Personally I haven't driven in Australia at all - I've only been there once. However, even as an ignorant Pom I'd assume that, when venturing outside of a city, its the sort of place where you take carrying water and emergency gear, keeping your car maintained, carrying reputable maps and planning your journey carefully rather seriously.
I live in Australia, and have lived and worked in the inland Pilbara and Kimberley regions, which are genuinely isolated. Where I'd certainly take precautions,including establishing sched calls and packing an EPIRB if I was going really remote. I'd also take a GPS I trusted.
If I was driving town-to-town in country Victoria, not so much. Anywhere in Australia can be dangerous if you get stranded, because it's hot and dry. But with modern cars, regular traffic and mobile connections in most areas, you can pretty much hop in the car and go.
That's if your GPS doesn't guide you away from all of those modern safety advantages. Which the iPhone does. Which is why the Mildura police are saying "don't use iPhone maps." Which is why they're not issuing warnings an\bout GPSs in general, just the Apple product.
The more recent versions with Rockchip 3066 and similar dual-core CPUs are very competent machines. Most are running Android 4.1, drive 1080p screens and can dock to external USB drives.
There are plenty of SMEs in Asia using tiny Android PC-on-a-stick computers as basic office desktops. Clipped to the back of a HDMI screen and plugged into a USB hub along with a mouse & keyboard, they're cheap, low overhead and easy to use.
But the people who want a choice of screen sizes, durability, features, looks and yes, even cost are a real majority. The price and popularity of Samsung's Galaxy models should tell you that the "cheap Android" slur is just FUD.
But in fact the water produced by burning hydrogen wouldn't condense so fast. Most of the water you see in the film of the disaster was from their ballast.
"What does "compatibility" mean? We define an "Android compatible" device as one that can run any application written by third-party developers using the Android SDK and NDK. We use this as a filter to separate devices that can participate in the Android app ecosystem, and those that cannot. Devices that are properly compatible can seek approval to use the Android trademark. Devices that are not compatible are merely derived from the Android source code and may not use the Android trademark.
In other words, compatibility is a prerequisite to participate in the Android apps ecosystem. Anyone is welcome to use the Android source code, but if the device isn't compatible, it's not considered part of the Android ecosystem.
What is the role of Google Play in compatibility? Devices that are Android compatible may seek to license the Google Play client software. This allows them to become part of the Android app ecosystem, by allowing users to download developers' apps from a catalog shared by all compatible devices. This option isn't available to devices that aren't compatible. "
and all you'll be left with is your conspiracy theories.
You mean Information Week's conspiracy theories. I just copy/pasted.
Here's SMH's conspiracy theory:
Windows 8 sales in Australia and overseas are below expectations, with one US expert describing its user interface as "a monster that terrorises poor office workers and strangles their productivity".
Reports that Windows 8 hasn't been moving as briskly as the industry had hoped continue to emerge, with major retailers reporting slow sales and Microsoft insiders allegedly describing the initial numbers as "disappointing."
Consumer sales of Windows-powered personal computers fell 21 percent overall last month, figures released by a leading retail research firm showed on Thursday, indicating a lackluster debut for Microsoft Corp's Windows 8 operating system.
Microsoft has been touting its claim of 40 million Windows 8 licenses sold as evidence of a booming launch. But analysts and Asian PC makers beg to disagree, and say sales of the new operating system have been sluggish.
Microsoft says it has sold more than 40 million Windows 8 licenses, but the information is worthless in absence of key data the company won't divulge.
We don't know because Microsoft isn't saying. We don't know how many of the 40 million licenses come from low-cost upgrades, from volume licensing sales that kick in automatically, or from direct sales to consumers. And we don't know how many of the 40 million licenses are sitting on systems that have yet to find a buyer.
So why won't Microsoft provide a breakdown? What is it hiding? Its silence speaks volumes or, perhaps more accurately, low volumes.
Partly true. The original Transformer sold (and still sells AFAIK) at a rate of about 400,000 units a month. That doesn't compare with the nearly 1,000,000 Nexus 7 units a month Asus are selling.
It's not bad compared to other manufacturers though, or even the PC market, which is collapsing with a 21% fall in sales.
It's also very possible that the Asus Transformer range showed that a good touchscreen tablet/laptop combo is a useful bit of gear well before "Microsoft might have validated the idea".
What's the obsession with pretending Apple and Microsoft are the only computer vendors on Slashdot? Most of the stuff they do has been done before and better by more interesting companies.
Let's face facts, W8 is tanking because it's dull and irritating. Why keep talking it up here?
It'll be a race to the bottom for Win8 PC prices now. That's the only way they'll get them off the shelves.
Windows 8 sales flounder as critics pan clumsy interface
Windows 8 sales in Australia and overseas are below expectations, with one US expert describing its user interface as "a monster that terrorises poor office workers and strangles their productivity".
You can get a laptop built to your specs with vendors like Pioneer. http://pioneercomputers.com.au/products/categories.asp?c1=3. They used to give you the option of Ubuntu pre-installed, but even now you can avoid the Microsoft tax by not selecting an OS.
To my mind, this is how all laptops should be offered.
Slashdot Mirror
Personally I haven't driven in Australia at all - I've only been there once. However, even as an ignorant Pom I'd assume that, when venturing outside of a city, its the sort of place where you take carrying water and emergency gear, keeping your car maintained, carrying reputable maps and planning your journey carefully rather seriously.
I live in Australia, and have lived and worked in the inland Pilbara and Kimberley regions, which are genuinely isolated. Where I'd certainly take precautions,including establishing sched calls and packing an EPIRB if I was going really remote. I'd also take a GPS I trusted.
If I was driving town-to-town in country Victoria, not so much. Anywhere in Australia can be dangerous if you get stranded, because it's hot and dry. But with modern cars, regular traffic and mobile connections in most areas, you can pretty much hop in the car and go.
That's if your GPS doesn't guide you away from all of those modern safety advantages. Which the iPhone does. Which is why the Mildura police are saying "don't use iPhone maps." Which is why they're not issuing warnings an\bout GPSs in general, just the Apple product.
No problem. Us Aussies have always been piss-heads.
Why don't you try one and learn for yourself?
The more recent versions with Rockchip 3066 and similar dual-core CPUs are very competent machines. Most are running Android 4.1, drive 1080p screens and can dock to external USB drives.
Plenty on AliExpress: http://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?SearchText=android+mini+pc&catId=0&manual=y
How? This is not related at all to desktops.
I'm seeing it happen already.
There are plenty of SMEs in Asia using tiny Android PC-on-a-stick computers as basic office desktops. Clipped to the back of a HDMI screen and plugged into a USB hub along with a mouse & keyboard, they're cheap, low overhead and easy to use.
More like "Watch out Microsoft".
This looks like the start of a push to replace Windows on enterprise desktops.
The XDA-like crowd is a pretty niche minority.
But the people who want a choice of screen sizes, durability, features, looks and yes, even cost are a real majority. The price and popularity of Samsung's Galaxy models should tell you that the "cheap Android" slur is just FUD.
That's what happens when you burn hydrogen.
Or of it's raining...
But in fact the water produced by burning hydrogen wouldn't condense so fast. Most of the water you see in the film of the disaster was from their ballast.
Does what he has said in TFA's discussion make sense?
Yes or no?
Wait 'til RoboCop finds out. Boy will he be jealous.
Don't worry, the Kiwis are preparing to get Snoopy on the case...
"The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) has teamed up with Mini Cooper in New Zealand to teach three dogs how to drive." http://mashable.com/2012/12/05/driving-dogs-campaign/
From the FAQ:
"What does "compatibility" mean?
We define an "Android compatible" device as one that can run any application written by third-party developers using the Android SDK and NDK. We use this as a filter to separate devices that can participate in the Android app ecosystem, and those that cannot. Devices that are properly compatible can seek approval to use the Android trademark. Devices that are not compatible are merely derived from the Android source code and may not use the Android trademark.
In other words, compatibility is a prerequisite to participate in the Android apps ecosystem. Anyone is welcome to use the Android source code, but if the device isn't compatible, it's not considered part of the Android ecosystem.
What is the role of Google Play in compatibility?
Devices that are Android compatible may seek to license the Google Play client software. This allows them to become part of the Android app ecosystem, by allowing users to download developers' apps from a catalog shared by all compatible devices. This option isn't available to devices that aren't compatible.
"
http://source.android.com/faqs.html#what-is-the-role-of-google-play-in-compatibility
And the people who hack vendor locked products do so of their own free will too. What rights does the government have regulating their actions?
It still drives me crazy that there isn't a "reference install" for Android that you can use
AOSP is the reference version. http://source.android.com/faqs.html
I've been dithering on buying a tablet, and upgradability is one of the biggest sticking points.
Then buy an Asus or a Nexus.
Vote with your wallet - show those lagging vendors who's boss.
Microsoft is still a big employer, they keep programmers employed,
Never has the broken Windows fallacy been more apt or more fallacious...
and all you'll be left with is your conspiracy theories.
You mean Information Week's conspiracy theories. I just copy/pasted.
Here's SMH's conspiracy theory:
Windows 8 sales in Australia and overseas are below expectations, with one US expert describing its user interface as "a monster that terrorises poor office workers and strangles their productivity".
http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/computers/windows-8-sales-flounder-as-critics-pan-clumsy-interface-20121126-2a2d0.html#ixzz2Drq6iNt7/
The Register's conspiracy theory:
Reports that Windows 8 hasn't been moving as briskly as the industry had hoped continue to emerge, with major retailers reporting slow sales and Microsoft insiders allegedly describing the initial numbers as "disappointing."
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/11/19/retailers_report_slow_win8_sales/
Reuters conspiracy theory:
Consumer sales of Windows-powered personal computers fell 21 percent overall last month, figures released by a leading retail research firm showed on Thursday, indicating a lackluster debut for Microsoft Corp's Windows 8 operating system.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/29/us-microsoft-windows-idUSBRE8AS12Y20121129
ComputerWorld's conspiracy theory:
Microsoft has been touting its claim of 40 million Windows 8 licenses sold as evidence of a booming launch. But analysts and Asian PC makers beg to disagree, and say sales of the new operating system have been sluggish.
http://blogs.computerworld.com/windows/21410/windows-8-sales-are-sluggish-not-booming-say-analysts-and-asian-pc-makers
Looks like the whole damn world's in on it!
https://www.google.com.au/search?tbs=li:1&q=original+Transformer+sold+(and+still+sells+AFAIK)+at+a+rate+of+about+400%2C000+units+a+month#hl=en&tbo=d&tbs=li:1&sclient=psy-ab&q=Asus+Transformer++400%2C000+units+a+month&oq=Asus+Transformer++400%2C000+units+a+month&gs_l=serp.3...701.701.1.1225.1.1.0.0.0.0.336.336.3-1.1.0.les%3B..0.0...1c.5XF4MVZNGKA&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.&fp=5173c837edf7494c&bpcl=39314241&biw=1920&bih=1059
N.B. Yes, posting a Google search as evidence IS an expression of contempt. If you're too lazy to check facts, don't challenge people who post them.
Lies, damn lies, and statistics...
Microsoft says it has sold more than 40 million Windows 8 licenses, but the information is worthless in absence of key data the company won't divulge.
We don't know because Microsoft isn't saying. We don't know how many of the 40 million licenses come from low-cost upgrades, from volume licensing sales that kick in automatically, or from direct sales to consumers. And we don't know how many of the 40 million licenses are sitting on systems that have yet to find a buyer.
So why won't Microsoft provide a breakdown? What is it hiding? Its silence speaks volumes or, perhaps more accurately, low volumes.
http://www.informationweek.com/software/windows8/microsofts-windows-8-numbers-meaningless/240142865?cid=RSSfeed_IWK_All
Partly true. The original Transformer sold (and still sells AFAIK) at a rate of about 400,000 units a month. That doesn't compare with the nearly 1,000,000 Nexus 7 units a month Asus are selling.
It's not bad compared to other manufacturers though, or even the PC market, which is collapsing with a 21% fall in sales.
There was even a rare story about Asus here!
It's also very possible that the Asus Transformer range showed that a good touchscreen tablet/laptop combo is a useful bit of gear well before "Microsoft might have validated the idea".
What's the obsession with pretending Apple and Microsoft are the only computer vendors on Slashdot? Most of the stuff they do has been done before and better by more interesting companies.
Let's face facts, W8 is tanking because it's dull and irritating. Why keep talking it up here?
A very good suggestion.
In fact, given there is clearly a market for both iPads and kidneys, I'd like to the Slashdot libertarian brigade's opinion on this;
Is it better to have a visible kidney in the hand, or an invisible hand in the market?
Odd that Windows Phone is by far faster and more optimized than Android and iOS.
And they come with free Kool-Aid too.
How about you post a link so I can see this "more optimized" WinPhone code?
At that price, toss it a year from now
It'll be a race to the bottom for Win8 PC prices now. That's the only way they'll get them off the shelves.
Windows 8 sales flounder as critics pan clumsy interface
Windows 8 sales in Australia and overseas are below expectations, with one US expert describing its user interface as "a monster that terrorises poor office workers and strangles their productivity".
http://www.theage.com.au/digital-life/computers/windows-8-sales-flounder-as-critics-pan-clumsy-interface-20121126-2a2d0.html
You can get a laptop built to your specs with vendors like Pioneer. http://pioneercomputers.com.au/products/categories.asp?c1=3. They used to give you the option of Ubuntu pre-installed, but even now you can avoid the Microsoft tax by not selecting an OS.
To my mind, this is how all laptops should be offered.
Linux has package management. That makes it simple to remove crapware, and therefore less profitable to add it.