Posts by JeffyPooh
1208 posts • joined Wednesday 8th August 2007 12:24 GMT
"Shield"?
It plugs onto an Arduino?
Re: I've got an idea...
Oh_Really?
Therefore I hereby formally Publish (above) and irrevocably place the above described Business Model(s) and any related Utility Patent worthy inventions that may be inferred into the Public Domain.
Excluding the Business Model of equating the US Dollar and UK Pound as being approximately the same value. That brilliant concept is *mine* and intend to pursue a worldwide Business Model patent on it.
Stop The Presses...
Turns out it's just 3-week-old waste "Fracking Fluid" from a mile up the road.
I've got an idea...
An entrepreneur could create a new paid service to make life easier for the public.
This new system would have thousands of cheap Internet phone lines. Their system would constantly call the most popular call center numbers, and cue-up various popular but deeply-buried end nodes of the menu. It would use all sorts of tricks to keep the call center menu system on-line (perhaps backing-out and then moving further-in in an endless repeating loop to keep the system on the line).
Meanwhile, the impatient punters would call up this service via a certain defined short-cut telephone number, and (for a Dollar, or a UK Pound [same thing]) be instantly connected to the deep node of the menu within a given call center.
More aggressively - perhaps even get the call center human on the line, and then make some fake throat clearing noises to keep them on the line for a few seconds waiting, just in case an available punter wants to speak to them in that duration. This is a reverse version of the 'predictive calling' feature used by outgoing call centers. Right back at them.
Also, the fact that the call center's incoming lines are all plugged up by the service's robots would only help to ensure a successful business model.
I *knew* this would happen, like last week!
But I've been trapped in a box with a cat, a vial of some cyanide compound and some sort of radioactive-hammer gadget.
That sux
Good luck Larry.
Re: 3D Printers: The Jeffy Boot-Strap Test
"...metal... ...they really ARE working on it."
Don't forget semiconductors. I'll happily toss a laptop under the old exam chair, but the over-excited 3D Printer fanbois need to print everything - from the USB cable on back. That includes a significant amount of electronics within their 2nd and subsequent generation 3D Printers.
Good luck.
PS: At this point, were I a billionaire, I'd offer a $10M prize. But I'm not, so I won't.
Re: am I strange?
Yes. ;-)
I welcome the opportunity to listen to audio on short flights, and watch videos on longer flights. My choice of audio and video using high quality hardware; it's rare that their choice of movies appeals to me and their hardware sucks. Their seatback screen is barely good enough for the moving map.
Once upon a time while crossing the Pacific, I watched the entire 13-part Cosmos series (by Carl Sagan) on DVD with a 17-inch Laptop screen in one sitting with only a single interruption for a lovely meal. Heaven!
Record breaking duration flights are a pleasure, so long as the seat power outlet works.
Re: airplane mode
"...from using full power whilst it hunts for a cell signal..."
Hunting for a cell tower signal is a *receive* function. There's no inherent need for the phone to be transmitting full power into the void if it's not yet picked up a tower within range. Why would it do that? On what band or channel does it transmit if it doesn't know the details of the local tower?
Not intending to go all fanboi here, but simply provide the following comparison to perhaps make the world a better place.
My iPhone does exactly as I describe. It sits quietly, remaining cool and calm, not chewing up the battery in locations with no signal. When I move to a location where it can detect a signal, it reacts almost immediately. There's nothing imperfect at all with the details of the implementation. Kudos to Apple for getting this exactly optimum.
My colleagus Androud devices are daft. They do experience batteries being drained by poor cell coverage. They do take elaborate measures to work around this flawed implementation. They do switch to Airplane mode (...and drive home at the end of the day forgetting to turn off Airplane mode and catching hell for being out of touch). They do spend five minutes standing next to the office window begging for their phone to lock into the signal again.
It's all so unnecessary.
"...turn their phones on once they cleared the runway..."
Seems to be the rule in Canada now.
Re: I admit I did not know
"...iPhone ...holding the two buttons for a few seconds."
That would hard reboot it. Afterwards it would still be on.
Powering off an iPhone is a one button process (along with a confirming swipe), using the confusingly-named 'power' button at the top right.
I don't like 'Stoopid'
The Windows 8 Metro GUI *is* utterly 'Stoopid'. Anyone that claims different is a moron - period.
FWIW: I thought Windows 7 was pretty nice.
3D Printers: The Jeffy Boot-Strap Test
The Jeffy Boot-Strap Test, to deflate the B.S. claims being made about this over-hyped technology
--
Under your chair you will find a commercial 3D Printer, an endless supply of all the available 3D Printer feed stocks, and an effectively unlimited power source meeting applicable standards.
For 40 points: Using the provided commercial 3D Printer (without scavanging any parts from it), make a fully functioning 3D Printer. Demonstrate your newly created 3D Printer by printing something simple (like a plastic cube).
For 60 points: Using the new 3D Printer that you have just manufactured, make another exact copy of itself. Demonstrate your 2nd generation 3D Printer by printing a fully functional 3rd generation 3D Printer.
You have up to 24 hours. Passing grade is 50 points.
--
Until this test has been passed, the fanbois should tone down their claims.
Cross File under: Flying Cars, Facial Recognition, Artificial Intelligence
I am replete asked: "which is the best AV" ?
Easy - MS Security Essentials.
Most importantly, it's well behaved (unlike most of the others),
And it's free.
Two antenna concepts
Reciprocity - antennas work equally well (or poorly) when comparing their performance in both directions (transmit and receive modes). [There are obvious {LOL} exceptions to this fundamental truth, but this margin^h^h^h^h^h^h comment box is too small to contain the detailed explanation of why reciprocity isn't always true). These exceptions do not apply in this case.]
Capture Area - in receive mode, an antenna can only capture the energy that its physical structure can interact with. In general, a tiny antenna can only capture so much energy. The field whistling over its little head is out of reach.
Combine these two rules and you'll see that, like engine displacement and todgers, size matters.
SAR numbers are almost entirely random garbage
There's vastly more random variation from a million real world variables than from one phone to the next.
The whole concept of the SAR measuring industry is pseudo science and bordering on intellectual fraud. Their procedures, and understanding why they're so fantastically prescriptive to the nearest mm, makes for painful reading. Reading their SAR measuring procedures makes my face twist up in disgust so badly that I once won a gurning contest by accident. Somebody centered my head in a horse collar, and - bam - I'd won.
"...being associated with the worst software on the planet..."
Nonsense. Utter nonsense. Everyone knows that McAfee A/V is the *2nd* worst software on the planet.
Norton AV, especially in the 2007 - 2008 versions, was obviously THE worst sequence of evil bits to ever stalk the Earth.
SAP is right there in 3rd with its mystic runes, moving still buggy Facebook down into 4th.
Honourary Mention to Microsoft for the Windows 8 unnecessary fiasco, and a Special Prize to The World's 4th Largest Airforce for their Ubuntu 10 with the MBR-consuming Grub monster.
It's amazing...
It's amazing how much money one can make from pushing the unwanted-by-any-normal-human 'Ask' toolbar malware.
Re: We told you it was shit
"user configuration"
Hmmm... That would require the addition of some sort of programmable computational device with a user interface. Sounds difficult. ;-)
Beers for all...
As per title.
But...
Will it have a Start button ?????
Posted in IBM open sources new approach to crypto
Under your chair you will find...
Reminds me of a discussion about audio/image/video editors working directly within the encoded and compressed MP3/Jpeg or png/H.26*.* file. As opposed to a wave/bitmap/bitmap frame expanded version.
Playbook = heavy
It's a nice platform, but it's a lot more massive than my Nexus 7 or my wife's iPad Mini.
One of each is the best rule.
"station" .NE. Network
I recommend never sharing your credit cards details with anyone, especially merchants and their staff.
Re: Progress...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mouse_That_Roared#Plot
I can't figure it out...
Germans make amazing, wonderful products (Porsche, Mercedes, BMW, etc.).
They're also responsible for SAP.
Re: Easy to do
Daniel B. "As a PS3 fanboy..."
Are you only allowed to choose *one* gaming ecosystem? Sorry, I didn't know that. Why?
Since the cost of dozens and dozens and dozens and dozens of $60-each games far and away swamps out the cost of the console hardware, I'm not sure why anyone would think that they can't have one of each gaming ecosystem. Having one or more of each sure makes browsing for games more relaxing...
Three PS3, two XBox, Wii, Wii U, two PS2, three PSP, two DS, two iPods, one iPad Mini, one Nexus 7, one PlayBook, etc., etc. etc.
I sure wish that TVs had 32 HDMI inputs.
Re: So. Jobs was wrong.
"load of nonsense"
So basic Antenna Physics 101 is wrong then? Having the high impedance end of monopole antennas uninsulated and the open end located right where some people may touch them isn't a basic design flaw? Gee, there may be a Nobel Prize for Physics up for grabs if you can write a paper explaining how this would work...
Of course there are many variables, including the relative signal strength at locations you frequent.
There are multiple solutions to this design flaw, from simply feeding the other end, to internally top loading the monopoles to bring the high impedance end inside where it's safe and cozy.
Anyone that knows anything about how antennas actually work would have pointed this out at the preliminary design review stage, if not before.
Re: Looks really good
MHz.
Re: Crikey...
What next?
"My NAND gate is better than your NAND gate !!"
"My 63/37 solder is waaaaay better than your crummy 60/40 mix."
Sigh...
Wow - a Class Action lawsuit with a DOUBLE-DIGIT payout!!!
$15 each. Wow.
This sets the new benchmark, putting to shame the previous high water mark of $4.76 each.
Crikey...
Raspberry Pi, BeagleBoard, and Arduino "fan boys" already...
Time for a monthly security scan on reboot, a la Windows Update?
It's a Wild West out there. Hopefully the Sheriff keeps order.
Re: Crap battery management
"...road trips..."
Most cars have 12v power sockets. My Mercedes E-Class luxury saloon car has several, including one in the trunk for the political prisoner. A "road trip" is not really a good example of a situation where electrical energy is not readily available at least once a day.
"...camping..."
On the rare occasion where we might camp, as opposed staying in a 4 or 5 star hotel with indoor plumbing and room service, I tend to bring along multiple satellite and shortwave radios to receive BBC, other two-way radios and satellite TV, battery packs, solar panels and so on. It's the tech challenge, not just mere survival eating beef jerky and pooing in the bushes. Also, 90% of "camping" is right beside the aforementioned car anyway. If you're back packing into the wilds (no service) and/or you object to dragging such technology along (like *your* mobe), then why is this an example to support your point?
"...weekends in the country..."
Sleeping where? On the ground, or in a luxury resort (with power)?
Worrying about the 2nd day of power in a mobile battery is 99% foolishness. Seriously. Think about it. Everyone grumbles about it even when they're sleeping in their own bed at home. Rubbish!
PS: No, not Mom's basement. Multiacre waterfront property of our own. Just one of several properties we own in various longitudes. Not kidding. Boring? LOL. Thanks for asking. :-)
Re: It's not even that...
"The plugs usually have a locking device."
I've not met one socially, but the ones I've seen on the telly were simply normal plugs that could connect to a normal (high current) socket. No locking device shown on the grid end of the cable. If you're referring to the bespoke e-car connectors - I'll hope that you're correct.
I'm certainly not the first to think of this. It was the subject on "The Neeews" on Top Gear where James and Jeremy suggested this exact prank (as I mentioned). Same two that tried to visit the sea using recent model e-cars and ended up learning a great deal of Medeval history along the way. Obviously their recent experience didn't rule out the prank. So your reassuring reassurance rings just a bit hollow.
Re: Haynes manual
It's traditional in Haynes car repair manuals to include one or two incorrect pictures - for example, of a brake system from a completely different type of car.
So the Haynes Pi manual should have an incorrect picture, perhaps of some other single board computer completely unrelated to the Pi. Even better, a picture captioned 'Raspberry Pi I/O ports', but actually showing the drum brake under a Ford Cortina.
It's not even that...
If the e-cars are sitting there all neatly plugged in, what's to stop someone from wandering down the row at about 9:15am unplugging all the cars - so that when the e-commuters return from a hard day at work, they find that the range is (to quote James May) "2".
Or if the price of copper is high that week, wandering off with all the cables?
They've not even begun to think this through.
Re: Crap battery management
"...the battery will last at least 2, maybe 3 days. ..."
One (1) full day of battery life should be enough for almost anyone, assuming that they live in a house with a live electric power outlet available somewhere near their bed.
Trying for a 2nd day is an admirable goal, much the same as holding your breath for two full minutes. Utterly pointless.
Posted in Antares aborted after launchpad mishap
"...premature disconnection of a second-stage umbilical."
I've always admired the handiwork of those that designed and built those umbilicals that fall away from the side of the Saturn V rockets, and anything similar. I figured that their work was generally under-appreciated, so I explicitly deeply appreciated it.
This failure is deeply disturbing to me.
"teleportation"
Reminds me of the sci-fi plot, thus:
Once upon a time, there was a unique Teleporter machine malfunction, client tries again, and it works the second time.
Client found himself in the distant city as planned, but then he eventually noticed that he was about 30 seconds (or 10m) behind another copy of himself. Catches up and meets himself. Oh dear...
At the inevitable Senate inquiry, the Teleported company acknowledged that the piston had jammed.
Piston...?
Yeah. The giant piston in the ceiling of the teleporter machine. It's the piston that jams the original client through the grated floor into the blender.
Blender...?
Yeah, once the client has been copied to the new location, we crush the original.
Crush the original...?
Yeah, that's why the Teleportation Booth is heavily soundproofed. It can get pretty noisy.
...etc. ...
"Be a consumer, not a curator." - a very wise man
It's a lot more relaxing.
Seriously, who cares?
Okay, if you own a satellite in geostationary orbit then you'd want to wake up in the morning and worry all day about your Li-ion cells. If you own an electric car with a Li-ion battery pack, you certainly wouldn't want to charge it above 80% nor allow it to discharge below 79%, because the resultant 320-foot range of this battery-conserving approach should be plenty enough for anyone.
For the rest of us with laptops and cell phones, who cares? I *just* replaced a 5.5 year old laptop battery pack for about $27 (all-in, delivered). I spill more dollars in coffee than that. It's just not worth worrying about. Provided you know how to shop on-line for replacements, and have a modicum of good luck or good planning.
Re: Soot.
Soot.
We need to get people out of their soot-belching public transit buses and into private automobiles.
The diesel powered buses typically have smoke and soot belching from their prehistoric engines. Most modern cars engines burn so incredibly clean that they would actually clean soot out of the air.
Getting rid of buses would also clear up the traffic jams, all of which have a bus at the front just behind a vast gap of empty tarmac stretching for miles.
Re: Birth control is simple
The population explosion is pretty much winding itself down already. Birth rates around most of the world are dropping so fast that's it's likely going to be a reverse problem in 60 years.
Hey hey hey !!!
What's this abandoning of the Must-Wear-Hair-Shirt illogical approach and replacing it with some sort of logic based cost/benefit based prioritization? Crazy!! Crazy I say!!
Apple and/or Google need to share the blame
Having a game obviously aimed at toddlers and young children is fine. Allowing the scum developers to include 'in-app' purchases of virtual goods such as Smurfberries *AT ALL* is a disgusting and cynical move.
Allowing those purchases to add up to serious money is criminal - but with the counter-intuitive consumer benefit that ridiculous bills simply will not be paid and must be refunded... My kid buys $10 worth of Smurfberries = my problem. My kid buys $1000 worth of Smurfberries - Apple's problem - zero it out Sunshine. And they will.
Apple and Google should be ashamed. They should be doubly ashamed that they had to add in parental controls after the fact. They failed to foresee these GUI settings until after the early unwitting had be ensnared.
With respect to the snide comments about "digital baby sitters", it's the soccer [football] moms and hockey dads running around all the time that are emitting far more CO2. Such activities ARE KILLING THE PLANET.
A new Computing Metric springs to mind: Bitcoins per Bitcoin
Bitcoins mined per unit time divided by total cost (in Bitcoins, natch) to run the system. The capital costs can be amortized over an arbitrary period, say one Moore period (18 months or a year, feel free to argue). It should come out as a dimensionless ratio.
Downside it may change over time as the absolute cost to mine Bitcoins is a function of time in the long run.
Also, power costs vary with time and place.
Hmmm... forget about it.
Re: "lightweight carbon nanotubes"
"...negative in price with carbon credits..."
I think "carbon credits" is shorthand for "Avoided or Sequestered Carbon Dioxide Credits". I don't think that pure carbon is negative price. CO2 might be, but you find that reversing the ... -> CO2... reaction takes at least as much energy as the reaction provided in the first place.
Re: Zero velocity?
"Cayambe Volcano"
Oh great... Rockets shooting out of volcanoes...
What else? The Launch Director stroking a white cat?
EU?
Including Cyprus, Greece, etc ? LOL.
More seriously, most of this sci-fi is so far in the future that it's more likely to be places like Brasil or the Philippines or somewhere in Africa taking up the slack. China and Europe will be full of the retired elderly by then. The future belongs to those with birth rates above 2.3 per lady.
