ESA funds a lot of pie-in-the-sky stuff. Look at this company, wanting to build containerised, automated solar array factories, silicon oxide sand in, solar arrays out. Their long term goal is apparently to put these things on the moon and Mars as well. I suppose this would be one idea to bring around the cheap energy you are looking for.

Well, I was not referring to "real" AI/AGI, merely the next steps in deep learning or the somewhat diffuse LinkedIn-definition of AI, if you wish. Although it's not a Wargames Joshua or HAL9000, machine learning is still pretty darn interesting in itself.

Intel just reported issues getting their 7nm process working. We're hitting the wall for transistor scaling very soon now, and the main issue in enabling AI is processing power. I think TFA is hugely relevant. If improvements of 2-3 orders of magnitude are possible, we're in for some crazy applications becoming possible.

I have the older XM2s and I agree completely. Even though surrounding sounds aren't cancelled completely, the overall decrease in open office noise level works wonders in the long run for my concentration. You have to experience it to fully appreciate this effect.

Yep. (Score: 100, Insightful)

*whoosh!*
(C128 owners would know)

Gee whiz, you don't say.

The point is, that digital audio formats are easier to control centrally for the masses than analog formats are.
I do admit that the following example is a bit contrived, but imagine, if you will, a future transpacific/atlantic global trade agreement, where content owners and governments collectively decide to screw consumers over, and only mandate the sale of networked, DRM enabled CD drives. Let's check that tracklist of yours, if you can prove ownership using the RIAA blockchain code, fine, we'll let you play it, otherwise it's "disc read error".

In the world of analog turntables, phono/line level inputs and 3.5mm audio jacks this will never be an issue. And if you have an issue with vinyl sound, I recommend trying kicking back and relaxing after dark with Lee Konitz and Hal Galper on the grammophone and enjoy a nice glass of Saint Émillion Grand Cru. Told you I was an overly nostalgic old fart, didn't I?

I am what people here call an old fart with an oversized sense of nostalgia. The turntable is my perpetual analog loophole, forever protecting me against the DRM shit content owners would like to force upon me.

Analog = Unlimited ownership of your physical medium.

Ansoft screwed me so hard with a license agreement in 2003, and I will never forget that. Unfortunately, their FEM-IE hybrid solver is the best in market atm. When CST comes along with a better solution, the ex-Ansoft will be dead to me again.

I once sat next to a doctor at a dinner party, and boy, he was a real grade A asshole. Patients should pay out of their own pocket for treatments, so they could better appreciate the service he delivers them and that Scandinavian countries with free healthcare are communist hellholes doomed to financial fail. (Although all credit agencies beg to differ with him on that last one). So yeah, money plays a role for some, although mostly, it's about seeking to be an authority, worshipped as a healing demi-god.

I know at least one deep packet inspection equipment maker here, off the top of my head. I'm sure there are many others.

I'm pretty sure you mean BMWs, here. All the driving-skill Dunning-Krugers seem to flock around them....

I was considering buying one of their speakers. Good to know I can stop doing that.

Piss off, Sonos.

Seconded, webOS really is great. Just too bad there's no long term support from LG (stuck with webOS 2.0 on a relatively new TV from 2015).

Aaaaand let's forget all about how searching and copying the contents of foreign business travellers' laptops actually eases the NSA's burden of providing US companies with "business intelligence"...