Category: Economics, Business, & Work

Oh, That “Pull To Refresh” Thing In iOS? Yeah, Twitter Has A Patent App On That | TechCrunch

This is why patents are becoming (or have become) just stupid:

Yep, Twitter is trying to patent “pull to refresh.” But the patent app doesn’t stop there – it goes after anything that issues a command on pulling down a menu.

Source: Oh, That “Pull To Refresh” Thing In iOS? Yeah, Twitter Has A Patent App On That | TechCrunch

 

The part that really aggravates me is how any fool could replicate what they did, and would have in short order with or without an example. That is not a patentable discovery and the people in the patent offices should be ashamed of their ignorance of simple abstraction and their culpability in strangling the innovation they are supposed to be serving by protecting the truly revolutionary which no one would ever have come up with but for the permission of the genius who invented it also explaining its inner workings.

Should Apple Make The iPad User-Serviceable? Nope, That’s Anti-Consumer | TechCrunch

The very nature of this new world demands products are replaced rather than put on life support. Without the quick purchase turnaround time, the innovation cycle will slow and perhaps cause the fast growing movement to collapse altogether.

Yes, I just suggested that if Apple made the iPad user-serviceable, tablets could fail.

Innovation is fueled by profits. Without profits, companies cannot invest into research and development. If you do not buy a new tablet every several years, these profits will dwindle and cause innovation to slow. Companies like Apple do not make money on servicing products. Money is only made when they sell you a new product. For better or worse, this is the way of the consumer electronics world.

Source: Should Apple Make The iPad User-Serviceable? Nope, That’s Anti-Consumer | TechCrunch

Why I’d Rather Shoot Myself in the Head than Ever Own a Home Again – Freakonomics Freakonomics

Many people have said to me in the past month, “I’m going to buy a home.” Or, “What do you think of the idea of me buying a home?” I like the second batch of people. They are my friends and it seems like they are sincerely asking for my advice. And I’m going to give it to them. Whether they meant it or not.

Source: Why I’d Rather Shoot Myself in the Head than Ever Own a Home Again – Freakonomics Freakonomics

Original: Why I Am Never Going to Own a Home Again – Altucher Confidential

 

From comments:

Only a fool ultimately stays a renter, because they are bypassing the very thing that defines western society and law. Real property ownership.

— anonymous

The unemployment facts we’d rather not face – Fortune

An alarming view of prospective young employees comes from the Defense Department, which has found that 75% of Americans aged 17 to 24 are not qualified to serve in the armed forces.
…
If America wants its economy to be as good as its armed forces, then the same requirements apply to young people looking for private-sector jobs. And the Pentagon is telling us that some 26 million young adults don’t meet the requirements.

Source: The unemployment facts we’d rather not face – Fortune