Most governments had a clever idea to get around that problem though.
I believe it was 1933 the US Gov't went off the gold standard. Really? I thought it was Inflation..... But then I saw the article that was having a problem with inflation and some string......
(yes, It is a joke, even if someone with mod points doesn't get it)
But even with the with frickin' laser beams attached to their heads, Chuck Norris would kick their asses.... er.... Fins!
My mom was killed by a Sharks from the Soviet Union with frickin' laser beams attached to their heads, before Chuck Norris could kick their asses, you insensitive clod
Do you always take your dick off before you offer a rebuttal? That should have been modded "Funny"... Oh, well, too many people with no sense of humor. I plan on filing this one away, that remark will become a classic.
On topic:
Yeah, this article is news or, rather, it's appropriate for slashdot. It's a bit of classic nerd stuff, a walk down memory lane, if you will. And it serves to remind us of a time when Microsoft wasn't hiring pro marketing companies to do slick ad campaigns. (Although some companies were, Apple used Chiat \ Day for the famous 1984 Macintosh Superbowl commerical.)
So, how does a 250mbps shared, when you're sitting beside it standard make gbit copper obsolete? Such a very good point. And I'd also add:
No matter how fast you push wireless, it'll always be faster to use a wired connection.
FTFA, I saw a comment that 250mbs was "Good enough" this reminds me of the remarks of the past like "640k is enough memory", "Clock speeds of 1 ghz is fast enough for any thing except a server or Super computer", and a personal favorite: "Most users can do everything they want to do on systems designed 5 years ago". All of us know that users want to do more than they can do today. Gaming, interactive web media, streaming video and the like will demand a bigger pipe, not only for WAN access, but for LAN access as well. You will always be able to get that bigger pipe with a wired connection.
So you're fine with allowing harmful content onto your computer for the sake of the site owner? Wow, very altruistic of you....I really wouldn't like to see how long it takes your computer to boot, though. Altruistic perhaps, but it pisses ME off with what he and lemmings like him do with their computers. They are the soldiers of the BotNet.
You can bet on a class action as a direct result of this.
Considering other missteps by MicroSoft, it's an absolute certainty that legit users will get snagged here, and then they get to experience the famous MicroSoft support system.
Don't be silly. Of course you can filter out a radio transciever. The facility where I work has a secure room for doing classified government work. I assure you, no EM gets in or out of that room. Of course, that kind of shielding is expensive to install. Certainly so.
However, take a piece of equipment that is interfered with by a cell phone, and a cell phone inside that room/building. The interference still occurs (even though the phone will no longer make or receive a call.) That was the point I was attempting to make. Whereas fixing the bit of equipment so the cell phone doesn't interfere with it fixes the problem no matter where the phone or the equipment is located.
Say you have an ECG machine. It's hooked up via sticky contact pads to your chest and is measuring the delicate flickerings of life in your body. It's doing this because it's trying to spot the *tiny* irregularities that could indicate Bad Things. You can't magically design a machine that's picking up miniscule electrical currents like this and have it unaffected when some idiot brings in a portable radio transceiver and cranks it up nearby while they tell their wife what they want for dinner. As I type, I'm within 30 feet of a ward full of such machines, and maybe a couple of hundred yards from the EEG devices that measure the brain's electrical activity. As we're testing today, I can wave my phone around and I can watch the interference it causes on the data being captured. Even when I'm not talking on the phone, it's checking in with the nearest base station periodically, and I can see that screwing the traces too. It's not causing those machines to break: but it's fvcking up the data that they're capturing - and that data is being captured as it's for diagnostic purposes. Screwing this up could have really bad consequences for someone.
This is not rocket science.
First, no it's not rocket science, and it's not magic. It's a problem in electrical engineering.
Second, I have a different definition of "broken" than you do. By my definition a machine is "broken" when it does not accomplish the task it is designed for. In this case, a machine that is designed for data acquisition is broken when it reports null or spurious results when connected to the patient. So, if a cell phone causes null or spurious results, then the cell phone breaks the machine.
Third, the reality is that the cell phone WILL be in the environment. Whether by intention or by accident, the phone will be there on a fairly regular basis. Ether someone will forget the ban, forget they have the phone, or both, or someone asserts their "Rights" to their cell phone (however bogus those rights might be) or simple is selfish enough to think their convenience supersedes any "rules" a hospital puts in place.
And Finally, There are manufacturers who have already engineered around the problem with ECG's. Since it has been done, then it obviously can be done. I can point out a multiple examples of equipment that functions correctly around cellphones, some even require them to operate, like this machine that uses a cellphone to transmit ECG data, but it's one of those situations where someone is talking out of their butt without thinking it through, your limited experience does not translate into an impossibility. If you thought it through, you'd have realized that there are a number of data collecting medical devices out there that are used outside of the hospital, in particular I'm thinking of ECGS carried by EMT's or Paramedics, and the built in ECGs that are a part of the ADF equipment (some of which actually have a cell phone included in the cabinet designed to dial 911 when powered on.) They will, most assuredly, be in high-cell phone use environments (for example, at an accident scene with a number of onlookers using their phones to document and talk about the accident, as rubberneckers are wont to do)
Basically, If your machines are broken, then you need to change manufacturers. You are, as you pointed out, unnecessarily risking lives. If your place of business is in the US, considering the current litigious environment in the US, as it applies to health care, in particular. You are begging for a huge wrongful death, malpractice type lawsuit.
I don't agree that this is the way it should be, but it IS the way things are.
"Even though he mis-typed "iPod" the link was to the iPhone manual PDF download."
Noticed that, did you Capitan Obvious?
Ever heard of a joke? Why yes, yes I have - I suppose you missed the part where I state in italics that I think AC's shouldn't be allowed 'Funny" type posts... stupid git
For how much of every hospital do you want to require shielding? Each intensive care ward and operating room has one or more heart monitors. Shielding still doesn't solve the problem. If a whole floor is an intensive care unit, even if it's shielded everyone on that floor with a cell phone is potentially interfering. I agree, shielding the FLOOR or the Building won't, ever, fix this. It has to be fixed where the failure is, i.e. the equipment that will fail.
Wow, that will sure help with the iPods even though the phones are still ringin up huge bills! Even though he mis-typed "iPod" the link was to the iPhone manual PDF download.
I think that there are some things that should never be allowed for AC's 'Funny' is top of the list.... Of course, I'd remove the ability to post AC altogether, so it's probably a good think I'm not in charge...
2. Even if it was well-shielded, you'd have the airline problem. Which airline problem would that be? You aren't suggesting that cell phones cause a problem with an Airplane, are you?
My.02: There is no possible way that everyone will always remember to turn off a cell phone. The chances that a bit of equipment in a hospital will be exposed to cellphone signals approaches 100% unless the equipment in question is unusually isolated from the public (Surgery maybe?) This has been true for over ten years.
So yes, I expect life-saving equipment to ignore and reject cellular signals, just like I expect the equipment to handle any other exposure to which it would commonly be subjected, Like electrical surge, static discharges (to the case, obviously), elevated Oxygen levels, and fluid splashes.
Slashdot really is scraping the "slow news day barrel" this week. Geez, I'm as tired of this remark as some seems to be of the "Profit", "Chuck Norris", and "Frist Post" comments....
If you don't like it, go Digg a hole or something.
I thought it was *Kimball* who blamed the one-armed man? He did, that was the point.... If SCOx Blamed the same guy that Kimball did, then the two would have common ground finger pointing...
I see from your signature that you're a Python fan. In fact, I was trying to do a Cleesian rant. I'm obviously not as funny as Cleese.:o) I think that, unless you reference a Norwegian Parrot, A deadly Rabbit, a transgendered lumberjack or a M00se and Yak war, you have to actually quote Python directly to get the joke across, particularly one of Cleeses' rants.... So much of the humor is tone and body language.
Right, I don't want to hear a word from the venomous cake-holes of you loathsome, spotty, basement-dwelling I-own-a-binary-clock, where's-my-Vorbis-support and I-love-you-bald-Nathalie-Portman Linux fanboys who claim this is an example of Windows vulnerability. Well, that is MUCH easier to fix than this storm worm problem. All you need to do is refrain from having the Robotic Overlord read the comments, and you won't hear a word, from the Fanboys or anyone else.
Come to think of it, StormWorm is easy to fix too... Just make everyone who is running any flavor of Windows install gentoo - then the worm is gone, they have acquired some technical skill, AND undergone a painful punishment that should deter the end user from ever allowing their system to become infected. Everyone wins!
Yet I cannot buy one, even with ready money. And when it comes, they'll say "the air's not right" or "I saw it working once" or some such nonsense so as to excuse it's lack of wireless. There are times not Reading the effin article will bite you. This is one of those times.
Both of the new iPod touch's have wifi built in, and have a web browser, and can buy music directly from the itunes store without haveing to do it on the computer and then synching (with the added bonus of those tunes moving to your computer when you DO synch).
And yes, you can buy them now - though they are not shipping until the 28th.
You can reject the possibility of a full-screen iPod ("ala iPhone" as the summary says) right now: because well, it's expensive. iPhone costs $600 with 2 year AT&T contract. A $600 iPod wouldn't sell well. Well, it's a couple of days later, and guess what? Widescreen iPOD ala iPhone! not only did it not come with a $600.00 price tag, they dropped $200.00 off of the iPhone too.
Unfortunately, I didn't get what I wanted, which is this snazzy new iPod AND 100gb of storage... it was, unfortunately, an XOR. But a 160gb iPod or a widescreen 16gb iPod.... choices, the choices......
So when your teacher was 'hard on' you, it meant he 'really' liked you? The quote was "have a hard-on for" which is quite different than "hard on someone".
If you look at the parent post that you wrote, you will see that you specifically wrote:
Your company either has a hard on for Vista or your customers, and neither is something I would call good support for your customers. Obviously that phrase is very different from the above.
Although some people are under the impression that re-framing a comment is a solid debate technique. In fact, it's a logical fallacy, commonly called the straw man fallacy. You attempted to re-frame a debate on "having a hard-on for" into a debate of "hard on" two different phrases with two different meanings.
And going back to the penis reference, if someone has a 'hard on' for another person, that means they want to 'stick it to them' or 'fuck them over'. Although, it is obvious from the context that you intended this meaning in your original post, that is not, by any means, the sole meaning of the phrase. A very quick search on google of the phrase returns tens of thousands of references. When one looks at the context of those pages, one finds that it may be used in the aggressively negative (a fanboi against), you will also find the context of a positive attraction for (as in a fanboi of) sexual attraction for (would really like to have sex with). In all cases it means, as I said initially, "Have an overwhelming attraction for." The context determines whether the intent of that attraction is positive or negative, sexual or destructive. And to clarify; Yes, "Have a hard-on for" is derived from the slang term referring to an erect penis = so "Have a hard-on for" will always involve a penis. It's really rather sad that you are having such a hard time understanding the roots and meaning of a slang phrase you used. Your usage was that the posters company wanted to rape Vista. Perhaps you should understand that before you so ignorantly use it again.
And here is logical fallacy #2 - you are attempting to use "proof by assertion" just because you say it loud and often doesn't make the point valid.
I don't know what country you are coming from, but this is becoming too funny at this point. The U.S., not that it matters, the citations I pointed you to are international.
And logical fallacy #3 - The "poisoning the well" version of an ad hominem attack. I would agree that, when debating the point of general usage of an English phrase, particularly a slang phrase, where I am from would would be germane, however, the speculation followed by the veiled ridicule of my country of origin is a logical fallacy by "poisoning the well."
I think you are playing stupid, and stupid is winning... You're right, I'm playing. However I'm quite sure you are not winning. Perhaps, if you had backed up your statements with a reference or two, your comments might have had some validity. Anyone who isn't preliterate would quickly come to the conclusion that the English speaking world uses that phrase in a variety of ways, exactly like I indicated in my initial post. by the way that would be logical fallacy #4- a more direct argumentum ad hominem attack.
When trading commentary on slashdot, I'm looking for intelligent commentary on a topic. You offer nothing. I already know everything I need to know about insufferable bores and fundamentalist points of view. Based on your comments of the last few months, You seem to have an affinity for trolling, unfortunately you do not seem to have the aptitude. Perhaps you would accomplish more if you took the time to become literate. Thanks for the limited amusement, though. It distracted me from work for almost a full minute. Perhaps, should you want to play some more, you could try harder? Maybe find an intelligent friend to write some copy for you?
why they do this? I don't think it actually helps. They are not targeting Shoplifters, they are targeting crooked Cashiers.... It's a technique designed to reduce loss due to a cashier scanning, say, a package of gum, and sending you out the door with a Plasma TV.
Actually, it makes a horrendous USB backup tool...why? Because you need a program to access it. Um, I have two opposite responses both refute your assertion.
Going with the literal meaning, you need a program to access ANY USB device. (or, more specifically, you need a device driver that gives you the set of tools for the OS to access the device.) so the iPod makes a fine backup tool because the drivers are already there. Just like any other USB storage device.
Going the other way, you can simply format the iPod as an external USB based HD... works fine, does not require iTunes to do it. On my mac, disk tools will format it in that manner, again, no problem.
The instance when you need the proprietary software is when you want to use it for the primary intended purpose. as an iPod. But that instance doesn't apply to your assertion that it's an horrendous USB backup tool, now does it?
Just as an aside, there ARE a number of ways to not use iTunes to manage your iPod's music capabilities (and possibly video, calendar and such, but I don't know about that.) including Linux on an iPod, and one of the iTunes clones. But they don't allow the music purchase capabilities, and frankly are not as convienient as iTunes is. Best tool for the job, and all that.... However, I'm likely to play with those options on the current iPod once I get a new bigger and badder iPod..... maybe even this week, we'll see what 'ol Steve has to say tomorrow....
The contracts Apple signed in Europe give Apple 10% of the revenue the wireless provider gets from activating the phone.
If you unlock your iPhone and don't use it on the contracted provider, then Apple loses that money.
So yeah, the unlocking has likely hurt Apple's business model. That presumes that there is a significant percentage of people willing to go with the provider that Apple partnered with, that is, willing enough to put up with that provider to own the iPhone. It's all pure speculation, but it seems like apple will make more on the phone than they would have otherwise with sales lost because of the provider in the partnership.
Not that unlocking hasn't done that already though... Do you really think that unlocking the iPhone has caused damage to the business model? An unlocking hack made the iPhone available to consumers who didn't want to be locked into AT&T, and Apple still gets whatever the benefits of contract exclusivity provided them.
Sounds to me like everyones business model except AT&T's wins here. I can live with that....
With 6 billion or so people on the planet, sooner or later the market will reach saturation, and ipod sale are going to become flat. I'm not really sure why flattening of iPod sales is big news.
That said, I have a 3rd gen iPod, and it's getting close to the time to replace it, I have hopes for a widescreen color iPod in the 100 gb range, So if it's avaiable soon, I may very well bee the 19 million and first sale this year.
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I believe it was 1933 the US Gov't went off the gold standard. Really? I thought it was Inflation..... But then I saw the article that was having a problem with inflation and some string......
(yes, It is a joke, even if someone with mod points doesn't get it)
But even with the with frickin' laser beams attached to their heads, Chuck Norris would kick their asses.... er .... Fins!
My mom was killed by a Sharks from the Soviet Union with frickin' laser beams attached to their heads, before Chuck Norris could kick their asses, you insensitive clod
On topic:
Yeah, this article is news or, rather, it's appropriate for slashdot. It's a bit of classic nerd stuff, a walk down memory lane, if you will. And it serves to remind us of a time when Microsoft wasn't hiring pro marketing companies to do slick ad campaigns. (Although some companies were, Apple used Chiat \ Day for the famous 1984 Macintosh Superbowl commerical.)
And I'd also add:
No matter how fast you push wireless, it'll always be faster to use a wired connection.
FTFA, I saw a comment that 250mbs was "Good enough" this reminds me of the remarks of the past like "640k is enough memory", "Clock speeds of 1 ghz is fast enough for any thing except a server or Super computer", and a personal favorite: "Most users can do everything they want to do on systems designed 5 years ago". All of us know that users want to do more than they can do today. Gaming, interactive web media, streaming video and the like will demand a bigger pipe, not only for WAN access, but for LAN access as well. You will always be able to get that bigger pipe with a wired connection.
You can bet on a class action as a direct result of this.
Considering other missteps by MicroSoft, it's an absolute certainty that legit users will get snagged here, and then they get to experience the famous MicroSoft support system.
However, take a piece of equipment that is interfered with by a cell phone, and a cell phone inside that room/building. The interference still occurs (even though the phone will no longer make or receive a call.) That was the point I was attempting to make. Whereas fixing the bit of equipment so the cell phone doesn't interfere with it fixes the problem no matter where the phone or the equipment is located.
...and to hell with those pesky laws of physics!Say you have an ECG machine. It's hooked up via sticky contact pads to your chest and is measuring the delicate flickerings of life in your body. It's doing this because it's trying to spot the *tiny* irregularities that could indicate Bad Things.
You can't magically design a machine that's picking up miniscule electrical currents like this and have it unaffected when some idiot brings in a portable radio transceiver and cranks it up nearby while they tell their wife what they want for dinner.
As I type, I'm within 30 feet of a ward full of such machines, and maybe a couple of hundred yards from the EEG devices that measure the brain's electrical activity. As we're testing today, I can wave my phone around and I can watch the interference it causes on the data being captured. Even when I'm not talking on the phone, it's checking in with the nearest base station periodically, and I can see that screwing the traces too. It's not causing those machines to break: but it's fvcking up the data that they're capturing - and that data is being captured as it's for diagnostic purposes. Screwing this up could have really bad consequences for someone.
First, no it's not rocket science, and it's not magic. It's a problem in electrical engineering.This is not rocket science.
Second, I have a different definition of "broken" than you do. By my definition a machine is "broken" when it does not accomplish the task it is designed for. In this case, a machine that is designed for data acquisition is broken when it reports null or spurious results when connected to the patient. So, if a cell phone causes null or spurious results, then the cell phone breaks the machine.
Third, the reality is that the cell phone WILL be in the environment. Whether by intention or by accident, the phone will be there on a fairly regular basis. Ether someone will forget the ban, forget they have the phone, or both, or someone asserts their "Rights" to their cell phone (however bogus those rights might be) or simple is selfish enough to think their convenience supersedes any "rules" a hospital puts in place.
And Finally, There are manufacturers who have already engineered around the problem with ECG's. Since it has been done, then it obviously can be done. I can point out a multiple examples of equipment that functions correctly around cellphones, some even require them to operate, like this machine that uses a cellphone to transmit ECG data, but it's one of those situations where someone is talking out of their butt without thinking it through, your limited experience does not translate into an impossibility. If you thought it through, you'd have realized that there are a number of data collecting medical devices out there that are used outside of the hospital, in particular I'm thinking of ECGS carried by EMT's or Paramedics, and the built in ECGs that are a part of the ADF equipment (some of which actually have a cell phone included in the cabinet designed to dial 911 when powered on.) They will, most assuredly, be in high-cell phone use environments (for example, at an accident scene with a number of onlookers using their phones to document and talk about the accident, as rubberneckers are wont to do)
Basically, If your machines are broken, then you need to change manufacturers. You are, as you pointed out, unnecessarily risking lives. If your place of business is in the US, considering the current litigious environment in the US, as it applies to health care, in particular. You are begging for a huge wrongful death, malpractice type lawsuit.
I don't agree that this is the way it should be, but it IS the way things are.
Noticed that, did you Capitan Obvious?
Ever heard of a joke? Why yes, yes I have - I suppose you missed the part where I state in italics that I think AC's shouldn't be allowed 'Funny" type posts... stupid git
I think that there are some things that should never be allowed for AC's 'Funny' is top of the list.... Of course, I'd remove the ability to post AC altogether, so it's probably a good think I'm not in charge...
My
So yes, I expect life-saving equipment to ignore and reject cellular signals, just like I expect the equipment to handle any other exposure to which it would commonly be subjected, Like electrical surge, static discharges (to the case, obviously), elevated Oxygen levels, and fluid splashes.
If you don't like it, go Digg a hole or something.
Come to think of it, StormWorm is easy to fix too... Just make everyone who is running any flavor of Windows install gentoo - then the worm is gone, they have acquired some technical skill, AND undergone a painful punishment that should deter the end user from ever allowing their system to become infected. Everyone wins!
Both of the new iPod touch's have wifi built in, and have a web browser, and can buy music directly from the itunes store without haveing to do it on the computer and then synching (with the added bonus of those tunes moving to your computer when you DO synch).
And yes, you can buy them now - though they are not shipping until the 28th.
iPhone costs $600 with 2 year AT&T contract. A $600 iPod wouldn't sell well. Well, it's a couple of days later, and guess what? Widescreen iPOD ala iPhone! not only did it not come with a $600.00 price tag, they dropped $200.00 off of the iPhone too.
Unfortunately, I didn't get what I wanted, which is this snazzy new iPod AND 100gb of storage... it was, unfortunately, an XOR. But a 160gb iPod or a widescreen 16gb iPod.... choices, the choices......
If you look at the parent post that you wrote, you will see that you specifically wrote: Your company either has a hard on for Vista or your customers, and neither is something I would call good support for your customers. Obviously that phrase is very different from the above.
Although some people are under the impression that re-framing a comment is a solid debate technique. In fact, it's a logical fallacy, commonly called the straw man fallacy. You attempted to re-frame a debate on "having a hard-on for" into a debate of "hard on" two different phrases with two different meanings. And going back to the penis reference, if someone has a 'hard on' for another person, that means they want to 'stick it to them' or 'fuck them over'. Although, it is obvious from the context that you intended this meaning in your original post, that is not, by any means, the sole meaning of the phrase. A very quick search on google of the phrase returns tens of thousands of references. When one looks at the context of those pages, one finds that it may be used in the aggressively negative (a fanboi against), you will also find the context of a positive attraction for (as in a fanboi of) sexual attraction for (would really like to have sex with). In all cases it means, as I said initially, "Have an overwhelming attraction for." The context determines whether the intent of that attraction is positive or negative, sexual or destructive. And to clarify; Yes, "Have a hard-on for" is derived from the slang term referring to an erect penis = so "Have a hard-on for" will always involve a penis. It's really rather sad that you are having such a hard time understanding the roots and meaning of a slang phrase you used. Your usage was that the posters company wanted to rape Vista. Perhaps you should understand that before you so ignorantly use it again.
And here is logical fallacy #2 - you are attempting to use "proof by assertion" just because you say it loud and often doesn't make the point valid. I don't know what country you are coming from, but this is becoming too funny at this point. The U.S., not that it matters, the citations I pointed you to are international.
And logical fallacy #3 - The "poisoning the well" version of an ad hominem attack. I would agree that, when debating the point of general usage of an English phrase, particularly a slang phrase, where I am from would would be germane, however, the speculation followed by the veiled ridicule of my country of origin is a logical fallacy by "poisoning the well." I think you are playing stupid, and stupid is winning... You're right, I'm playing. However I'm quite sure you are not winning. Perhaps, if you had backed up your statements with a reference or two, your comments might have had some validity. Anyone who isn't preliterate would quickly come to the conclusion that the English speaking world uses that phrase in a variety of ways, exactly like I indicated in my initial post. by the way that would be logical fallacy #4- a more direct argumentum ad hominem attack.
When trading commentary on slashdot, I'm looking for intelligent commentary on a topic. You offer nothing. I already know everything I need to know about insufferable bores and fundamentalist points of view. Based on your comments of the last few months, You seem to have an affinity for trolling, unfortunately you do not seem to have the aptitude. Perhaps you would accomplish more if you took the time to become literate. Thanks for the limited amusement, though. It distracted me from work for almost a full minute. Perhaps, should you want to play some more, you could try harder? Maybe find an intelligent friend to write some copy for you?
And non-toxic too! So it'll work on a Macintosh AND a Granny smith.....
Going with the literal meaning, you need a program to access ANY USB device. (or, more specifically, you need a device driver that gives you the set of tools for the OS to access the device.) so the iPod makes a fine backup tool because the drivers are already there. Just like any other USB storage device.
Going the other way, you can simply format the iPod as an external USB based HD... works fine, does not require iTunes to do it. On my mac, disk tools will format it in that manner, again, no problem.
The instance when you need the proprietary software is when you want to use it for the primary intended purpose. as an iPod. But that instance doesn't apply to your assertion that it's an horrendous USB backup tool, now does it?
Just as an aside, there ARE a number of ways to not use iTunes to manage your iPod's music capabilities (and possibly video, calendar and such, but I don't know about that.) including Linux on an iPod, and one of the iTunes clones. But they don't allow the music purchase capabilities, and frankly are not as convienient as iTunes is. Best tool for the job, and all that.... However, I'm likely to play with those options on the current iPod once I get a new bigger and badder iPod..... maybe even this week, we'll see what 'ol Steve has to say tomorrow....
If you unlock your iPhone and don't use it on the contracted provider, then Apple loses that money.
So yeah, the unlocking has likely hurt Apple's business model. That presumes that there is a significant percentage of people willing to go with the provider that Apple partnered with, that is, willing enough to put up with that provider to own the iPhone. It's all pure speculation, but it seems like apple will make more on the phone than they would have otherwise with sales lost because of the provider in the partnership.
Sounds to me like everyones business model except AT&T's wins here. I can live with that....
With 6 billion or so people on the planet, sooner or later the market will reach saturation, and ipod sale are going to become flat. I'm not really sure why flattening of iPod sales is big news.
That said, I have a 3rd gen iPod, and it's getting close to the time to replace it, I have hopes for a widescreen color iPod in the 100 gb range, So if it's avaiable soon, I may very well bee the 19 million and first sale this year.