Why not just make a d-pad for the iPhone and Android?

Android audio also has unusually high latency, adding to the perception of lag. I'm an iOS music app programmer, and many audio developers have tried to get low-latency audio working on Android, but I've yet to find anyone who has succeeded.

We've had Panasonic Toughbooks at my job for years with touch screens. We never used the touch screens much when working in the office, but the it's often very useful when you're out in the field or at some place other than your desk.

I'm guessing that part of the choice for the location is that it overlaps with the part of the High Line park that has a lot of hangout areas and food vendors.

Apple doesn't make a significant amount of money off the app store. Having lots of software and games available sells hardware.

If you're going to compare it to sculpture, then you should consider that artist Jeff Koons was successfully sued for creating a sculpture of a scene depicted in someone else's photograph.

I guess you don't watch TV because I see this and other Chromebook ads all the time: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S95J5BowMmk

I don't think so, I saw posts all over Facebook and Twitter about it with many people saying that they were planning to close their Instagram accounts.

The mobile site has a dramatically different style than the Slashdot website. It doesn't have the same color scheme, fonts, layout, or any stylistic element in common that I can find. I realize this is a beta and this is Slashdot, but I thought it was pretty standard to start working on the look of a website before beta stage?

Agreed, maybe start by looking at some successful examples:

http://www.iluvvideo.com/

http://www.scarecrow.com/

http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/10/14/14431038-thousands-rally-in-karachi-for-malala-14-year-old-pakistani-girl-shot-by-taliban?lite

I examined this and other similar maps based on (urban) neighborhoods where I've had terrible reception on particular providers, and I don't think you can easily tell from these maps. I think it may be best to just ask people who already have phones and will be living and working in areas where you will be.

Kickstarter is a great idea, but I think it will soon become difficult to fund projects due to lack of quality control. I think there will be too many projects that get funded but fail to deliver (like this one), people will become wary about what they fund, and eventually it will be almost as difficult to get a Kickstarter funded as it is to just find an investor.

I think this DEVO App Kickstarter is a good illustration of the problem. As an iOS programmer and I can tell you that this project will almost certainly end in disappointment. He basically wants $15k to redo the graphic assets of his failed colorforms-like app, but I think it takes an expert to see this through the clever sales pitch.

is playing Angry Birds

I'm not much of an expert, but I can think of more human missions that have failed (expensively and tragically) than robotic missions that have failed. And the mars rovers have lasted dramatically longer than expected. Plus, getting the rover unstuck from the sand shows that you can fix tough problems that require improvising even with a robot.