* Posts by Eddy Ito

4662 publicly visible posts • joined 27 Apr 2007

Inside the iPad mini: Pray you never have to open one

Eddy Ito

Technically

If the speakers are fed from a single channel then it's monaural not stereo. That said, I can't imagine why they would include a second speaker and neglect stereo output when I assume the necessary circuit is already there for the headphone jack.

Nobody knows what to call Microsoft's ex-Metro UI

Eddy Ito

Only one accurate name

It's BDSM, but how to pronounce it.

FBI cuffs 14 over $1m 'Gone in 60 Seconds' casino scam

Eddy Ito

Re: " conspiracy to illegally structure financial transactions to avoid reporting requirements"

It gets worse because it's one of those fuzzy rules. You could deposit $5000.01 one day and withdraw $5000 on the next day and it could easily hinge on whether the bank felt the transactions were suspicious. I ran into this little problem when buying a car as I moved $6k from one bank to another, got a bank check from the second bank 3 days later for $7.5k and got a quick lesson in gubbermint reporting BS from the teller.

On the upside, if you can call it that, I hear we're not alone as Italy seems to have banned cash transactions over €5000.

Disney buys Lucasfilm, new Star Wars trilogy planned

Eddy Ito
Meh

Big deal

What will we get? Sucks Harder I, II & III, the post-pre-resequelated trilogy where Lick the offspring of Hand Solo and Princess Lay-Ya performs fellatio on an Ewok-Wookie hybrid while binking Jar-jar the undead.

Asus gets paid handsomely for swallowing Google's Jellybean

Eddy Ito

All the more amazing given how little they advertise on radio or tv. Apple, Google and Samsung have figured it out and look at their current sales. If Asus made their site a bit more friendly and launched the right commercials I think they could do a lot better. Perhaps it will occur to Asus that they could do ads like Google does for the Nexus 7 but for actual Asus branded kit. It would do wonders for name recognition among the general public here in the US.

It never ceases to amaze me how the traditional ad spaces are nearly forgotten by so many device manufacturers regardless of ad budget and I firmly believe it is what killed Palm even before HP administered the coup de grâce.

Microsoft Surface popped open, poked, prodded

Eddy Ito

Re: WTF is Mauve?

Oh dear, thank heaven he didn't see the Mac mini teardown. I imagine that throbbing mulberry C54B8C vein in his forehead would have burst for sure.

Forstall ousted from Apple after refusing to apologise for Maps

Eddy Ito

Re: Guess the fairness of it depends on the situation

California is a collective bargaining state meaning if a company recognizes a union you either pay union dues or don't work / work somewhere else; we have no right to work law here. Besides given his position in the company I find it unlikely that Forstall was a union member and was undoubtedly an 'at will' employee but he may have had an employment contract with some form of a golden parachute. Also IIRC there are no unions at all inside Apple but there was some talk a bit ago about the store employees unionizing.

If Forstall did have a generous severance package he strikes me as the type who might just start a little enterprise of his own. It will be interesting to see if there was a non-compete clause was in his contract.

Yahoo! will! ignore! 'Do! Not! Track!' from! IE10!

Eddy Ito

Re: In related news,

IIRC tell they dig in mud looking for pretty stones are dirty and have disgusting habits but it's been a while. It seems Jonathan Swift pretty much hit that nail squarely on the head.

Chrome extension blocks political speech on Facebook

Eddy Ito

But...

There's no such thing as a relaxing photo of a cat. Especially one that looks like the fuzzy spawn of Satan that stomps up my chest to smack me in the face at oh dark fucking thirty in the morning.

The new Mac mini eviscerated with ease

Eddy Ito
Paris Hilton

Agreed, conversion chart needed

Especially as Rik clearly can't tell hollyhock from heliotrope. Hell if he mistook it for orchid or fuchsia I'd understand but there's just no explaining a mistake of this magnitude.

Paris as she's clearly trying to decide if tonight's shoes will be cerise or persian rose.

GooPad's eight-incher gives Apple fans cheap relief

Eddy Ito

Re: Samsung's lawyers should buy a few.

"BMW sued a Chinese company for making a knock off of the X5"

While true it isn't a case of protectionism as it wasn't a court in China. It was one in Italy that tossed BMW's claims.

Boeing recipe turns cooking oil into jet fuel

Eddy Ito

Re: Why not diesel?

"It's far more efficient to use the oil directly and turbine engines can eat anything from methane to coal dust..."

Actually Mr. Diesel also planned to run his engine on solid fuels such as coal dust. His patent, US 542,846 specifically mentions "... any kind of fuel, whether solid, liquid, or gaseous." and "Solid fuels may be introduced in a pulverulent or comminuted condition." Granted, ground up pre-diamonds are probably hell on the piston rings and cylinder walls and probably accounts for why there aren't too many conspiracy theories about the oil companies killing the coal dust diesel that gets 370 miles per firkin of coal dust or in local units 442 Brontosauruses / Brontosauri per Jub.

Apple's skinny new iMac line: Farewell, optical drives

Eddy Ito

Re: "Today I heard about plasma deposition"

Well, that certainly puts me in my place doesn't it. After all with such an accurate name like Big Willy and so many knowledgeable posts it's clear that you're an expert in these matters and a lowly physicist such as myself is just another clueless troll. Mea culpa, oh great and powerful Big Willy, mea maxima culpa.

Eddy Ito

"Today I heard about plasma deposition"

Sorry Phil, I've been getting shit coated with plasma deposition for over a decade along with other surface treatments trying to get various surfaces to be hydro/oleo/lipo-phobic/philic along with inhibiting scaling of numerous compounds at a variety of temperatures. Recently got a really nice low drag treatment that, given the current geometry, seems to enhance the thermal energy transfer between two oil based working fluids using natural convection, remind me to tell you all about it once the due diligence is done and the patent application published or you could just wait and read it.

Apple unveils iPad mini, upgrades its big brother

Eddy Ito

Re: Larger Display?

Simple, the 7.9" 4:3 iPad display works out roughly to be 6.32" x 4.74" for ~30 sq. in. and the 7" Kindle/Nexus screens are about 6.10" x 3.43" for 20.9 sq. in. so the 9.1 sq.in. difference works out to be about 43.5% of the 20.9 sq.in. and I guess taking into account the space consumed by the tabs in the UI it brings it to 49%.

What they've done in the picture is compare only the parts of the screen that are actually given to the web page and not the whole display. Also note they chose the web page carefully so that scroll bars aren't needed on the iPad and shows white space at the bottom of the "Fire" screen. A slightly different page might require the iPad to show scroll bars but the Fire wouldn't. Of course this is assuming the iPad has scroll bars of some sort.

Eddy Ito

Interesting as in the curse?

It's clearly priced out of major competition with Nexus, Kindle & Nook so we can only hope they decided to maintain their iPadded margin that way even if it cuts into sales of iPad the larger it won't be a kick in the shorts.

Naughty Siri breaks law by listing Chinese escorts

Eddy Ito

"If brothels were legal and licensed, then they could be policed easier, and illegal brothels would become fewer.."

Brothels are legal in parts of Nevada but note that they are not legal in Las Vegas. Oddly child prostitution and human trafficking is a fairly big problem in Las Vegas. It almost seems the ban creates the illicit market where the real problem activity can flourish. I'm sure there's a saying about paving a road with good intentions and a hand basket or something like that.

State of Minnesota bans free online education

Eddy Ito
Boffin

"Until Amazon starts selling diplomas that confer credentials"

Not quite as we have run into the problem of two countries separated by a common language. A course in the US is akin to a unit or module in the UK and not a full degree program or a professional certificate. It typically takes in the neighborhood of 30 courses to complete a B.A. or B.Sc. degree depending on the particular institution.

As they are these free courses and the ensuing content and grades are only good as credentials once accepted by an authority who agrees to accept them. That authority might be of the type to grant a diploma or certificate or it could be a professional association that maintains a continuing education requirement to maintain a license. Other than that these are for self improvement and as long as there's nothing wrong with that there is no legitimate claim the state can make toward consumer protection since the only cost to the consumer is class materials (books and such) and an opportunity cost associated with the time.

Apple pays up for stealing design from Swiss Railways

Eddy Ito

Re: Precision?!

"You could have provided a link you lazy bastard."

You're right, my bad, I was going from memory and should have googled and linked it.

I don't think it would be that hard to tweak clocks to work in !quite nanofortnights for a 50Hz signal though.

Eddy Ito

Re: Precision?!

Huh, I'd have assumed they use the electric grid. We've been using that for plug in clocks for a rather long time here in the US and that's why there was quite a dust up last year when a gov't commission was putting together plans for dicking with it to see if they could improve reliability of the grid. I assume it had something to do with not making a motor out of the smallest tied in generator when it gets out of sync.

FTC offers $50,000 bounty for robocall-killing tech

Eddy Ito

Re: I wouldn't mind such a system but...

A nail hit squarely on the head. Myself, I just keep several contacts such as spam, junk, do not answer, etc. When I get a number I don't recognize and answer to get a fog horn with "your captain speaking" I just hang up and add that number to one of the aforementioned contacts so I know the next time it calls. It usually works for a few days before they change numbers but it's clear that "do not call" lists don't work and what else is there? Can you send a virus back down the pipe? Legally, of course, wouldn't want to someone who didn't deserve it getting bagged in some kind of broken feedback loop.

Curiosity finds . . . wait for it . . . a ROCK on MARS!

Eddy Ito

Oh no

They're going to lase a "Kilroy was here" on that poor rock, aren't they?

Apple files disappearing-feature iPhone patent

Eddy Ito

Technically

It isn't a shutter it's this stuff in a color that matches the case which, I might add, is twice as many colors as a certain Mr. Ford sold his Model Ts in. Don't really see how that makes a dust cover novel since it's just window dressing, literally. Don't worry, I'm sure Apple has a design patent card, that I'd likely concede, ready to play just in case a little sanity takes over at the patent office and they realize this isn't utility patent material as it doesn't doesn't really do anything that isn't merely ornamentation or lack thereof.

Woz labels Apple 'arrogant' over iPhone size inadequacy

Eddy Ito

Re: iTunes on Android?

We know iTunes gets a 30% margin but the hardware is generally higher with this article stating the margin for iPhone is close to 50%.

Eddy Ito

Re: iTunes on Android?

It doesn't but Apple also makes money selling things through iTunes. I kind of see his point since by not selling to the Android space they are limiting the potential number of iTunes customers who would buy music, movies, etc. The rub is that unless or until Apple makes more money on iTunes than they do flogging hardware there's no reason to remove iTunes as a draw to Apple hardware and likewise it will be difficult to expand iTunes sales to such a level only selling to iOS devices.

Is lightspeed really a limit?

Eddy Ito
Boffin

Re: Limits.

Why is it that everyone conveniently forgets about things like time dilation and length contraction when they start speaking about speed limits? Is it that difficult to remember that as you go faster the distance traveled is shorter and the time it takes becomes longer? I know, it's a pisser, the faster you go the slower it seems and there's nothing to stop you from breaking the speed of light other than the fact that you couldn't tell because the only way to measure the speed is with something in an external reference frame and the signals travel at, wait for it, the speed of light.

10 million iPad minis to 'outshine' their big brother this quarter

Eddy Ito

Re: Not buying it

You're assuming people make rational decisions whereas I'm fairly certain they don't. Do you honestly think this guy is ever going to opt for an Android. Granted it's an extreme example and he probably would walk into an Apple store and order one of everything if he could but for every one of him there are several Apple only buyers, I personally know and work with a few. Some have tried and even admit the Galaxy S3 is an excellent device but equally state they would never own one. I suppose it depends on whether your model is Gaussian, Pareto or log-normal.

Eddy Ito

Re: Not buying it

"It is possible that a miniPad may be slightly less profitable than an iPad but if they are cheaper they may sell more in total than otherwise and make more revenue and profit."

That's the point, you can only cut margins so far before it doesn't pay to sell the things. Additionally if it's harder to manufacture those added costs don't get better with volume. There comes a point where you can't make it up on volume and it may be that it slices two ways in that someone who might buy both the normal iPad and iPhone decides to go half way and get one converged device in the miniPad and Apple loses the sale on both the higher margin devices. Should that day come mere cannibalization will be thought of with fond nostalgia.

Eddy Ito

Not buying it

The earnings call is scheduled for the 25th after the market closes. The only reason to announce now is to try giving the stock an early bounce which makes me suspicious that the earnings call is going to say they missed the earnings target set by the anal-ists. Add to that a product that is harder to manufacture will necessarily come with a disproportionately high price tag or a very poor profit margin and the last thing Apple needs is a lot of new min-iPads with a poor margin drawing sales away from higher margin kit. If the article is correct it may be seen as Apple having no choice but to jump into the low profit waters just to stay relevant and if that happens; "Quoth the Raven – 'Nevermore.'" -- Poe

Mystery martian object is relic of (our) civilisation

Eddy Ito

Who knew?

Marijuana grows on Mars. Wait, the munchies! That totally explains the poppadom.

Microsoft trials Digits finger-sensing bracelet

Eddy Ito

Me like

Dear MS, just a couple of add ons for when you make it small. At least add a watch face and make it self winding or solar so it doesn't need batteries. It would also be nice if it worked with Google's digi-specs or whatever they call it.

Huawei says US probe had 'predetermined outcome'

Eddy Ito
Coffee/keyboard

Re: Sorry rant alert

"the US government's main concern is for the well being of its own people"

I guess I wasn't ready for such jocularity so early in my day. I assume you're talking about the people in their pockets.

Register SPB hacks mull chopping off feet

Eddy Ito
Thumb Up

Re: To quote Abe, @DJO

Thanks for the chuckle.

Eddy Ito

To quote Abe

"The metric system is the tool of the devil! My car gets 40 rods to the hogshead and that's the way I likes it."

Democrat candidate attacked by GOP for being stabby assassin ORC

Eddy Ito

Re: So...

Considering there were under 14,500 voters in that particular district in the last election and the median voter age in Maine is nearly 50 there probably aren't thousands of people who care let alone "relate to her beyond her political portfolio".

Eddy Ito
Facepalm

Just WoW

Much ado about nothing. It isn't even American politics; it's Maine state politics and she is running for one of 35 State Senate positions. It's a $23,000 per year job (plus all the traffic tickets you want tossed) to argue about which roads get repaved versus filling potholes, who gets bigger raises this year teachers or state police and lets not forget the occasional fight over whether to keep Moxie as the state soft drink, Chesuncook Soil Series as the state dirt and no doubt should WoW be the state MMORPG. Whatever the outcome it isn't going to make a hill of beans to the neighbors in NH and MA much less the rest of the US or the world.

To top it all off it could go either way since she is about to be flush with cash coming in from all over for her own attack ads but the question is will she be able to counter the more traditional Mainers who may not be quite receptive to her comments online. Sure calling people teabaggers might get lolz around the D. party campfire but given the number of independents in Maine who likely know or are related to one or more tea party types isn't going to win friends and influence people.

As a native Mainiac who now resides in a warmer clime, sometimes I miss Down East but not the weather. The politics are pretty much just as silly everywhere, well maybe not this silly but you get the drift.

LASER STRIKES against US planes on the rise

Eddy Ito

Re: Ironic Punishment

Just need some laser guided smart bitch slaps that work in reverse and seek the laser source.

The tips stop here: Starbucks to take Square Wallet payments

Eddy Ito

Easier answer

They could also pay the person behind the counter a reasonable wage but then they'd probably lose their best staff who likely make far more than the standard minimum and Charbucks might go under. Then again, most folks probably aren't sufficiently awake before the morning caffeine boost to notice they only got a buck fifty back from that ten spot they laid down.

As for the controversy of the first point, if you think robusta charcoal extract is decent coffee that's fine and you should be comforted to know that you'll not suffer competition for it from me.

Archaeologists resume Antikythera Mechanism hunt

Eddy Ito

Sounds like fun

Diving on an ancient wreck looking for the coolest stuff in the world. Even if they don't find anything it would still be a fantastic experience and to think they actually get paid to do it. Do you think it's too late to send them my CV? How about if I just take a few vacation days and do the dives gratis... please?

Mozilla floats fondleslab-ready Firefox for Win 8

Eddy Ito

So many previews

Now we have this and I just saw the MS Office preview was ready (sign in required) for download. Pity I don't have more time to play with all this stuff.

Google rewrites dot-doc death note

Eddy Ito

Hmm

"import Office files of any format"

It doesn't specifically say MS Office so could I import any old long dead obscure file format as long as it came from some office type suite like ClarisWorks, IBM Works or how about Island Office?

Samsung claims Apple jury foreman LIED to get REVENGE

Eddy Ito

"realise how absurd software patents really are."

The sad part is most folks won't understand and therefore won't care one way or another. It will be a classic case where the eyes glaze over and the words just run into one another until it sounds a bit like a distant passing train.

Apple files 'Shake to Print' iOS patent application

Eddy Ito
Coat

reductio ad absurdum

Once shake to vibrate to shows up, all their devices will get stuck in one infinite loop until the battery is completely flat.

It's the codpiece with the iPhone in it.

ScanJet sings number one hit

Eddy Ito
Coat

Maybe

Meg should look into starting an HP all-scanjet band. It couldn't hurt, just sayin'.

HP's Whitman: 'I will turn this company around – by 2016'

Eddy Ito

Re: R&D is good.

If I were a shareholder, I'd be happy if the consumer model printers stopped sucking so much sewage through a straw and became competitive again. I changed brands after exchanging a few samples each of two different models that failed to feed out of the box. I literally laughed in the face of the poor kid in the shop at the end of the fiasco when he told me that his HP rep said I had to calibrate it to the paper thickness. Sorry Jose, nothing personal.

Hey Meg, to misquote Roy Scheider, "you're going to need a bigger styptic."

T-Mobile and MetroPCS mobile minnows merge

Eddy Ito

Not many ways

"help T-Mobile get an iPhone"

Dump 1700 MHz or make it big enough in the market for phone makers to care about supporting it on the higher end phones. As long as that band is only occupied by a small player it's an albatross eating a red herring on a bicycle, or something like that. Most top tier phones like the iPhone aren't 1700 MHz capable which leaves the T-mob owners of such phones stuck with EDGE speeds. Most notably the only maker consistently putting out the best phones on T-mob's network is Samsung and that's been true since the early Palm Pre days.

Momentum builds for iPad Mini launch

Eddy Ito

Re: If this turns out to be true...

"if it turns out to be a "downsized iPad" instead of an "upsized iPod Touch"."

Having neither I don't know, are they really that different? I always thought the Touch was basically just the wifi only version of the iPhone and the iPad was just a large scale version of both which would make an iPad Mini the 'tween of the family. Or were you speaking to the size along the lines of ~6" would be a larger iPod and ~7-3/4" would be a smaller iPad?

US court lifts ban on Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1

Eddy Ito

Re: Apple have already won

"Believe it or not, some people may want some kind of device - computer, tablet, phone, or whatever - and then choose from the available options."

Then they are certainly less particular about what they spend their money on than I am. So far none of the tablets has the basic features I want and while the Experia S from Sony comes close they miss by slapping on a dock connector instead of standard ports and I'd really prefer a slightly smaller unit closer to 7 inch.

Rapper rips up Microsoft's Atlanta store during performance

Eddy Ito
Facepalm

Summed up nicely

From the recording; "What they thought was going to happen?"

Yup, someone at MS just earned their PhD in DuH. No mortar board and tassel needed they can just slap the other side of their forehead.