Posts by Mage
1799 posts • joined Friday 23rd November 2007 08:43 GMT
Page:
Extremely Compelling
If you browse more than create.
“It is already extremely compelling for many customers to choose a tablet, in particular an iPad, over a PC,” he said. “When you look at the PC market, there is an enormous opportunity for Apple there.”
He means Mac Market converting to iPad, they have almost no growth at all.
They will release 13" & 17" or similar iPads with keyboards and call them Macs. As soon as they are cheaper to make as x86 ones and can be sold for same price as the x86 ones.
Re: Boring
yes, this is a bit meh ...
Unless it totally tanks. That would be amusing. But as yet I'll largely ignore it.
RiscOS release for Raspberry Pi is more interesting.
The Data party
The reality is that when you analyse use and traffic there is a about a 100x to 300x difference between voice and data. Voice is over priced. Data is hugely subsidised by voice on existing Mobile. This is why "3" makes little or no money (I think none ever in Ireland) as they don't have enough voice customers.
Mobile data ought to be more expensive. The mystery is why the 4G isn't x5 more expensive, unless in reality the GSM & 3G voice charges are unbelievably excessive.
50 minutes voice at less than 16kbps each way costs the operator how much compared to 1G of data (all of which is is outside their network).
Some voice calls are on their network (no data leaving)
Other Calls:
if you get as many calls as you make, then the outgoing termination costs for operator are similar to incoming Revenue.
Re: Works for me
Ah... Amazon copied that did they?
I see in reviews the Kobo Glo has transreflective LED lamp and 1024 x 768.
I don't much like the idea it reboots when you load a new document.
Re: PATENTS MUST BE INVENTIVE and NON OBVIOUS!!!!
Actually capacitive screens about same vintage as resistive. But low resolution. People wanted handwriting recognition and stylus operated shrunk desktop GUI.
Capacitive is inherently very low resolution.
The ideal is capacitive AND resistive (or some new tech that has light touch finger and stylus, ideally reporting pressure and angle too). They existed before any Apple iThing but after Apple Newton (which was deliberately resistive for handwriting).
The only change with iPhone was smoother better thought out GUI and less buttons. Otherwise no new technology at all. No Apple developed HW.
Re: Obviously they lack buttons
I agree, the patent unfortunately was not invalidated, but it should be.
Hot Fixes
We only had wet string and CDs in the post.
So NT 3.51, NT4.0 had Hot Fixes for bugs and additional drivers before SP releases. Either on the Monthly CDs or via Dialup. We got ISDN, then ADSL during life of NT4.0
It's just more of what they had before, more streamlined due to broadband.
BTW, where is my SP7 for NT4.0? The beta USB driver worked great, though I had to install on the scanner or whatever on Win2000 and copy files as stupid installer checks OS version and not available features (which was the MS recommendation actually).
Datasheets on "Paperwhite"
Hmm,
1024 x 768 (if true) is about possible for A4 PDF filling screen (about 96 dots per original inch). An HD landscape screen is 1920 x 1080, so only 56 pixels longer for document and it nearly works (1200 pixels high works for A4). But since there is no title bar and menu bar, it may be similar to full A4 portrait pdf in a window on a 1600 x 1200 or 1920 x 1200 landscape display.
I tried the existing 800 x 600 Kindle in the house here. No good at all for US letter size or A4 size PDFs
Where can I try one?
In the past all radio stations that played pop music were pirate
Actually they were not. The problem was specifically in the UK and pre-dated the 1960s.
In the 1930s and late 1940s to early 1960s people listened to the "Popular" music in the UK after dark on Foreign stations.
The UK Postmaster General controlled the airwaves. Till the Light Program and then the Third program started after the war any sort of music fan was badly served. UK had ONLY the Home Service during daytime. (And World Service in some area).
208 wasn't a Pirate station and specifically targeted UK after dark. US AFN was popular too in 1940s and 1950s for Popular music.
Ireland only had one station till about 1972!
Other countries had more choice. Pirate radio was actually a quite short lived phenomenon most popular in UK. The Pirate station in Post War Europe that caused so much grief that the BBC asked to roll out VHF,eventually started in 1955 (in US pre war and on current band in 1945 and in Germany from 1949) was a Latvian station the Russians for some reason ignored.
UK VHF stupidly only had copy of Home, Light and Third till about 1971!!!! German VHF had loads of useful stations.
It's actually amazing that UK started ITV in 1955. and having done it, didn't licence commercial Radio on VHF-FM at same time.
Re: And why
Of course if you just want to know the time and not show off you might even buy a cheaper watch than a Swatch. But point well made.
I'd wonder about the quality at that price, and for a very portable tablet I'd like a 3:1 or 4:1 aspect ratio to make the screen enormous but width low enough for pocket.
Great stuff
Now all we need is a Star ship (generation/city in space or warp), or star gate or similar.
Obviously they lack buttons
Didn't Apple ever hear of N-Key Rollover?
Gesture based editing pre 1989?
More Apple patents the USPO needs to invalidate.
Re: err -Weeps
Well, I read the article and hadn't looked at the release.
So I'll stick with the recommended Linux distro for now. Raspbian “wheezy”
http://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads
So the release here http://www.raspberrypi.org/archives/2221
is misleading?
"As of right now, all of the VideoCore driver code which runs on the ARM is available under a FOSS license (3-Clause BSD to be precise). The source is available from our new userland repository on GitHub. If you’re not familiar with the status of open source drivers on ARM SoCs this announcement may not seem like such a big deal, but it does actually mean that the BCM2835 used in the Raspberry Pi is the first ARM-based multimedia SoC with fully-functional, vendor-provided (as opposed to partial, reverse engineered) fully open-source drivers, and that Broadcom is the first vendor to open their mobile GPU drivers up in this way. We at the Raspberry Pi Foundation hope to see others follow."
OTH if it's possible now to load and use the GPU binary and call it from your own hand crafted OS off the SD card it's some good.
+1
Absolutely
Now we can experiment with new designs of OS, rather than playing on top of 20 year old RiscOS and Linux.
Afordable?
maybe but you pay twice what it's worth
Windows NT 4.0
Negative:
GDI moved into Kernel: Graphics and Printer drivers able to crash OS for first time.
The next iteration of PCs added more performance than that change. It was a mistake. There was even a perfectly good Explorer shell (preview) just before NT 4.0 that ran on NT3.51
Positive
NT 4 enterprise could access 16G of RAM, breaking 2G limit
NT 4 enterprise supported cluster on standard HW if you had a 2 channel SCSI, SCSI repeaters on both PCs and two external SCSI shelves mirrored across the channels.
NT4 as well as x86 supported Pentium Pro (rubbish running 95), MIPS, Power PC, Alpha and 64 bit Alpha.
CE was based on NT. Only the GUI of CE was stupid for small device. Zune fixed that.
The demise and then dismemberment of DEC by Compaq, then disastrous HP take over (ditching some of the best of both companies) was bad.
DEC ARM designs live on in Marvell though after Intel took them and resold them.
Irish Compromise
RTE channels will close Teletext and only use Freeview/Freesat style MHEG5 Text
TG4 and TV3 will still use Teletext.
RTE will still provide full teletext to Sky Subscribers (RTE not available to UK addresses outside UK, but the teletext works if you add the channel manually on a UK sky box)
LTE Mobile Broadband
No, it's not Broadband. It's Mobile Internet.
Re: Win CE
From a marketing perspective. Yes, CE has run on ARM for years and it has more in common with Windows NT (2000, XP, Vista, 7, 8) family than Win on Dos (3.x, 9x, ME) family.
But CE resource / process limits are static, hard coded for tiny RAM and ROM. Win NT (Win 8) is dynamic allocation more suited to the ARM in Smart phones that has more physical resource than a 2001 x86 Laptop!
Re: The title is too long!
Assembler is discouraged by ARM. The lowest level official support for ANY ARM CPU is C.
It's a separate flamewar as to if C is a HLL or not :)
Re: assumption that I am missing something importan
Yes, the Pi uses a custom boot that has the binary blob for GPU and other chip specific features.
It's not simple at all to change to a different Linux distro without losing functionality, or indeed to have a completely diifferent OS (though work is happening on porting RiscOS as was on Archimedes, but it's a desktop OS too) .
The Broadcom chip specs are not public. The ARM Chip on the Ardunio is public, you can easily write your own bare metal software or simple OS with Timer tick and "round robin" scheduler.
There is a much similarity between some ARMs as 286, Pentium Pro, Xeon and Itanium have. Good luck on getting ANY OS on Arduino ARM to run on Raspberry Pi! Even with recompiling.
The chip on the Arduino ARM is designed specifically for Industrial / Embedded control. Likely has general purpose timers and and general purpose Analogue I/O.
The Raspberry Pi is a mobile phone chip on a breakout board. So not very suitable for embedded applications. There doesn't seem to even be analogue in (USB stick for Audio in certainly).
Real time on Pi
No, it's the OS.
Ordinary Linux or Windows or iOS or OSX can't even reliably do 2.4kHz sampling to read 1124 bps RDS data, or 38KHz OOK modulation without jumping through hoops in a Device Driver, directly in software with a GPIO pin. An 8bit Arduino or PIC can do it easily.
The official support for Pi is a customised Debian flavour of Linux. You need a keyboard, 4G SD card, HDMI screen (composite is too awkwardly low resolution) and USB2go plugged 5V PSU (the USB2go connector is just power, no data). It can't be bricked as the OS boots from SD card.
So to use the GPIO on Raspberry Pi you need to figure how to either boot a "Real Time" version of Linux (which isn't very real time), or better is some other non-Linux OS.
The Multitasking model in Linux can't assure that a user task is run when you want it, no matter how fast the CPU unless a new kernel patched in Device Driver is added.
Re: I really hope...
I'd love a 3D printer for Brass, Steel etc.
Re: Symbian pre-re-closing from 2010 is still around
If it's going to be recycled as a lean RTOS (with optionally a sensible new GUI for things that need one) you don't need to be able to "build" anything "Belle" compatible. In fact you want to avoid like plague ANYTHING using existing Nokia GUIs over last 10 years. You only want the OS
As to what should be a layer for graphical / User I/O applications I don't know. I've tried building QT based applications for Window / Linux and found Java cross platform GUI libraries better. Not that I think that's a good idea. despite that Android is essentially Linux + a flavour of Java (Davik vs JVM)
Re: Move on and let it die
iOS and Android are what they are, bloated macro kernel OS based on UNIX/Linux concepts. iOS & Android developers are not going to scrape the core of the OS and re-write it from scratch. That though is the only way to get an efficient, secure, low power, reliable and low footprint OS.
Symbian was developed from a OS especially designed from ground up for a single user running multiple small applications in tiny memory on battery powered cpu.
UNIX was designed for mains powered Mini-computers and multiple users. Linux was designed as a functional clone for the 386 CPU with disk storage. It's only because a mobile phone is more powerful and more storage than a 2001 Laptop that iOS or Android is practical at all.
Symbian OS developers are going to want to work on ARM embedded systems, not iOS and Android phones.
Symbian *was* open source for a while. How they get the genie back in the bottle? An embedded controller or other application using a Raspberry Pi needs none of GUI junk that Nokia built on top of Symbian. If you DON'T have screen on the Pi, then VXworks, QNX, or Symbian may make more sense than Llinux which needs a hacked kernel to be "real time". Set-boxes, TVs, WiFi points and Routers can cheerfully use vanilla Linux as there are no "Real Time" constraints or "deterministic at compile time" requirements.
Re: someone must have invented the DVR?
Digital video goes back to early 1970s or late 1960s.
The reason it wasn't in the home was cost of disc storage and cost of video DAC/ADC. Decent codecs help dramatically reduce the storage cost. But TIVO can't claim ANY patents on video codecs or video storage on HDD.
By mid 1980s some PABX used audio codecs and HDD for voice mail. I worked on HW & SW of these and they incorporated most DVR functions apart from EPG scheduling, audio only rather than video.
VHS machines eventually had "EPG" scheduling via Teletext data.
PVR idea
Goes back a long long way.. It's only an invention in a sense. The idea is too broad. Only novel and un-obvious implementations should get patents.
Digital HDD vs Analogue tape only improves the user interface.
Posted in Apple iPod Touch 5G review
Crazy price
Even Archos is cheaper than that.
No-name players 1/4 price.
Either you are going to have a phone for music or a cheap one (or both). It's obviously for Apple fans with too much spare money.
Re: Cloud?
I understand perfectly that TBP doesn't store the copies themselves and is using encryption and routers etc.
But at the end of the day they are the wrong peolple to cheer, they are not doing a single iota of good nor advancing any cause. They are egotistical parasitical scum that get far too much publicity. Their "information" to enable people to download do live on real servers somewhere. The "Cloud" is purely a marketing concept, Routing, load sharing, virtual machines etc practically pre-date the internet and certainly pre-date websites.
I'm baffled as to why the smart people here would cheer on these idiots.
Bond, Batman etc
maybe people are hoping for a Reboot of Windows XP or a sensible version of Ubuntu.
I refuse to believe a tablet-centric Windows designed by Marketing Dept that played with a Zune is creating an "Osborne effect*", or "iPhone" anticipation on Windows 7 sales.
Combination of Corporates waiting for Windows 9 or 10 or better "linux" and ordinary consumers "taking the Tablets", because really most don't need a real PC.
(* Though Osborne had a near fatal drop in sales when the "new model" was announced, the reality is that we are talking late 1983, two years after the IBM PC and more than a year after the initially very successful ACT Sirius1/Victor 9000. The product and CP/M was obsolete)
Re: The ARM chips might make that a little tricky
No, far predates Sheeva
Re: It's crazy......
But Shirley, they are not made in USA, but China? But I suppose UK <--> China return trip is more expensive
Re: And the 2012 Pointless Award goes to...
I used to think that Chrome was totally pointless. But actually for many people it does give them what they want. idiot proof browser (and web based email and documents) without any OS to look after. Sort of Apple iOS for iPad taken to an extreme and physical qwerty.
Mines the one with a Nokia N9210 in the pocket.
( It would only be a problem if this was the only choice. I'll stick too Windows XP and Debian for all my devices with a screen and real QWERTY keyboard )
Re: Debian please
Much easier to install Debian on this than on a dead badger, which allegedly has been attempted. Not sure if it worked or was a headless server...
Re: ARM Cortex A15
a TV HD anyway....
Computing has had higher resolution displays than so called 1920 x 1080 "full HD" for over 15 years.
Re: The ARM chips might make that a little tricky
No,
I've been running Linux on ARM since 2005. It's been available much longer.
Where do you think the Pi eaters got Linux? It's available for ARM. Actually isn't Chrome OS really just Linux + a browser and everything else locked? Like Android is essentially a Linux variant + Davik (Google's flavour of JVM for Google's flavour of Java) + Browser.
My LG TV isn't intel either and runs a version of Linux.
About 1000 ARM cores ship per x86 Core I think and a lot of them run some sort of Linux. Some run VXworks or QNX or Windows CE (apart from ARM based phones running iOS, Android/Linux, Brew, QNX, Windows Phone (based on CE till v8), Symbian, Badu etc).
There is a big big world out there beyond the x86 and Windows. Don't be surprised if Mac Book or Mac Air drops x86 for ARM as soon as it makes more profit and little difference to User. They want OS X to be more like iOS anyway)
Apple in a quandry
Their products are grossly overpriced.
To maximize the Damages they want to suggest they lost X sales at Y profit per sale. But the public may be revolted by a Profit margin x2 to x4 other vendors (or whatever it is).
Did they ever consider
That maybe the content has become very poor?
Linux may be fine
But Ubuntu has swallowed a whole bottle of LSD.
Seizing defeat from the Jaws of Victory.
Re: Is it just us?
It's going to be MUCH worse in Ireland...
Also the Modem or phone "jams" cable broadband or Cable TV in the same room. No filter or solution other than moving the phone / modem about 10m away from anywhere the cable, connections, setbox or modem is.
I surprised Virgin hasn't been complaining more.
Really the whole "Digital Dividend" idea is stupid, The frequencies 900MHz to 2600MHz allocated for Mobile are poorly used and more than enough for Mobile.
Really future DTT services need the spectrum and the 800MHz band results in cells too large for good Cellular data capacity. The Digital dividend was based on idea of Digital only replacing Analogue, no HD, no 3D no Ultra HD, no extra channels no pay Channels.
Re: What about areas where 4G rollout will be a long time coming?
LTE isn't anything like as good as Broadband, and most broadband unless Cable or Fibre isn't good enough for even one IPTV channel. What if you have 2 or 3 TVs?
Note that the "headline" speeds are for Zero Interference, perfect signal and only one user connecting. Typically in less than 2% of mast sector area. Add ten users in one place and you may not even be able to do Youtube.
The ONLY "Web" integration I want
Is a decent secure Web Browser as isolated sandboxed separate application.
I have no wish to prostitute my computers on the Web or "Internet".
Also Web != Internet.
Cloud?
Just marketing for Hosted Services on real servers somewhere. It's no different at all to having servers of their own at a number of different data centres.
Whether or not their site(s) run on a virtual server or not isn't relevant either.
Virtual Servers and so called Clouds use real servers in real buildings in real countries.
I'm 100% opposed to pursuing downloaders or blocking people's internet to ANY server (doomed to failure) or cutting of people from the Internet.
But these people are no latter day Robin Hoods. They are at best parasites and at worst criminals. Just because the Media Industry is nuts and charges too much and doesn't recompense the artists and production crew enough doesn't give them the right to distribute.
I admire people that create, I admire people that pay to support that. I despise parasites and criminals dressing up their actions as somehow beneficial.
Re: four by two? 101.6 by 50.8.
101.6 by 50.8.
That's the un-planed size. So the "real" size is always significantly smaller.
It's a minefield buying wood. Unless it's for the stove.
Re: Inquiring minds...
No-one has ever been able to replicate Tooth reception.
I know not entirely serious, but Myth busters tried too.
I bet the barbed wire fence is long and near the transmitter. I've built "crystal" sets with better diodes than galena or oxide (copper oxide can be quite good) and you need large aerial (loop or long wire + earth) and very sensitive earpiece.
Re: Think of the Children!
You can get audio at the difference frequency between Video and Audio carriers, and harmonics, so 6MHz, 12MHz, 18MHz etc for 625 TV. About 4.x something MHz on 405, long time ago, I don't remember.
The Audio IF strip if on carrier rather than "intercarrier" is 6MHz below video IF usually, so about 33MHz approx for 625 line.
USA used 44MHz Video IF and Europe usually 39MHz approx for 625 line. Earlier 405 sets used various frequencies from about 12MHz to 44MHz. Earliest 405 sets simply tuned one 42MHz approx channel directly with NO IF, later in 1955 the first set boxes sold for Band I only sets to get ITV on Band III
Fantastic stuff
It's a pity though that something the size of a pea could seriously damage the craft, depending on what it hits.
Posted in Kindle DX delisted by Amazon
Tablets
No, Nurse, I will not take the Tablets.
Which one is enough dots for A4 documents without scrolling and able to read super/sub script etc without zoom?
Which one can replace printing the datasheets?
Re: Inquiring minds...
Yes, it's been done and the "electro-sensitive" people would score as well tossing a coin to answer if the transmitter is on or off.
Lucille Ball may have started the fad with her probably fictitious account of receiving radio on fillings. Also tested negative.
Apple
They don't make notebooks. Wrong price bracket.
