A coworker pointed out that if an outsourcing firm bills(1) you only a third what an American development team would, that allows the business to fail three times before they've spent as much as they otherwise would have.
Chip H.
(1) Note that I consider cost a different data point from what they bill you. e.g. There is an opportunity cost in failing three times.
Since there are no (to my knowledge) set-top boxes being actually manufactured in the US anymore (they all say "Made in China"), this program will simply result in a $1bn gift to the Chinese electronics industry.
Nintendo really took the correct approach by concentrating on gameplay, and not pure technical chops. The Wii is just fun to play for everyone in the family: from my 9yo niece to my 80yo grandmother.
I've been looking for additional Wii consoles for people at work, and they're really hard to find (I'm not paying inflated prices on eBay, sorry.) A PS3, on the other hand, I could pick up pretty much anytime.
Being able to launch one is a great accomplishment. The question is: Where will it hit? Unlike a Tomahawk, it's unlikely you can install a GPS receiver in the "bullet" because of the high launch g-forces, so using terminal guidance is probably out. You'd have to rely on the initial launch trajectory, which at a range of 200+ nautical miles, means the result will likely be a miss, rather than a hit.
Of course, if they get the rate of fire up high enough...
This press release is for the Saturn Vue Green Line, but the battery technology will be interchangable, of course. Looks they might be available at the end of 2007, not 2010. Chip H.
DETROIT - General Motors Corp. today announced it has awarded advanced battery development contracts to two suppliers to design and test lithium-ion batteries for use in the Saturn Vue Green Line plug-in hybrid SUV.
One contract has been awarded to Johnson Controls - Saft Advanced Power Solutions, LLC, a joint venture between Tier 1 automotive supplier Johnson Controls and Saft. Another agreement was signed with Cobasys, in partnership with A123Systems. Cobasys, based in Orion, Mich., is a joint venture between Chevron Technology Ventures LLC, a subsidiary of Chevron Corp., and Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. A123Systems, based in Watertown, Mass., is a leading manufacturer of high power lithium-ion batteries.
According to Denise Gray, GM's newly appointed director of hybrid energy storage systems, the companies will be challenged to prove the durability, reliability and potential cost at mass volumes of their technology.
"Thanks to critical relationships with the U.S. government, collaborative research with Ford and DaimlerChrysler under the United States Advanced Battery Consortium (USABC), significant progress has been made in battery research," said Gray. "But a lot of testing and development is still needed. Together, with our suppliers, we intend to address the issues relating to thermal management, storage capacity, recharge times, driving range and cost reduction."
The two test batteries, one from Cobasys - A123Systems and the other from Johnson Controls - Saft , will be evaluated in prototype Saturn Vue Green Line plug-in hybrids beginning later this year. While both are lithium-ion batteries, the chemistry differs significantly. The suppliers also use unique methods in the design and assembling of the battery packs.
Johnson Controls, Inc., headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis., had sales of $32 billion in fiscal year 2006 and employs approximately 136,000 people. Johnson Controls' power solutions business provides more than 110 million starter batteries globally each year. Saft, headquartered in Paris, employs 4,000 people and had annual sales of more than $700 million in 2005. Saft and Johnson Controls formed the battery joint venture last year. Now, more than 150 people work for the joint venture, based also in Milwaukee. Saft is a world leader in high performance batteries and has a decade of experience in lithium-ion development and manufacturing. Saft provided lithium-ion batteries for the Chevrolet Sequel fuel cell concept vehicle.
Cobasys has facilities in both Michigan and Ohio with approximately 400 employees dedicated to the design, manufacture and integration of advanced energy storage systems for both transportation and stationary power markets. Their headquarters features one of the world's largest Energy Storage System development and test facilities required for the validation of battery systems. Cobasys is presently supplying nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) systems for the Saturn Vue Green Line hybrid SUV and will be supplying NiMH systems for the 2007 Saturn Aura Green Line hybrid sedan.
A123Systems, which employs 250 people, was started in 2001 to commercialize technology developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). A123Systems has quickly grown to be one of the world's largest suppliers of high power lithium-ion batteries. By the end of 2007, A123Systems will have the annual capacity to make 20 million lithium-ion batteries for use in power tools. It also sells batteries for stationary backup power, jet engine auxiliary power units and hybrid trucks and buses.
GM will be actively looking for more partners to bring lithium-ion technology to production. "It's important to point out that these two agreements are by no means the only avenues we're pursuing," Gray said. "We are fully committed to forging the necessary partnerships to produce ba
...and charged $24 per disc, and I would have bought a lot of them from the dawn of the video age.
From The Buggles, to Thomas Dolby, to The Thompson Twins -- I would have snapped them up. Sorry about that MTV networks -- you were too slow to offer this, and now I can get them for free.
Chip H.
PS: You can keep the trashy "reality" shows. I've got -zero- interest in them.
Perhaps if they'd used a heavier ball (think un-drilled bowling ball covered in urethane) that would provide the dampening they need. I noticed in the YouTube videos that a couple of shoves got it oscillating, and it took a while for it to return to a (more or less) stationary position.
Did they not know that SETI runs on the BOIC platform, which is open-source? So if you want to do some modelling, just write a BOINC plugin, and maybe people will install & run it.
As someone who lives in Raleigh, you are entirely correct.
Before our light-rail system got de-funded by the federal government, there weren't any plans to run a line to the airport, because the airport authority didn't want it there. It turns out they make a ton of money from parking fees, so adding a mass-transit link would have cost them money, despite making things significantly easier for their hundreds-of-thousands of yearly patrons.
I'm surprised you didn't comment on the poor quality of the rail line between Raleigh and Washington. I rode it earlier this year, and it was a most un-impressive trip. Not only was the train an hour late arriving into Raleigh, it was an additional 30 minutes late getting into Union Station. The trip back was worse -- it took 8 hours instead of the scheduled 6. I won't get into the cackling witch seated two rows behind me who did not shut up for the entire trip, despite being in the quiet car. [rolleyes]
Compare that to the ICE trains in Germany, which (while crowded) run like clockwork. There are plans to bring high-speed rail to the southeast, but they're running into the usual pork-barrel project problems -- every little town wants a stop, which negates the purpose.
Like Fulcrum of Evil says, the technology is different.
However in my case, the phone was a dual digital/analog Motorola StarTac, and cloning a phone over the analog side is childs-play (I was roaming, and was unaware that the analog side was powered up). This isn't a problem (as much) anymore because most new phones are digital-only.
The call-center operators are trained to immediately pass those calls on.
My phone got cloned in the D.C. area several years ago -- over $500 of calls made to Canada by several someones. Once I got through to the fraud department at Sprint, they were able to get things straightened out and my account creditted. It helped that my phone was on & registered in North Carolina with their network at the same time the calls were being made from distant states.
Don't move your business to Wachovia (formerly First Union), either. They have similar practices (fee-based revenue), and are difficult to deal with, too.
Try your local credit union. I've been very pleased with mine -- they have great rates on both lending and savings, and everyone I've worked with has been glad to have my business.
I agree with the parent. His winning the election (or even being allowed to attend the presidential debates) would have been disruptive to their entrenched interests, so the mass media only presented the two candidates which were known quantities.
My T43P (that I bought just after the sale to Lenovo) had a SODIMM module go bad over the weekend. I've placed a service call, and we'll see how well things go.
CC processing software needs to retain the card info for a few weeks until the transactions settle. This allows the merchant to handle chargebacks, disputes, etc.
Nothing to be alarmed about as long as you trust the merchant.
Slashdot Mirror
A coworker pointed out that if an outsourcing firm bills(1) you only a third what an American development team would, that allows the business to fail three times before they've spent as much as they otherwise would have.
Chip H.
(1) Note that I consider cost a different data point from what they bill you. e.g. There is an opportunity cost in failing three times.
Uh-oh. Nathan Brazil is probably in the neighborhood.
_ of_Souls
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midnight_at_the_Well
Since there are no (to my knowledge) set-top boxes being actually manufactured in the US anymore (they all say "Made in China"), this program will simply result in a $1bn gift to the Chinese electronics industry.
Chip H.
Nintendo really took the correct approach by concentrating on gameplay, and not pure technical chops. The Wii is just fun to play for everyone in the family: from my 9yo niece to my 80yo grandmother.
I've been looking for additional Wii consoles for people at work, and they're really hard to find (I'm not paying inflated prices on eBay, sorry.) A PS3, on the other hand, I could pick up pretty much anytime.
Chip H.
Being able to launch one is a great accomplishment. The question is: Where will it hit? Unlike a Tomahawk, it's unlikely you can install a GPS receiver in the "bullet" because of the high launch g-forces, so using terminal guidance is probably out. You'd have to rely on the initial launch trajectory, which at a range of 200+ nautical miles, means the result will likely be a miss, rather than a hit.
Of course, if they get the rate of fire up high enough...
Chip H.
This press release is for the Saturn Vue Green Line, but the battery technology will be interchangable, of course. Looks they might be available at the end of 2007, not 2010.
Chip H.
DETROIT - General Motors Corp. today announced it has awarded advanced battery development contracts to two suppliers to design and test lithium-ion batteries for use in the Saturn Vue Green Line plug-in hybrid SUV.
One contract has been awarded to Johnson Controls - Saft Advanced Power Solutions, LLC, a joint venture between Tier 1 automotive supplier Johnson Controls and Saft. Another agreement was signed with Cobasys, in partnership with A123Systems. Cobasys, based in Orion, Mich., is a joint venture between Chevron Technology Ventures LLC, a subsidiary of Chevron Corp., and Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. A123Systems, based in Watertown, Mass., is a leading manufacturer of high power lithium-ion batteries.
According to Denise Gray, GM's newly appointed director of hybrid energy storage systems, the companies will be challenged to prove the durability, reliability and potential cost at mass volumes of their technology.
"Thanks to critical relationships with the U.S. government, collaborative research with Ford and DaimlerChrysler under the United States Advanced Battery Consortium (USABC), significant progress has been made in battery research," said Gray. "But a lot of testing and development is still needed. Together, with our suppliers, we intend to address the issues relating to thermal management, storage capacity, recharge times, driving range and cost reduction."
The two test batteries, one from Cobasys - A123Systems and the other from Johnson Controls - Saft , will be evaluated in prototype Saturn Vue Green Line plug-in hybrids beginning later this year. While both are lithium-ion batteries, the chemistry differs significantly. The suppliers also use unique methods in the design and assembling of the battery packs.
Johnson Controls, Inc., headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis., had sales of $32 billion in fiscal year 2006 and employs approximately 136,000 people. Johnson Controls' power solutions business provides more than 110 million starter batteries globally each year. Saft, headquartered in Paris, employs 4,000 people and had annual sales of more than $700 million in 2005. Saft and Johnson Controls formed the battery joint venture last year. Now, more than 150 people work for the joint venture, based also in Milwaukee. Saft is a world leader in high performance batteries and has a decade of experience in lithium-ion development and manufacturing. Saft provided lithium-ion batteries for the Chevrolet Sequel fuel cell concept vehicle.
Cobasys has facilities in both Michigan and Ohio with approximately 400 employees dedicated to the design, manufacture and integration of advanced energy storage systems for both transportation and stationary power markets. Their headquarters features one of the world's largest Energy Storage System development and test facilities required for the validation of battery systems. Cobasys is presently supplying nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) systems for the Saturn Vue Green Line hybrid SUV and will be supplying NiMH systems for the 2007 Saturn Aura Green Line hybrid sedan.
A123Systems, which employs 250 people, was started in 2001 to commercialize technology developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). A123Systems has quickly grown to be one of the world's largest suppliers of high power lithium-ion batteries. By the end of 2007, A123Systems will have the annual capacity to make 20 million lithium-ion batteries for use in power tools. It also sells batteries for stationary backup power, jet engine auxiliary power units and hybrid trucks and buses.
GM will be actively looking for more partners to bring lithium-ion technology to production. "It's important to point out that these two agreements are by no means the only avenues we're pursuing," Gray said. "We are fully committed to forging the necessary partnerships to produce ba
Mr PIV, meet Mr Hammer.
Like the subject line says.
...and charged $24 per disc, and I would have bought a lot of them from the dawn of the video age.
From The Buggles, to Thomas Dolby, to The Thompson Twins -- I would have snapped them up. Sorry about that MTV networks -- you were too slow to offer this, and now I can get them for free.
Chip H.
PS: You can keep the trashy "reality" shows. I've got -zero- interest in them.
Perhaps if they'd used a heavier ball (think un-drilled bowling ball covered in urethane) that would provide the dampening they need. I noticed in the YouTube videos that a couple of shoves got it oscillating, and it took a while for it to return to a (more or less) stationary position.
Chip H.
Did they not know that SETI runs on the BOIC platform, which is open-source? So if you want to do some modelling, just write a BOINC plugin, and maybe people will install & run it.
Chip H.
As someone who lives in Raleigh, you are entirely correct.
Before our light-rail system got de-funded by the federal government, there weren't any plans to run a line to the airport, because the airport authority didn't want it there. It turns out they make a ton of money from parking fees, so adding a mass-transit link would have cost them money, despite making things significantly easier for their hundreds-of-thousands of yearly patrons.
I'm surprised you didn't comment on the poor quality of the rail line between Raleigh and Washington. I rode it earlier this year, and it was a most un-impressive trip. Not only was the train an hour late arriving into Raleigh, it was an additional 30 minutes late getting into Union Station. The trip back was worse -- it took 8 hours instead of the scheduled 6. I won't get into the cackling witch seated two rows behind me who did not shut up for the entire trip, despite being in the quiet car. [rolleyes]
Compare that to the ICE trains in Germany, which (while crowded) run like clockwork. There are plans to bring high-speed rail to the southeast, but they're running into the usual pork-barrel project problems -- every little town wants a stop, which negates the purpose.
Chip H.
Like Fulcrum of Evil says, the technology is different.
However in my case, the phone was a dual digital/analog Motorola StarTac, and cloning a phone over the analog side is childs-play (I was roaming, and was unaware that the analog side was powered up). This isn't a problem (as much) anymore because most new phones are digital-only.
Chip H.
"I'd like to speak with your fraud department"
The call-center operators are trained to immediately pass those calls on.
My phone got cloned in the D.C. area several years ago -- over $500 of calls made to Canada by several someones. Once I got through to the fraud department at Sprint, they were able to get things straightened out and my account creditted. It helped that my phone was on & registered in North Carolina with their network at the same time the calls were being made from distant states.
Chip H.
So, how deep would a colony have to be buried to provide protection against this sort of thing?
Chip H.
Don't move your business to Wachovia (formerly First Union), either. They have similar practices (fee-based revenue), and are difficult to deal with, too.
Try your local credit union. I've been very pleased with mine -- they have great rates on both lending and savings, and everyone I've worked with has been glad to have my business.
Chip H.
I agree with the parent.
His winning the election (or even being allowed to attend the presidential debates) would have been disruptive to their entrenched interests, so the mass media only presented the two candidates which were known quantities.
Chip H.
How would they know that the use of encryption is increasing, unless they were already monitoring their portion of the internet?
My SGI shirts are now collectors items!
Woooot!
Chip H.
The article goes on to say that about 100 nations have some form of ID card.
<mom>
If your friends went and jumped off a cliff, would you do it too?
<mom/>
If you can find it, the 1982 sampler CD "Digital Sound Spectacular" contained Deep Note. I heard it there before I heard it in a theatre.
Chip H.
...is my pulling the plug out of the wall on their equipment.
Chip H.
My T43P (that I bought just after the sale to Lenovo) had a SODIMM module go bad over the weekend. I've placed a service call, and we'll see how well things go.
Chip H.
>> ringgg > click
CC processing software needs to retain the card info for a few weeks until the transactions settle. This allows the merchant to handle chargebacks, disputes, etc.
Nothing to be alarmed about as long as you trust the merchant.
Chip H.