HN user
Bluetooth isn't always the only alternative option.
I plug my iPhone into my car's USB port (via the standard USB-A to lightning cable) and it works really well.
I also could have connected to my car via Bluetooth, or via the AUX input.
The USB connection works best and also charges my phone.
Shop somewhere else, or pay with cash?
$59.99 for unlimited ADSL2+ - not really that expensive
The "disruption" was aesthetics, marketing and ease-of-use
The iPhone (and smartphones in general) have disrupted multiple markets: * Photography and video * Portable music players * Email and messaging devices * Phones ... and many others
The thought I ran into many times with many people during this "disruption" period basically went along the lines of:
"I could buy a new camera, a video camera, a new iPod, a netbook, GPS device, etc - or I could just get an iPhone."
But then you may end up worrying about scratching anything you own. Your phone, your leather lounge, your car, etc.
I guess there is a line-in-the-sand, probably around some dollar-value. I don't care if I scratch the aluminium case of my iPad, but I do mind if I scratch the paint of my relatively new car.
My parents-in-law are protective of their lounge. I don't mind. But I let my kids go crazy jumping on my own lounge, because I don't mind that either.
Complimentary ("Expressing a compliment; praising or approving.") does makes sense, but I believe you mean complementary ("Combining in such a way as to enhance or emphasize each other's qualities.")
I heard about Lockitron via an email from a friend before I saw the article on HN. Perhaps the huge interest is due to the concept going viral?
Most of the techy articles I read on HN I wouldn't bother forwarding to my non-techy friends or family; this however I would share for the "Wow! The geeky future!" factor.
Almost every "Directions for improvement" statement could be replaced with "Do it how the iPhone does it" and still basically be saying the same thing.
Some example "Directions for improvement" statements:
* Phone: Need to modify the call end button on the call screen so that it is a separate large button
* Calendar: The date displayed on the Calendar icon should match the current date on the phone
* Calendar: Need to modify by enlarging the area displaying daily schedule and the font size in order to address the low visibility
* PC Program: Need to [make some kind of change], like iTunes
Picturing myself as a Samsung engineer having finished reading that document, I could quite easily think "they just want us to copy the iPhone as closely as possible" even though the wording in the document itself doesn't explicitly say "copy the iPhone".
I find option #2 to be very useful, not stupid.
If my phone becomes unavailable (eg lost/ stolen/ dropped in a toilet) then I need a backup option to login. The backup options Google provides are: * Use a backup code * Use a backup phone number * None of the above, I still need help!
1. The backup codes are suggested to be printed and stored in a wallet; however you can put them anywhere you like.
2. The backup phone number can be somebody else's number. Your best friend, your partner, whatever.
3. If you still can't get a backup code, the third option is to go through Google's support team and recovery process. Selecting this option results in an advisory message stating the process could take from 3 to 5 days.
These options appear to be very sensible to me.
> I presume option #2 is the one cubicle67 is referring to.
I'm pretty sure the backup phone number is someone else's phone, not yours. I use my wife's phone number.
If you lose your phone (and thus access to the Google Authenticator app), you can send a code to the backup phone (for example, my wife's phone) allowing you to login.
Changing from an automatic car to a manual may save some money when you buy your next car - if you want to learn manual.
For many people, changing OS is probably similar to learning manual when they're happy driving automatic.
Re: Point 4: " Don't make it easy to do destructive things like delete accounts."
This has happened with our toddlers deleting our gaming progress, and is very annoying.
Requiring a word to be typed for confirmation is a great way to lessen the chances of this happening. For example, in World of Warcraft you have to type in the letters D E L E T E and press Enter (or click the button) before you can delete your character.
Regarding point d), specifically around iCloud being a major source of revenue and profits:
[Tim Cook] said iCloud is "not a product, it is a strategy for the next decade."[1]
iPhone and iPad are major sources of revenue for Apple; they are also "products" with a heavy focus to make them "great". iCloud is one of many features that makes Apple products great, but IMHO is not itself a focus for Apple as a revenue generator.
[1] http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hOAZb_nCI...