Source: saunderslog.com

I’ve spent the last couple of days mostly disconnected.  We’re in Quebec City on our way to Shediac New Brunswick, and while the hotel does have WiFi, I made the mistake of installing multiple pieces of software and Windows updates on Friday morning.  I wanted to be able to edit photo. and download videos from my Sony video camera while on vacation.  Suffice it to say that the fragility of Windows never ceases to amaze me.  After two days of blue screen’s on boot, I’ve managed to roll back the updates and installs to a week ago, and roll forward the updates only — just in time to leave.

Today seems to be beat on AT&T day.  This morning has two pretty inflammatory pieces as the top items on techmeme.

BlackBerry Cool reports a rumour that AT&T is neutering the GPS on the BlackBerry 8820 in an effort to make it less competitive with iPhone.  It’s tough to imagine that they would do that, but if so, it’s probably one of the more anti-consumer moves they’ve made in a long time.  On a par with, for instance, Vodafone’s decision to kill WiFi VoIP.

Ars Technica writes that FCC Commissioner Michael Copps is openly linking the AT&T censorship of Eddie Vedder to Net Neutrality issues.  This ups the ante considerably, suggesting that content and carriage should be separate businesses. 

And, while not about AT&T, this Washington Post article about consumer disatisfaction with cell phone contracts shows the lengths that people will go to in order to get out of their contracts.  One man reportedly faked his own death.

It seems to be just a matter of time before carriers must modify their policies to be more consumer friendly — either voluntarily, or at the end of a stick wielded by politicians.