In Bristol, UK (where I live), the city council replaced all the parking meters with "pay and display" machines much like the ones detailed above (but obviously less powerful). To make sure tickets couldn't be tranferred (so the council could make more money), you have to key in your registration number.
Despite the fact they attached bright luminous yellow stickers with 'ENTER REGISTRATION NUMBER BEFORE MONEY' in 48pt letters, every day I see people putting coins in, getting them rejected, and going 'the meter doesn't work'. And then getting towed away.:)
There's lots of evidence that phones can interfere with navigation equipment, and from my experience as an audio engineer I can tell you digital cell phones can very easily intefere with electrical equipment, disrupting signals etc.
I remember reading an article very recently in a newspaper about how Maglevs might actually produce much more noise than a standard train...just a point...
...you don't hear commercial radio stations complaining about local BBC (which are commercial free) stations providing local traffic...they still complain in general, but they do have a point (because BBC radio is free to all, even though it's paid for off the TV licence)
I once saw an UK Intel executive showing a video of a proposed OS, which was 3D and based around hexagons. In theory it looked like a nice idea, but five years later and I've heard nothing of it since. Users simply prefer working in 2D.
It's not expensive if you know where to look - companies such as StudioSpares (in the UK) sell pro audio equipment racks dead cheap. The companies that you might first go to (in the UK, Canford, Stage Electrics etc) are very expensive, but it's still very much a misconception to say all pro audio equipment costs a lot.
For example, I picked up a pro audio rack mounted Tascam CD player for theatre use for around 100 - cheaper than domestic players with the same features, and this model came with an industrial warrenty (as opposed to the domestic models, which come with a "home only" warrenty). The same applies to audio PCs - companies like Carillion sell rack mounted PCs without pro audio software for about the same as a brand name PC. Still more expensive than building your own, but not the 500% markup you describe.
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I bought my iBook from a UK retailer (authorised dealer), who automatically gave me a two year warranty free of charge. So, I didn't buy AppleCare (I'd probably be replacing the thing after two years), when the product breaks it still goes to Apple, and I deal with the retailer (not AppleCare). This has meant I've been given 200 for a single dead pixel (I argued the retailer hadn't told me I might get one), and had another battery (which is currently on the way out, so hopefully it'll die before my warrenty expires)...
I once won a "kids of the future" type computer competition, and was "asked" if they could "use some quotes" from me. Not quite knowing what was going on, I said yes, and then opened the local paper the next day to read I had apparantly said "when I grow up I want to win the nobel prize"...
I tried something similar once for a student computer competition. It was basically a basterdised 486 laptop with the screen flipped 180, with web cam, set in acrylic with some servos linked to a serial port. The biggest problem was communication (it being a) when Wi-Fi was way too much, and b) this laptop not having a PC card), so in the end I ended up with a hack whereby the robot communicated with a wireless mouse:)
I take it you have no idea how much the BBC must pay to show one of it's own TV shows - although not true for the older shows (such as Morecambe & Wise), every time a BBC show is repeated the writer must recieve a repeat fee, the actors might recieve something (depending on their contract), the director, producer etc.
The Writer's Guild is VERY pissed off that the BBC are even thinking about distributing data like this (because it's impossible to work out royalties), so be thankful you're getting it at all.
That's not entirely true - if the customer was to return the product damaged, the store can refuse to return it....just imagine a French guy walking into a pharmacist and saying "This condom wasn't to my satisfaction - I want to return it".
Slashdot Mirror
In Bristol, UK (where I live), the city council replaced all the parking meters with "pay and display" machines much like the ones detailed above (but obviously less powerful). To make sure tickets couldn't be tranferred (so the council could make more money), you have to key in your registration number. Despite the fact they attached bright luminous yellow stickers with 'ENTER REGISTRATION NUMBER BEFORE MONEY' in 48pt letters, every day I see people putting coins in, getting them rejected, and going 'the meter doesn't work'. And then getting towed away. :)
...a plane crashed to prove it?
There's lots of evidence that phones can interfere with navigation equipment, and from my experience as an audio engineer I can tell you digital cell phones can very easily intefere with electrical equipment, disrupting signals etc.
...power over wireless ethernet. Now that would be good... ...A man can dream :)
"Is there something else great about this that would make me crazy enough to buy this?"
It's white! Just like the iPod!
I remember reading an article very recently in a newspaper about how Maglevs might actually produce much more noise than a standard train...just a point...
...you don't hear commercial radio stations complaining about local BBC (which are commercial free) stations providing local traffic...they still complain in general, but they do have a point (because BBC radio is free to all, even though it's paid for off the TV licence)
Yeah - it was the Soyuz T-16Y
Morons.
...that it would be cheaper for the cinemas to use Video Cameras with NightVision as oppossed to goggles...
This is simply a exagerration by the reporter - a wishful comment. It's simply not true, as has been said on all the Futurama sites for some time now.
I once saw an UK Intel executive showing a video of a proposed OS, which was 3D and based around hexagons. In theory it looked like a nice idea, but five years later and I've heard nothing of it since. Users simply prefer working in 2D.
It's not expensive if you know where to look - companies such as StudioSpares (in the UK) sell pro audio equipment racks dead cheap. The companies that you might first go to (in the UK, Canford, Stage Electrics etc) are very expensive, but it's still very much a misconception to say all pro audio equipment costs a lot.
For example, I picked up a pro audio rack mounted Tascam CD player for theatre use for around 100 - cheaper than domestic players with the same features, and this model came with an industrial warrenty (as opposed to the domestic models, which come with a "home only" warrenty). The same applies to audio PCs - companies like Carillion sell rack mounted PCs without pro audio software for about the same as a brand name PC. Still more expensive than building your own, but not the 500% markup you describe.
Intersting Terms and Conditions from the gmail.com info page:
Gmail Program Policies
To uphold the quality and reputation of Google Gmail, your use of Gmail is subject to these program policies. If you are found to be in violation of our policies at any time, as determined by Google in its sole discretion, we may warn you or suspend or terminate your account.
Please note that we may change our policies at any time, and pursuant to our Terms of Use, it is your responsibility to keep up-to-date with and adhere to the policies posted here.
Prohibited Actions
In addition to (and/or as some examples of) the violations described in Section 3 of the Terms of Use, users may not:
Generate or facilitate unsolicited commercial email ("spam"). Such activity includes, but is not limited to
sending email in violation of the CAN-SPAM Act or any other applicable anti-spam law
imitating or impersonating another person or his, her or its email address, or creating false accounts for the purpose of sending spam
data mining any web property (including Google) to find email addresses
sending unauthorized mail via open, third-party servers
sending emails to users who have requested to be removed from a mailing list
selling, exchanging or distributing to a third party the email addresses of any person without such person's knowing and continued consent to such disclosure
sending unsolicited emails to significant numbers of email addresses belonging to individuals and/or entities with whom you have no preexisting relationship
Send, upload, distribute or disseminate or offer to do the same with respect to any unlawful, defamatory, harassing, abusive, fraudulent, infringing, obscene, or otherwise objectionable content
Intentionally distribute viruses, worms, defects, Trojan horses, corrupted files, hoaxes, or any other items of a destructive or deceptive nature
Conduct or forward pyramid schemes and the like
Transmit content that may be harmful to minors
Impersonate another person (via the use of an email address or otherwise) or otherwise misrepresent yourself or the source of any email
Illegally transmit another's intellectual property or other proprietary information without such owner's or licensor's permission
Use Gmail to violate the legal rights (such as rights of privacy and publicity) of others
Promote or encourage illegal activity
Interfere with other Gmail users' enjoyment of the Service
Create multiple user accounts or create user accounts by automated means or under false or fraudulent pretenses
Modify, adapt, translate, or reverse engineer any portion of the Gmail Service
Remove any copyright, trademark or other proprietary rights notices contained in or on the Gmail Service
Reformat or frame any portion of the web pages that are part of the Gmail Service
Use the Gmail Service in connection with illegal peer-to-peer file sharing
Security
You must promptly notify Google of any breach of security related to the Services, including but not limited to unauthorized use of your password or account. To help ensure the security of your password or account, please sign out from your account at the end of each session.
Account Inactivity
Google will terminate your account in accordance with Section 9 of the Terms of Use if you fail to login to your account for a period of nine months
I bought my iBook from a UK retailer (authorised dealer), who automatically gave me a two year warranty free of charge. So, I didn't buy AppleCare (I'd probably be replacing the thing after two years), when the product breaks it still goes to Apple, and I deal with the retailer (not AppleCare). This has meant I've been given 200 for a single dead pixel (I argued the retailer hadn't told me I might get one), and had another battery (which is currently on the way out, so hopefully it'll die before my warrenty expires)...
I once won a "kids of the future" type computer competition, and was "asked" if they could "use some quotes" from me. Not quite knowing what was going on, I said yes, and then opened the local paper the next day to read I had apparantly said "when I grow up I want to win the nobel prize"...
You're assuming, of course, that they're going to want to sue, and that the culture of "sue everyone" continues...
...Because mac keyboards have the same layout in the UK as they do in the US.
Somehow I don't think "Just Dogpile it" would have the same effect :)
I tried something similar once for a student computer competition. It was basically a basterdised 486 laptop with the screen flipped 180, with web cam, set in acrylic with some servos linked to a serial port. The biggest problem was communication (it being a) when Wi-Fi was way too much, and b) this laptop not having a PC card), so in the end I ended up with a hack whereby the robot communicated with a wireless mouse :)
...that the budget crisis that casued the Mir was the mainly result of the collapse of communism, and Russia realising it actually had no money left.
I take it you have no idea how much the BBC must pay to show one of it's own TV shows - although not true for the older shows (such as Morecambe & Wise), every time a BBC show is repeated the writer must recieve a repeat fee, the actors might recieve something (depending on their contract), the director, producer etc. The Writer's Guild is VERY pissed off that the BBC are even thinking about distributing data like this (because it's impossible to work out royalties), so be thankful you're getting it at all.
That's not entirely true - if the customer was to return the product damaged, the store can refuse to return it. ...just imagine a French guy walking into a pharmacist and saying "This condom wasn't to my satisfaction - I want to return it".
Solution: Send Earth II building and computer to The Moon.
Well, the US military have yet to destroy the first one yet :)
Sorry, but I got it off the front cover of the Evening Post :)
[realises only about 3 people are going to get the reference]
...a company saddled with 4 billion of debt who overcharge me for my broadband are investing in research such as this.