brianjo

Apple used to have Powerbooks with built in light based networking, and it operated at the same speed as wired LocalTalk, a whopping 230.4kbps. The next iteration brought IrDA which was an industry standard that allowed communication to other devices beyond just between macs. Speed was increased to 4Mbps which made it quite useful for file transfers.  This was especially useful, as WIFI wasn't in many machines yet.

Sharing passwords (especially in a business environment) is a major security issue. It's amazing that they are making that EASIER.

Of course, there are plenty of websites that haven't taken the simple step of letting businesses create business accounts that can have multiple sub users each with their own login, so I see why people still do it.  Still a major problem in many ways!

A 10-year-old child spent over $3000 on Roblox via the family iPad, charges applied after the child changed the account password.

This is a problem with iOS. It's set up to be a single use device, yet people purchase them as family devices. This encourages, if not requires sharing AppleIDs and passwords instead of the proper method of each user having their own ID and password.

Granted, when using a shared device, I typically recommend creating a separate 'family' AppleID that has all of the restrictions in place that requires adult approval for purchases, etc.  However, since Apple doesn't have a system in place for family use of an iPad, this puts it more on the onus of the family to come up with this sort of solution. It also means that anyone with access to the iPad can change the password on that AppleID on that pad, including the 10 year old using it.

The AppleTV used to be the same problem. Recently, they've added family features into the device. It's about time that the iPad got the same treatment.

For family AppleIDs, Apple really should let families set things up they way they do with business and school accounts.  The parents then could have control of the children AppleIDs, being able to reset passwords, lock devices, etc.

I wonder if they will re-make the old accounts available for re-use.  I've created, but rarely or never used accounts on many services as they launched to protect my brand and identity.  I've also got accounts that I've used but essentially abandoned. However, those accounts would still potentially exist in contact lists of those I've communicated with.  If suddenly someone else were able to revive those addresses, it could be a path to identity theft.

"The most obvious is that younger iPhone customers appreciate the sometimes-subtle improvements in subsequent models more than older iPhone users do," it writes. "At the same time, they seem to be more prepared for the monthly expense of paying off a newer iPhone, and more aware of the value in trading in a relatively newer model to help reduce that acquisition cost." 

Baloney.  The younger kids buy the latest and greatest because they have to keep up an image.  Imagine being 24 years old and using a 5 year old phone. You'd be a complete outcast to your peers!  

As people get older, the realize that the differences in the newest phones likely don't offer much value, especially at the cost of new phones. Younger kids also don't grasp the true opportunity cost of that shiny new phone.  I always find it funny when there are kids that complain that they don't have any money as they are staring at their $1200 phone that's only going to last them a year or two. Of course, that cost gets hidden in the monthly payments, but that's still what it's costing them.