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NASA

Submission + - NASA Flight Tests Unique Jumbo Jet. (planenews.com)

gilgsn writes: As reported by Planenews, NASA tested a jumbo jet that will help scientists unlock the origins of the universe. Infrared observations reached a milestone Friday when doors covering the plane’s telescope were fully opened in flight. The Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, a modified 747 jet known as SOFIA, flew for one hour and 19 minutes, which included two minutes with the telescope’s doors fully opened.

Comment Re:Nanny state (Score 1) 360

I do have to agree there. I don't see anything wrong in particular when it comes to limiting volume to non-dangerously high levels, especially as this will benefit everyone. If you're stupid enough to ruin your hearing in the US, well, tough luck. In the EU with mostly easily available, cheap healthcare, this will get incredibly expensive for the general populace as incident numbers start soaring. I don't see why you should cry "nanny state" here; they're not outlawing listening to loud music, they're just imposing limits on output power of MP3 players.

That said, I think the problem is the craptastic headphones that come with all players. They have to be cheap, so their frequency response will be absolutely horrible. In order to hear anything at all, you have to crank them up immensely, which is not the best thing to do in regards to your hearing. Decent phones, however, don't need to be loud, as they're clear even without being driven at extreme volume.

Comment Molyneux' games are okay, but that doesn't matter. (Score 1) 55

Credit where credit is due: Peter Molyneux has made some nice games, but that's not his greatest achievement. Molyneux has been, and still is, one of the few game developers who doesn't see himself as too good for answering press inquiries and doing dozens of interviews. I've seen some TV programmes about games and the gaming industry and in every single one of them, Molyneux gave an interview. He might talk overhyped trash from time to time (i.e. almost always), but at least he talks. If Molyneux wouldn't constantly talk about his games to anyone who's brave enough to ask, he'd long be forgotten.

Comment Re:Logitech UltraX (Score 1) 519

I used to type on a Cherry Evolution Stream, which is quite similar to the Logitech UltraX. Now, I own several clicky keyboards including a Model M. While the UltraX has its merits, the Model M is far superior in terms of about everything. Pantograph-style laptop keys just don't cut it when it comes to real tactile feedback. As far as typing speeds go: It's nice to know your theoretical maximum, but I usually don't type faster than 60-70 wpm (although I can do about 100) simply because of my need to think before I type. If your typing speed is on a level where continuous typing is not a concern of typing, but of thinking speed, you might as well go for the nicest keyboard you can find.

Comment Re:Cherry has G80-3000 with click (Score 1) 519

The G80-3000 with click surely is a nice keyboard, but it doesn't even come close to the Model M. The Model M is a humungous piece of hardware, the lighter models weighing about 1.6 kg, with the heavier ones of them even above 2 kg. The G80-3000, on the other hand, weighs just a mere 0.96 kg. The Model M is rigid. It might be a bit creaky, but it doesn't warp like the G80-3000. The only screws to be found in the G80-3000 are two tiny screws holding the keyboard controller PCB in place, everything else is just held together by plastic clips. The key feel is still quite nice, but not as defined as the Model M's. In fact, it's another type of clicky sensation, more subdued than buckling springs or even old Alps switches. It's considerably quieter as well, making it more suitable for work environments. Plus, it's quite inexpensive for a mechanical keyboard, so I'd consider buying one for a start.

Comment Re:Quality, or neophobia (Score 1) 519

I've got both a Unicomp keyboard and a Cherry keyboard with blue MX switches, and I prefer the Unicomp with buckling springs. The blue Cherry MX are great, their availability is better and the keyboards employing them are generally much cheaper if you don't happen to live in the US (postage to old Europe for Unicomp's keyboards is about $50, so that's a considerable factor, whereas Cherry's G80-3000 can be had for as low as EUR 45), but I still prefer buckling springs. The blue MX's required force is much lower, the click is mushed and they have this very irritating "sticky" effect when released slowly. Still, they feel about a thousand times better than rubber dome keyboards.

Comment Re:Group-think hypocrisy? (Score 1) 133

Games can be used to convey messages, just like books. If you take a random shooter, chances are you'll get at least an attempt at a story which acts as a reason for your gaming (the half-life series being a very good example of this). However, there is not much ideology in these games and you won't be forced to play them if you so desire or parts of the storyline do offend you.

It's different with school books or games being played at school--these should be as neutral as possible and not carry any sublimal messages. If I want science, I get a science book from a well-established science publisher, not "ballistic physics of various projectiles, proudly brought to you by the U.S. Army," even if it might be free and not contain exaggerated propaganda.

Learning about the military is okay with me, but I'd find using their material related to non-military subjects in public education highly disturbing, because it's not their business.

Technology (Apple)

Submission + - Cellhut won't take back fraudulent iPhone (consumerist.com) 1

Count Scrofula writes: On Friday, Sept 7, I received a 4 Gb iPhone in the mail from Cellhut.com that had been ordered using my stolen credit card number. Despite canceling the card and blocking payment, Cellhut refuses to accept return of the iPhone. The kicker? They are trying to charge me $660.
Music

Submission + - Trent Reznor Says "Steal My Music" (youtube.com)

THX-1138 writes: A few months ago, Trent Reznor (frontman of the band Nine Inch Nails), was in Australia doing an interview when he commented on the outrageous prices of CDs there. Apparently now his label, Universal Media Group is angry at him for having said that. During a concert last night , he told this to fans, "...Has anyone seen the price come down? Okay, well, you know what that means — STEAL IT. Steal away. Steal and steal and steal some more and give it to all your friends and keep on stealin'. Because one way or another these mother**** will get it through their head that they're ripping people off and that that's not right."

The YouTube link contains a video recorded by a fan that shows his full speech during the concert.

Music

Submission + - Music counterpart of Project Gutenberg

ucy writes: "Hello Slashdotters, all y'all know about project Gutenberg which is a free repository for copyright expired and other public domain books. For software, there are several, including sourceforge. What is a good, centrallized, well-maintained public repository for copyright-free music? Thanks in advance."
Space

Submission + - Japan launches lunar orbiter mission Friday

Sooner Boomer writes: "Japan launched its first lunar probe on Friday, nicknamed Kaguya after a fairy-tale princess, in the latest move in a new race with China, India and the United States to explore the moon. The rocket carrying the three-metric ton orbiter took off into blue skies, leaving a huge trail of vapor over the tiny island of Tanegashima, about 1,000 km (620 miles) south of Tokyo, at 10:31 a.m. (9:31 p.m. EDT) as it headed out over the Pacific Ocean. The mission consists of a main orbiter and two baby satellites equipped with 14 observation instruments designed to examine surface terrain, gravity and other features for clues on the origin and evolution of the moon. Read the article or see Japanese Space Agency home page (in English) China has plans to launch an orbiter later this year, with unmaanned rover lander mission scheduled for 2010. India and the US also have orbiter missions scheduled for next year."

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