the three data stashing apps they looked at all stored their stuff in JPG. what about the other 10,000 image formats out there.
No reason why you wouldn't use another format. But there is an advantage to JPG. It's by far the most common image format for photos on the internet right now. GIF would work, and well, I might add. PNG isn't widespread enough, but could still be used. ILBM, PCX, IFF, PICT, would likely raise eyebrows.
How much bandwidth is needed? What kind of uses? If you're sending email, a Palm VII would do the job. If you want to watch a Stevenote your bandwidth needs will be higher.
Many cell phones will act as a 14,400bps modem. DirecPC is supposed to be used with a 56k modem, but you could probably use it with the cell phone, if you don't mind diminished performance. There are automatic aiming systems for the DirecTV, but I haven't seen one for DirecPC.
Good luck.
Blender (not only has it been done, you can buy them commercially - 5hp B&H I think)
Go look at what Moller is doing. Other people have suggested hovercraft, but you have four engines. Moller is using them with a ducted fan to make something that hovers and flys about at higher altitudes.
Hovercraft (not much to that)
Lawnmower - Think I'm silly? You're making it, do it the geek way. How about creating some sort of generator, putting an old motherboard in there, add some electric motors and make the whole thing robotic?
I think a lawnmower engine is a little poorly suited, but the Wheelman is too cool, and begs to be copied.
Bicycle motor. Just add a rear bike rack. Attach the motor to the rack, and attach a small wheel to the shaft of the motor (actually, some kind of gear reduction box is probably needed) allow the small wheel to engage the rear tire of the bike.
Launcher. Like a scaled up version of a tennis ball server. You could fire nerf footballs or something...
Good luck, and be safe!
Mac OS features the Software Update Control Panel. It checks Apple's servers and downloads the latest patches for Apple's software and a limited number of third party applications (I've had it try to update OE5). Unlike Microsoft's update system, there is no downloading through a web interface, and then running a seperate app. The Apple software can install anything needed, close other apps when needed, and even restart the machine. All without a gratuitous web interface.
I'd like to see both Apple and Microsoft expand on this in the future to allow for software updates through an easy to use standalone application. I'd also like to see third party developers get access to the software update systems, so they can offer patches to the users (or at least links to websites with patches).
The Microsoft system is pretty sad, and the closest thing I've seen to the Mac OS update system is cNet's Catchup. But we're still stuck with downloading and applying patches manually.
I do not know about anybody else, but I am still in shock..
Leave it to slashdot to worry about silly things like this. Not to downplay the importance of our "liberties", but limited use of such technologies can certainly help. The specifics of how and where are up to debate.
I share your feelings. You say that you are still in shock - most of us are. It is still a painful time. Rest assured that most of the debate is being carried out by people that are hurt by the attacks of the 11th. In the US, our president has asked us to try to carry on with business as usual. Part of our life in the US centers around debate. We've lost something to our attackers if we lose the ability to question our leaders. Questioning our leaders makes our country stronger.
Re:On the subject of sensors in vehicles...
on
Remote Breathalyzer
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· Score: 1
I know the "New World" (i.e. anything from the iMac on) Macs will netboot. But I've not tried netbooting them via Airport. For that matter, I can't think of a reason that would prevent netbooting something besides MacOS.
Anyone try this?
I was starting a business recently, and I really needed an inexpensive machine with enough pep to keep a fast CDRW saturated. I was planning to build it myself, but I decided to give a few of the big names a call to see if there were any deals to be had. I called Dell, Gateway, and even "Peace, Love, Linux" IBM. Not one would sell me a PC without Windows. Most would only offer Windows ME, with a few offering Windows 2000. I asked specifically for Linux! From each and every vendor!
Well, that's not entirely true. IBM is supposed to be calling me back. You see, I called a second time, and I made the mistake of uttering the word "server". After that, he refused to give me a quote on my configuration, saying the Mon-Fri 9-5 "enterprise" sales force would have to call me to discuss my needs. Sadly, IBM must be backed up - it's been three months. I've decided to repurpose an old box for the time being... And then I'm building a new machine.
So really, this isn't news. They're just admitting to what was really the state of affairs all along.
Sony? I doubt it, why? Because the CD they provided WON'T damage your gear, only the one you make.
Yes, but Sony sold you an audio CD. Audio CDs have certain properties and must meet certain standards (redbook). If the product they sold you as an audio CD is actually not possessing of the qualities of a proper audio CD, an as a result, you experience damages, then they are liable.
It makes me think about the memory card market. Some memory cards have copy protection features, and labels that distinguish them from standard cards. Sony could duck this if they introduce a new standard (they, along with Philips, were instrumental in redbook) and label the discs accordingly. (CDMG = Compact Disc Magic Gate, perhaps make ECD or some other feature a standard part so they can hype it as a benefit to the consumer.) They could also revise the SACD specs to allow the CD layer to contain this data.
I'm also reminded of a few court cases involving a home owner or car owner who put traps on their property to injure trespassers and thieves. In each of these cases, the person who set the traps was liable for the injuries to their trespasser.
Of course, standard disclaimers apply, IANAL (I just play one on tv), some cars not for use with some sets, YMMV.
It's precisely this kind of behavior that is why many places that claim they need my credit card number won't get it.. and if they won't sell without it, they lose the sale. This type of behavor is why I try to use postal money orders for services - if they try to screw me, they get to talk to postal inspectors.
Sadly, it's a DirecTV issue. They can charge the vendors this fee if they don't have valid information on the customer. (I sell these for a living - and I've had to walk customers.) The few vendors that don't ask for this information (places with "Mart" in the name) probably decided that the cost of deploying new systems to collect the information, and training employees on those systems would be more expensive than the fees, or they threw their weight around to get the fees waived.
...is some hard numbers on DirecTV's new purchase contracts. For the past several months, most DirecTV retailers have gotten contracts from system purchasers, asking that they either:
1) Connect the new equipment to DirecTV within 90 days or:
2) Return the equipment to the store.
Failure to do either of these things results in a charge of $200 to the purchaser's credit card. What? Don't have a card? You can't buy a dish.
I'd love to know how many of those $200 charges they've collected on.
Well, the Netpliance iOpener looks quite a bit like what you want, unless you need serious portability. The form factor is essentially that of a tablet, after removing the table stand. It can be hacked to support most of the popular x86 operating systems. Add an input device, and you'll be set. They can be found on most of the auction sites between $100 and $150. Go to Linux-Hacker.net for more information.
There is the IBM Thinkpad 730t, but you're back to the slow processors.
Ricoh put out a similar machine, but it has a color display and internal CD-ROM.
Symbol Technologies make pen based terminals for industrial applications. If you want to see one, go to Home Depot. They use them extensively. The newer Wal-Mart stores are using different units in their Auto Centers for taking orders.
QBE is making modern tablets, but they are a bit more expensive. It looks like they're cheaper on eBay.
And just to expand on what's already been said, what's wrong with the Pocket PC systems? I think that's where the promises for tablet computers ended up. For that matter, the earlier Windows CE palmtops are pretty nice. You can also get 802.11b cards for your system. Use that with VNC for Windows CE to control a real machine running a VNC server elsewhere.
Yes, you should be able to use your software in any linux distribution. But how long will it actually take from the distribution makers to accept and comply with this standard?
Not very long at all, hopefully. If you look at the home page for the Linux Base project, you'll see that their list of contributors includes all the big players in Linux, including hardware vendors like IBM and Compaq. Besides, it sure looks like a good excuse for a major revision number.
Agreed. It's an attitude that Apple could learn from. OS X isn't supported on the clones, (which are pretty old anyway) so every machine out there that can run it is a piece of hardware Apple manufactured and shipped with a Mac OS license.
There is a company in the Radio Control Car industry called Litespeed products. I can't find a web site for them, but any hobby dealer, and possibly Tower Hobbies could get the stuff for you. Aside from making a cool set of low loss battery connectors, they had a product called Dylon. It was made in a number of colors, and produced good results with white nylon parts, such as those used in Associated Electrics' products, at least untill the mid 90's. Dylon was used on styrene parts, but the colors tended to be much more faint. Red dye produced light pink styrene parts.
I've done things by hand in the past, and I now use Spamcop exclusively. It's just too easy to not use it. I've never had it pick on my ISP. Of course, I'm using large ISPs, so they could just be in some sort of database that blocks that sort of thing. I just wish I could make an Applescript to move all the source about and automate things.
If you want to do things by hand, I've really enjoyed http://combat.uxn.com/. I still use it if I get a spam that raises my ire. It lets me make sure I've pestered anyone even remotely related to allowing the spam to exist.
The picture quality of TiVo is nothing to write home about. Why don't you have a look at a good S-VHS vcr? It blows away VHS in picture quality. Recorders can be bought all day for a song. Circuit City has them available from $139 (Phillips VR-960BPH). They don't call home, and they pick up a good 400 lines of resolution, and the S-VHS ET models can give you improved picture without S-VHS tape.
If it's clever and geeky you want, it's probably already been put on a t-shirt by Copyleft or ThinkGeek.
A compelling argument against MSIE.
on
Mozilla 0.9.1 Out
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I keep Netscape 4.x on hand because I like Composer for getting tables "just right". I almost never use it for anything else. I bought the Netscape 6 CD (I have dial-up and need several platform's versions often). Needless to say, it was horrid.
All this means, of course, that I was rather skeptical when I downloaded Mozilla. It's a great browser. Faster, more stable, and it doesn't seem nearly as bloated.
If you have the extended warranty, you might be able to take it back to the place you bought it from. I know the Circuit City ESP plan offers "Guarranteed Showroom Performance". Bring it into the store and tell them it no longer records properly.
Well, whatever these people are doing, I remember a prediction from a few years ago. It seems the power company has to control it's substations remotely, but all that electricity tends to corrupt data over copper. As a result, many of the power companies installed fiber, which is of course, underutilized by their low bandwidth needs. It was predicted in the article ( I think it was Wired, back in '95 or so) that power companies would become strong providers of broadband internet service thanks to their large fiber network.
Slashdot Mirror
Some people are talking about similarities to a Simpsons episode. I think this is more like a Daria episode.
Que ironico.
How much bandwidth is needed? What kind of uses? If you're sending email, a Palm VII would do the job. If you want to watch a Stevenote your bandwidth needs will be higher.
Many cell phones will act as a 14,400bps modem. DirecPC is supposed to be used with a 56k modem, but you could probably use it with the cell phone, if you don't mind diminished performance. There are automatic aiming systems for the DirecTV, but I haven't seen one for DirecPC.
Good luck.
Blender (not only has it been done, you can buy them commercially - 5hp B&H I think)
Go look at what Moller is doing. Other people have suggested hovercraft, but you have four engines. Moller is using them with a ducted fan to make something that hovers and flys about at higher altitudes.
Hovercraft (not much to that)
Lawnmower - Think I'm silly? You're making it, do it the geek way. How about creating some sort of generator, putting an old motherboard in there, add some electric motors and make the whole thing robotic?
I think a lawnmower engine is a little poorly suited, but the Wheelman is too cool, and begs to be copied.
The world's most nausiating Sit 'n' Spin.
Van De Graff generator
Bicycle motor. Just add a rear bike rack. Attach the motor to the rack, and attach a small wheel to the shaft of the motor (actually, some kind of gear reduction box is probably needed) allow the small wheel to engage the rear tire of the bike.
Launcher. Like a scaled up version of a tennis ball server. You could fire nerf footballs or something... Good luck, and be safe!
I'd like to see both Apple and Microsoft expand on this in the future to allow for software updates through an easy to use standalone application. I'd also like to see third party developers get access to the software update systems, so they can offer patches to the users (or at least links to websites with patches).
The Microsoft system is pretty sad, and the closest thing I've seen to the Mac OS update system is cNet's Catchup. But we're still stuck with downloading and applying patches manually.
OnStar does this. It looks for airbag deployment.
I know the "New World" (i.e. anything from the iMac on) Macs will netboot. But I've not tried netbooting them via Airport. For that matter, I can't think of a reason that would prevent netbooting something besides MacOS.
Anyone try this?
Well, that's not entirely true. IBM is supposed to be calling me back. You see, I called a second time, and I made the mistake of uttering the word "server". After that, he refused to give me a quote on my configuration, saying the Mon-Fri 9-5 "enterprise" sales force would have to call me to discuss my needs. Sadly, IBM must be backed up - it's been three months. I've decided to repurpose an old box for the time being... And then I'm building a new machine.
So really, this isn't news. They're just admitting to what was really the state of affairs all along.
It makes me think about the memory card market. Some memory cards have copy protection features, and labels that distinguish them from standard cards. Sony could duck this if they introduce a new standard (they, along with Philips, were instrumental in redbook) and label the discs accordingly. (CDMG = Compact Disc Magic Gate, perhaps make ECD or some other feature a standard part so they can hype it as a benefit to the consumer.) They could also revise the SACD specs to allow the CD layer to contain this data.
I'm also reminded of a few court cases involving a home owner or car owner who put traps on their property to injure trespassers and thieves. In each of these cases, the person who set the traps was liable for the injuries to their trespasser.
Of course, standard disclaimers apply, IANAL (I just play one on tv), some cars not for use with some sets, YMMV.
...is some hard numbers on DirecTV's new purchase contracts. For the past several months, most DirecTV retailers have gotten contracts from system purchasers, asking that they either:
1) Connect the new equipment to DirecTV within 90 days or:
2) Return the equipment to the store.
Failure to do either of these things results in a charge of $200 to the purchaser's credit card. What? Don't have a card? You can't buy a dish.
I'd love to know how many of those $200 charges they've collected on.
-mike
There is the IBM Thinkpad 730t, but you're back to the slow processors.
Ricoh put out a similar machine, but it has a color display and internal CD-ROM.
Symbol Technologies make pen based terminals for industrial applications. If you want to see one, go to Home Depot. They use them extensively. The newer Wal-Mart stores are using different units in their Auto Centers for taking orders.
QBE is making modern tablets, but they are a bit more expensive. It looks like they're cheaper on eBay.
And just to expand on what's already been said, what's wrong with the Pocket PC systems? I think that's where the promises for tablet computers ended up. For that matter, the earlier Windows CE palmtops are pretty nice. You can also get 802.11b cards for your system. Use that with VNC for Windows CE to control a real machine running a VNC server elsewhere.
Not very long at all, hopefully. If you look at the home page for the Linux Base project, you'll see that their list of contributors includes all the big players in Linux, including hardware vendors like IBM and Compaq. Besides, it sure looks like a good excuse for a major revision number.
Agreed. It's an attitude that Apple could learn from. OS X isn't supported on the clones, (which are pretty old anyway) so every machine out there that can run it is a piece of hardware Apple manufactured and shipped with a Mac OS license.
There is a company in the Radio Control Car industry called Litespeed products. I can't find a web site for them, but any hobby dealer, and possibly Tower Hobbies could get the stuff for you. Aside from making a cool set of low loss battery connectors, they had a product called Dylon. It was made in a number of colors, and produced good results with white nylon parts, such as those used in Associated Electrics' products, at least untill the mid 90's. Dylon was used on styrene parts, but the colors tended to be much more faint. Red dye produced light pink styrene parts.
If you want to do things by hand, I've really enjoyed http://combat.uxn.com/. I still use it if I get a spam that raises my ire. It lets me make sure I've pestered anyone even remotely related to allowing the spam to exist.
The picture quality of TiVo is nothing to write home about. Why don't you have a look at a good S-VHS vcr? It blows away VHS in picture quality. Recorders can be bought all day for a song. Circuit City has them available from $139 (Phillips VR-960BPH). They don't call home, and they pick up a good 400 lines of resolution, and the S-VHS ET models can give you improved picture without S-VHS tape.
Have you tried PGPnet? It's a little slow, but it's quite secure - and it's free for non commercial use. It's included with PGPFreeware at pgp.com.
If it's clever and geeky you want, it's probably already been put on a t-shirt by Copyleft or ThinkGeek.
All this means, of course, that I was rather skeptical when I downloaded Mozilla. It's a great browser. Faster, more stable, and it doesn't seem nearly as bloated.
I had a hard time finding these. Go to http://www.barada.ca/photos.htm
They have a ton of them.
If you have the extended warranty, you might be able to take it back to the place you bought it from. I know the Circuit City ESP plan offers "Guarranteed Showroom Performance". Bring it into the store and tell them it no longer records properly.
Haven't heard anything since.