We are pleased to announce streaming with any Roku device will no longer count against your data cap, regardless which device you use.
We've secretly partnered with Roku and will receive a kickback of a few cents per gigabyte, but this isn't your concern, as you no doubt love paying for transmission more than once, time and time again.
So please stay ignorant and thank you for being a Comcast and Roku customer!
I call it the Billion Dollar Disease™ and, so far, it has affected every damn company whose earnings hit $1B.
The disease? Oh, it's nasty. Companies which start out from the garage, who beg, borrow, and plead to have laws changed so they can grow, finally do then completely fucking forget how they got to where they are today and now use the money to prevent other businesses from growing.
I remember the days cable struggled to get established. The Big 3 networks did everything they could to prevent consumers from having choices in other stations.
Then, a small company (you may have heard of them) called "Home Box Office" literally turned cable into an obscure want to a must-have need. Cable expansion exploded, as more people wanted HBO. As cable expanded, so too did its lineup.
Hell, most people reading this have never seen cable without commercials, but a few will remember (and wish we had again).
Now look at cable. Pathetic. Hell bent on destroying both competition (streaming is the new cable) and customer trust.
All because they forgot what it was like to start out.
Tom Wheeler didn't forget. In fact, his entire damn position is trying to force companies to remember what it was like when they were the disruptive force.
Yet here we are, reading another article from something ridiculous Comcast has done.... again.
One of these days, I'll actually read a positive article about the company here on Techdirt, but will most likely have to have someone do it through a ouija board. For if I held my breath waiting for Comcast to change...
"As the decades have gone by, commercial time has grown," Lorne Michaels What hasn't grown is an ability for a CEO of an entertainment industry to think beyond its own damn idiocy.
If the industry wants to change, it needs to do the following: -Remove the mindset that the captive audience exists. Long gone are the days of forcing people to pick one show over another, so why still program shows like it exists? Stupid.
-Stop with the idiocy of affecting DVR recordings. The stupid "end a show early or start a show late" to purposely screw with DVR recordings is a fantastic way to ensure people stop using cable services, morons.
-Definitely stop with the 1/3 screen bombardments of whatever show the network is showing next, or tomorrow, or Thursday. Viewers are well informed on what shows the network airs, so stop treating them like they're two.
-Stop with the hiatus crap. If the network can't put out a show consecutively, don't waste our time. Reruns? Save those for future Netflix or Amazon licenses.
-Here's a brain tumor inducing idea to some executives: STOP PAYING ACTORS MORE MONEY THAN THEY'RE WORTH. Pro-tip: most people tune in for the story, not the actors. As we've seen many times, you can replace people without anyone caring (Fresh Prince, Bewitched, Last Man Standing) or completely remove them without anyone caring (Happy Days, Family Matters).
To pay a bunch of kids $1 million each to sit around a damn couch and make jokes is the reason why "commercial time" has grown.
Oh, and one more thing: perhaps, and this is just a recommendation, NBC actually make its own content instead of paying an arm and a leg for other productions?
Netflix is doing it, and NBC should be mindful of this, because once Netflix has enough original content of its own, no one will need NBC anymore.
What's really troubling is how many people still believe this crap.
Both my former and current employer banned open source software from being used because the executives literally believed open source = open to abuse.
Worse: both try to blame HIPAA as stating it's against the law to use it. It's not.
The DHS should know better, but then again, considering many people don't understand what open source is, expect this ignorance to continue for another few millennia.
But do we want the financial system running some general check against common terror groups and references to make sure money isn't falling into their hands? Of course. I laughed at this. Really, I did.
Because take out one word which separates people from common sense: "terror".
Now, re-read it.
In case anyone doesn't get the joke, search Panama Papers.
My post was directed at Reed Hastings, not Techdirt. I often leave out pronouns in cases I feel the subject was established.
In hindsight, I can see how my post was targeted at Karl.
Sorry about that. I generally only target Karl when he's on a rampage to confuse wireless broadband with "unlimited data" because he still believes there's such a thing as "unlimited" ... well, anything, really. >:]
In other words Netflix's long-term vision may be to eliminate fractured broadcast licensing so users don't need to use VPNs. This line just contributed to the ignorance of the VPN discussion.
There will always be a need to use VPN, and this is the point I wish articles like this would make, rather than the placating the idea VPNs are only used to bypass restrictions.
Because in a perfect world, Netflix should be demanding people be on VPN to access its content rather than kick people out for using VPN.
It's no surprise companies are moving toward blocking VPN users. How else are they going to abuse your privacy if they don't know who you are.
First, most authors cannot make a living today because most books don't sell.
This would be second on an item list.
The first item would be "Most authors cannot make a living today because publishers take so much, they put the author into debt the second they sign away their rights for that paltry advance check."
I always love how gatekeepers keep forgetting this fact of lost creator revenue.
Look, I get the whole "way out of line" point of the article, but I'm going to be the one who sides on "justice" in this case: it could have been worse.
In fact, had Keys been given the chance to turn over credentials of a higher power within the organization, would he have?
The realization this was only "graffiti" is noted, but he deserves much more than 2 years in prison.
He gave away credentials to a network with the sole intention of watching someone else perform the abuse.
No offense, but I can't imagine anyone at Techdirt would be "Oh, it's okay Tim, we fully understand you gave away credentials as a joke to see what someone would do to our site" with a laugh and a hug.
They'd be pissed. So would readers, when it's discovered why the site suddenly turned all TMZ (or worse!) on them.
Keys admitted he turned over the credentials to Anonymous.
Guilty. 10 years. Minimum.
Because in this day and age, he did commit fraud and abuse via computer.
Be thankful it was only for the website.
What about the next person who gives credentials to Anonymous for banking info? Let them off with a hug too?
Damn it. How many times must I say this: The FCC does not and can not protect consumers from broadband pricing. The FCC can only regulate the industry infrastructure.
This being said, what's more important is this: To protect consumers from unfair pricing (gouging, fixing) is the sole responsibility of the FTC, which can and does levy fines against industries for worst consumer practices.
While the letters are very similar, the departments are very different.
Even if the bill should become law, the FCC really has no authority anyway, so this bill is pointless to protect ISP business.
Now, if only the damn FTC would get off its fat, lazy ass can the industry be slapped with enough fines as to stop harassing customer wallets, then things may change.
Until then, all this is nothing but pointless rhetoric from both sides. The FTC reclassifies, and nothing changes.
If Apple wants to know how the FBI cracked its phones, it's not hard to figure out. Just follow the same trail the FBI did.
First, hit up the Chinese government and offer them buckets of cash to gain access to Chinese businesses.
Second, head over to Foxconn, with official documentation.
Third, watch closely as Foxconn details how it can manipulate the components it sends to the US in its phones (note: this applies to all Foxconn phones).
Fourth, lie to everyone about how it was done.
It's no secret the Chinese have had backdoors to our electronic devices for decades. Several chip makers have pressured the US government to stop importing their (govt system) chips because it was impossible to determine how the backdoors were implemented.
On the post: Roku CEO Kisses Up To Comcast, Supports Opposition To Cable Set Top Box Competition
"Dear Comcast subscriber,
We are pleased to announce streaming with any Roku device will no longer count against your data cap, regardless which device you use.
We've secretly partnered with Roku and will receive a kickback of a few cents per gigabyte, but this isn't your concern, as you no doubt love paying for transmission more than once, time and time again.
So please stay ignorant and thank you for being a Comcast and Roku customer!
PS: we'll eventually get Netflix, too."
On the post: Nervous About Regulatory Action, Comcast Bumps Usage Caps To One Terabyte Per Month
The disease? Oh, it's nasty. Companies which start out from the garage, who beg, borrow, and plead to have laws changed so they can grow, finally do then completely fucking forget how they got to where they are today and now use the money to prevent other businesses from growing.
I remember the days cable struggled to get established. The Big 3 networks did everything they could to prevent consumers from having choices in other stations.
Then, a small company (you may have heard of them) called "Home Box Office" literally turned cable into an obscure want to a must-have need. Cable expansion exploded, as more people wanted HBO. As cable expanded, so too did its lineup.
Hell, most people reading this have never seen cable without commercials, but a few will remember (and wish we had again).
Now look at cable. Pathetic. Hell bent on destroying both competition (streaming is the new cable) and customer trust.
All because they forgot what it was like to start out.
Tom Wheeler didn't forget. In fact, his entire damn position is trying to force companies to remember what it was like when they were the disruptive force.
Yet here we are, reading another article from something ridiculous Comcast has done.... again.
One of these days, I'll actually read a positive article about the company here on Techdirt, but will most likely have to have someone do it through a ouija board. For if I held my breath waiting for Comcast to change...
On the post: NBC Smells Cord Cutting On The Wind, Will Reduce 'SNL' Ad Load By 30% Next Season
Re: Re:
Well, considering I don't watch traditional TV anymore, nope.
Those examples I pulled from a quick search. :D
On the post: Rhode Island Attorney General Pushing For A State-Level CFAA That Will Turn Researchers, Whistleblowers Into Criminals
On the post: NBC Smells Cord Cutting On The Wind, Will Reduce 'SNL' Ad Load By 30% Next Season
What hasn't grown is an ability for a CEO of an entertainment industry to think beyond its own damn idiocy.
If the industry wants to change, it needs to do the following:
-Remove the mindset that the captive audience exists. Long gone are the days of forcing people to pick one show over another, so why still program shows like it exists? Stupid.
-Stop with the idiocy of affecting DVR recordings. The stupid "end a show early or start a show late" to purposely screw with DVR recordings is a fantastic way to ensure people stop using cable services, morons.
-Definitely stop with the 1/3 screen bombardments of whatever show the network is showing next, or tomorrow, or Thursday. Viewers are well informed on what shows the network airs, so stop treating them like they're two.
-Stop with the hiatus crap. If the network can't put out a show consecutively, don't waste our time. Reruns? Save those for future Netflix or Amazon licenses.
-Here's a brain tumor inducing idea to some executives: STOP PAYING ACTORS MORE MONEY THAN THEY'RE WORTH. Pro-tip: most people tune in for the story, not the actors. As we've seen many times, you can replace people without anyone caring (Fresh Prince, Bewitched, Last Man Standing) or completely remove them without anyone caring (Happy Days, Family Matters).
To pay a bunch of kids $1 million each to sit around a damn couch and make jokes is the reason why "commercial time" has grown.
Oh, and one more thing: perhaps, and this is just a recommendation, NBC actually make its own content instead of paying an arm and a leg for other productions?
Netflix is doing it, and NBC should be mindful of this, because once Netflix has enough original content of its own, no one will need NBC anymore.
So wake the hell up.
On the post: Just After EU Goes After Google For Antitrust, Microsoft Agrees To Drop All Antitrust Complaints About Google
Five years ago, Ballmer was still CEO.
Look what's happened to Microsoft since he left.
It's not a coincidence.
On the post: Ex-Game Maker Atari To Argue To The US PTO That Only It Can Make 'Haunted House' Games
Jake is looking a little too square for Atari.
On the post: DHS Claims Open Source Software Is Like Giving The Mafia A Copy Of FBI Code; Hastily Walks Back Statement
Both my former and current employer banned open source software from being used because the executives literally believed open source = open to abuse.
Worse: both try to blame HIPAA as stating it's against the law to use it. It's not.
The DHS should know better, but then again, considering many people don't understand what open source is, expect this ignorance to continue for another few millennia.
:`(
On the post: Not Funny: How The OFAC Is Outlawing Even The Lamest Attempts At Humor Over Terrorist Fears
I laughed at this. Really, I did.
Because take out one word which separates people from common sense: "terror".
Now, re-read it.
In case anyone doesn't get the joke, search Panama Papers.
Iron Knee™ - It's not just for breakfast, kids.
On the post: Netflix CEO Says Annoyed VPN Users Are 'Inconsequential'
Re: Re: Re:
In hindsight, I can see how my post was targeted at Karl.
Sorry about that. I generally only target Karl when he's on a rampage to confuse wireless broadband with "unlimited data" because he still believes there's such a thing as "unlimited" ... well, anything, really.
>:]
On the post: Netflix CEO Says Annoyed VPN Users Are 'Inconsequential'
This line just contributed to the ignorance of the VPN discussion.
There will always be a need to use VPN, and this is the point I wish articles like this would make, rather than the placating the idea VPNs are only used to bypass restrictions.
Because in a perfect world, Netflix should be demanding people be on VPN to access its content rather than kick people out for using VPN.
It's no surprise companies are moving toward blocking VPN users. How else are they going to abuse your privacy if they don't know who you are.
On the post: Authors Guild Petulantly Whines About How Wrong It Is That The Public Will Benefit From Google Books
This would be second on an item list.
The first item would be "Most authors cannot make a living today because publishers take so much, they put the author into debt the second they sign away their rights for that paltry advance check."
I always love how gatekeepers keep forgetting this fact of lost creator revenue.
On the post: Court Shoots Down Cops Attempting To Prop Up Two Warrantless Searches With A Stack Of Lies
I highly doubt that. The cops are doing the shooting, remember.
On the post: Matthew Keys Gets 2 Years In Jail For 40 Minute Web Defacement He Didn't Even Commit
In fact, had Keys been given the chance to turn over credentials of a higher power within the organization, would he have?
The realization this was only "graffiti" is noted, but he deserves much more than 2 years in prison.
He gave away credentials to a network with the sole intention of watching someone else perform the abuse.
No offense, but I can't imagine anyone at Techdirt would be "Oh, it's okay Tim, we fully understand you gave away credentials as a joke to see what someone would do to our site" with a laugh and a hug.
They'd be pissed. So would readers, when it's discovered why the site suddenly turned all TMZ (or worse!) on them.
Keys admitted he turned over the credentials to Anonymous.
Guilty. 10 years. Minimum.
Because in this day and age, he did commit fraud and abuse via computer.
Be thankful it was only for the website.
What about the next person who gives credentials to Anonymous for banking info? Let them off with a hug too?
On the post: Lucasfilm Threatens And Threatens Non-Profit Over Lightsaber Battle Event
On the post: As ISPs Push Harder On Usage Caps, House Pushes Bill Preventing The FCC From Doing Anything About It
This being said, what's more important is this: To protect consumers from unfair pricing (gouging, fixing) is the sole responsibility of the FTC, which can and does levy fines against industries for worst consumer practices.
While the letters are very similar, the departments are very different.
Even if the bill should become law, the FCC really has no authority anyway, so this bill is pointless to protect ISP business.
Now, if only the damn FTC would get off its fat, lazy ass can the industry be slapped with enough fines as to stop harassing customer wallets, then things may change.
Until then, all this is nothing but pointless rhetoric from both sides. The FTC reclassifies, and nothing changes.
On the post: Burr And Feinstein Release Their Anti-Encryption Bill... And It's More Ridiculous Than Expected
no person or entity is above the law;
economic growth, prosperity, security, stability, and liberty require adherence to the rule of law;
Why the hell aren't all laws started this way.
On the post: Leveraging Shame And The Presumption Of Guilt To Destroy Lives And Punish Consenting Adults
Doesn't change a thing, does it.
On the post: The FCC Is Pushing A 'Nutrition Label' For Broadband Connections
Because we all know damn well the broadband industry is going to base their numbers on portions, not the whole.
Just look how long it took the real nutrition labels to stop this crap.
On the post: FBI Won't Tell Apple How It Got Into iPhone... But Is Apparently Eager To Help Others Break Into iPhones
First, hit up the Chinese government and offer them buckets of cash to gain access to Chinese businesses.
Second, head over to Foxconn, with official documentation.
Third, watch closely as Foxconn details how it can manipulate the components it sends to the US in its phones (note: this applies to all Foxconn phones).
Fourth, lie to everyone about how it was done.
It's no secret the Chinese have had backdoors to our electronic devices for decades. Several chip makers have pressured the US government to stop importing their (govt system) chips because it was impossible to determine how the backdoors were implemented.
Ignored, as usual.
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