Many examples, e.g. https://www.theverge.com/2017/7/31/16072786/amazon-blu-suspe.... “In November 2016, security firm Kryptowire detected pre-loaded remote surveillance software on BLU phones sold online through Amazon and Best Buy. In August 2017, Amazon pulled BLU Products from its website over security vulnerabilities that resulted in BLU consumer user data being covertly sent to China.”
There still are a lot of bumps. Their billing systems remain a mess, especially trying to use it on an iPad (if I don't disable wi-fi, it asks me for the iPad's phone number). I really wanted to use T-Mobile to support their free 200mb offer, but it's a mess to sign-up for extra data.
My final reason for leaving -- even though they suffered many high profile password hacks in the past, they still store them as clear-text and email it to you when doing a password reset.
It's likely much more than two databases. Most MSOs outsource billing and customer service to companies like Convergent. It's a mess of legacy regions and products with different vendors involved. Try troubleshooting phone number porting -- that goes through Accenture.
You can take one of my bills -- I receive two Ecobills and a paper bill!
I believe that Amazon Payments is the only system that lets you pay someone with a credit card, although it's limited to $1,000/month (otherwise people abuse it, sending cash to each other to rack up points on their credit cards).
Daring or repeating history? Windows NT was ported to a host of platforms -- DEC Alpha, MIPS, PowerPC, and Itanium. None have gained substantial traction.
Had they been daring, the desktop would have been removed. Instead, Metro feels like a reincarnation of Apple's At Ease.
RT could have had a chance, but beyond the crayon colors, I believe the root cause was the bland, simple Metro interface. The textures, shadows and other elements of iOS 1 - 6 are engaging in a way that the flat interface is not. Side-by-side I'm always more compelled to pick up my iOS 6 phone over the iOS 7 phone. Or the flat-before-it-was-cool Blackberry.
When I visit a museum, people spend less time at simple modern art pieces. When I turn on pop radio, heavy layered beats dominate.
I might have bought an RT tablet if didn't feel like the Ikea of tablets.
Shure is fantastic. I've owned countless pairs across various price levels and have never been disappointed. While I find that their top of the line SE535 break easily at the gym, their warranty service has been exception and lighting quick -- usually next day servicing.
You have obviously never experienced the pain of a prolonged car trip with Bose. I never knew what ear fatigue was prior to the unfortunate experience of owning Bose car audio.
Thankfully, most car manufacturers have stopped using Bose.
I think the best would have been learning your tomorrow/today pattern and monitoring your use of the phone. For example, a "common" person will continue to use to tomorrow post-midnight until they have slept. The phone should monitor for lack of movement and use over 4-6 hours to identify a sleep schedule that is the person's day divider (patent pending!).
Can you elaborate on how market inefficiency is the issue? It seems others have tried similar schemes (Virgin America ran a private jet website with the same intentions), or attempted to open the market through smaller "taxi" planes (Embraer Phenom) or wholly regional airlines (Independence Air), but the cost of fuel and labor prevented increased adoption.
The private jet market is scheduled at the last minute and filling unused seats (or return segments) seems to be quite challenging, even if offered as one way last minute deals to consumers. Is the goal to have a Southwest like "Ding" fare alert for subscribers?