A growing number of smart devices are being sold at below-cost, using a combination of data harvesting, ads and a proprietary app/skills store to make a profit for the maker after the sale.
(Yes it happens but it's damn rare)
I can afford tons of things when they are subsidized. That's why coal, etc. still seem so sustainable and we think we can afford them as well.
* Offer price with view tracking
* Offer price without view tracking
I cannot argue that this shouldn't be clearly visible, and I think, for the benefit of the consumer this can't be a ridiculous matrix of all the different kinds of tracking. Opt-in or pay the higher price. That sounds fair. But "make it so no one can opt-in": no. That is oppressive nonsense from rich people who would go "How much does a TV cost, man? Ten thousand dollars? Just buy it."
AFAIK Amazon is not keeping a remote log of every file accessed on my Kindle. Can you point to something saying otherwise?
> I cannot argue that this shouldn't be clearly visible, and I think, for the benefit of the consumer this can't be a ridiculous matrix of all the different kinds of tracking.
Visibility isn't really an issue either way if it's achieved normality.
If they ever start watching anti-government propaganda, the government will know.
We've all read 1984. We know what happens.
1984 was the mid 20th century take. I'm pretty sure any current take would be focused on people's desire for authoritarianism.
It's an education problem. Pointing at an ignorant man and then claiming he should get what he desires is ridiculous.