It may be cynicism, but it is well placed cynicism. I'm all for funding fusion research, but the reality is that we are decades away from seeing anything remotely economically viable.

And the other reality is that we do have solar which is already economically viable but still behind fossil fuels (if you forget about externalites). If I were king of the world, I'd fund solar heavily because it can do good NOW. Serious good. World saving good.

And, yes, it is a false dichotomy to say we can only fund one. But the other reality is that we have only so much money for the sciences and one dollar spent on one project is one not spent on the other. If I were King of the world I'd also cut military spending and fund sciences much more heavily.

But, alas, I am not King of the world.

Can we tell Amazon never to recommend for ALL by default?

Yep, lots of Oracle for my workplace too. :(

My point is that the device is essentially a monitor and keyboard, it doesn't need updates, my phone is what needs them ( via apps, updates, and buying new)

Yes, I'd really like it to be open standard too, which appears to be what MirrorPlay has going.

The Android Auto has a lot of nice features though, such as giving GPS data to the phone (from an external GPS), external mobile antennas, etc.

Considering it's pretty much a video stream, and some preset data to send back, it really should be open, or FRAND at least.

I had a rental with sync 3 or 4 years ago, I hated it. It had the worse UI ever (note, this was 3 or 4 years ago, when it was relatively new sauce).

To use AD2P, I had to go to a menu item "audio settings", there was an item by that name in 2 different places, one 2 items deep, and the other 3 items deep, only one of the "audio settings" menu items allowed me to set the audio to the AD2P stream, and I had to redo it every time I got in the car.

The data use of GPS approaches zero (I am at 50-100MB / month for Maps, I use Maps a few times a day, and Navigation a few times a week)

I suppose that's correct, and perhaps they'll have both.

What I am really looking forward to is buying a new car, and having the interface upgrade over the life of the car. Things that were nifty in a car ten years ago aren't the same now (though with my lack of imagination I can't think of anything past navigation, podcasts, and music, others may, or may make those things better).

XM radio called me about my free trial on my new (used) car, and it was like I was in a time warp, I live in a world of Pandora, Spotify, Google Play, Groove Shark, etc., why on earth would I pay for radio? I have everything via bluetooth audio. I as much as asked the guy (after telling him I didn't use it a single day in my 60 day trial), he said the comedy stations, like Howard Stern. Basically saying the talk radio was what they had. But I have Bill Maher (for free), and a dozen other podcasts, more than i can listen too, it really is an anachronism.

The same thing with OnStar, why would I subscribe to a look up local business service, but all of the GM cars I test-drove were pushing it, even in the 2013's it was the center of the technology, yet the Bluetooth was hands-free only (no AD2P), but it did have XM was pointed out to me *sigh*.

Yes, I think a set of expectations for mirror link could be perfect, and perhaps a slightly more intelligent display that allows for better than VNC communication.

That'd be good enough if they allowed unlimited tethering on my unlimited data plan.

Still, some custom stuff, integrated steering wheel controls, a set of "car" buttons that apps can respond to (I really would want a click knob for menu navigation over touch for interacting with apps/changing the app displayed).

I think if the OS people (Apple and Google) create a set of expectations for the hardware, apps will release car related interfaces, similar to how chromecast, and I assume apple tv works. Custom never updated tablet from a car manufacturer is less than ideal I think, and base android isn't the best car interface.

No thanks, I want my phone's maps and navigation on my car display.

Music subscription services too.

I'd love to have a car interface to my phone apps on my car's screen, something like chromecast, but gets data from the phone instead of the internet, and the ability to send back interactions from a knob, a couple buttons, and touch.

I've met some rednecks who fit that description as well. And, hell, some idiots with no accent at all. Poor communication skills are poor communication skills -- it's certainly not something that's either exclusive to, or endemic of, non-native speakers.

And FWIW, I've found that most people who can't understand accents tend to be poor communicators themselves.

Exceptional workers don't need H1Bs. H1Bs are not designed to bring talent to the US; they're (ostensibly) designed to meet a temporary demand that cannot be adequately met by the domestic workforce. That's why they are temporary permits. Talented workers get first priority in immigrating, and I welcome them along with you. I welcome anyone who immigrates here, TBH. More power to them. But that doesn't change the fact that H1Bs are being exploited, and it's negatively impacting the labor market for citizens as well.

I'll admit that Noone's work hasn't exactly been Oscar material, but she's pretty hot, and her producing skills might not be bad. I say it's worth a try, at least.

He's not in jail for recording a movie; he's in jail for distributing copies and selling them. Selling copies isn't a civil offense; it's a crime. And did you miss the part where he kept selling and distributing even after his arrest? I have pretty liberal views on file sharing, but this guy was asking for it.

Or new customers may have chosen to use Fed Ex instead of having their information on compromised systems.