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Comment Trucking, Storage, and Fuck it (Score 2) 340

Not to mention the idea of every morsel of radioactive waste being transported on public highways to a single location (Yucca Mountain) is not that popular. Sucks we still don't have a long term solution to this nasty problem. Oh well fuck it, we will leave it for the next generation - right?

Comment Re:It's not free. (Score 1) 180

The wireless mics that operate in that range were not made illegal - the rule was discussed but never implemented. They do risk becoming useless because of interference, and no one sells mics in the US that use those frequencies anymore, but if you own them you can still use them.

You sir, are incorrect and spreading false information.

Source: http://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/wireless-microphones

I work in the industry and it is indeed illegal to operate any microphones in the 700 MHz spectrum (698-806 MHz). Not only is the FCC (and Verizon etc) are concerned you are encroaching on their newly owned spectrum, there are public safety bands which could be disrupted by RF microphone use.

Comment Re:It's not free. (Score 1) 180

It's not just because it used to be part of public spectrum. It's because when Verizon bought it, they bought it under the terms that they would not restrict the type of data being sent/received on that spectrum in any way, regardless of the previous status of that spectrum being public or not. So, Verizon bought the spectrum knowing damn well that they were not allowed to restrict tethering on that spectrum according to the contract of that sale. If they didn't want to follow that, then they should have bought different spectrum that didn't have those terms.

Well they would have bought different spectrum if it was available however there is no better spectrum than the "Digital Dividend" of 698-806 MHz (even if other choices were available). This frequency range is akin to "beachfront property" because of its awesome wave propagation characteristics. You can send a (RF) signal the farthest distance with the least amount of output power (mW) in the 700 MHz. Since mobile telephones are restricted on how much output power they can emit, this frequency range is the sweet spot and hence wireless companies were eager to snap it up.

Think about it, there had to be a GOOD reason the FCC decided to make all other wireless devices in that spectrum range illegal to operate and instantly obsolete (Wireless Microphones etc.) AND force all the terrestrial TV stations below 698 MHz...The reason was actually billions of reasons. Billions of pieces of paper with images of dead presidents on it paid to the FCC (who knows where it actually went to).

Comment Re:No. (Score 1) 342

"Expensive hardware is dead"?

Does anyone here really believe that the last innovation in computing hardware has already happened and from now on it's all just going to be prices dropping for basically the same devices?

I might not use the term "retarded", but this is definitely one of the dumbest headlines I've ever read. Why not just say, "you can get tablets really cheap now" instead of "expensive hardware is dead"?

There will always be a market for expensive stuff, anyway. If there was no expensive stuff to buy, how would rich people be able to demonstrate their clear superiority to the rest of us? If there weren't expensive devices, someone would have to invent them.

Oh wait...

I hear there is this up and coming company in Cupertino, California that is aiming at making expensive hardware and coming up with "new" innovations such as "pinch to zoom."

Comment Re:is this good? (Score 1) 112

As a forced-to-use BlackBerry user, it is entirely frustrating hitting the red "end" key and having to wait 2 seconds or so before the phone goes back to the main operating "home" screen. Or if you have to scroll to the next horizontal home screen and wait 2-3 seconds. I for one welcome faster and more usable devices with better processors as long as the battery life is still decent. Just like once I got an SSD on my laptop, there is no looking (or going) back to slow and unproductive hardware.

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