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Comment Re:I don't get it. (Score 1) 391

That's a shame. I've had an HTC Radar for about a year, running Win Phone 7 Mango, and I can't recall a single spontaneous reboot. Compared to the other phones on the market, I find the UI to be more usable. I'm able to go three days on a single charge with light use, or a day and a half with normal to heavy use. I gave up my Android-based phone, which was running Cyanogen Mod, for this and I haven't looked back. My only gripe? Lack of apps, but it's getting better and everything I *need* is there.

Yeah, my techie friends ripped on me for going to Windows. Whatever. I wanted something that just worked, didn't have a lot of app crashes, and gave me great battery life. I found it.

Comment waste of money (Score 1) 252

I am a New York state resident, and I think it's ridiculous that taxpayer money (be it state or federal) was spent on this. If you're that concerned, check a state website before your kids go trick or treating - why do we need Facebook or an app for this? Now excuse me while I figure out exactly who paid for this and write a letter to the (ir)responsible party.

Comment Re:water is toxic too (Score 1) 1017

One doesn't drown from excess consumption of water; instead, their electrolytes (sodium, potassium, etc.) are diluted to the point where nerves no longer function properly. It's a condition known as hyponatremia. It is not the same thing as drowning.

Open Source

Submission + - UK govt gets really serious about open source (computerworlduk.com)

E5Rebel writes: "The move to Open Source is being driven both from the prime minsiter's office, and from the Chancellor of the Exchequer. You will hear the Prime Minister talking about Open Government quite a bit over the next few weeks. Open Government consciously includes Open Source as well as Open Standards and Open Data, and this is being driven directly from the top of the Coalition Government. Good news."

Submission + - Verizon drops 10,000 911 calls! (bloomberg.com)

mschaffer writes: Looks like Verizon got the FCC's attention:
"U.S. regulators said Verizon Communications Inc.’s networks may have dropped a “truly alarming” number of wireless emergency calls during a snow storm last month, and asked the carrier to investigate."
Makes you wander what's going to happen when all of those iPhones strain the network.

Google

Submission + - Google Launches New Zealand Earthquake Website (eweekeurope.co.uk)

jhernik writes: "Google has created a website to help people locate survivors of the Christchurch earthquake

With reports that up to 150 people are feared dead in the earthquake that hit Christchurch in New Zealand, search engine giant Google has set up a website to help people locate survivors.

As of Tuesday afternoon, 65 people are confirmed dead, but there it has been suggested that over 100 people are unaccounted for, with more than 200 people trapped in collapsed buildings.

The earthquake measured 6.3 on the Richter scale and has been described as the worst earthquake to hit New Zealand in 80 years. It struck in the middle of the day, where local time was 12.51pm Tuesday (23:51 GMT Monday in the UK)."

Television

Submission + - Amazon to Compete With Netflix (arstechnica.com)

olsmeister writes: Amazon today announced that it will allow streaming of movies and TV shows to Prime customers at no additional charge, in a move aimed squarely at competing with Netflix. Amazon's selection doesn't seem to stack up that well yet, but it has a cheaper yearly price and free shipping on purchases to boot. Let the competition begin.

Comment Re:Its not the speed that is the problem. (Score 2) 1026

I used Amtrak twice this past weekend in Upstate NY and had a great experience. I was able to work on the train (3G tether to laptop), and the trip was just _slightly_ longer than driving.

You were waiting for the right of way because Amtrak doesn't run on dedicated passenger tracks (with a few exceptions, like Albany to NYC.) It's likely that if high speed rail is to become reality in the US, a right of way dedicated to high speed passenger rail will be constructed. It will also be electrified, and the only diesel locomotives you'll see on the line will be maintenance of way or for rescue (e.g., electricity goes out).

High speed right of way is EXPENSIVE. High speed trains cannot cross roads at grade; flyovers must be constructed. The tracks must be kept clear of animals (deer, etc.). Electrification will be required.

I suspect the Northeast Corridor (Boston -> NY -> Philly -> DC) will be the first place to get high speed rail in the US. It's one place where it might succeed, due to the high population density cities being close to one another.

Power

Global Observer's First Hydrogen-Powered Flight 34

cylonlover writes "Following on from a successful maiden flight under battery power in 2010, AeroVironment's high altitude, long endurance (HALE) Global Observer unmanned aircraft has now taken to the skies using hydrogen-fueled propulsion. The aircraft reached an altitude of 5,000 feet during the four hour flight on January 11 at Edwards Air Force Base (EAFB) in California. Both the endurance and the altitude of the system will be expanded in further test flights in order to achieve the planned operational altitude of 55,000 to 65,000 feet."

Submission + - Comcast-NBC merger approved by FCC 1

AndyAndyAndyAndy writes: "It seems that the FCC has approved the proposed merger between Comcast and NBC, effectively kicking apart hopes for protection against "pipes and their water" frameworks. Pres. Obama's 2008 goal also goes ignored: "I strongly favor diversity of ownership of outlets and protection against the excessive concentration of power in the hands of any one corporation, interest or small group." The Dept. of Justice is also onboard, leaving little hope that this will be stopped."
Biotech

Submission + - Cloned wolly mammoths in five years (popsci.com)

siliconwafer writes: After about ten thousand years of extinction, woolly mammoths may again walk on earth. A Japanese team plans to inject preserved mammoth DNA into an elephant egg cell, and implant the resulting embryo into an elephant to birth a mammoth. Their time-table is less than five years.
Iphone

Submission + - Microsoft Releases OneNote Mobile For iPhone

Eric writes: Microsoft has released OneNote Mobile for iPhone. The app is available for free on the iTunes App Store for a limited time, and the software giant wouldn't say how long it would keep it gratis. Just like OneNote on Windows Phone 7, OneNote Mobile for iPhone gives people the tools to quickly capture ideas, update lists, and stay organized while on the go. Microsoft called OneNote "today's digital notebook and filing system for everything from brilliant ideas to mundane tasks."

All inputted data is backed up online and synced to Windows Live SkyDrive, meaning you can always access your notes online via Office Web Apps, as well as Office on your desktop or your smartphone. OneNote Mobile for iPhone is part of Microsoft's strategy to meet the mobile needs of the 750 million people worldwide who use Microsoft Office every day. Unfortunately, in the process the company is reducing the reasons to purchase a Windows Phone 7 device.
Games

Submission + - Control a Robot with Kinect (examiner.com)

AndrewGOO9 writes: Microsoft probably didn't anticipate the kind of reception their Kinect motion-control system has received since it launched last Novermber. However, it seems everyone else probably didn't expect to see the hacking community come up with so many incredibly cool uses for the Xbox 360 peripheral. That's where V-Sido comes in.

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