They also refused to use the standard voice over LTE and refuse to let any thing that they didn’t sell try to connect to their voice over LTE even if it’s compatible. Leaving restricted Apple from enabling voice over LTE for iPhones not from Australia even though it’s just a software update that you need that doesn’t run on the firmware level.
I’m not sure how many kids will be into PC gaming when a low end Nvidia gpu is currently $550. I know that everything comes pre overclocked, and the 4070s still a good card even though it’s got a low and die in it it’s just depressing in the principle of it.
Maybe things like the steam deck will push kids into Linux since the mid-range gaming desktop is like two grand now.
The ic package Apple was using was supposed to be deprecated but Apple kept using it. The 12GB module that fits the same pin array was about 50 cents cheaper last year when the M3 launched. That could be since Apple bought all the packages or it could just be Apple scamming people. The package you need for 16 GB of RAM was also less than $5 more than the 8GB
Standard markup is about 100% on electronics from the bom cost, but things on a closed ecosystem that are supposed to make their money back in software and service licensing or normally so close to the cost. On something like a game console you are looking at a 10 to 15% mark up at retail. The wholesale price is very close to the bill of materials. The only company that really sticks out is Nintendo who sells at a 15 to 20% markup wholesale and then never lowers the price.
The really insulting thing about how Apple does it is the they add a 500 to 1000% mark up for storage ram upgrades. They even kept using 8 GB on the MacBooks when it was cheaper to run 12 or 16 GB ram ICS for the package size they were using.
They’re actively blocking North American and international iPhones from connecting to their Network. Apple has updates for each region that automatically download when you get there, but they’re claiming it’s a trade secret so only the phones they sell can get that update that’s made by Apple for them. It isn’t even a firmware update it’s a little app that downloads in the background. Google does the same thing with Android, the pixel line, and anything running the stock with Google services or pixel experience.