So let's see, we've got a 100MBps fat pipe direct from the heartland of the U.S. to the largest communist nation in the world, but I still can't get a direct flight from Miami to a communist country 90 miles off our shore???
From the CallSmart site:
"Make sure your caller ID is unblocked. We use your caller ID to authenticate your account when you call."
Has anyone else not heard of spoofing caller id?
I know it's not as famous, but the old Archos did what the iPod does and more for far less.
--user upgradeable hardrive (any 2.5 laptop drive-up to 80GB these days?) --user upgradeable firmware (try the Rockbox alternative) --FM tuner --records as well as plays --the older versions had AA NiMH batts-user upgradeable and never get caught without a fresh pair
Granted you won't be the babe magnet like with the iPod, but odds are it's better to have more cash to spend on the few babes you do get:)
It is a sad state of affairs, but isn't that the price we pay for humanity's ongoing diversification of labor?
I've known learned people in one scientific discipline who were unaware of the basic principles of another scientific discipline, but still they are competent scientists.
Are we simply at a point in our society's development where it is impossible for everyone to have a basic grasp of all the fundamentals? With the flood of information on the Information Age, can more than a handful of us can be "Renaissance men"?
--size --user-replaceable harddrive --USB2.0 (480mbps vs. 400mbps for 1394, irrelevant anyway since the harddrive mechanics is the bottleneck at 10-15 MB/s for both) --cost (Archos 20GB recorder last seen at 314USD) --proprietary file management software not needed
It says for residential "broadband" users, but isn't this a better deal for cable modem users than dsl users who presumably still have to pay the phone company for a line?
http://www.transmeta.com/about/press/special_pre ss / qo_16apr02.html
"Seattle, Washington - April 16, 2002 - OQO (pronounced "oh-q-oh"), today at Microsoft's WinHEC Conference, announced the world's first ultra-personal computer, representing a new PC category that could transform personal computing the same way the cell phone has revolutionized telecommunications.
OQO's first product is a highly functional and versatile handheld wireless computer that easily becomes a notebook or desktop PC. Measuring just 4.9 x 2.9 x 0.9 [inches] and weighing less than nine ounces, OQO's PC is a full-function computer running Microsoft Windows XP Professional and incorporating up to a 1GHz Crusoe TM5800 processor from Transmeta Corporation (NASDAQ:TMTA); four inch, super bright VGA color LCD; Synaptics touchscreen; 256MB onboard RAM; 10GB+ hard drive; 1394 FireWire, USB, audio, OQO-link connectors; and 802.11b and Bluetooth wireless networking.
"We're impressed with the direction that OQO is showing in developing its ultra-mobile, ultra-connected Windows XP-based PC," said Jim Allchin, group vice president of the Platforms Group at Microsoft Corp." These types of small-form-factor PCs, with their ability to deliver the power and richness of Windows any time and anywhere, will enable exciting new user experiences and opportunities."
"The OQO device represents an exciting new mobile computing platform that delivers full desktop applications in a handheld form factor," said Tim Bajarin, computer industry analyst and president, Creative Strategies, Inc. "It clearly breaks new ground and opens the door to a new category in mobile personal computing."
As a standalone device, OQO's ultra-personal computer slips easily into a shirt pocket. When inserted into an OQO-designed enclosure, it becomes a notebook PC. When placed in a cradle with a standard screen and keyboard, it becomes a desktop PC. This modular design allows for ease of use and convenience when traveling, whether to and from the office, across the country, or around the world.
"Modular computers have been identified as one of the most desirable form factors by Giga's IT audience every time we have surveyed for it," said Rob Enderle, research fellow for Giga Information Group. "This is one concept that actually could transform the technology industry and ensure a more steady revenue stream preceded by unprecedented--and potentially incredible--growth."
"After years of designing Apple and IBM laptops, the OQO team felt the time had come for the next step--but a revolutionary one--of the full-featured, wireless PC." said Jory Bell, president and CEO, OQO. "We wanted an ultra-personal computer that you always carry, but that was still powerful enough to be your only PC. We sought a device that incorporates wireless access as a central idea to the whole mobile experience. Moreover, we tried to instantiate something that would make people optimistic about the future."
"Crusoe is a catalyst for innovative, small, cool and quiet computing for emerging wireless platforms," said David Ditzel, vice-chairman and chief technology officer, Transmeta Corporation. "Until Crusoe, no one imagined that you could run Windows XP on a computer weighing less than nine ounces."
The first OQO PCs are expected to be commercially available from leading consumer electronics manufacturers in the second half of 2002.
OQO was founded in 1999 and is based San Francisco. The company includes executives, engineers and designers with exceptional credentials, including key positions at Apple Computer (Powerbook Design), Caltech Jet Propulsion Laboratory, IBM Almaden Research, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Oracle Corporation and Transmeta Corporation."
Too restrictive definition?
on
Rare Earth
·
· Score: 2, Interesting
Isn't Drake's equation falling victim to the classic human flaw of being too, well human-centric?
Isn't it possible that life doesn't necessarily have to be water-based, carbon-based, or in need of a sun or planets at all? I forget which novel I read it from (it was years ago), but there was a sci-fi author (Asimov?) who put forth the idea that maybe there could be an intelligent life form that is electro-magnetic based.
Let's expand our thinking and loosen up the requirements a bit!
"Drake's equation is easy to understand. Take the number of stars in the galaxy (about 200 to 300 billion, based on generally accepted estimates), and multiply it by: the percentage of stars that are similar to our Sun in the energy output and stability; the percentage of stars that have planets (since not every star has any); the percentage of planets orbiting their star in a proper distance (so they could hold liquid water, a necessity for maintaining life); the percentage of planets with liquid water on which life actually evolved; and finally, the percentage of life-bearing planets in which intelligent civilizations (i.e., those that can communicate by radio) eventually came to be. All in all, there are five or six factors in this product."
Being a monopoly in one market gives you the freedom to dabble in other markets. Other companies don't enjoy this luxury--when they go out on a limb to try to diversify, they don't have the cash cow of a monopoly to fall back on if the experiment goes all to hell.
It's like trust fund kid playing the ponies with his spare cash. He's facing relatively the same odds as everybody else, but his *risk* is considerably less.
The difference is that they are now not only storing all of this new info in a database, but they are also using the database to do realtime verification of your identity. The card is no longer the end-all be-all. If the database gets corrupted, hacked, stolen, modified, you are screwed and can look forward to possibly being incarcerated while they sort it all out.
from the article: "To provide a complete end-to-end security process, DMV has adopted Viisage's face recognition matching technology to verify that the applicant's image matches a stored image in the database for that applicant."
Was it really that big of a risk for Microsoft? When reading anything about MS, I try to keep in mind that we are *not* talking about your average run of the mill business here. This is a monopoly, right? So the usual rules don't apply.
Even if it was a complete failure (unlikely) MS would be out what, a few billion? (that's over a few years too, so I'm sure the world's highest paid accountants could lessen the blow). Not quite a drop in the bucket, but still easy enough for MS to shrug off.
Also I enjoyed the bit about what a "success" it was since Xbox didn't freeze in demonstration. For any other company, that would be a bare minumum, for MS, it's a success...
Maybe your friend has one of the older models. I have the 6GB recorder (which can easily be upgraded to any size 9.5mm harddrive) and it *does* support ID3 tags (version 1.0 or 1.1) as well as playlists (tip: use absolute paths, not relative paths in the lists).
Helpful links:
Archos faq at funmp3players Upgrade the harddrive
Does anybody know what the maximum number of possible stations will be in the AM/FM range, given the current spread spectrum technology and the desire to maintain clear signals?
I would think that range/wattage of the stations would be a determining factor. Perhaps if we were to limit individuals broadcasting range to a 2 or 3 mile radius, we could increase the number of stations without affecting signal quality too much (except in heavily populated areas where a smaller range limit could apply).
Anyone with the math skillz to tackle this problem, please reply!
"Mr Hancock admitted yesterday that the submerged ruins might not be old enough to relate to the kind of post-ice age flooding that destroyed the supposed civilisations of his books."
However he does think it still vindicates the use of local myths/legends as a resource.
Point taken, but are the groups who have a *moral* disagreement with the car companies taking *legal* action?
Additionally, it seems like the record companies are hypocritcal. Do they subject the same scrutiny to their own products as far as encouraging crime? How many rap or rock records have been released which encourage illegal behavior? Yet the record companies are more than willing to defend this as free speech. Why doesn't the same defense apply to Gateway?
Following the RIAA's logic, I guess car companies that advertise their wares are really encouraging the breaking of speed limits, reckless driving, and driving too fast for conditions when they show advertisements with the disclaimer "professional driver on closed course".
Do insurance companies then complain that auto manufacturers are behaving irresponsibly? No.
Should the RIAA be complaining about Gateway's ads? No.
Slashdot Mirror
So let's see, we've got a 100MBps fat pipe direct from the heartland of the U.S. to the largest communist nation in the world, but I still can't get a direct flight from Miami to a communist country 90 miles off our shore???
"Have You Fought Your ISP Over Bandwidth Limits?"
Seems to be the topic to me...
From the CallSmart site: "Make sure your caller ID is unblocked. We use your caller ID to authenticate your account when you call." Has anyone else not heard of spoofing caller id?
I know it's not as famous, but the old Archos did what the iPod does and more for far less.
:)
--user upgradeable hardrive (any 2.5 laptop drive-up to 80GB these days?)
--user upgradeable firmware (try the Rockbox alternative)
--FM tuner
--records as well as plays
--the older versions had AA NiMH batts-user upgradeable and never get caught without a fresh pair
Granted you won't be the babe magnet like with the iPod, but odds are it's better to have more cash to spend on the few babes you do get
"Mel Thusian"
MALthusian
Look it up. It's a joke, moderators.
It is a sad state of affairs, but isn't that the price we pay for humanity's ongoing diversification of labor?
I've known learned people in one scientific discipline who were unaware of the basic principles of another scientific discipline, but still they are competent scientists.
Are we simply at a point in our society's development where it is impossible for everyone to have a basic grasp of all the fundamentals? With the flood of information on the Information Age, can more than a handful of us can be "Renaissance men"?
IBM is unclear on the concept. When a market experiences a decrease in the number of suppliers, the market becomes less competitive.
I think what IBM meant to say is that they are less able or willing to compete.
Another few advantages for Archos:
--size
--user-replaceable harddrive
--USB2.0 (480mbps vs. 400mbps for 1394, irrelevant anyway since the harddrive mechanics is the bottleneck at 10-15 MB/s for both)
--cost (Archos 20GB recorder last seen at 314USD)
--proprietary file management software not needed
It says for residential "broadband" users, but isn't this a better deal for cable modem users than dsl users who presumably still have to pay the phone company for a line?
To alleviate DoS effect:
e ss / qo_16apr02.html
http://www.transmeta.com/about/press/special_pr
"Seattle, Washington - April 16, 2002 - OQO (pronounced "oh-q-oh"), today at Microsoft's WinHEC Conference, announced the world's first ultra-personal computer, representing a new PC category that could transform personal computing the same way the cell phone has revolutionized telecommunications.
OQO's first product is a highly functional and versatile handheld wireless computer that easily becomes a notebook or desktop PC. Measuring just 4.9 x 2.9 x 0.9 [inches] and weighing less than nine ounces, OQO's PC is a full-function computer running Microsoft Windows XP Professional and incorporating up to a 1GHz Crusoe TM5800 processor from Transmeta Corporation (NASDAQ:TMTA); four inch, super bright VGA color LCD; Synaptics touchscreen; 256MB onboard RAM; 10GB+ hard drive; 1394 FireWire, USB, audio, OQO-link connectors; and 802.11b and Bluetooth wireless networking.
"We're impressed with the direction that OQO is showing in developing its ultra-mobile, ultra-connected Windows XP-based PC," said Jim Allchin, group vice president of the Platforms Group at Microsoft Corp." These types of small-form-factor PCs, with their ability to deliver the power and richness of Windows any time and anywhere, will enable exciting new user experiences and opportunities."
"The OQO device represents an exciting new mobile computing platform that delivers full desktop applications in a handheld form factor," said Tim Bajarin, computer industry analyst and president, Creative Strategies, Inc. "It clearly breaks new ground and opens the door to a new category in mobile personal computing."
As a standalone device, OQO's ultra-personal computer slips easily into a shirt pocket. When inserted into an OQO-designed enclosure, it becomes a notebook PC. When placed in a cradle with a standard screen and keyboard, it becomes a desktop PC. This modular design allows for ease of use and convenience when traveling, whether to and from the office, across the country, or around the world.
"Modular computers have been identified as one of the most desirable form factors by Giga's IT audience every time we have surveyed for it," said Rob Enderle, research fellow for Giga Information Group. "This is one concept that actually could transform the technology industry and ensure a more steady revenue stream preceded by unprecedented--and potentially incredible--growth."
"After years of designing Apple and IBM laptops, the OQO team felt the time had come for the next step--but a revolutionary one--of the full-featured, wireless PC." said Jory Bell, president and CEO, OQO. "We wanted an ultra-personal computer that you always carry, but that was still powerful enough to be your only PC. We sought a device that incorporates wireless access as a central idea to the whole mobile experience. Moreover, we tried to instantiate something that would make people optimistic about the future."
"Crusoe is a catalyst for innovative, small, cool and quiet computing for emerging wireless platforms," said David Ditzel, vice-chairman and chief technology officer, Transmeta Corporation. "Until Crusoe, no one imagined that you could run Windows XP on a computer weighing less than nine ounces."
The first OQO PCs are expected to be commercially available from leading consumer electronics manufacturers in the second half of 2002.
OQO was founded in 1999 and is based San Francisco. The company includes executives, engineers and designers with exceptional credentials, including key positions at Apple Computer (Powerbook Design), Caltech Jet Propulsion Laboratory, IBM Almaden Research, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Oracle Corporation and Transmeta Corporation."
Isn't it possible that life doesn't necessarily have to be water-based, carbon-based, or in need of a sun or planets at all? I forget which novel I read it from (it was years ago), but there was a sci-fi author (Asimov?) who put forth the idea that maybe there could be an intelligent life form that is electro-magnetic based.
Let's expand our thinking and loosen up the requirements a bit!
Being a monopoly in one market gives you the freedom to dabble in other markets. Other companies don't enjoy this luxury--when they go out on a limb to try to diversify, they don't have the cash cow of a monopoly to fall back on if the experiment goes all to hell.
It's like trust fund kid playing the ponies with his spare cash. He's facing relatively the same odds as everybody else, but his *risk* is considerably less.
The difference is that they are now not only storing all of this new info in a database, but they are also using the database to do realtime verification of your identity. The card is no longer the end-all be-all. If the database gets corrupted, hacked, stolen, modified, you are screwed and can look forward to possibly being incarcerated while they sort it all out.
from the article:
"To provide a complete end-to-end security process, DMV has adopted Viisage's face recognition matching technology to verify that the applicant's image matches a stored image in the database for that applicant."
Those who have power will abuse it. Can you name one government that has never wrongly imprisoned one of their citizens?
We should only entrust the state with the bare minimum of power necessary to perform it's tasks.
Remember: in this country *we* employ *them*--not the other way around.
Was it really that big of a risk for Microsoft? When reading anything about MS, I try to keep in mind that we are *not* talking about your average run of the mill business here. This is a monopoly, right? So the usual rules don't apply.
Even if it was a complete failure (unlikely) MS would be out what, a few billion? (that's over a few years too, so I'm sure the world's highest paid accountants could lessen the blow). Not quite a drop in the bucket, but still easy enough for MS to shrug off.
Also I enjoyed the bit about what a "success" it was since Xbox didn't freeze in demonstration. For any other company, that would be a bare minumum, for MS, it's a success...
Maybe your friend has one of the older models. I have the 6GB recorder (which can easily be upgraded to any size 9.5mm harddrive) and it *does* support ID3 tags (version 1.0 or 1.1) as well as playlists (tip: use absolute paths, not relative paths in the lists). Helpful links: Archos faq at funmp3players
Upgrade the harddrive
Does anybody know what the maximum number of possible stations will be in the AM/FM range, given the current spread spectrum technology and the desire to maintain clear signals?
I would think that range/wattage of the stations would be a determining factor. Perhaps if we were to limit individuals broadcasting range to a 2 or 3 mile radius, we could increase the number of stations without affecting signal quality too much (except in heavily populated areas where a smaller range limit could apply).
Anyone with the math skillz to tackle this problem, please reply!
If spread-spectrum is allowed to flourish, everyone will have their own home-station, just like the web allowed them to have their own homepage...
Get ready for broadcasts of little Jimmy's first burp, and little Sara's first oboe recital.
For a preview of things to come, review the recent history of mp3.com--high quantity, low quality (followed by corporate buyout?).
Point taken, but are the groups who have a *moral* disagreement with the car companies taking *legal* action?
Additionally, it seems like the record companies are hypocritcal. Do they subject the same scrutiny to their own products as far as encouraging crime? How many rap or rock records have been released which encourage illegal behavior? Yet the record companies are more than willing to defend this as free speech. Why doesn't the same defense apply to Gateway?
Following the RIAA's logic, I guess car companies that advertise their wares are really encouraging the breaking of speed limits, reckless driving, and driving too fast for conditions when they show advertisements with the disclaimer "professional driver on closed course".
Do insurance companies then complain that auto manufacturers are behaving irresponsibly? No.
Should the RIAA be complaining about Gateway's ads? No.