Verizon buying AOL

[Deeko]

http://www.engadget.com/2015/05/12/verizon-buys-aol/

So...Engadget is no longer a reliable source then. Where does that leave us? The Verge, Gizmodo, and BGR are all trash already. Ars and Anandtech? Decent sources of gadget news dwindling...

 

[NikolaeVarius]

Is Toms Hardware considered a news source?

 

[paperwastage]

http://www.engadget.com/2015/05/12/verizon-buys-aol/

So...Engadget is no longer a reliable source then. Where does that leave us? The Verge, Gizmodo, and BGR are all trash already. Ars and Anandtech? Decent sources of gadget news dwindling...

http://arstechnica.com/business/201...-news-site-hasnt-published-anything-in-weeks/

looks like verizon finally got a tech news site under its wings

 

[poofyhairguy]

http://www.engadget.com/2015/05/12/verizon-buys-aol/

So...Engadget is no longer a reliable source then. Where does that leave us?

Lots of new players (android central greenbot, 9to5, etc.), but they are usually platform specific. The major cross-platform tech sites are dying off, everyone prefers tunnel vision it seems.

 

[mrochester]

Lots of new players (android central greenbot, 9to5, etc.), but they are usually platform specific. The major cross-platform tech sites are dying off, everyone prefers tunnel vision it seems.

The cross-platform sites are constantly accused of being biased one way or another, and it's typically not the site that's biased, it's the people making the comments.

 

[Kaido]

R

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2431090

 

[Commodus]

I'd wait and see before decrying the fate of Engadget. There's a difference between owning a news site and influencing its editorial content. Remember, Comcast has a stake in The Verge's parent company Vox, but that hasn't kept Nilay and crew from defending net neutrality.

 

[Deeko]

R

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2431090

That's in off topic and is about the acquisition as a whole; this thread is specifically related to its impact on the gadget world due to properties such as Engadget being owned by a company with a conflict of interest.

But, congrats for pointing it out.

 

[soccerballtux]

Is Toms Hardware considered a news source?

not IMO

this leaves us with ArsTechnica

I didn't really care about Engadget

 

[darkswordsman17]

This really shouldn't change much insofar as I view Engadget. I pretty much use them just as an announcement site for gadgets. I never gave their editorial stuff much consideration as it's generally very lacking and so really only served as a light heads up for people who apparently don't read any sites that are any more in depth. Nor did I really give much credence to their reviews and if they suddenly only review Verizon versions of devices and some other things it'll be pretty obvious to tell what's going on.

I expect this will likely lead to AOL finally going under in a few years after Verizon fails to prevent their collapse and then writes them off, probably after Verizon tries desperately to split them up and rebrand certain parts of them, or tries to use AOL branding to push some even more awful than AOL internet service portal.

 

[sweenish]

I started re-visiting engadget again after the verge jumped off a cliff. They've really turned themselves around the last couple of years.

Sometimes I miss the look of the verge and their longform articles, but then I'm reminded why I left when I look at any review and the editorials.

 

[Artdeco]

The Verge really jumped the shark imho, after Nilay took over, it's become seo chum, with a dose of political correctness.

Anyone remember this fiasco?

https://www.techdirt.com/articles/2...-net-neutrality-government-surveillance.shtml

 

[Kaido]

That's in off topic and is about the acquisition as a whole; this thread is specifically related to its impact on the gadget world due to properties such as Engadget being owned by a company with a conflict of interest.

We should probably merge mine over here, it's more mobile-related anyway.

 

[holden j caufield]

I would think AOL is close to worthless but someone said they still make a large size from legacy or autopay old people.

 

[Anubis]

I would think AOL is close to worthless but someone said they still make a large size from legacy or autopay old people.

you would be amazed at the number of older people, not just super old who have no idea how the internet actually works


ive had to explain to a large number of very highly educated people the difference in dial up and broadband and speed difference and such, a lot of them simply will never get it. they are simply locked into the wrong time

 

[midwestfisherman]

Reditt?

BTW, I agree the Verge Sucks!

 

[sweenish]

I would think AOL is close to worthless but someone said they still make a large size from legacy or autopay old people.

They have a lot of back-end and middle-ware software and an ad service.

I swear, the sources of information people have is ridiculous.

 

[mmntech]

Engadget says they'll be maintaining journalistic independence. Verizon apparently doesn't have a strong track record on that front though.

I guess that leaves Ars and The Register, plus the smaller tech sites. Anandtech and Tom's don't really do news anymore.

you would be amazed at the number of older people, not just super old who have no idea how the internet actually works

The internet is a small black box with a blinking red light on the top. No cords? Duh, it's wireless.

 

[KentState]

I find it funny that people are going on about Engadget and missing the bigger picture on what is really happening. It's the ultimate red herring.

 

[sweenish]

I find it funny that people are going on about Engadget and missing the bigger picture on what is really happening. It's the ultimate red herring.

And there you are, not letting anyone in on the big secret. How does it feel to hold all the cards?

 

[magomago]

What is wrong with the verge? What happened?

I thought they were the ex employees of somewhere that jumped ship to do a tech/gadget oriented website right.

 

[KentState]

And there you are, not letting anyone in on the big secret. How does it feel to hold all the cards?

I'm sure even a simpleton could figure it out if he tried

 

[mmntech]

I find it funny that people are going on about Engadget and missing the bigger picture on what is really happening. It's the ultimate red herring.

That big telecom is trying to consolidate online media like they did with television, and ultimately screwing over consumers yet again?

 

[Obsy]

What is wrong with the verge? What happened?

I thought they were the ex employees of somewhere that jumped ship to do a tech/gadget oriented website right.

I think the main complaint about them is their bias for Apple. You get whiners like that on every tech channel, but I really do think The Verge are narrow-minded.