area there are Russian, German and other central european communities. Down south the Welsh influence shows (they even have bilingual welsh-spanish schools).
So the "latino" idea is just a stereotype.
Then what do I do to stop it? Give everything up, become a Gaucho and live in the Pampas? Sorry, I can't do that. To compete in today's world you HAVE to be connected.
Even american history has taught me that you should fight for what you think is not fair. Like sitting on the back of the bus if your're a black old lady... or, I dont know? Hacking the PS3 because Sony removed the option to install Other OS to it?
OK, I'll feed the troll for a while longer.
You see, the american dream, is something the whole WORLD is shoved down their throat every single day. The fact that I speak english, when I never took english lessons, is proof of that.
So it's not about nobility. It's about globalization. US companies, all the time, keep showing us their stuff. On the internet, magazines, ads, movies, everywhere. They keep telling us that THIS, the american dream, is the best. But then the whole world has to pay for the american dream. To pay for it, you mortgage your house (only americans do that), but then it turns out you can't pay for it - so the whole world enters an economic crisis, because some redneck can't pay his mortgage.
So you see, that's why the whole world hates you. That's why you're the only country that spends so much in war. Thats another part of your bully culture. You say my culture demands a more active action. Yes, we get a bomb in a local jewish bulding. What do we do? A long trial. You get a bombing in NY, and you start a war. The problem is that you, as an US-centric idiot, thinks it's the proper thing to do. It's not. You should just stop messing with every other country and you won't need such a big army.
There's something I don't understand about the US. You see, there's the EU... they are getting together to take some power off the US. You had the chance to make allies with every Latin American nation in the 70s but you just fucked up. Here's how it went. Latin America was a nice place before the end of WWII. That's when the US opened up to the world. From then on, you have crushed our economies again and again, as if we were a competition. By the 70s it was so bad, communism started to appear all over the place. The US was scared about communism, so you made us get De Facto (Military) governments, get a big debt (Brady Bonds) and from then on, just keep us on a short leash.
Why?
It's a huge market. The US could be the leader of a continental block, where everyone gets a benefit, and a huge workforce to stop depending on China for everything.
But you refused to do so, and you lost your chance. Now there's BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China). The truth is, with the EU and BRIC, the american dream will be just a dream in 20 years or so.
Just because your bully tactics won't work anymore.
Good luck.
Yeah? Where? All console makers charge the same price. I should just NOT play games? Should I resort to a Balero (Cup-and-ball) only because that's the "noble" thing to do?
You, as an american, don't have the moral authority to say that. America is all about suing your way through life. You don't like something? Sue away!
Well they did flip their finger at me when they sold me a product saying I could play on XBOX Live and then it turns out I couldn't.
So fuck them, indeed.
VAT is already included in the "roughly" 50% tax. Local sales tax is 3%
No. I don't live in Buenos Aires.
It's easy to talk when you're standing in greener grass.
For me it's insulting that Sony demands that I pay them $800 for something they sell for much less in other parts of the world.
BTW, I don't even have a PS3.
I'm in Argentina. Import taxes are roughly 50%. That doesn't justify the 4x increase in price for the PS3.
I'm not in a position to "vote" against taxes either. These taxes have been there before I was even born.
And don't forget: Import taxes are charged for the COST, not Final price. If the PS2 sells for $200 the cost declared in customs will be what? $150?
Greetings from Latin America!
Down here, most of the piracy is in the form of someone selling a pirated DVD right on the street. Maybe simply because $80 is not a reasonable price for a game (BTW, the PS3 costs $800 here, instead of the US $200). We're also not allowed to join XBOX Live or PSN even if we pay for it. You have to lie and sign up as someone from US. For XBOX live, you have to pay using a xbox live prepaid card - they won't take your Visa because it was issued outside the US/EU/ETC.
And before you say anything, keep this in mind: Movie tickets cost $3 here and the release date is usually 1 day before US (premieres here are thursdays). So if Hollywood can lower their prices to match what the market can pay for, then why can't the video game industry do the same? BTW, PC games are much cheaper than console games, at about half the price. They're expensive, but still more reasonable than console games.
The whole piracy thing is a fuckup from Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo, etc. who keep insisting that "developing countries" like the ones from latin america are too poor to afford their systems, except for the rich people, so they keep their prices really high - assuming that only rich people, who can afford them, will buy them. Well, this isn't true. Most people buy grey-market import consoles which cost half the price and come already chipped.
So considering all this, will you tell me why sould I care about getting a $800 console (almost 2 months salary), pay $100 for a game, and be told by sony/MS "we don't allow your kind here, get the fuck out" on PSN/Live. For me, piracy is a form of boycotting sony, for treating me like a second-class citizen.
Keep all of that in mind before thinking people who pirate games are just "cheap".
Ah, but sony continues to make PS2s, which have been cracked for years. So piracy doesn't destroy their business, does it?
No. You have to account for transformer losses (these lamps run on ballasts), and power factor if you didn't add the PFC cap.
Besides it's 1.5x more current for the 10-minute heat-up time. This applies to any kind of high-pressure discharge lamp (Sodium, Mercury, Metal-halide, etc)
The only rule applying to electronic products here in Argentina is that anything running with over 24V needs a special permit. It should be tested and certified by a local lab (Bureau Veritas, UL, TÜV Rheinland, etc). The certification process costs about ARS 2000 (USD 500) and it's a destructive process for 1 (one) power supply. It's good for two months and then they have to re certify it.
The problem with being represented by just an importer is that they give you the warranty they want. By law they're required to give you a 30-day warranty, but most give you 6 months. Brand-name machines come with 1 or 2-year warranties. Philips monitors come with 3 years. That, and the marketing behind it. Sony officialy imports the PS3 (at 4x the US price...) but they do lots of marketing. Movies, giant signs, TV and magazine ads, etc. That can't be expected by a small "niche" importer".
Let me clarify: they should sell the computers they already make. They don't do that. Apple doesn't have official support or warranty here, they do through a couple of "authorized" importers but they're not Apple itself. As opposed to HP, Dell, etc. Those do have official reps here.
I'm not saying they should make cheaper computers. They should SELL them here. They just don't!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BRIC