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Decent speech, but wrong venue.

Plus I don't agree wholesale with his points.

He's saying we censor ourselves knowing we're being watched.

But I remember the days before the Internet going to the library to search for books on subjects you didn't want the librarian to know about. Every book you checked out had your name printed in a card in a jacket on the back, along with everyone who had checked out the book before you.

Or what about shopping for indelicate items in a drug store versus buying from home?

I still think the Internet is generally a more anonymous place than the "real world."

There's a reason some authoritarian governments restrict the Internet so much. It's because it gives people the power to talk to each other and organize without being under surveillance of their government. Maybe they're under some app or web-site's surveillance instead, but you have to pick a poison and I'd pick Google, Reddit, Twitter, etc., over an authoritarian government.


The thing with the library-cards (IIRC, the card only contained your user-number, not the name, at least in the public library I went to as a kid, before it was migrated to an electronic system) was that there was no searchable database.
If the government would have wanted to know who had checked out a specific book, they would have had to ask each library individually, for each book.

With a computerized system, it's very easy to produce these statistics in computerized forms, in real-time.
For most such information (not necessarily libraries), there's even a standard (and government mandate) for lawful interception so that the authorities can do this check in the background, without the entity even realizing a request for this data was made.
 
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There are too many people who want credit without responsibility.
This is just a sad truth. I was working as a tradesperson with another guy for a little while, and customer just wanted to be serviced for free even if they actually know this is not gonna happen. How? They complain everything you do and whine about everything, whether they actually know what we are doing or not. Damn, even free service wont make them happy. All we could do is to try to treat it as a one-off deal and be done with it. Rough.
He's saying we censor ourselves knowing we're being watched.
Yes. I censor myself constantly, against employer, against parents, against friends. I am very confident that everyone else is self censoring one way or another from time to time. The reason could also vary, such as saving face, avoiding trouble or just wanting to end the conversation asap. Being watched is also a big reason of self censorship. Tim Cook has a fair point here, but literally nothing can be changed as the true freedom of speech will have a very hard time to exist.
I still think the Internet is generally a more anonymous place than the "real world."
Nah... Everyone is being watched, one way or another. Government knows exactly everyone is doing. It is just that most of us are not considered “threatening” most of the time.
The new generation especially are lulled into a false sense of freedom.
I cannot agree more on this point, though I find myself difficult to form my own thought.
 
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For all you Tim haters out there. How many universities have invited you to give their commencement address?
You mean people aren't entitled to their opinion? Or if theirs differ from yours they do not deserve to say it?

People should grow a pair, and understand not everyone thinks the same, once we agree to disagree, this world will be a better place.

If you are so "offended" by others opinion's, a forum might not be the best place for you, and if your have a point, you should try to use better argument than the one you posted here.

Just skip trought, and or ignore people if they get into your nerves like that :D
 
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Apple CEO Tim Cook delivered the commencement address at Stanford University today, sharing his thoughts on privacy, the need to always "be a builder," and how the loss of Steve Jobs made him learn the "real, visceral difference between preparation and readiness."


On the subject of privacy, Cook acknowledged that so many of our modern technological inventions have come out of Silicon Valley, but that recent years have seen "a less noble innovation: the belief that you can claim credit without accepting responsibility."

Cook stressed the importance of not accepting that we must give up privacy in order to enjoy advances in technology, arguing that there's much more at stake than just our data.
cook_stanford_commencement.jpg

Image credit: L.A. Cicero/Stanford University

Shifting focus to the aspirations of today's graduates, Cook encouraged each of them to "be a builder," regardless of their chosen occupation.Finally, Cook turned his speech to the topic of Steve Jobs, who famously stood on the same stage 14 years ago to give the commencement address.

Cook related the story of his conviction that Jobs would recover from his cancer, even as he handed the reins of Apple over to Cook. Drawing from what he learned in those dark days, Cook emphasized that "your mentors may leave you prepared, but they can't leave you ready."

Calling it the "loneliest I've ever felt in my life," Cook reflected on feeling the heavy expectations of those around him, noting that he eventually he realized he needed "be the best version" of himself and not let those around him and their expectations dictate his life.Today's speech at Stanford was just one of several commenencement addresses Cook has given in recent years, including Tulane University just last month, as well as his graduate alma mater Duke University last year, MIT in 2017, George Washington University in 2015, and his undergraduate alma mater Auburn University in 2010.

Article Link: Tim Cook Talks Privacy, Steve Jobs, and the 'Difference Between Preparation and Readiness' in Stanford Commencement Address

The preparation and readiness of say....Airpower.
 
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Did he end the speech offering the students a free month's trial of his Apple News Plus service?

Or perhaps his credit card (for those without too much student debt only)?
 
By the same token regarding privacy, Tim is at a loss as well because he wants us to use iCloud as well. The evidence is all over iPhone, when your nagged every now and then you switch it on "Finish setting up.." ?

I'm all for using iCloud or various technologies when if I ever need it, but to be constant in your face ? That's not a "mere" inconvenience... that's just begging to be used

Give users the option and NOT be constantly answered. Once it's at Apple, they have it, not you...
 
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Fact is, he's an accountant, and it shows. Everywhere. Maybe he has the supply chain stuff down to a science, but what he does not get - at all - is the SOUL of what made Apple the company and icon it used to be before he took over and turned it into a seriously boring tech giant. Or, as some people rightfully said about Microsoft back in the day: It just became another IBM. What was true statement about Microsoft back then is as true about Apple today. The company does not offer __visions__ anymore. Despite all the money they throw into marketing, their products just don't __excite__ anymore. They're not __special__ anymore. And __everybody__ owns and uses them. It's just boring, and there is no "next big thing" in that mythical pipeline Tim Cook keeps talking about.

I was born in 1970 and I've known Apple and their products since I was a kid. Apple's history is an important part of my own career. I learned to program in UCSD Pascal and 6502 Assembler on an Apple ][ back in the very early 1980s. I actually remember the excitement when the original Mac was revealed to the public -- and nobody had the money to buy one. We all had to move on to the IBM world simply because we couldn't afford the Mac. Microsoft Windows won not because it was better or because Microsoft was such an evil empire, but simply because they made graphical user interfaces AFFORDABLE. Still -- Apple always had a very special place in every geeks' heart. Like Sinclair, by the way. But also like the first PC with DOS 1.0 and BASICA or GWBASIC... And Turbo Basic and Turbo Pascal... Yeah, those were the days when computing was still FUN.

So yeah, a lot of us __do__ know the history of Apple. And we still don't believe that Tim Cook is the CEO that Apple needs. He was an amazing CFO; that was the right place for him. But running THAT tech company with only understanding its financial mechanics but NOT understanding its soul... That just doesn't fly.

For comparison, look at Microsoft under Bill Gates. Then look at what happened to the company when he handed it over to Steve Ballmer. Now look at the gigantic turn the company is taking under Satya Nadella and how __relevant__ Microsoft is becoming again. For a long while, Microsoft was just huge and financially successful, but they had lost all actual relevance in the tech sector; nobody cared for what Microsoft was doing anymore. Now they're back in the game and very obviously Nadella set the right course for the company.

But where is Apple going? Content subscription services for a vendor-locked-in user base? Seriously? That's all they have left? And __that__ is why people criticize Tim Cook so heavily, and he earned every single bit of it.
 
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Very important speech. Am shocked at how complacent people are about privacy and security. The new generation especially are lulled into a false sense of freedom. I’ve heard them say stupid things like ‘So what if my data is stolen I’m nobody anyway’ and ‘So what if they can read all my private data I haven’t committed a crime?’

They forget that crimes can be created anytime. Had an abortion? That can be made into a crime. Worshipped in the wrong direction? That can be made into a crime. Don’t want to worship or follow a religion? That can be made into a crime? Insulted a leader. That can be a crime.

Now this week that awful company FB wants to launch a creepto currency. Anyone who spends using this will have their spending recorded permanently and publicly. All that spending data to build up profiles about users. How much money do they have? What do they buy? Who did they send money to? Where does that person live? Did they have good security? How can I rob them? Public ledgers like that endanger people even more and because their creators distribute the technology they don’t have to take responsibility for what happens.

I think privacy/security are very important, but honestly your post and others sound very paranoid. If you’re really worried about your privacy you should really just live in a basement.

Do you use a debit or credit card? That company knows how much money you have and where you spend it.

Do you work for an employer? They also know how much money you have, your address, your social.

I just don’t get how some of you can be so obsessed with privacy, yet your personal information is in the hands of so many companies already... You’re also on camera when you go to stores/banks. Does that terrify you too?

I just am confused...
[doublepost=1560766488][/doublepost]
I don't think so. The CEO's gender and sexual orientation are absolutely irrelevant - there are many other reasons why Tim Cook deserves most of the criticism. Fact is, he's an accountant, and it shows. Everywhere. Maybe he has the supply chain stuff down to a science, but what he does not get - at all - is the SOUL of what made Apple the company and icon it used to be before he took over and turned it into a seriously boring tech giant. Or, as some people rightfully said about Microsoft back in the day: It just became another IBM. What was true statement about Microsoft back then is as true about Apple today. The company does not offer __visions__ anymore. Despite all the money they throw into marketing, their products just don't __excite__ anymore. They're not __special__ anymore. And __everybody__ owns and uses them. It's just boring, and there is no "next big thing" in that mythical pipeline Tim Cook keeps talking about.

But where is Apple going? Content subscription services for a vendor-locked-in user base? Seriously? That's all they have left? And __that__ is why people criticize Tim Cook so heavily, and he earned every single bit of it.

Your statement confuses me. Apple’s products today ARE special. You don’t think Apple Watch is unique and game-changing? You don’t think AirPods are unique? You don’t like Face ID on the iPhone X and beyond?

The company was naturally going to get larger and larger and would likely be VERY similar today if Steve were alive. That’s just how it is. What was so special about iPad when Steve introduced it? It was just a large iPhone. Look at it today. It’s made so many improvements. As has the iPhone.

I just don’t understand what you think Steve would be doing differently today if he were alive. The market would’ve eventually saturated and prices would still be high. You can’t keep living in this fantasy world where you think Apple is such a terrible company and Steve would be doing things sooooo much differently.

Things change. People change. That’s just how it is.
 
Fact is, he's an accountant, and it shows. Everywhere. Maybe he has the supply chain stuff down to a science, but what he does not get - at all - is the SOUL of what made Apple the company and icon it used to be before he took over and turned it into a seriously boring tech giant. Or, as some people rightfully said about Microsoft back in the day: It just became another IBM. What was true statement about Microsoft back then is as true about Apple today. The company does not offer __visions__ anymore. Despite all the money they throw into marketing, their products just don't __excite__ anymore. They're not __special__ anymore. And __everybody__ owns and uses them. It's just boring, and there is no "next big thing" in that mythical pipeline Tim Cook keeps talking about.

I was born in 1970 and I've known Apple and their products since I was a kid. Apple's history is an important part of my own career. I learned to program in UCSD Pascal and 6502 Assembler on an Apple ][ back in the very early 1980s. I actually remember the excitement when the original Mac was revealed to the public -- and nobody had the money to buy one. We all had to move on to the IBM world simply because we couldn't afford the Mac. Microsoft Windows won not because it was better or because Microsoft was such an evil empire, but simply because they made graphical user interfaces AFFORDABLE. Still -- Apple always had a very special place in every geeks' heart. Like Sinclair, by the way. But also like the first PC with DOS 1.0 and BASICA or GWBASIC... And Turbo Basic and Turbo Pascal... Yeah, those were the days when computing was still FUN.

So yeah, a lot of us __do__ know the history of Apple. And we still don't believe that Tim Cook is the CEO that Apple needs. He was an amazing CFO; that was the right place for him. But running THAT tech company with only understanding its financial mechanics but NOT understanding its soul... That just doesn't fly.

For comparison, look at Microsoft under Bill Gates. Then look at what happened to the company when he handed it over to Steve Ballmer. Now look at the gigantic turn the company is taking under Satya Nadella and how __relevant__ Microsoft is becoming again. For a long while, Microsoft was just huge and financially successful, but they had lost all actual relevance in the tech sector; nobody cared for what Microsoft was doing anymore. Now they're back in the game and very obviously Nadella set the right course for the company.

But where is Apple going? Content subscription services for a vendor-locked-in user base? Seriously? That's all they have left? And __that__ is why people criticize Tim Cook so heavily, and he earned every single bit of it.

Good post. It’s probably true that those who think Tim is above criticism because he has gazillions in the bank are looking at it from a childish perspective.
 
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It’s a nice speech, I’ll give him that. It just doesn’t feel right when you put in the overall context of Apple:

• hiring diversity for political corectness and PR
• hiring executives that only look good on paper
• silencing and/or letting go of the disruptive creatives
• talking green, while gluing/soldering stuff together and making hardware repairs next to impossible
• ...

I mean, we all know these and many more reasons. If I was responsible for all that, I would never dare to say any of that he’s saying all the time, because that’s being very hypocritical.

I know, we the trolls, the bitter ones, the haters will always be like this. It’s not because we want to be. It’s because we want change. Change for the better.
 
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Fishing for some likes here?
Really could not care less about other people's approval, I speak my mind.

And yes I do not like Tim, and it is probably something other people think as well, and just because I express it (as others do) does not mean I am looking to get something in return.

I speak my mind, do not care if it is popular or not, it is what I think.


EDIT:
For your health, get out of social media mindset :D
 
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Why is this clown repeatedly speaking at commencements? Are students actually excited to hear Tim Cook speak... on their big day, of all days?

...Is this his equivalent of a 'book deal'?

So many questions, so few answers.
Why do you care how many commencements he speaks at? Has no effect on you.

And yes, I think students are excited to hear his insights.
[doublepost=1560772339][/doublepost]
It’s a nice speech, I’ll give him that. It just doesn’t feel right when you put in the overall context of Apple:

• hiring diversity for political corectness and PR
• hiring executives that only look good on paper
• silencing and/or letting go of the disruptive creatives
• talking green, while gluing/soldering stuff together and making hardware repairs next to impossible
• ...

I mean, we all know these and many more reasons. If I was responsible for all that, I would never dare to say any of that he’s saying all the time, because that’s being very hypocritical.

I know, we the trolls, the bitter ones, the haters will always be like this. It’s not because we want to be. It’s because we want change. Change for the better.
What’s a hypocritical post combined with a dose of hyperbole.

One example: going green is a process not an endgame. Not sacrificing the quality of your products by gluing until an alternative method is found, is not hypocritical on apple’s part. Even if they continue to glue for their own reasons doesn’t mean Apple is not looking to better their green standing.

As far as hiring executives that look good in paper is an example of the hyperbole.
[doublepost=1560772422][/doublepost]
Good post. It’s probably true that those who think Tim is above criticism because he has gazillions in the bank are looking at it from a childish perspective.
It doesn’t mean that the criticism leveled at him (from MR posters) is correct either.
 
Why do you care how many commencements he speaks at? Has no effect on you.

And yes, I think students are excited to hear his insights.
[doublepost=1560772339][/doublepost]
What’s a hypocritical post combined with a dose of hyperbole.

One example: going green is a process not an endgame. Not sacrificing the quality of your products by gluing until an alternative method is found, is not hypocritical on apple’s part. Even if they continue to glue for their own reasons doesn’t mean Apple is not looking to better their green standing.

As far as hiring executives that look good in paper is an example of the hyperbole.
[doublepost=1560772422][/doublepost]
It doesn’t mean that the criticism leveled at him (from MR posters) is correct either.

I respect your opinion on the matter as well as calling mine a hyperbole. I think we can both see the direction of your sentiments towards Apple.
 
I respect your opinion on the matter as well as calling mine a hyperbole. I think we can both see the direction of your sentiments towards Apple.
Same here.

Things are not binary. Having a glued board or AirPod, doesn’t negate apple’s efforts. Apple is a big company with lots of attention, I like how Tim Cook has not only grown Apple, but is not the conventional Wall Street Ceo.
 
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build, don't tear down. Yes, I believe the students were excited to hear from Tim Cook, as they probably would be from any successful speaker on their day venturing to begin their own success.

Optimistic but I disagree

“My generation has failed you” he said the other day

...Great so why are you on the stage then?

If he's such a humanitarian, maybe his business model shouldn't be so heavily reliant on the backbones of $2/hr factory workers in China for crazy high margin products that have addictive qualities. No introspection. He does this all while claiming to be a champion of human rights and a political activist, moving the needle for society. I don't get it. Couldn't he do some activism against himself if that's what he were truly really all about?

The guy that orchestrates the pumping out of iPhones and has us all glued to our screens like zombies everywhere we go, is the one that's gonna steer us on the right course? Gimme a break.

Steve Jobs knew his place and he also made no apologies about it, which I admire.

And generally speaking- Less is more. Fewer appearances would at least artificially heighten the significance of each one
 
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If only a few close down their FB accounts after listening to the speech...but most will only talk about. Again.
 
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