Morning Discussion

by Xav de Matos, Feb 08, 2011 5:00am PST

According to TVLine.com, Super Bowl XLV was the highest rated event in the sport's history. Based on ratings data the big game tackled 111 million viewers, besting last year's game by 4.5 million sports fans.

The numbers are certainly deserved since XLV was one of the more exciting championship games I've seen in a very long time--in any sport. The outcome wasn't what I expected but it was entertaining from top to bottom.

Actually, there was a terrible bit in the middle where my television started flickering and the sound started to break apart. No matter how hard I hit my television it just wouldn't right itself and, in some spots, started to get so bad I thought my TV was going to break. But then the Black Eyed Peas got off the stage and everything was cool again.

[Getty Images via Image Source]

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Daily Filter: February 7, 2011

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#636

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By: BouillonCubes x Show Full Post

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More Xoom details: $800, Feb. 24 launch, WiFi crippled without data plan

http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/news/2011/02/more-xoom-details-revealed-800-february-24-launch-data-plan-required.ars

At ~$820 (cost plus one month data) do you guys think Motorola is going to move many of these? I don't see how they can compete with the iPad when the top selling models are the baseline versions which are $500 and $629.

Feb 08, 2011 7:18am PST

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More Xoom details: $800, Feb. 24 launch, WiFi crippled without data plan http://arstechnica.com/gadget... : BouillonCubes
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 147 replies.
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  that seems offensive. you have to buy one month of data to use the built in wifi? thanks apple for liv... : [fry]
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    it's not any different than Capcom offering dlc content on disc. : deathofrats
    - I'm not sure about that, but even if it is, that doesn't make it any less shitty. : Rehevkor
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  It's going to tank like a motherfucker. : Rehevkor
  - I tend to agree, which is a shame because it looks like a fantastic piece of hardware.. The only way t... : stonedonkey
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  What is Motorola thinking? : JarEme
  - Agreed, this wasn't mentioned at all during their CES debut of the thing. What a joke... not to mention ... : Q-ball
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  It will sell. Motorola just made the commercial of the year. : EricZBA
  - I bet they'll make their money back from the commercial! : exit button
- This is like watching a train wreck in slow motion (and I say this as someone who currently owns a Droid)... : jipey
- Are they insane? : JMro
- I'm going to go out on a limb and predict that this will not be a successful product. : peanut-
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  dead on arrival. LOL : multisync
  - For once, I'm inclined to agree with you in a "rah rah Apple" thread. : Ebu
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  and there's another potentially great product crippled by greedy marketing departments. : halophoenix
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    how crippled by marketing? : Clay
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      They want you to pay for 1 month of their service to activate a necessary feature. Unless there is some s... : TheNiXXeD
      
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      and that's a marketing decision how? : RikiTiki2
      
      how is it not? : JohnnyRey
      
      It's either marketing or sales. (To engineers, they're pretty much the same thing). : daVinci1980
      
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      If it's true, I wouldn't be surprised if Verizon subsidized part of the device's cost in return... : walker270
      
      it's win-win! You damn well know verizon will be sharing all that account information with motorola. What... : GloriousCow
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    I will repeat that marketing people are worse than lawyers. The crazy thing is that one of them proposes ... : steelsamurai
    - Hey hey hey, let's not say things we can't take back. A lot of what is done in modern corporations are... : daVinci1980
    - It's not evil, just stupid. When word gets out that you have to subscribe to use your own wifi, people wi... : edgewise
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    this doesn't really sound like marketing, it sounds more like a bizdev decision. a stipulation of the ag... : mikecyb
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      agreed. Should have amended my statement, was struggling to find the right target for my rage. :[ : halophoenix
      
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      reagan : yoonix
      
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      but i already don't like him :( : halophoenix
      
      so this debacle should serve to reaffirm your position! : yoonix
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  has this ad actually be confirmed real though? : multisync
  - i hope it's real for the hilarity of it : [fry]
  - I think they are operating off the principle that since Motorola/BB/Verizon haven't come out and denied i... : trove
- man it really sucks to not be apple : indosauros
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  LOL APPLE'S FUCK DIE APPLEFAGS : walker270
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    IAWTLADIEA : askedrelic
    - Did you just proposition me? : walker270
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  at least the atrix looks cool : crypt420
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    I thought so too until the engadget podcast when they outlined what it takes to get the laptop part of th... : BouillonCubes
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      i still looks good as a phone. i think that dock system was just to impress nerds at the tech show and g... : crypt420
      
      Yea, the phone by itself is slick. : BouillonCubes
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      Isn't it just $500 for the phone and docking laptop station thing? : pancake humper
      
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      $500 (after a $100 mail-in rebate) for the phone and laptop dock. To get that price, you have to commit t... : BouillonCubes
      
      rofl I fucking hate every single one of these companies. : pancake humper
      
      The tethering requirement KILLS this deal. $500 is reasonable for what you're (potentially) getting, but ... : slickdoody
      
      yeah - at that price point, a phone/laptop combo system that could have unseated a lot of low-powered ult... : halophoenix
- it's like they are purposely trying to fail : gmd
- i was really excited about it, but if thats all true ill go with an ipad2 : fletch_
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  So is this Apple's massive long-term supply contracts and manufacturing innovations paying off? I mean... : peanut-
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    The other part is Apple will still make money off the devices w/ app sales where are Samsung and Motorola... : sasquatchxing
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      That's not the case at all though, Apple don't subsidise their hardware. In fact the opposite - they have... : peanut-
      
      this, the AppStore isn't subsidizing anything : derelict515
      
      And when they buy out everything, they just build new factories. : Deathlove
      
      Ok true enough http://tech.gaeatimes.com/index.php/archive/how-much-does-a-499-ipad-cost-apple-to-make... : sasquatchxing
- Wifi crippled? Meaning you can't use wifi unless you get a data plan? : prime8
- I was kind of interested, but not at that price. : kelerian
- How much do you want to bet that Apple announces the iPad2 on February 23rd, closing the feature gap (cam... : riptyde
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  Fuck, I was really interested in getting this, but that required data plan shit blows me off. : BackSinner
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    1GB for $20? Really? REALLY? : Clay
    - I really dont need to spend $20 a month for a data plan I wont use at all. I'm a wifi kinda guy. : BackSinner
- Haha, so I guess it will be a decent tablet like I've heard, but it won't sell for shit. : DinK
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  599 and it's a winner, otherwise DOA. : Mael'Koth
  - Can't agree more, sadly. iPad killer has to cost the same or less. : Deathlove
- I really wanted one of these and was really excited for a viable iPad alternative, but there is no way I'... : greenbergMD
- damn. they fucked that up before it even gets released : jonin
- what a terrible decision on their part : maulla
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  does that say 32 gig or 320 GB : NukemForever
  - isn't the answer obvious? : derelict515
  - 32GB : BouillonCubes
- So, guess we're going with the iPad2 ... : LoioshDwaggie
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  You have to do what to use wifi? what? really? what the fuck? : GloriousCow
  - I don't even want to pay for the 3/4G hardware inside the thing. I want a wifi only version. I've los... : ShadowRam
- Isn't it an Android-based device? Surely there would be a way to enable the WiFi without getting the Veri... : sogelegos
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  HP and the webOS community would like to thank Motorola for handing them the anything-but-Apple market. C... : drazz
  - Yea, tomorrow will be more interesting than it should have been. : BouillonCubes
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    On a scale of 1 to 10, how psyched are you : Deathlove
    - -10 : pimpium
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      Avogadro : drazz
      
      you are one mole of excitement. i like that. : Deathlove
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    Motorola is only one company making tablets, Honeycomb isn't going anywhere and someone will make some g... : stonedonkey
    - Aw c'mon, we so rarely get to be snarky! ;) : drazz
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  that wifi thing is just asking for everyone to tell them to fuck off. HereÂ´s me (assuming itÂ´s true... : moshman
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    It's in print in the Best Buy circular. You would think they immediately deny it with all of this backlas... : pancake humper
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      What's the chances this is a Best Buy only thing? : ShadowRam
      
      .01% : pancake humper
- doh. waiting on asus now: http://ces2011.asus.com/photos/eee/eee-pad-slider/ : jo3
- It's amazing how Motorola has really turned itself around thanks to its Android phone lineup, especially ... : ateam311
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  so that's why everyone but Apple was making 7-inch tablets : sgtsanity
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    Someone has mass produced 7" LCD's. They are cheap as hell. You can find 7" Widescreen LCD's in all kind... : ShadowRam
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      Didn't apple buy out the entire market for the displays of their tablet, just like they did with mini HDD... : LoioshDwaggie
      
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      I don't know about that, but they did essentially buy out the world's supply of "retina displays". : Deathlove
      
      They've already moved on some other display tech too. They spoke about it at their financial statement th... : LoioshDwaggie
- To activate WiFi functionality on this device, a minimum of 1 month data subscription is required Hhah... : zehh
- I think the Joojoo pad will sell more than this will. : melkore
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  Man, I was worried when I got an iPad that the competition would come up with something amazing and make ... : gooblerampling
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    I wouldn't call the tech laughable. The price point is absolutely terrible though. : ateam311
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      Depends upon battery life. If it lasts less than (iPad is 8-10 hours, right?) the iPad, it's laughable. : LoioshDwaggie
      
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      You'd write the hardware off if it only lasted 6 hours or something? That's a bit ridiculous. I feel like... : ateam311
      
      If the device is intended to be used as a companion at work then anything less than 8 hours won't work. : BouillonCubes
      
      I read books on mine. That can go up to 10 hours easily on Saturdays/Sundays. : LoioshDwaggie
- such a royal cock up. : harold.johnson
- So you sit around with your thumb up your ass for a decade while people clamor for a tablet PC, and now t... : silent prophet
- I'm *really* surprised this "stipulation" made it through. What a ridiculous crock of shit. : virus
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  Realistically, aren't you just talking about $20 on top of an $800 device, though? I'd gawk at the initia... : BlackCat9
  - No, the lack of a $500 SKU is the biggest problem Xoom has. This little data plan prerequisite isn't hel... : BouillonCubes
  - "Better." =\ : virus
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    $20 is $20 and it's the entire idea behind it, not necessarily the extra $20 :/ : GoldfishInAJarOfPickles
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      yeah, I'm opposed to it just on principle. Assuming it's true. I'm skeptical any company could be that st... : edgewise
      
      Yeah. Even though the amount is ostensibly negligible compared to the total price of the device, it's the : Bean
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      They really should have just eaten the $20 and said the first month of data is free, cancel anytime. : BlackCat9
      
      but then you still have to sign up for some bullshit instead of just turning it on and expecting it to wo... : GloriousCow
  - It's the way that it's presented and the fact that basic functionality somehow gets 'unlocked' once you s... : jingletard
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  There's been talk of the "Apple Tax" for many years. $800 for the base unit plus at least a one month ... : Serpico74
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    iPad uses all the Apple Tax loopholes and also receives Apple farm subsidies (originally intended for app... : sgtsanity
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      I heard they had to mix a single drop of Apple juice into the mix when making a unibody Mac case so they'... : Dave-A
      
      crazy Jony Ive is out in the field trying to excoriate plants into just growing the damn things for them : sgtsanity
  - Motorola and Apple are using the same playbook here. Devices like the Notion Ink do have impressive hardw... : LilCrypto
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  haha i was considering getting one. Whoops. Funny how a little bullet point can fuck your entire product ... : GoldfishInAJarOfPickles
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    Rumor says there will be a cheaper version without 3g so no reason to give up on the xoom yet! : LilCrypto
    - Sure there is: this stunt. : Ebu
- I bet the guys who designed the hardware and spent all their time perfecting each little detail of the in... : Dynotaku
- Even if it is more powerful and capable than an iPad, I can't see that thing succeeding at an $800 baseli... : Bean
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  The more I think about it, the more I'm sure this is either a typo, or it will be rescinded the next time... : edgewise
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    In this world of continuous bookfacing and twatering, you cant tell me someone in the marketing departmen... : EricZBA
    - Well I left that possibility open. They may have actually wanted to try this, but they're currently decid... : edgewise
  - "We're hearing from some Best Buy Mobile employees that these simply won't be able to be sold without bei... : chuck577
- this will not go well. this will likely get adjusted before the feb.24th launch. : Downforce
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  Haha, I wonder if Apple's media event for the iPad will be on February 23rd. They like Wednesdays. : sgtsanity
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    I hope so, with no interesting Android tablets out there I'm kinda wanting for an iPad2 : Bean
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      2012 year of the Android tablet, just wait : gmd
      
      2012 will be year of the Windows 8 tablet according to OS zodiac signs : sgtsanity
      
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      I thought it was the year of Linux : riptyde
      
      #3745
      
      Refresh Thread
      
      By: EricZBA x Show Full Post
      
      Reply
      
      2003 Year of the Linux Desktop
      http://www.linux-mag.com/id/1351
      
      Slashdot: Linus Says 2004 is the Year for Desktop Linux
      http://linux.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=04/01/15/1531237
      
      Express Computer: 2005 will be the year of the Linux desktop
      http://www.expresscomputeronline.com/20050307/market07.shtml
      
      Linux Questions.org 2006 - The Year of the Linux Desktop?
      http://www.linuxquestions.org/linux/articles/Ah_the_change/2006_The_Year_of_the_Linux_Desktop
      
      Associated Content: Why 2007 was the Year of the Linux Desktop
      http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1077435/why_2007_was_the_year_of_the_linux.html
      
      Maximum PC: 2008: Year of the Linux Desktop
      http://www.maximumpc.com/article/2008_year_of_the_linux_desktop
      
      Fast Company: 2009: Year Of The Linux Revolution
      http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/chris-dannen/techwatch/2009-year-linux-revolution
      
      Limulus Blog: 2010: The year of the Linux Desktop
      http://limulus.wordpress.com/2007/08/13/2010-the-year-of-the-linux-desktop/
      
      Max the IT Pro: 2010 is the year of Desktop Linux
      http://maxtheitpro.com/2010-is-the-year-of-desktop-linux
      
      Feb 08, 2011 12:51pm PST
      
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      2003 Year of the Linux Desktop http://www.linux-mag.com/id/1351 Slashdot: Linus Says 2004 is the Year... : EricZBA
      
      lol : BouillonCubes
      
      This is quite hilarious. : Fred Garvin
      
      Ouch. : Kub666
      
      AH BUT ANDROID IS LINUX! : jim bone
- Dear Motorola, thanks for the laugh. - Steve P.S. You should buy some Apple stock. : Dynotaku
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  So retarded. I have to say though, it is possible to make a decent Android tablet. I tried the Viewpad 7 ... : Fred Garvin
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    It's unquestionably possible, but is it possible at 10" and $500? So far, for whatever reason, it doesn't... : edgewise
    - Competition, retooling, etc. should lead to prices dropping. Acer for one is dropping netbooks and going ... : Fred Garvin
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  xoom = bs, too expensive, under powered. give me a tablet where i can run photoshop and league of legends... : sanewave
  - Asus EP121. Shame that the Windows 7 touch interface sucks, but the screen on the EP121 is actually nice ... : Serpico74
  - Underpowered? It has a Tegra 2 processor. There isn't anything better out there. : Wisp!
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  Don't Motorola also lock down their devices with some efuse thing so you can only use their own build of ... : Beady
  - efuse was bypassed a long time ago : harold.johnson

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