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Commodus

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  1. Informative
    Commodus reacted to leadeater in Omdia has calculated the cost of components for the Apple Vision Pro   
    That will be really difficult to know, mainly since I doubt Apple wants anyone to know, commercially sensitive information yada yada.
     
    What we do know is Apple's Gross Margin is ~45% and their Operating Margin is ~30%, operating margin includes things like R&D but both are overall business metrics not a per specific product like the Vision Pro. Being a new product of a new type gross margin on the product is going to be higher than a MacBook for example since way more R&D cost is involved for the Vision Pro comparatively. that'll go down each generation presumably but could stay relatively high for the first through third 🤷‍♂️
     
    That said I doubt the ~$1500 is all that accurate. This product requires all new molds and tooling, entirely new manufacturing all of which is actually damn expensive. Like many hundreds of thousands for each new mold alone, not including the original product design just the manufacturing design and engineering required to make the part.
     
    P.S. Nvidia's Gross Margin is ~73% and Operating Margin ~49%, AMD ~47%/~5% respectively.
  2. Agree
    Commodus got a reaction from LAwLz in Samsung Unpacked 2024 - Galaxy S24 Announcement   
    The Galaxy S24+ is worth upgrading if you have an older model, since it brings back a 1440p display (not seen since the S20) and includes a larger battery on top of the other minor upgrades. But I will agree the regular model is a tough sell for many people.
  3. Like
    Commodus got a reaction from Origami Cactus in Samsung Unpacked 2024 - Galaxy S24 Announcement   
    The Galaxy S24+ is worth upgrading if you have an older model, since it brings back a 1440p display (not seen since the S20) and includes a larger battery on top of the other minor upgrades. But I will agree the regular model is a tough sell for many people.
  4. Like
    Commodus got a reaction from Deluxery in Anyone has experience with the Nothing Phone (2)?   
    I don't have direct experience, but everything I've seen indicates that the only real issue may be customer support at this stage. Nothing is a relatively new company and doesn't have a huge service infrastructure at this stage. If you're careful with your phones or willing to try a young brand, though, I'd say go for it. Even if the Glyph feature feels gimmicky, the Phone 2 is still a good device.
  5. Agree
    Commodus got a reaction from NavyCobra1417 in Android - Security Updates - Feeling Comfortable   
    I don't think there's an easy answer here, unfortunately. Android vendors are getting better at long-term support, including mid-tier champs like Moto and OnePlus, but the truth remains that Google and Samsung are the go-tos if you expect timely updates over a long period.
     
    It's true that you're very unlikely to fall victim to a breach stemming from an outdated OS release. Don't worry too much if your phone is reasonably late to an update. However, we shouldn't assume that an attack won't happen just because it hasn't. Just ask Windows XP users what it was like when the Blaster worm basically up-ended OS security expectations. And while Android isn't as dependent on major OS revisions for features as iOS is, I'm not a fan of vendors that drop all major upgrades after two to three years... you shouldn't have to replace your phone that quickly just to keep up with OS-level features.
  6. Agree
    Commodus got a reaction from Paul Thexton in Trick or M3-treat? - Apple’s pre-Halloween “Scary Fast” virtual event   
    Rumor goes that a 32-inch iMac Pro is in the pipeline, but not for a while. Me, I just wish Apple had bumped up the base model iMac; 8GB of RAM, 256GB of storage and two ports just doesn't cut it for what's likely a family computer. You really want to buy at least the 16GB/512GB config with the full port array.
  7. Agree
    Commodus got a reaction from Culliver in Best modern light, fast and solid laptops, optimized for writing?   
    I'll echo the MacBook Air recommendation. 13-inch if you prize portability, 15-inch if you want as much visual real estate as possible. Get it with 512GB or more storage if you can; you don't absolutely need more than 8GB of RAM for writing, but if it were me I'd spring for 16GB.
     
    The Air is silent, lasts ages on battery and, importantly, doesn't really throttle down while unplugged. Toss in a good keyboard/trackpad combo and you'll probably enjoy writing.
  8. Informative
    Commodus got a reaction from IR76 in I want to get an Android Phone after being Iphone all my life   
    I would lean toward the Google Pixel 7a myself. Great photography for the money, solid performance, a relatively clean Android interface, good battery life and a healthy OS update policy. It's a good way to dip into Android without being overwhelmed by customizations. If you're willing to use a customized Android interface, Samsung's Galaxy A54 5G should be a viable alternative.
     
    Don't fret about PWM on an OLED screen unless you know you're sensitive to it. I've used many OLED phones over the years (including my current iPhone 13 Pro and Pixel 6) and haven't had issues.
     
    Likewise, don't worry about unlocking the bootloader. You should generally buy a phone based on the officially promised OS support, not what the community offers. You're not guaranteed to get custom firmware for as long as you intend to use the phone, or for everything to work as intended. An unlocked bootloader should be considered a nice bonus if you're willing to tinker with the software.
  9. Like
    Commodus got a reaction from Lurick in Pixel 8/8 Pro and Pixel Watch 2 now on Pre Order and impressions from MKBHD   
    It's true that Google Play Services softens the need for OS updates, but it's more about the sheer commitment.
     
    This means that, for the practical life of your phone, you'll always be running the latest version of Android. You get all the new features (that your hardware supports, anyway) and compatibility. It's the kind of trust previously reserved for iPhone users.
     
    That and this hopefully pressures Android vendors to up their game. Companies like Samsung are doing a decent job, but seven years would be better.
  10. Like
    Commodus got a reaction from WolframaticAlpha in Pixel 8/8 Pro and Pixel Watch 2 now on Pre Order and impressions from MKBHD   
    It's true that Google Play Services softens the need for OS updates, but it's more about the sheer commitment.
     
    This means that, for the practical life of your phone, you'll always be running the latest version of Android. You get all the new features (that your hardware supports, anyway) and compatibility. It's the kind of trust previously reserved for iPhone users.
     
    That and this hopefully pressures Android vendors to up their game. Companies like Samsung are doing a decent job, but seven years would be better.
  11. Agree
    Commodus got a reaction from leadeater in Pixel 8/8 Pro and Pixel Watch 2 now on Pre Order and impressions from MKBHD   
    It's true that Google Play Services softens the need for OS updates, but it's more about the sheer commitment.
     
    This means that, for the practical life of your phone, you'll always be running the latest version of Android. You get all the new features (that your hardware supports, anyway) and compatibility. It's the kind of trust previously reserved for iPhone users.
     
    That and this hopefully pressures Android vendors to up their game. Companies like Samsung are doing a decent job, but seven years would be better.
  12. Agree
    Commodus got a reaction from filpo in Pixel 8/8 Pro and Pixel Watch 2 now on Pre Order and impressions from MKBHD   
    It's true that Google Play Services softens the need for OS updates, but it's more about the sheer commitment.
     
    This means that, for the practical life of your phone, you'll always be running the latest version of Android. You get all the new features (that your hardware supports, anyway) and compatibility. It's the kind of trust previously reserved for iPhone users.
     
    That and this hopefully pressures Android vendors to up their game. Companies like Samsung are doing a decent job, but seven years would be better.
  13. Informative
    Commodus reacted to Middcore in Before the iPhone there was…   
    Obligatory:
     
     
  14. Agree
    Commodus got a reaction from rikitikitavi in Best time to buy a new phone is now...   
    I'll be honest: I don't think it's realistic to expect mobile OS developers and phone vendors to support apps and technologies nearly a decade old. So much has changed since then, and maintaining compatibility that far back is a technical nightmare.
     
    Besides, Steve Jobs was right: mobile Flash was a performance hog, buggy and insecure. Obviously modern phones wouldn't have as much of a problem handling it, but there's a good reason Flash died and was replaced by a combination of HTML5 and native apps. Even Adobe urged people to move on years ago.
     
    There's also a philosophical element here. If you insist on holding on to apps or features forever, you miss out on new apps and features you might really enjoy. You hurt yourself by refusing to let go. And I've seen this story play out before. The folks who refuse to buy a phone without old feature X or Y seldom get the industry to bend to their will — they just become That Person holding on to a dying seven-year-old phone, making themselves suffer while they wait for the change that never comes.
  15. Agree
    Commodus got a reaction from Kc7vwc in Best time to buy a new phone is now...   
    I'll be honest: I don't think it's realistic to expect mobile OS developers and phone vendors to support apps and technologies nearly a decade old. So much has changed since then, and maintaining compatibility that far back is a technical nightmare.
     
    Besides, Steve Jobs was right: mobile Flash was a performance hog, buggy and insecure. Obviously modern phones wouldn't have as much of a problem handling it, but there's a good reason Flash died and was replaced by a combination of HTML5 and native apps. Even Adobe urged people to move on years ago.
     
    There's also a philosophical element here. If you insist on holding on to apps or features forever, you miss out on new apps and features you might really enjoy. You hurt yourself by refusing to let go. And I've seen this story play out before. The folks who refuse to buy a phone without old feature X or Y seldom get the industry to bend to their will — they just become That Person holding on to a dying seven-year-old phone, making themselves suffer while they wait for the change that never comes.
  16. Informative
    Commodus got a reaction from alifcsnajmi in Long term "Investment" tablet   
    The iPad will easily last a typical day on a charge for that kind of use. You'd only really have to worry if you were playing demanding games, running particularly intensive apps (like Final Cut Pro) or engaged in serious multitasking.
  17. Agree
    Commodus got a reaction from Darkseth in Help choosing between MacBook's   
    I'd go for the MacBook Pro, easily.
     
    The base M1 Pro still has good battery life, and it's more powerful in some situations than the base M2. The extra RAM on the MacBook Air isn't enough to offset the Pro's other advantages.
  18. Like
    Commodus got a reaction from Omitsito in Help choosing between MacBook's   
    I'd go for the MacBook Pro, easily.
     
    The base M1 Pro still has good battery life, and it's more powerful in some situations than the base M2. The extra RAM on the MacBook Air isn't enough to offset the Pro's other advantages.
  19. Agree
    Commodus got a reaction from seanondemand in Help choosing between MacBook's   
    I'd go for the MacBook Pro, easily.
     
    The base M1 Pro still has good battery life, and it's more powerful in some situations than the base M2. The extra RAM on the MacBook Air isn't enough to offset the Pro's other advantages.
  20. Agree
    Commodus got a reaction from Levent in Android versions...   
    The main issue is security. Your phone probably hasn't received security fixes for years, so you're potentially a prime target for exploits.
     
    Also, as of the end of August, new and updated apps in the Play Store have to be targeted at Android 13 or newer. Your existing apps won't necessarily break, but it does mean that you may either miss out on app features or not run those newer apps at all.
     
    Think of it this way: that notorious WannaCry ransomware from 2017 succeeded because many of the targets were running an old operating system (usually Windows XP) that was vulnerable to an attack that wasn't possible on newer OS versions. Moving to a newer OS (in your case, that means getting a new phone) isn't always necessary, but when you're about to be six releases behind... yeah, I'd upgrade.
     
     
  21. Agree
    Commodus got a reaction from leadeater in Intel exiting the PC Business as it stops investment in the Intel NUC   
    If it's a home system (or even a work machine), a Mac mini — no kidding. Speedy for the size, compact and extremely quiet. The M2 Pro version is even quick enough for some serious creative work.
     
    With that said, for edge computing or similar tasks... go with a mini PC from Lenovo and other brands. The Mac mini can be used for some services like that, but it's not really meant for them.
  22. Like
    Commodus got a reaction from NinJake in Intel exiting the PC Business as it stops investment in the Intel NUC   
    If it's a home system (or even a work machine), a Mac mini — no kidding. Speedy for the size, compact and extremely quiet. The M2 Pro version is even quick enough for some serious creative work.
     
    With that said, for edge computing or similar tasks... go with a mini PC from Lenovo and other brands. The Mac mini can be used for some services like that, but it's not really meant for them.
  23. Funny
    Commodus got a reaction from yuh25 in Apple updates self repair program to no longer require you to call to complete device calibration   
    Finance-motivated and poor for repairability? Probably. Tyrannical? Er... no.
     
    Some of Apple's authentication requirements are clearly meant to keep its repair service chain going. But the biometric systems... yeah, I wouldn't want to risk a third-party component that might intercept data and compromise security. And Apple isn't some horrible authoritarian government silencing dissidents; it's a company out to make money.
  24. Agree
    Commodus got a reaction from Dominik W in Apple updates self repair program to no longer require you to call to complete device calibration   
    Finance-motivated and poor for repairability? Probably. Tyrannical? Er... no.
     
    Some of Apple's authentication requirements are clearly meant to keep its repair service chain going. But the biometric systems... yeah, I wouldn't want to risk a third-party component that might intercept data and compromise security. And Apple isn't some horrible authoritarian government silencing dissidents; it's a company out to make money.
  25. Funny
    Commodus got a reaction from SorryBella in Apple updates self repair program to no longer require you to call to complete device calibration   
    Finance-motivated and poor for repairability? Probably. Tyrannical? Er... no.
     
    Some of Apple's authentication requirements are clearly meant to keep its repair service chain going. But the biometric systems... yeah, I wouldn't want to risk a third-party component that might intercept data and compromise security. And Apple isn't some horrible authoritarian government silencing dissidents; it's a company out to make money.
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