TimK 's Techdirt Comments

Latest Comments (83) comment rss

  • On the post: DOJ Prepares To Sign Off On An Elaborate T-Mobile Merger Plan That Isn't Likely To Work

    TimK ( profile ), 25 Jul, 2019 @ 10:38am

    Is this for real? Are they actually calling Dish a "carrier"? They own zero antennas. Zero equipment. They are nothing more than an MVNO. So what if they have bandwidth and potential. They will be selling access to T-Mobile. They are no more of a carrier than WalMart. And saying "they have 3 years to build a network".....oh, sure, they will magically build a coast to coast 4G (what about 5G??) network in 3yrs that will compete with ATT and VZW (and T-Mo/Sprint). This whole agreement is based on what Dish COULD do and not what Dish IS.

  • On the post: Australian Prosecutors Trying To Throw Reporters In Jail For Accurately Reporting On Cardinal George Pell's Conviction

    TimK ( profile ), 29 Mar, 2019 @ 05:48am

    If I were an Australian journalist....

    If I were an Australian journalist I would FOR SURE be going after "The Director of Public Prosecutions". It would be an all-out assault. I would have reporters digging through their past, their trash, interviewing their friends and neighbors, track down their report cards from high school, everything.
    Everyone has baggage....time to dig it up and make it public. Write articles about them every single day. Show them the power of the press!

  • On the post: EU 'Protecting Consumers' By Forcing Them To Pay More For Android?

    TimK ( profile ), 26 Oct, 2018 @ 05:07am

    Meh.
    First of all, the manufactures will negotiate that price with Google down to nothing. It is basically a Google Apps MSRP. So NOBODY will have to pay more for their phone.
    Secondly, I read somewhere that Google does referral deals on search, so any manufacturer who wants the "payola style" kickback on search revenue will "pay" google to install the apps and include chrome and search.
    The end result is nothing more than a few extra contract terms between Google and Samsung/LG/Huawei etc.

  • On the post: The Washington Post Thinks Overpaying For Broadband Bundles Is A Hoot

    TimK ( profile ), 25 Apr, 2018 @ 06:19am

    Re: Re:

    Hmmm. Let me think about these other services I may be forgetting....

    CBS online? Nope, I get CBS with PS Vue.
    Hulu? Nope, I already get all the networks with PS Vue.
    Netflix? I was already paying for that with cable.
    Amazon? I have had Prime for years and never watch video.

    I can't even think of another streaming service, let alone one I need to pay for!

  • On the post: The Washington Post Thinks Overpaying For Broadband Bundles Is A Hoot

    TimK ( profile ), 25 Apr, 2018 @ 06:16am

    Re: Re:

    To be fair, my internet rate will go to either $54.99 or $59.99 in a year or two (I don't remember). I'll just cancel and re-join under my name like I did with my wife's name to get this "new customer deal". Even if I didn't bother I would still save over $70 a month.

    Of course, Verizon and Comcast will probably jack their rates even higher as more people do the same thing....you know, instead of just reducing their outrageous "triple play" rates.

    Seriously, if Verizon and Comcast just sold their triple play packages for $100/mo and didn't have the absurd box rentals and other BS fees they wouldn't have to worry about this.

  • On the post: The Washington Post Thinks Overpaying For Broadband Bundles Is A Hoot

    TimK ( profile ), 24 Apr, 2018 @ 06:56am

    I'm so tired of the "cutting cable doesn't save money" claim. I save over $90/mo and I think I lost 1 channel that I obviously didn't care that much about since I don't remember what channel it was!


    My last cable/phone/internet bill was $180.37

    My current bill:
    PS Vue TV: $44.99/mo
    Verizon FioS 100/100 service: $39.99/mo
    VOIP.ms Phone Service: ~ $2.80/mo

    Total monthly cost: $87.88
    Total monthly savings: $92.49

    Upfront costs
    Linksys VOIP adapter: $28.00
    Roku Premiere+: $49.99
    Roku Streaming Stick+: $49.99

    Total upfront costs: $127.98

    Time to break even on upfront expenses: 42 days.

  • On the post: Another Day, Another Flimsy Report Claiming TV Cord Cutting Won't Save You Money

    TimK ( profile ), 30 Jan, 2018 @ 10:01am

    We recently "thinned" our cord. We were paying $180/mo for phone, internet, 3 TV's with a mid tier package, no premiums, and DVR. We bought two Rokus for $100, went internet only for $40 and PS Vue for $45. We lost 2 channels we watch, one of which I can stream online.

    So $95/ month is not saving money????

  • On the post: Court Holds NYPD In Contempt For Refusing To Hand Over Documents Related To Black Live Matter Surveillance

    TimK ( profile ), 11 Dec, 2017 @ 05:45am

    Re:

    I came here to post the same thing. Jail the commissioner if he doesn't provide the information required. Then the next day jail the NYPDs #2. And so on down the line until the information is released. I mean, it's a win even if the info never gets released and the whole NYPD brass ends up in jail.

  • On the post: Shocker: Study Finds Cord Cutting Very Real, TV Execs Still Failing To Adapt

    TimK ( profile ), 08 Dec, 2017 @ 01:10pm

    We just cut the cord last week. I'm a 40-something living in my own house with a wife and 3 kids. Paying $180/mo for internet/phone/TV was just absurd. Probably $40 was BS fees and box rentals. Dropped to a 100/100 internet only plan plus PS Vue TV. Picked up a couple of Roku's on Black Friday and we are all set. $100 up front equipment cost and $40/mo internet and $45/ Vue TV. We will save $100/month and not really lose anything of note. Maybe comedy Central and another non-critical channel. So far so good.

  • On the post: Netflix Has Narcos Actors Threaten To Shoot The Families Of French People For Pirating The Show

    TimK ( profile ), 15 Sep, 2017 @ 06:00am

    Usually I agree with your analysis....

    But not this time. I thought it was a clever and humorous approach to addressing people illegally downloading a show on Netflix. I think you are overreacting to this.

  • On the post: AMC To Charge Cable Customers $5 More To Avoid Advertisements

    TimK ( profile ), 07 Jul, 2017 @ 06:48am

    Re: Alternate

    I just looked into this and found out it's been discontinued! (The will sell you the Ininitv but the echos that you need for each tv have been discontinued) I thought I had found a solution to my absurd cable bills....but alas Microsoft has killed that dream by eliminating media server after windows 8.

  • On the post: AMC To Charge Cable Customers $5 More To Avoid Advertisements

    TimK ( profile ), 07 Jul, 2017 @ 06:54am

    Who the F*** is going to voluntarily pay MORE for cable? That's a F-ing insane plan to propose when your very customers are leaving cable because of the pricing. Why not come up with a better non-cable alternative option instead. Even offer that service to people who pay for an app option. But not ON TOP of cable TV.

    I'll be watching TWD without commercials and I'll do it for free. My DVR records it and I wait about 30 minutes into the show to start watching. I skip all the commercials with a couple of remote clicks and finish watching at the same exact time. Plus I had 25 or so minutes of extra time.

  • On the post: Our Response To Titan Note Sending A Frivolous Takedown Notice Over Our Critical Coverage

    TimK ( profile ), 01 Jun, 2017 @ 10:19am

    He said bumptious

    he he.

  • On the post: Cord Cutting Is Very Real, And 25% Of Americans Won't Subscribe To Traditional Cable By Next Year

    TimK ( profile ), 27 Apr, 2017 @ 08:13am

    I want to cut the cord!

    I want to be a 25%-er! YouTube TV is almost ready for me to make the move. As soon as they integrate it into something besides a Chromecast (like a Roku) that allows me to use a remote control and increase concurrent users to more than 3, I'm there. It has everything I need. 90% of the "TV" watched in my household is my kids on Netflix. The remaining 10% is a mix of network and popular cable channels. If I could get it all on one "box" that I don't have to "rent" every month, the savings would be significant. Even after switching to a jacked up rate for 'broadband only' I'd still save money. I probably have to switch from Verizon to Comcast (or at least pretend to) in order to get a reasonable 'customer rate', but it will be worth it.

  • On the post: Appeals Court Says Right To Bear Arms Isn't A Right If Cops Are Banging On Your Door In The Middle Of The Night

    TimK ( profile ), 27 Mar, 2017 @ 03:45pm

    > Holding an officer accountable for rights violations is almost impossible. Those who've obtained settlements might receive something to help with medical/funeral bills and the feeling they might have made a small, positive difference.

    Let's not leave out the fact that none of that settlement money comes out of the officer's pocket...it is all paid by the citizen taxpayers. So, we all get to pay the continued salaries of these bad cops and their benefits and pensions, and on top of that, hundreds of thousands of dollars or more in settlement money each year. Great.

  • On the post: Order This Weekend To Get The Next Batch Of Techdirt Gear!

    TimK ( profile ), 18 Feb, 2017 @ 12:04pm

    Just ordered a Techdirt tee. Keep up the good work!

  • On the post: Chris Christie Says Asset Forfeiture Transparency Is Bad For Law Enforcement, Vetoes Unanimously-Supported Bill

    TimK ( profile ), 13 Feb, 2017 @ 09:50am

    Re: Gotta love those checks and balances

    Agreed. Why exactly does his veto block this becoming law for the "foreseeable future"? If it was passed unanimously, why wouldn't the legislature simply vote to override the veto?

  • On the post: Cable's Congressional Allies Quickly Urge New FCC Boss To Kill Cable Box Competition Plan

    TimK ( profile ), 26 Jan, 2017 @ 07:30am

    Re:

    (By costs I meant cost to consumers)

  • On the post: Cable's Congressional Allies Quickly Urge New FCC Boss To Kill Cable Box Competition Plan

    TimK ( profile ), 26 Jan, 2017 @ 07:27am

    Well, on the bright side this will allow the cable industry to continue on the path to its own demise. Opening up the cable box may have actually been beneficial to the cable industry in the long run by lowering costs and improving service.

  • On the post: MacWorld, PCWorld Kill Site Comments Because They 'Value And Welcome Feedback'

    TimK ( profile ), 22 Nov, 2016 @ 12:27pm

    What I don't understand is, how these online "news-type" organizations plan to survive by driving away views? Want to comment on an article on our site? Oh, go to a third party service and let them make money off of our audience. They can't be that blind can they?

Next >>