Ars: “Verizon says its Pixels will get updates at the same time as Google’s”

Gruber:

Ron Amadeo:

A Verizon spokesperson has reached out to Ars with the following corrections about its version of the Pixel:

“… [W]hen Google releases an update, Verizon phones will receive the same update at the same time (much like iOS updates). … [W]e have three apps pre-installed on the phone Go90, My Verizon (which is your account management tool) and Verizon Messages (your messaging app). As you noted, all three can easily be uninstalled by the user.”

Assuming this pans out, it’s the closest anyone has gotten to Apple’s total control over the software on its phones. The only difference: the (removable) pre-installed Verizon crapware apps.

When I last purchased an iPhone from a carrier store, I was pressured to activate the phone in-store so they could install their apps for me, supposedly it was “company mandated policy.” I wanted to do an iCloud restore, I didn’t want to twiddle my thumbs while that happened in their store, so I insisted on getting the phone in the box or I was leaving. I was only allowed to do that on the promise that I’d install “myAT&T” when I was finished with the iCloud restore. Naturally, I didn’t do it, their website works just fine.

AT&T, Apple, Google to work on ‘robocall’ crackdown

For a couple of different reasons, the frequency which I received automated telemarketing is increasing, and I find it quite annoying. The phone call used to be something casual, when I was a kid, I’d call people just to see what was going on with them. Because text communication and cell phones, this is no longer necessary, and in fact, I suspect most people find phone calls rather intrusive, what with the ringing and having to pause talking to everyone else. Which is why telemarketing is so annoying. Thankfully, Reuters:

The chief executive of AT&T (T.N) will announce Friday that 33 companies including the telecom giant, Alphabet Inc (GOOGL.O), Apple Inc (AAPL.O) and Comcast Corp (CMCSA.O) are joining an effort with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to crackdown on robocalls.

Despite these companies actually holding one another by the throat, these fierce rivals all agree: robocalls suck.