'Wavefunction collapse' is how the Copenhagen Interpretation 'explains' this phenomenon, but like many of its 'explanations' they don't provide a compelling reason for things to happen this way. Terms like 'measurement' go from a precise QM meaning (eg. matrix multiplication) to a vague, ambiguous meaning like 'a concious observer'. This leads to tenuous extrapolations and conclusions, like the distinguished position of observers, the inclusion of conciousness into the interpretation and all the quantum 'explanations' of consciousness which that has spawned.
If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does the wavefunction collapse to make a sound?
Wow, BACnet looks about as lightweight as LDAP. But that's more of a communications protocol and not an API. So you wouldn't write a batch script to set off an action on a BACnet device over TCP/IP. I couldn't clearly tell if this even runs natively in TCP/IP. From what I can see it only runs encapsulated over TCP/IP and not really using it directly. So how would a wifi device really interoperate with a computer via an API using BACnet?
And Airwave, since it doesn't know the outdoor humidity. But it even handles a power outage pretty well (not that it can do much, but it knows of the concept).
My smoke detectors are on the ceiling. How low are your ceilings?
a) No - you have to have one to set it up. b) What is there to control? It's a smoke detector. Making the alarm stop is really the only control it has.
It does have an audible alarm. But it has a pre-alarm for light smoke like cooking. And really the only gesture control is waving in front of the detector to decrease its sensitivity temporarily. Same thing you'd do with a dumb smoke detector, only easier.
The thermostat was actually useful. Forgetting about your thermostat loses you money when you're running the AC when you're not even home. Programmable thermostat are a step up, but are a pain to program - and don't account for variations in your schedule.
I bought the thermostat, but still can't see any reason to upgrade a smoke detector.
There's not exactly a whole lot of competitors to standardize with yet. If their API uses json or XML calls, or any sort of HTTP request, that's standard enough. It's easy.
The real problem is that this API will probably communicate with their servers (which then communicate with the device) and not the device itself. That means if they ever stop supporting the device, your unit quits working for the most part. The thing requires the ability to poll for outdoor weather information so it's a paperweight if their servers ever go offline. If they put out a true API that actually connected to the device directly, people would have some insurance against the company going under. You could replicate all that functionality yourself if you wanted. Even use your own outdoor sensors for a more accurate/local reading.
Whoa! Nice. I had no idea. I am directly submitting json requests through their web site to control my thermostat already. Each day, a cron checks my work calendar to see if I have the day off (e.g. Christmas or other holidays) and automatically sets the thermostat to away mode based on that each morning at 7:45. To me, that's a step better than setting schedules or relying on auto-away since it's just a little more accurate. I also use my own web-based control panel so I don't have to use the Nest web site or app directly when I'm away from home.
The unofficial API works pretty well though now that I understand the quirks. I do wish I could set it to auto-away manually and have it not automatically switch back to home. I want it to reset its activity detection when I force auto-away so I don't have to remember to turn the AC on when I get home.
If you're in the US, switch to Ting or some other MVNO.
You have to buy your phone outright, but you and your wife can pool data/SMS/minutes. Your monthly bill goes down if you don't use all of the service you signed up for. https://ting.com/rates
I'll be switching soon - but for now I'm sticking with a dumb phone and one of Ting's hotspots.
I was researching something unrelated and I did found out that they actually make DSLAMs for use in Hotels. They can offer "triple play" to the rooms. That is, the same copper wire provides phone, Internet, TV and pay TV.
No. That's not how that works. This is more like steganography. The server on the other end has to embed the tunnel payload in real ICMP responses and real DNS query results. That requires special software at both ends. And the DNS option fails when the hotels hotels capture DNS traffic and redirect it to their own chosen DNS servers.
AFAIAC, VZ still owes me about $300 for services billed and not delivered.
Maybe I should start paying bills like that via credit card. Then I at least have another channel to raise my dispute and earn my money back if something like that ever happens.
But to get a pro-rated adjustment the normal way, you usually have to do quite a bit of diligence on your own part. Call each time the service goes down (it's assumed fixed after a tech comes out - even if the tech tells you its not fixed yet). And then call in customer service when the whole matter is resolved and have them verify the service outage dates with your previous service phone calls. It's a huge pain, but I've done it successfully with other providers. Thankfully, I've not had to deal with Verizon.
I especially liked the part of the request that asked to redirect the domain to their local corporate sponsors in the content industry. As if commercial seizure of the domain is even appropriate.
And what about dumb consumers that heard that FiOS is fast and just call Verizon to hook up Internet without inquiring any more details? It's true that they're not the brightest customers, but they are possibly being mislead intentionally.
Slashdot Mirror
Here in the US, you just say "I have a child..." and the doctor hands out a script for Adderall.
That's true - nothing better than the gameboy version. Especially for music.
Grassroots.
The run-on sentence in the summary makes it hard not to read it like he's been missing since 1962 and just now found.
When the other driver leaves, and their passenger tries to get in, they will road rage bash in your windshield.
'Wavefunction collapse' is how the Copenhagen Interpretation 'explains' this phenomenon, but like many of its 'explanations' they don't provide a compelling reason for things to happen this way. Terms like 'measurement' go from a precise QM meaning (eg. matrix multiplication) to a vague, ambiguous meaning like 'a concious observer'. This leads to tenuous extrapolations and conclusions, like the distinguished position of observers, the inclusion of conciousness into the interpretation and all the quantum 'explanations' of consciousness which that has spawned.
If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does the wavefunction collapse to make a sound?
Wow, BACnet looks about as lightweight as LDAP. But that's more of a communications protocol and not an API. So you wouldn't write a batch script to set off an action on a BACnet device over TCP/IP. I couldn't clearly tell if this even runs natively in TCP/IP. From what I can see it only runs encapsulated over TCP/IP and not really using it directly. So how would a wifi device really interoperate with a computer via an API using BACnet?
And Airwave, since it doesn't know the outdoor humidity. But it even handles a power outage pretty well (not that it can do much, but it knows of the concept).
My smoke detectors are on the ceiling. How low are your ceilings?
a) No - you have to have one to set it up.
b) What is there to control? It's a smoke detector. Making the alarm stop is really the only control it has.
It does have an audible alarm. But it has a pre-alarm for light smoke like cooking. And really the only gesture control is waving in front of the detector to decrease its sensitivity temporarily. Same thing you'd do with a dumb smoke detector, only easier.
$129 is too much, but it's not entirely useless.
If you stand in between the two extremes and rotate
Stand still and rotate? Sounds like a job for an oscillating fan.
If it has an option to disconnect/switch off the wi-fi I'll buy this in a second.
Set up a dummy AP and get it online and set up. Turn off / reset the AP. You still have the smoke detector.
But $129 for a smoke detector seems a bit much.
The thermostat was actually useful. Forgetting about your thermostat loses you money when you're running the AC when you're not even home. Programmable thermostat are a step up, but are a pain to program - and don't account for variations in your schedule.
I bought the thermostat, but still can't see any reason to upgrade a smoke detector.
There's not exactly a whole lot of competitors to standardize with yet. If their API uses json or XML calls, or any sort of HTTP request, that's standard enough. It's easy.
The real problem is that this API will probably communicate with their servers (which then communicate with the device) and not the device itself. That means if they ever stop supporting the device, your unit quits working for the most part. The thing requires the ability to poll for outdoor weather information so it's a paperweight if their servers ever go offline. If they put out a true API that actually connected to the device directly, people would have some insurance against the company going under. You could replicate all that functionality yourself if you wanted. Even use your own outdoor sensors for a more accurate/local reading.
Whoa! Nice. I had no idea. I am directly submitting json requests through their web site to control my thermostat already. Each day, a cron checks my work calendar to see if I have the day off (e.g. Christmas or other holidays) and automatically sets the thermostat to away mode based on that each morning at 7:45. To me, that's a step better than setting schedules or relying on auto-away since it's just a little more accurate. I also use my own web-based control panel so I don't have to use the Nest web site or app directly when I'm away from home.
The unofficial API works pretty well though now that I understand the quirks. I do wish I could set it to auto-away manually and have it not automatically switch back to home. I want it to reset its activity detection when I force auto-away so I don't have to remember to turn the AC on when I get home.
If you're in the US, switch to Ting or some other MVNO.
You have to buy your phone outright, but you and your wife can pool data/SMS/minutes. Your monthly bill goes down if you don't use all of the service you signed up for.
https://ting.com/rates
I'll be switching soon - but for now I'm sticking with a dumb phone and one of Ting's hotspots.
I was researching something unrelated and I did found out that they actually make DSLAMs for use in Hotels. They can offer "triple play" to the rooms. That is, the same copper wire provides phone, Internet, TV and pay TV.
No. That's not how that works. This is more like steganography. The server on the other end has to embed the tunnel payload in real ICMP responses and real DNS query results. That requires special software at both ends. And the DNS option fails when the hotels hotels capture DNS traffic and redirect it to their own chosen DNS servers.
That's so they can pretend there's no monthly charge for the cable boxes.
That's why you bring your own wifi bridge with you and spoof a new MAC address each hour to stay connected.
I know I should be annoyed at this. But this just works for once.
AFAIAC, VZ still owes me about $300 for services billed and not delivered.
Maybe I should start paying bills like that via credit card. Then I at least have another channel to raise my dispute and earn my money back if something like that ever happens.
But to get a pro-rated adjustment the normal way, you usually have to do quite a bit of diligence on your own part. Call each time the service goes down (it's assumed fixed after a tech comes out - even if the tech tells you its not fixed yet). And then call in customer service when the whole matter is resolved and have them verify the service outage dates with your previous service phone calls. It's a huge pain, but I've done it successfully with other providers. Thankfully, I've not had to deal with Verizon.
I especially liked the part of the request that asked to redirect the domain to their local corporate sponsors in the content industry. As if commercial seizure of the domain is even appropriate.
Exactly. Police helpfully highlighted their own stupidity.
I saw some tools with a brand name of "Chicago Tools from Illinois" and a logo on the left that said "Proudly Distributed in the USA."
On the back, it still said "Made in China."
And what about dumb consumers that heard that FiOS is fast and just call Verizon to hook up Internet without inquiring any more details? It's true that they're not the brightest customers, but they are possibly being mislead intentionally.