yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] Rushead:
The textbook I use has probably 60% public domain material (Plato, Lao-Tzu, Machiavelli, Jefferson, etc.), yet they still get away with charging students $60+. AND, they print typos in the new editions (on purpose, I assume) so they can reprint a new edition at their leisure with justification (albeit in their own minds). I'm working on writing my own text using only public domain stuff. How does 5 bucks sound?

Bottom Line: THE MAN doesn't want us to be educated. He's happy with <30% of the population having an education.

--Sorry for the hijack--

Oh, to make this relevant, publishers are DIX.
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] litetaker:
You must note that Authors of textbooks have no (at best minimal) say in the pricing of the book and they get a lousy royalty fees. Much like the music industry, the artists (authors, content creators) are deprived of most of the benefits and almost all of the profits go to the greedy publishers. I have seen many instances where the authors of the textbook themselves upload a PDF copy of their textbook on their website for the benefit of students... There may be exceptions here, of course.

References:

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1838849,00.html

http://theoatmeal.com/comics/music_industry ;)
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] Dkesler76:
i think this old news from the last crap update

heres the dix 2 link old news

http://support.verizonwireless.com/system_update/htc_incredible_2.html
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] tinhduong:
I got an LG SU640 today, Now Using ICS with no issue :P

Keep coming, guy, update will soon come :p
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] Tarpit_Carnivore:
You can't really compare the two since they're each using different hardware. Also the cost of the phone isn't just materials but materials, labor, packaging, manufacturing, R&D, licenses, etc. There is a lot that gets factored into the cost of anything you buy it's never a simple cost of materials.

Now I know a lot of you hate the price of cell phones off contract but think about it this way, you have NO problem spending $400/500/600 whatever on a laptop or desktop. On the other hand people keep getting outraged at the cost of a something that is equal to a computer in their pocket. Think about phones in that manner, it's an extension of your workspace (for some of us) so spending that money is completely warranted and not exactly over the top. $700 for a device that is 4/5" tall, has email, can hold conversations, play games AND snap pictures better than a $300-400 camera doesn't sound that absurd.

That's why I opted to spend a bit more this time around than getting a midrange/budget phone. I never had issues with my previous two (Eris and Inc2) but I use this thing (S3) a lot for work now so spending that extra $50 to make sure I have a top tier phone is worth it in IMO.

I'm not trying to attack anyone with this and nor am I condoning price gauging just trying to say you need to put this into perspective of what you're actually getting for the dollar.
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] gtdtm:
I'm very aware of all the costs that go into making a phone, but you proved my point. There's no way that the hardware (or software, or r&d, etc...) in our phones costs as much as a laptop. There is no keyboard, flash memory costs almost nothing for the manufacturers, The display is much smaller... I know they have to pack it in tight, but it still has less expensive components than the laptop. The only think that might cost more is the touchscreen display, but again, compare that to the Nexus 7.

The fact is, and my whole point:

Our phones cost more because they are sold in a locked market by carriers. It decreases competition and increases price. It's dead weight loss to the economy. The real solution to all of it would be treating cell companies like utilities; having cross compatibility, and allowing us to attach the devices we see fit.

/rant
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] Tarpit_Carnivore:
You realize Google is selling these at a loss right, just like Amazon does with the kindle fire. They're either losing money or just breaking even on every sale (MS is doing this now with the Xbox). Why? Marketshare and supplementing the loss by getting people to use other services where they can recoup the cost.

Trying to say the phones cost more because of the current market is bull****, I'm sorry. Phones cost the same off contract anywhere in the world, it has nothing to do with us being in an American market.
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] gtdtm:
http://www.isuppli.com/Teardowns/News/pages/Low-End-Google-Nexus-7-Carries-$157-BOM-Teardown-Reveals.aspx
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] Tarpit_Carnivore:
Which proves my point, there accepting the fact they're not going to make profit from these for marketshare. They're being sold at just slightly above cost because they can. Samsung, HTC, Huawei, Motorola do not have the digital content presence that Google does to offset this kind of profit loss.

In the end you guys would never be happy anyway. You want cheaper products but the moment something is released at a lower cost but with a ****ty component you'd still come out with the pitchforks. Look at the Nexus 7, everyone wanted a cheap android tablet from google but still whined when there was no microSD slot. You can't have both worlds.
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] gtdtm:
Obviously we'll have to agree to disagree, and I'm not saying a high-end unlocked phone needs to be $200, just that Verizon is lying when they say they are subsidizing $350+ on most devices.
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] Tarpit_Carnivore:
You skimmed the point I made on this but I'll say it again. Phones sold off contract are the same everywhere in the world, it's not just some isolated phenomenon to US carriers. If it's $700 here it's $700 everywhere.
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] tincbtrar:
The more and more I use my tablet...the less important the phone feels to me...even for work purposes.

I don't see myself buying anything in the future unless its a GED device. And ill keep this Inc 2 until Verizon decides to stop giving me replacements if possible. Lol.
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] ninjasailas:
Stop spending your money on phones and tablets people. I think android is stupid. Anyone who buys a android device is incompetent.
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] anees02:
So what do you think,the future is for what..ios,android or windows phone?...and what about nokia value?
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] david_hume:
Stop trying to troll everyone! It makes you look bad.

sent from my Redneck phone.
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] adammwhiles:
So why exactly are you spending time on a android incredible 2 forum? That's your opinion and I'm sure the majority in this forum will strongly disagree.
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] ninjasailas:
Lol. Sorry guys I was being sarcastic. I am most definitely an android enthusiast. I will probably never buy anything but an android device.
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] gtdtm:
You didn't use comic sans.
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] ninjasailas:
Won't happen again
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] Triscuit:
And remember kids, you know enough. -GI Jose-
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] cstone1991:
I have worked for an independent VZW store and now work for a TMO call center.

At the VZW store I assisted with purchasing (ordering the phones from our supplier) and I can tell you that our profit margin was $0 on phones at msrp. We got just enough of a discount to break even on shipping when we purchased 40+ phones at a time. Our profit came from spiffs for selling contracts. VZW doesn't supply the phones either so you can't blame them for any price fixing that could be happening here.

Due to the nature of my position and the department I am now in at TMO I handle very sensitive information. I won't discuss any numbers but I can tell you that TMO does not make money on selling phones.

You want more evidence? TMO got rid of their no contract plans and now only sell phones on contract. If they were making tons of money at msrp why would they steer people towards subsidized phones?

My point is, I'm sure that phone prices are marked up some from the manufacturer's actual costs. I would be amazed if that is more than $25 markup and that markup is not coming from carriers. I would bet that part is from the manufacturer and the rest come from the distributor (for anyone that doesn't know, carriers don't buy from the manufacturer. Phones go manufacturer > distributor > carrier/store.)

Sent from my ICS Dinc2
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] joefrog1996:
A year ago I would have said IOS. But the death of Steve jobs has caused Apple to loose regulation. It wont be long until people become fed up with IOS.

But I think android is the future. Windows phone is just too user friendly for me.
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] Jizzylax:
Windows phone is the future. We will all have windows phones which will transform into robots and take over the world.
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] alochmst98:
You're all wrong. This is obviously the future:

View attachment 1359632

True, I haven't gotten any OS updates, but there's a rumor I'll be getting a new string tomorrow. It's going to be awesome!

On a more serious note, I notice that there haven't been any official CM9 releases for the Incredible S (nightly or otherwise), despite HTC releasing ICS kernel source for that phone on August 23. I was kind of hoping CM9 would get an official port for our sister phone, and that it would help with CM9 for the DInc2. I guess there's just not enough dev interest in stable ICS on older midrange phones.
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] Macrodroid:
Finally someone on the same plan as i am... Not fair you're getting a string update, though! All I got on my last update was a label...
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] Un1c0de:
And they'll play with our DiX
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] msolaw:
Oh yeah? Well I just reached my hand out in a smacking motion. So take that meanie!
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] bberryhill0:
I resemble that remark.
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] ninjasailas:
I really wasn't serious I love android!
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] david_hume:
I know you weren't serious when I saw your phone signature. :)

sent from my Redneck phone.
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] litetaker:
Ics update out!!!

Roll out started in major metropolitan areas!!! Check Google! NAOW :laugh:
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] nitsua98:
Lite... you are such an ass

Because he's the hero Gotham deserves, but not the one it needs right now. So, we'll hunt him, because he can take it. Because he's not our hero. He's a silent guardian. A watchful protector. A Dark Knight.
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] Rushead:
Dude, he's a DIX! :p
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] litetaker:
In my defense, there were MANY tell-tale signs that I was joking, starting with "comic sans" and ending at the devilish red grin... Yay, I tricked ya...

But in all seriousness, HTC and VZW sucks donkey balls with these monumental delay.

P.S: ( I know it is your signature) but thanks for referring to me as BATMAN.. I'm BATMAN. I'm BATMAN. I AM BATMAN! >.<
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] Camaro305:
I honestly don't think we're getting official ICS, despite what HTC or Verizon may continue to say.
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] jcpowell:
@vzwsupport responding on Twitter to my question about getting screwed over by VZW but I no excited just tired of waiting.

@prairiedogn I share your excitement for the ICS update! No release date at this time. When available it will push to your phone! ^AE

sent from my incredible 2
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] CalvinAMi:
official schmichial
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] david_hume:
That's what they always say. I asked them when is the official update like a month ago and they said the exact same thing. I think it's time to give up on the promised update. Never getting another HTC phone on Verizon ever again since you're just gonna get as screwed over.

sent from my Redneck phone.
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] Camaro305:
My upgrade is July 2013, I'm getting a Samsung Galaxy S(whatever). Never HTC again.
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] nitsuj17:
the irony it that many of us who had the og galaxy s on verizon (fascinate) swore of samsung at the time due to the froyo upgrade debacle

which was FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAr worse than waiting for ics (we had no leaks or anything, and porting on samsung phones back then was nearly impossible)
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] Camaro305:
It seems to me though that lately Samsung is more active in the way of s/w. For example, providing source on a phone that hasn't even been released yet.
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] nitsuj17:
yeah, i was saying it was ironic given what many samsung verizon users have gone through in the past :p

and back then (even now, but not as bad) samsung released such horrid source that it wouldnt build w/o heavy modifications, let alone boot
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] Camaro305:
I'm just a "new" freak. Things stagnate quickly with me, which is why I'm a flashaholic. I'm surprised I've been married to the same woman for 13 years. :D
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] xHoLyx:
But you and I know they got jt ;) jt > Verizon

Sent from Inc 2 using Tapatalk 2
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] litetaker:
As clearly demonstrated by Nits, the grass IS NOT greener on the other side.

Seriously people, you should know by now that if you want to avoid this sort of nonsense, the ONLY meaningful way out is Nexus. Now, given that VZW's Gnex was kinda messed up, but unlike us they had the Kernel source even though the OTA was not out as Google released JB for International and GSM versions and with it Kernel source of course (and correct me if I am wrong but same Kernel works between CDMA and GSM?) In any case, the point remains. Don't want headaches with updates? Then the solution is NOT choosing a different brand of "Android-based" devices but change the brand of Android to vanilla a.k.a Nexus, irrespective of who manufactures that Nexus.

Which is why I don't mind HTC being the next Nexus manufacturer... I like their design philosophy better than fuggly Samsung (HTC One X's bold design vs. the uninspiring and ordinary design of S3)...

Peace :cool:
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] nitsuj17:
lol, that cracked me up

yes, and he was/is a miracle worker :D

but those were some painful times being stuck on eclair with our "wheres froyo" and trying to keep a happy face
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] nitsua98:
Lol my phone didn't show comic sans

Because he's the hero Gotham deserves, but not the one it needs right now. So, we'll hunt him, because he can take it. Because he's not our hero. He's a silent guardian. A watchful protector. A Dark Knight.
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] kalojado:
I was also a Samsung fascinate user and try to tell people the same thing. The froyo/gingerbread update was a mess and when Verizon finally gave in and pushed it out, many people were left with bricked phones... From the official ota. So yeah, it sucks we don't have 'official' ics yet, but al least we have options and phones that work. I have had the fascinate, Droid x and x2 and my incredible 2 beats them all by a long shot. I'm still on stock gingerbread with this phone and have little to no issues with it. If they push the ota and it screws up my phone I won't be happy. So I am fine waiting till they get it right.
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] nitsua98:
Guys! The Inc4G is 49.99:eek:!

http://wireless.amazon.com/HTC-Incr...Y_LINE_UPGRADE&sr=2-17-entd&qid=1348868720073

http://www.wirefly.com/eCommerce/Sp...9346ce4bc4959f489b589a39a1&showcustblock=true
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] litetaker:
Wait till it is 1 cent. I am not kidding. Last year, my friend got a Galaxy S2 on AT&T for 1 cent from Amazon, around October.
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] msolaw:
Inc4g doesn't even have root yet tho. Plus for us who want to keep unlimited data its the off contract price that matters. But then I'm not sure what that is anyways or how it compares to other new Droid phones out there off contract. :(
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] david_hume:
Whaaaa? I have the galaxy s3 right now and I still have my unlimited data and I bought it at the subsidized price.... :o

sent from my Redneck phone.
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] msolaw:
Indeed. Unfortunately my upgrade isn't until January so I didn't have that opportunity. :( I'm stuck in off contract world now as many others are. Cue Dr Evil stare thinking expletives at Verizon. :p
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] litetaker:
I just fuked my LCD screen.. those who remember I recently fuked my Digitizer. I replaced it. I think I damaged the LCD very minimally in that process but it was still usable. Today I got frustrated that the Digitizer kept coming off as the sticky tape was not sticky enough. So, I wanted to redo it. But in the process, I fuked my LCD! Hurray!!! :mad:

Anyway, there goes another $30... Gotta wait till Wednesday to repair the LCD. And in the process, ensure NOT to screw anything else... All I had to do was NOT mess with the Digitizer today, and just let it be.. but nooooo.. I had to mess with it and screw the LCD.. I think the digitizer works, as I briefly tested it JUST before I fubared my LCD... Gotta love these precious and fragile devices..

If only I was busy doing my homework and NOT messing with my phone, none of this would've happened!!! Anyway, time to get cozy with my iTouch as a fall back make-shift phone! :eek:
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] david_hume:
Genius. I feel your pain. I ended up throwing away one of my old Dinc2 for a shattered screen. One drop totally destroyed the screen. XP

I miss it already. :(

sent from my Redneck phone.
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] litetaker:
Ya I am surviving on my iPod touch and I am starting to appreciate the fluidity of IOS and its beauty. But I admit I constantly try to hit the home back and menu buttons and they dont exist on that... the physical round button seems almost ancient!!!! :P I miss my menu and back buttons already. I clearly can't live with IOS anymore.

On the side note, I now have a chance to mess with IOS 6... Downloading it right now while I sleep and gonna install it tomorrow and then immediately rant how it sucks donkey balls over ICS...

However in iOS's defense it is unbelievably smooth. On a single core device with 512 MB ram. And to object my own statement, in Android's defense it has true multitasking and it does infinitely more than IOS ...

Oh what am I saying. I can't repair an iPod as easily as I am doing with the Droid and while I type on my tfp my TFP is saying ***** please... enough of IOS nonsense... -_-... its giving me the look... lol :cyclops: ;)
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] david_hume:
I believe the ipod Touch actually has 256MB of RAM. Don't quote me since I could be wrong. Dunno about the new one though. I might get it just because it looks niiiiice (but I still love my GS3 more than iOS)

sent from my Redneck phone.
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] litetaker:
I commandeer this thread and temporarily make it an iOS thread. No flame throwing!

OMG You are right... then it is even more impressive how iOS can do quite a lot with a 256 MB RAM device on single core... it doesn't have a radio and a bigger cam... The brother of iTouch 4g, which is the iPhone 4 had 512 MB or RAM... Still a lot less than the minimum recommended for ICS and it does quite a lot of things. I think the faux multitasking on iOS is what helps it a lot... Plus I don't think apps can run as background daemons, not unless you jailbreak. Hence such smooth experience.. Almost finished installing iOS 6, so I can rant later about it, may be.. :laugh: First impression, took a LOT of time to install from iOS 5 but I did a direct jump without going through the intermediate incremental updates to iOS 5 soooo... whatever. :silly:

P.S: OP, topic changed to "I commandeer this thread and temporarily make it an iOS thread. No flame throwing!" :p

---------- Post added at 10:01 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:26 AM ----------

This just in. iOS 6. Immediate comments, not much noticeably different from iOS5. As I guessed. Just catch up with other OSes. And may I add battery life is kinda abysmal on my Touch, weirdly.. I miss ma phone... I want my dinc2 I mean dix back soon!!! :(

EDIT: iTunes, we meet again. Starting to remember why I hated iDevices.. The iTunes shackle. :mad:
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] litetaker:
iOS commandeering in full swing

Without my Dix, I feel less of a man already! :silly: Wow, even iOS seems to be a bit sluggish once in a while. Appstore is crashing willy-nilly. And Music app is being sluggish etc. On iOS 6. What's the fuss again? JB made my Dix so much smoother (haha, phrasing) and it is wonderful to use (Phrasing!). I can and will thrust my Dix into the face of any iSheep! (PHRASING!) I may even wave it around in the hopes that others will start to like it and use it and stroke and fondle (the screen)... HEY, PHRASING!!!

(Archer influence up there! :D)
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] nitsua98:
The Dinc2 forums have been overrun by DIX

Sent from the foundations of the southeast corner of Wayne Manor.
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] david_hume:
I find myself stroking my dix whenever I get the chance... (no wrong sense there...) ;)

sent from my Redneck phone.
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] msolaw:
I wanna flaunt my dix in public for the ladies. Dirk diggler nor his sidekick chest rockwell ever had a dix this lovely! My dix will definitely get me my own roller girl!!
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] Rushead:
Don't you mean BJ?
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] litetaker:
Day 2 iOS commandeering

That too.. :cool: Day 2 without a Dix and I am starting to see things. Is that the famed Gnex at the distance? Is that the much anticipated Dix of HTC? Can I touch it? Wow, my iPod is running Droid now... oh wait, I confused it for a Samsung.. It is just a crappy iOS device.. I wish it were a Samsung. Word on the street is that they make just as good phones as Apple and cheaper. Sigh...

waiting for replacement screen for mah dinc2. Then, when I replace the screen I'll be singing the Intro song for "The Six Million Dollar Man"... As parodied by Archer. (No youtube link for that clip, dafuq youtube?)

Instead here is a wonderfully craptastic death scene from Youtube. Still Better than Talia's death scene in Dark Knight Rises.

[YOUTUBE]ZR6Cw_3q1Pg[/YOUTUBE]
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] Rushead:
Isn't this your 2nd screen replacement?
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] litetaker:
Not quite. What I replaced previously was the Digitizer. But while doing so, I accidentally damaged the LCD which is quite fragile... So, I am now replacing the LCD. In any case, the LCD was minimally damaged in my first attempt as well but it was still working and the issue was not noticeable. But then, I damaged it for good when I was trying to reposition the digitizer. Whoops. Anyway, crap happens.
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] Rushead:
Ah. Now I remember. The best way to learn is to fubar something yourself! Good luck on the repair, and don't break your dix in the process (had to get a reference in to stay on topic) :D
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] litetaker:
FINALLY, back on Topic!

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaand we're back folks!

Day #30 since the giant HTC proclaimed their shall be ICS on everyone's plate, VZW ****-blocked and now is waving a potential DiX in the air. People, who were hoping for an creamy update (I mean ICS, I swear!) suddenly got distracted by this mythical DiX. They were mesmerized so much so that they will pounce on this object and munch on it until their appetite is satiated. After the feasting orgy is done (hey, Phrasing!) people will be left in a bewildered state of anxiety and euphoria. They got what they want, but not what they deserve. They crave for more. And the DiX is not enough. They want their creamy update (ICS) before a pie is delivered (since the next update is rumored to be called Key Lime Pie).

P.S: Putting Key Lime Pie (upcoming version of Android) and Ice Cream Sandwich, will lead to a sex act, and that is a no no here... :D :p
[Verizon Droid Incredible 2] nitsua98:
I think lite has way too much spare time on his hands :p

Sent from the foundations of the southeast corner of Wayne Manor.