Re: Much needed publicity for energy storage at last!
Because power generation and distribution is some kind of celebrity driven contest?
If only facebook likes and tweets could boil my kettle......
Posts by JP19
728 publicly visible posts • joined 2 Dec 2009
Tesla reveals Powerwall battery packs for homes, Powerpacks for cities
Friday 1st May 2015 14:52 GMT
"Or pretty much 7 years."
You assume a daily full battery cycle - if the battery isn't completely knackered after 7 years it certainly will be down on capacity (especially in warm climates).
Also the AC/DC conversion happens twice with 3% (if you are lucky) losses. Did you include installation costs?
On top of that wide adoption will increase the demand for cheap off peak electricity pushing up the price and reducing the savings. If there was money to be made time shifting electricity generation with lithium batteries the generators would be doing it on a huge scale much more economically than little home installations.
Google polishes Chrome security with Password Alert
Thursday 30th April 2015 13:01 GMT
Re: "Google promises that it won't ever share the password"
"Half? I'd be surprised if it wasn't more like 90%"
Well I assumed that if you don't choose the option to 'Back up my data" then android and google apps won't steal your WiFi passwords regardless.
It would be interesting to know what proportion of users do have that option checked and so give every bit of information on their androids to google (and the NSA).
Thursday 30th April 2015 01:58 GMT
"Google promises that it won't ever share the password"
Wonder what the NSA has to say about that?
"and, after all, storing it locally means there's no need for the extension to phone home"
Except to sync to other devices and on android you are expected to backup everything unencrypted to Google anyway.
I expect Google has passwords for half the WiFi access points in the world and knows exactly where they all are.
This is Sparta? No - it's Microsoft Edge, Son of Internet Explorer
Facebook policy wonk growls at Europe's mass of data laws
Apple Watch HATES tattoos: Inky pink sinks rinky-dink sensor
Your new car will dob you in to the cops if you crash, decrees EU
Wednesday 29th April 2015 10:59 GMT
Re: Anyone else wonder...
"why the *EU* is trying to mandate this?"
Dunno I don't remember voting for it?
I don't remember voting and wouldn't for 90% of what the EU do.
That is why local politicians love the EU, it gives us voters what the local politicians think is good for us without them having to worry about us agreeing or not.
An enormous and hugely expensive organisation allowing the 'right thinking' political elite to bypass democracy - that alone is more than enough reason for us to get out.
DARPA's made a SELF-STEERING 50-cal bullet – with video proof
Wednesday 29th April 2015 02:10 GMT
"imagine what a trained Scout Sniper can do"
I imagine he could hit the target as well. Most of the skill of a sniper is in predicting what the bullet and target is going to do before pulling the trigger. This technology removes the need for that skill.
Couldn't find much information about how it works, one article talked about optical guidance and the bullets having fins. Bullets guiding themselves onto laser lit targets seems the most practical.
The rifle (with a fancy laser pointer) won't be expensive but also won't be rifled so no use for anything else. Can't imaging the bullets are going to be cheap.
Impressive to get that in such a small package that can stand the forces but being full of electronics and motors instead of depleted uranium or explosives I can't help thinking range and damage will be compromised. Maybe small laser guided rockets would be more effective at a similar cost.
The Apple Watch: Throbbing strap-on with a knurled knob
Tuesday 28th April 2015 10:26 GMT
Live a better day
I was so busy barfing at the "Live a better day" message on the watch on the second page photo that I initially missed the string of beans (or whatever) and manky bit of leather or string also wrapped around that wrist.
I wondered what they were for then realised they they must be the same as the watch - to mark the owner of that wrist (or stager of the photograph) as a complete tosser.
Grooveshark faces $750 MEELLION piracy payout
Fandroids, take your phone's antivirus and burn it – Android bod
Can't wait to bonk with Apple? Then try an Android phone
Friday 24th April 2015 17:00 GMT
"And when I use it, I don't have to give my data to Apple"
But while carrying it you do have to give your data to anyone within a few metres of you who bothers to set up an antenna and system to read it.
I don't want to be this http://www.leaderproducts.com.au/images/256.jpg and having it in my wallet instead of riveted to my ear doesn't make a difference.
So no always on NFC cards for me thank you. Paying by NFC phone bonking on demand is actually more acceptable.
Windows 10 Device Guard: Microsoft's effort to keep malware off PCs
When the Schmidt hits The Man: Look what the NSA made Google do
Digital killed the radio star: Norway names FM switchoff date
Give Jay-Z's Tidal tune stream thing a chance, says indie label boss
DRONE ALONE: US Navy secretary gives up on manned fighters
Thursday 16th April 2015 13:09 GMT
"The US Navy has already used 3D printers on board ships to create working aircraft."
What are people smoking when it comes to 3D printing?
The USS Essex has a 3D printer on board and the only aircraft it has printed are "model planes used for the mock-up of the flight deck" - in other words small bits of plastic crap.
The same 2014 article says "The Navy believes that they are still several years away from being able to print out actual spare parts for aircraft or the ship itself."
So 3D printers have not created working aircraft anywhere.
IWF took down over 31,000 child sexual abuse URLs in 2014
Android gets biometric voice unlocking
Tuesday 14th April 2015 09:45 GMT
Re: FFS When will people learn?
"All biometric information is inherently insecure as a "password". It should never be used to unlock or otherwise access anything. Ever."
Google have access to everything on most people's androids without any biometric or password so most people are ignorant or don't care.
Videogame publishers to fans: Oi, stop resurrecting our dead titles online
Using Office 365 at work? It's dangerous to go alone! Take this...
Just WALK IN and buy an Apple Watch. Are you mad?
Amazon cloud threatens to SMASH the fundamental laws of PHYSICS
Friday 27th March 2015 02:39 GMT
The fine print
"We may change, suspend or discontinue the Service, or any part of it, at any time without notice"
On top of zero privacy there is zero security.
"or terminate your use of the Service at our discretion without notice at any time, including if we determine that your use violates the Agreement, is improper, substantially exceeds or differs from normal use by other users, or otherwise involves fraud or misuse of the Service or harms our interests or those of another user of the Service."
So the infinite storage is actually - not substantially more storage than anyone else is using.
Not worth $60 or $12 a year.
Ford: Our latest car gizmo will CHOKE OFF your FUEL if you're speeding
Elon Musk's Tesla set to unveil home storage battery
Friday 13th February 2015 16:51 GMT
Stupid
No one can make batteries that cost less than the mains electricity they can charge and discharge in their lifetime so you can't even break even when the electricity to charge them is free.
Musk isn't going to change that his batteries are bloody expensive. The only way it is going to change is if the price of mains electricity is artificially jacked up much more than it already is for political reasons.
If you could economically store mains electricity in batteries the generators would already be doing it and they would be doing it on a large scale much more economically than stupid little 'home' installations.
Musk's home batteries like his cars are for technically illiterate green willy wavers.
Back seat drivers fear lead-footed autonomous cars, say boffins
Wednesday 11th February 2015 15:32 GMT
Re: so much FUD...must be midweek....
"Everyone seems to be working on the assumption that human drivers are any good."
Even poor human drivers absolutely piss all over all autonomous cars we have seen so far and IMO will continue to do for decades at least.
Autonomous cars are simply not going to happen any time soon without the problem of driving being simplified by making roads or some roads more like railways for example.
Tesla parades sleek model body and fab batt at Roadster fans
Saturday 27th December 2014 16:11 GMT
Re: Perhaps, 400 miles if you live in sunny S. Calif
"why a BATTERY operated car needs sunshine..."
It needs sunshine to keep the driver warm and on a limp along at < 50mph to demonstrate impractical range claim run it probably needs sunshine to keep the battery warm.
400 miles will probably take around 9 hours which is averaging a bit less than 8kW to flatten a 70 kWh battery. If you need 2kW to warm the driver your 400 mile range is shot to hell.
Deprivation Britain: 1930s all over again? Codswallop!
Monday 15th December 2014 16:15 GMT
Re: 1930s
In the late 50's I, my parents, 3 brothers and sister lived in a rented two bedroom cottage with no running water and an outside elsan toilet my father had to dig a hole for in the garden and bury once a week. I don't really remember but my mother tells me we were often hungry. My father was a travelling salesman (on a motorbike with sidecar) my mother worked part time as a cleaner and used to keep the contents of the ash trays for my father to make roll-ups from the dog-ends. A woman living across the street had running water - a sink with a tap was a novelty for me and I remember playing washing and ironing (with flat irons heated on a stove) her dish cloths.
My parents worked hard and slowly prospered. Nowadays deprivation seems to be not having a 50" flat screen and SKY.
Post-Microsoft, post-PC programming: The portable REVOLUTION
Musicians sue UK.gov over 'zero pay' copyright fix
Meet Windows 10's new UI for OneDrive – also known as File Explorer
EU battles over 'anti-terrorist' passenger records slurper law
If only 0.006% care about BLOOD-SOAKED METAL ... why are we spending all this cash?
Sunday 9th November 2014 16:34 GMT
Re: A difference of OPINION
"That sounds like a number they pulled out of their asses"
It has cost me personally at least a tenner to fill out some stupid form from one of my American subsidiary customers to whom I have only ever supplied a handful of not-for resale prototype electronic assemblies. The answers were mostly don't know because I couldn't be arsed to send the same form to 20 of my suppliers.
'Tech giants who encrypt comms are unwittingly aiding terrorists', claims ex-Home Sec Blunkett
Microsoft's 'loss leader' Office 365 pricing strategy? NO THANKS
Elon Musk hits the brakes on Tesla's e-SUV Model X production
AT LAST! London gets BONKERS FLYING PRINTER TEST LAB
NATO declares WAR on Google Glass, mounts attack alongside MPAA
Thursday 30th October 2014 19:23 GMT
Re: Another great reason...
I haven't been to a cinema in years I doubt I will again before I die.
My screen at home is adequate. The sound is probably better and I get to control the volume. I can pause when I like. Watch a bit again if I want to. The seating is more comfortable, the food better and cheaper. I can have a fag if I want to. The company is better. I chose my own 'screening' times. I don't have to travel miles. It is cheaper.
Seeing the latest offerings now instead of in a few months doesn't come close to compensating for the downsides. Cinemas are a relic from a bygone age, about time they curled up and died.
Hey, YouTube lovers! How about you pay us, we start paying for STUFF? - Google
Planning to fly? Pour out your shampoo, toss your scissors, rename terrorist Wi-fi!
FTDI yanks chip-bricking driver from Windows Update, vows to fight on
Sunday 26th October 2014 21:38 GMT
Re: Freetard redux?
"deliberately damaged"
It didn't damage anything. It fixed a compatibility issue which if you are grasping at straws for a way to blame FTDI also caused another compatibility issue if you subsequently plug the device into a Linux box.
If the POS the customer bought complied with USB specifications, you know had that little logo on it (which wasn't fake) shit like this wouldn't happen.
Wow. Just... wow.
Saturday 25th October 2014 02:30 GMT
"knowingly causes the transmission of a program, information, code, or command,"
It seems the device knowing caused the transmission of fake VID and PID codes to the computer which resulted in damage to itself - justice :)
I said before if you don't want FTDI drivers messing with your device then don't program your device with VID and PID requesting FTDI drivers to be loaded.
Saturday 25th October 2014 02:20 GMT
"Erasing the PID and VID makes the device non-functional"
The VID and PID claim the device is a specific FTDI product. FTDI drivers detected that it wasn't an FTDI product at all and corrected the invalid PID so the device would not incorrectly request FTDI drivers to be loaded again. The FTDI drivers are only licensed for use on genuine FTDI products.
Under windows the device never was functional because there are no legitimate drivers for it, Yes there is a small lame argument that plugging your fake device claiming to be something it is not into a Windows box will result in it subsequently not working with open drivers on a Linux box.
"I'm hoping that Microsoft comes out with a strong statement and matching sanctions. They've made a big deal of WHQL certification, extensive testing and driver signing. This was either a failure of their process, or a demonstration that driver qualification nothing but business leverage."
Just lol - FTDI submit their drivers and hardware for testing and pay for it. Do you really think they should also be responsible for testing all the fakes and clones because they have FTDI stamped on them or use a VID allocated to FTDI by the USB-IF?
FTDI have no problem with competitors - they have a problem with products pretending to be manufactured by FTDI which abuse and tarnish their good reputation and use their drivers without license.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
