Should Verizon's lack of response to Windows 8.1 update questions gives reason for pause.

[Tidbits]

I already stated this... Phones are not standardized... PC are all standardized. PCs have room for legacies while phones do not either. I explained this in another thread. These are very good reasons why you can't compare PCs to phones. Each part of a phone doesn't follow a specific standard while each part of a PC does. Each part of a PC is independently updated and YOU pay for them.

Right now Google is trying to push out a standard called project Ara which are modular(like PCs). If it catches on the only problem will be legacies.

[Tidbits]

As for HTC getting 8.1. HTC made that statement first and Verizon stated what the MANUFACTURER said. Also like I said previously don't touch the RIL/HAL/drivers for WiFi, LTE, CDMA, and such you won't have to go through the FCC for the stamp compliance or Qualcomm involvement. HTC is different than Nokia. Even if they are using similar parts doesn't make it the same and uses the same code. Look at Android devices. Why does Cyanogenmod need so many maintainers for various devices even if the specs are the same? Why do they have separate Roms for all these devices if a lot of them have the same specs?

Do just because the specs are similar doesn't mean the code is the same or even the hardware will work the same.

[rednibkram]

"Once again the FTC has no authority over phone companies."  Really!?  If ANY business operating in the United States of America is suspected of inappropriate trade practices, the FTC has full authority to step in...

http://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/what-we-do/enforcement-authority

All it would take is one complaint that a carrier is withholding an update for one manufacturer to enable better sales of another and the FTC would have full jurisdiction to investigate the practices of that phone company.

[rednibkram]

I'm not saying that currently any situation might be taking place to warrant FTC intervention at this moment.  I"m saying that you shouldn't make blanket statements like that without backing it up.  I know SOMEONE who works at the FTC and I can tell you the FTC does have authoritiy over the phone companies.  In fact, you may never now when the FTC might have a company already in it's scope because the FTC is not required to disclose anything until they "formally" open an investigation.

[t-val79]

Ok.. here is a general question.  Do you think as our smartphones are essentially computers that can also perform phone calls, that eventually the carrier may be completely taken out of the picture with regards to the software on the phone?  For instance, I am typing this on a Lenovo laptop (not microsoft manufactured hardware) running Windows 8.1.  Microsoft releases patches that I install once a month at a minimum.  I guess as long as we have to continue to go to the phone company to buy our phones, this relationship will never exist?  Are phones just sooo much more complex than PCs that we need carriers and hardware manufacturers to embed themselves between us and the OS maker?

[#6]

The Federal Trade Commission  About the FTC | Federal Trade Commission

You seem to be doing selective reading again my friend.

There is no anti competitive practice going on in regards to providing any window phone updates, or any phone updates.

Essentially since there are four major cell carriers and smaller ones out in the market place the FTC will not be looking at the Verizon wireless company for non updates.

The argument here first was the FCC and how customers should file complaints about not getting updates. I pointed out the Federal Communications Commission has no legal authority to compel Verizon or any carrier to update your device.

Then it was the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) who petitioned the FTC to make a policy to compelling the FCC to intervene. This was in April 2013 and no such decision was ever produced to compel any government agency to intervene.

The problem here is as I have been writing all the time is "Verizon and other carriers do not have to provide updates to devices" the carriers do so simply as good will towards their customers.

When and if it gets sent out it will be a bonus and a huge surprise.

Just be patient.

[#7]

This reply us only on the computer statement.

Think about how many update Tuesdays Microsoft has sent out? Hundreds? Thousands?

I find it an a front to have to be under the thumbs of Microsoft and their constant screw up patches over and over.

This kind of OS and other ennhansments is a farse. And think about it, do you really want to keep getting "Update Tuesdays" on your Windows Phones? I know I would not like it one bit.

I don't like these constant updates on Tuesdays I have multiple computers running Windows and these so called updates are updates to fix the last updates. We are as consumers just being led through the nose.

Its a crazy cycle!

[B33]

I thought some of the crazyness would go away moving away from Win. XP to 8.1 Big E but I'm seeing about the same pattern maybe worse, always something to keep you mental state on the rise and good morning too ya.. b

[#9]

I was reading yesterday evening I think at PC World that there is now an outside vendor doing Windows XP updates. I believe the vendor was saying Microsoft may consider doing these security updates to the Windows XP devices.

From DOS, Windows 3.1, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8 (and less than 30 days later a Windows 8.1) and now a Windows 9.

The funny thing is many of these products were removing certain functions in one to then turn around and place them back in and assign them another name. Would or should you trust a company that keeps customers on a never ending update cycle? Yeah I am all for making money but when will this constant cycle end?

Good morning to you my friend!

[CharterCustomer]

DOS was targeted for an 8086/88 that was clocked at around 5 MHz, Windows 9 is targeted for a modern processor (multiple core, hyper-threaded, large multi-level cache, ...) that is clocked at around 3 GHz. That's like questioning why a frog can't think like a human. In a few years Siri and Cortana will be much more advanced, gestures will be the norm for user experience/interface and of course robots, robots, robots, .... will be everywhere. The new car I bought has about 40 processors.

Unfortunately, our laws and governments are so inept and incapable for what's coming in the future.