Was going to mention consoles, but you did. For fun you could have linked the slashdot story the other week about nVidia "turning down" PS4 development.
nVidia make great GPU, no doubt about that. However the future looks a bit grim when you start looking at the larger picture and all the challenges and forces arrayed against nVidia.
The world is full of companies that make great product that fail anyway due to other factors. A relevant example is 3dfx. I had a Voodoo3 3000 16MB back in the day. They made great video cards, however as a company they no longer exist (though ironically enough I believe some of the technology remains were bought up by nVidia).
Even if you did shut off things of significance, it would not make a big difference.
Anyone that understands how the power grid is run and electricity distributed, and power generation is applied could tell you that.
1) The grid itself needs a certain amount of electrification simply to remain stable and on. 2) Because power use is not constant, and various types of generation mix is different, you will have to maintain a baseline of power anyway. That nuclear plant that generates 4GW doesn't just turn off because the need no longer exists. It generates 4GW all day/night all the time regardless. One of the benefits of nuclear.
It would prevent say the usage of say quick spin up generation such as gas or coal to meet specific needs during peek generation. Or the use of potential storage like hydro during peek hours. But again, turning off the lights won't make much difference there either. If everyone turned off the AC during a heatwave, during peek usage, yeah that might make a small difference.
Anyway as pointed out, it is simply a PR campaign and an awareness thing. Anyone who believes they are actually doing something significant should be looked at with an arched eyebrow.
I don't think it has anything much to do with the political party of the day, in this case the conservatives federally, or liberals provincially.
Problem existed prior to both, and continues today. One could argue it is a bigger deal now, simply because the issue of clean energy is more paramount. However one could also argue that the provinces have more power in this respect, and at least in Ontario, the Liberals have been pushing green energy, and in particular wind power greater than ever before.
This has more to do with wealthy cottage owners that anything else (which likely happen to be conservatives, simply because they are rich, and like things to stay that way). They join or create but really hijack environmental lobby groups, all in the name of public health, saving the birds and bats, or whatever hair brained thing they can come up with.... When in reality it is all about making sure windmills are not placed in the water offshore from their multi-million dollar cottage where they perceive that they will ruin the scenery and will devalue their property. There has been a project to put wind mills in lake Ontario for well over 10 years now, which has been shot to pieces by various "environmental groups" which are really comprised of land owner associations and cottage associations.
David Suzuki had a special expose TV show exactly on this issue. Talked to experts. Interviewed the associations, etc... Got them to admit on camera that their primary complain that is the only one that isn't totally unfounded was the protection of "environmental aesthetics", i.e. perceived natural beauty.
This is a about a bunch of rich people having a lobby to government to protect their interests, nothing more.
A more apt description might be small minded or selfish or short sighted.
One could argue that people that pretend to be sick to prevent windmill propagation to save their land values isn't stupid. One could also argue that in the big picture, trying to protect local land values over the welfare of clean energy for all, is.
Then again, if they drink their own coolaid, then perhaps they are indeed.
To my understanding, current problems include, scaling, miniaturization, testable reliable results, and programming. None of which has been addressed.
Scaling. They have only been able to make "computers" with dozens of gates. I traditional computer has on the order of millions.
Miniaturization. We are not talking about the difference of micro architectures. It is not even micro but a huge (relatively speaking) setup for those 30 gates or whatever.
Testable results. There is a degree of error intrinsically involved that makes successful testing, problematic.
Programming. Using non binary architecture means that you need to develop everything new, including the programming which hasn't been done.
So while it isn't simply the realm of science fiction books anymore, unless something remarkable in a breakthrough occurs, the speed in which current advances are taking place, a "workable" quantum computer, if MUCH farther away than 10 years.
Well if your business is making graphic cards to play video games, and MS, Sony, and Nintendo are the entire market, then you better learn how to work with them.
I guess what I am saying is nVidia sounds like some petulant child, "You can't fire me, I quit!" in that they are making it look like this was their choice, when really what likely happened is they bid and lost because they are not positioned as well as AMD for the business. So it looks like they are looking at "other opportunities", when really they just lost out on a big deal. What other opportunities is a video card manufacturing looking at when they basically lost production on all game consoles? PC market? Can't see how this "derision" is really going to benefit them either.
I guess what I am saying is that strategically this will allow them to make more profit on both their CPU and GPU lines into the future. The fact that they will turn a profit while at the same time positioning themselves for future profits is just a bonus.
Think of MS selling the xbox at a loss initially for future profit down the road.
Either A) make the screen more efficient, or B) use a larger/better designed battery.
About the only thing that bugs me about the S3 is the battery life. If I am actually using it during the day, I can't get a full day out of it.
Yes you can replace the battery which is good (and I just bought a back up recently), however I expect that replacing it using the back will be a pain in the ass, so even making it easier to change batteries might be a good start if there are no gains to be had with A or B yet.
Apparently the new one will have a larger screen, but somehow be physically smaller. Seems like they are bending the rules of physics more than doctor who!
If I was a betting man, I would go with AMD also, simply for their integration which translates into low cost. Of course it remains to be seen how revolutionary the "Steam Box" is. Could be huge or a big flop, or even a non-starter.
Though game, most games anyway, tend to be more limited by GPU not CPU, so I can see more optimization (specialization) there. That said, in the long run you are right, I think this will give AMD a bump in the market share outside of consoles eventually.
I know the CPU (and likely the GPU as well) will be a special product, so it will be interesting to see what the details actually become and what they throw in there. If they are strategic and implement some interesting things that is not supported by Intel...
I am by no means an AMD fanboy, in fact I am more of an Intel man myself, but I do long for the days of the Athlon 64 days when AMD was actually competitive. Made the market better for everyone. Hopefully this spurs some positive change for AMD.
Very likely the "mistake" is out of their hands and nothing a CEO can do about it other than build a time machine, go back in time, either A) prevent AMD from buying ATI, or B) Buy ATI, or C) Somehow convince Intel to buy nVidia, then go forward in time, and place a competitive bid on something they couldn't have without the advent of time travel.
If nVidia was this small minded, they deserve whatever they get.
Having all games (and thus their ports) on million and millions of xbox and PS consoles designed and optimized for your specific hardware for the next 10 years is worth money. Any profit they actually get is just icing.
Considering AMD are producing the CPU chips for both platforms, and the the GPU as well, it isn't surprising that nVidia "walked" away. This is the eventual benefit of AMD buying ATI, in that they can produce both now. I have no doubt that AMD either have special consideration or simply could offer a better bid than nVidia could.
Regardless of the profit, this would be a big feather in AMD's cap. AKA "We produce both the CPU and GPU of all modern game consoles, don't you want to buy our chips?". Also in the bigger scheme of things, if you get game developers in such numbers making games for YOUR video card on millions and millions of consoles for all games, which are ported to say PC, what do you think those games will be optimized for? AMD. Which will look better? AMD. This is something that is going to change things in a pretty large way over the next 10 years.
nVidia should have paid money to be a part of this if only to prevent their rival in AMD from doing so. Perhaps they didn't have the money. More likely they think they have something that will make a difference. I doubt it.
I'm not fired, I quit is the sentiment I feel about nVidia's statement...
Seething rage and frustration bottled up over the years keeps stress and blood pressure just below the boiling point, which burns a ton of calories. It also has the interesting side effect of near total insanity (worried more about those satellites they have than physical health or appearance).
I'm kind of wondering now that the game has indeed been a gigantic flop, how long those servers that you are required to use to play the game will be operational, and if EA will hasten their demise, further making SimCity a useless game into the future.
Another great example, or not I can't decide is Masters of Orion 2 which was one of my favorite of all time. MOO 3 was the first (and last) video game I ever pre-ordered.
Slashdot Mirror
You are likely to be eaten by a grue.
This. Agree with everything.
Was going to mention consoles, but you did. For fun you could have linked the slashdot story the other week about nVidia "turning down" PS4 development.
nVidia make great GPU, no doubt about that. However the future looks a bit grim when you start looking at the larger picture and all the challenges and forces arrayed against nVidia.
The world is full of companies that make great product that fail anyway due to other factors. A relevant example is 3dfx. I had a Voodoo3 3000 16MB back in the day. They made great video cards, however as a company they no longer exist (though ironically enough I believe some of the technology remains were bought up by nVidia).
I'll give you 20MB/s for 20$ right now.
(with a 10MB cap and 5$ per MB overage)
That is pretty much the model these days anyway.
Even if you did shut off things of significance, it would not make a big difference.
Anyone that understands how the power grid is run and electricity distributed, and power generation is applied could tell you that.
1) The grid itself needs a certain amount of electrification simply to remain stable and on.
2) Because power use is not constant, and various types of generation mix is different, you will have to maintain a baseline of power anyway. That nuclear plant that generates 4GW doesn't just turn off because the need no longer exists. It generates 4GW all day/night all the time regardless. One of the benefits of nuclear.
It would prevent say the usage of say quick spin up generation such as gas or coal to meet specific needs during peek generation. Or the use of potential storage like hydro during peek hours. But again, turning off the lights won't make much difference there either. If everyone turned off the AC during a heatwave, during peek usage, yeah that might make a small difference.
Anyway as pointed out, it is simply a PR campaign and an awareness thing. Anyone who believes they are actually doing something significant should be looked at with an arched eyebrow.
Was the US not talking to Russia about further nuclear disarmament?
How is creating missile defense going to allow for that.
I had thought that the whole "star wars" thing was if one got an advantage from MAD that it was an escalation of arms not the other way around?
Anyway everyone is calling NK crazy, what is the US thinking right now? NK can't hit the US with a missile.
If people are calling Kim Jong Un crazy, what of Obama then for doing this stunt?
I am pretty sure 1000's of already existing missiles that actually can hit the US are a lot more of a danger to the US than anything NK can do.
I don't think it has anything much to do with the political party of the day, in this case the conservatives federally, or liberals provincially.
Problem existed prior to both, and continues today. One could argue it is a bigger deal now, simply because the issue of clean energy is more paramount. However one could also argue that the provinces have more power in this respect, and at least in Ontario, the Liberals have been pushing green energy, and in particular wind power greater than ever before.
This has more to do with wealthy cottage owners that anything else (which likely happen to be conservatives, simply because they are rich, and like things to stay that way). They join or create but really hijack environmental lobby groups, all in the name of public health, saving the birds and bats, or whatever hair brained thing they can come up with.... When in reality it is all about making sure windmills are not placed in the water offshore from their multi-million dollar cottage where they perceive that they will ruin the scenery and will devalue their property. There has been a project to put wind mills in lake Ontario for well over 10 years now, which has been shot to pieces by various "environmental groups" which are really comprised of land owner associations and cottage associations.
David Suzuki had a special expose TV show exactly on this issue. Talked to experts. Interviewed the associations, etc... Got them to admit on camera that their primary complain that is the only one that isn't totally unfounded was the protection of "environmental aesthetics", i.e. perceived natural beauty.
This is a about a bunch of rich people having a lobby to government to protect their interests, nothing more.
There is a protest art project here somewhere involving huge giants...
I believe it would be a critique of local opposition being delusional.
Depends on definition of Stupid.
A more apt description might be small minded or selfish or short sighted.
One could argue that people that pretend to be sick to prevent windmill propagation to save their land values isn't stupid. One could also argue that in the big picture, trying to protect local land values over the welfare of clean energy for all, is.
Then again, if they drink their own coolaid, then perhaps they are indeed.
To my understanding, current problems include, scaling, miniaturization, testable reliable results, and programming. None of which has been addressed.
Scaling. They have only been able to make "computers" with dozens of gates. I traditional computer has on the order of millions.
Miniaturization. We are not talking about the difference of micro architectures. It is not even micro but a huge (relatively speaking) setup for those 30 gates or whatever.
Testable results. There is a degree of error intrinsically involved that makes successful testing, problematic.
Programming. Using non binary architecture means that you need to develop everything new, including the programming which hasn't been done.
So while it isn't simply the realm of science fiction books anymore, unless something remarkable in a breakthrough occurs, the speed in which current advances are taking place, a "workable" quantum computer, if MUCH farther away than 10 years.
Quantum Computers? Really? I wouldn't hold your breath.
My money is we will have workable fusion power plants before we have a usable quantum computer that is able to play video games.
Well if your business is making graphic cards to play video games, and MS, Sony, and Nintendo are the entire market, then you better learn how to work with them.
I guess what I am saying is nVidia sounds like some petulant child, "You can't fire me, I quit!" in that they are making it look like this was their choice, when really what likely happened is they bid and lost because they are not positioned as well as AMD for the business. So it looks like they are looking at "other opportunities", when really they just lost out on a big deal. What other opportunities is a video card manufacturing looking at when they basically lost production on all game consoles? PC market? Can't see how this "derision" is really going to benefit them either.
Didn't think of that. However at the same time perhaps AMD would put more effort into compatibility of they had an installed base of linux...
I guess what I am saying is that strategically this will allow them to make more profit on both their CPU and GPU lines into the future. The fact that they will turn a profit while at the same time positioning themselves for future profits is just a bonus.
Think of MS selling the xbox at a loss initially for future profit down the road.
Do they sell commercial versions of their CPU products?
You just answered your own question.
#1 new feature should be battery life.
Either A) make the screen more efficient, or B) use a larger/better designed battery.
About the only thing that bugs me about the S3 is the battery life. If I am actually using it during the day, I can't get a full day out of it.
Yes you can replace the battery which is good (and I just bought a back up recently), however I expect that replacing it using the back will be a pain in the ass, so even making it easier to change batteries might be a good start if there are no gains to be had with A or B yet.
Apparently the new one will have a larger screen, but somehow be physically smaller. Seems like they are bending the rules of physics more than doctor who!
If I was a betting man, I would go with AMD also, simply for their integration which translates into low cost. Of course it remains to be seen how revolutionary the "Steam Box" is. Could be huge or a big flop, or even a non-starter.
Agree.
Though game, most games anyway, tend to be more limited by GPU not CPU, so I can see more optimization (specialization) there. That said, in the long run you are right, I think this will give AMD a bump in the market share outside of consoles eventually.
I know the CPU (and likely the GPU as well) will be a special product, so it will be interesting to see what the details actually become and what they throw in there. If they are strategic and implement some interesting things that is not supported by Intel...
I am by no means an AMD fanboy, in fact I am more of an Intel man myself, but I do long for the days of the Athlon 64 days when AMD was actually competitive. Made the market better for everyone. Hopefully this spurs some positive change for AMD.
Yet, do you disagree?
Very likely the "mistake" is out of their hands and nothing a CEO can do about it other than build a time machine, go back in time, either A) prevent AMD from buying ATI, or B) Buy ATI, or C) Somehow convince Intel to buy nVidia, then go forward in time, and place a competitive bid on something they couldn't have without the advent of time travel.
If nVidia was this small minded, they deserve whatever they get.
Having all games (and thus their ports) on million and millions of xbox and PS consoles designed and optimized for your specific hardware for the next 10 years is worth money. Any profit they actually get is just icing.
Considering AMD are producing the CPU chips for both platforms, and the the GPU as well, it isn't surprising that nVidia "walked" away. This is the eventual benefit of AMD buying ATI, in that they can produce both now. I have no doubt that AMD either have special consideration or simply could offer a better bid than nVidia could.
Regardless of the profit, this would be a big feather in AMD's cap. AKA "We produce both the CPU and GPU of all modern game consoles, don't you want to buy our chips?". Also in the bigger scheme of things, if you get game developers in such numbers making games for YOUR video card on millions and millions of consoles for all games, which are ported to say PC, what do you think those games will be optimized for? AMD. Which will look better? AMD. This is something that is going to change things in a pretty large way over the next 10 years.
nVidia should have paid money to be a part of this if only to prevent their rival in AMD from doing so. Perhaps they didn't have the money. More likely they think they have something that will make a difference. I doubt it.
I'm not fired, I quit is the sentiment I feel about nVidia's statement...
Seething rage and frustration bottled up over the years keeps stress and blood pressure just below the boiling point, which burns a ton of calories. It also has the interesting side effect of near total insanity (worried more about those satellites they have than physical health or appearance).
I'm kind of wondering now that the game has indeed been a gigantic flop, how long those servers that you are required to use to play the game will be operational, and if EA will hasten their demise, further making SimCity a useless game into the future.
Sounds like you're in a rush...
Another great example, or not I can't decide is Masters of Orion 2 which was one of my favorite of all time. MOO 3 was the first (and last) video game I ever pre-ordered.