Submission + - Intel Outlines Process Technology Roadmap - X-bit (xbitlabs.com)
Precision writes: "Intel Aims at 4nm Fabrication Process in 2022"
Submission + - Why the Google Phone Isn't Taking Off 2
Hugh Pickens writes: "Farhad Manjoo writes in Slate that while the iPhone commands nearly 14 percent of smartphone sales and BlackBerry about 21 percent. Android has only 3 percent and that even though it's far friendlier to developers, Android has failed to attract anywhere near the number of apps now clogging the iPhone. Manjoo writes that Google went wrong by giving handset manufacturers and carriers a great deal of control over the design and marketing of Android phones so there is no idealized "Google phone"--instead, Android devices get names like the T-Mobile G1 or the myTouch 3G, and each is marketed separately and comes with its own distinct capabilities and shortcomings. "Outside handset manufacturers lack ambition--none of them even seems to be trying to match the capabilities of the iPhone, let alone to knock us down with features that far surpass those of Apple's device," writes Manjoo. "A smart handset manufacturer could build a top-of-the-line Android device that outshines Apple's phone in at least a few areas--better battery life, a much better Web browser, a brighter or bigger screen, faster or more functional controls ... something that might help Android inspire gadget lust. But so far, that's not happening." John Gruber adds that the goal should be to make a phone that is better than the iPhone. "Carefully select a handful of areas where you can beat the iPhone, and then promote the hell out of these features," writes Gruber. "If your hope is to gain a strong foothold in the market with a sub-par device, you are mistaken. If Apple is BMW, you can be Porsche.""
Comment Re: Duh? (Score 1) 347
Well, I would have modded it funny.
And, while I'm at it, can we stop trying to make things smaller by multiplying them by large numbers? "1000 times less intense" is a nonsense. "A one thousandth as intense" or "a thousandth of the intensity" is what they mean. If you can't handle fractions, then "it would need to be a thousand times brighter to be visible to the naked eye".
And, while I'm at it, can we stop trying to make things smaller by multiplying them by large numbers? "1000 times less intense" is a nonsense. "A one thousandth as intense" or "a thousandth of the intensity" is what they mean. If you can't handle fractions, then "it would need to be a thousand times brighter to be visible to the naked eye".
Comment Image uploads are restricted (Score 5, Informative) 572
I have a bunch of high quality images that I've taken and am happy to donate. However, when I tried to upload them I was prevented due to not having updated a sufficient number of articles. Until you've updated the text on something like 10 articles you can't upload any images. I simply haven't found that many articles I felt I could make a useful contribution to yet.
It seems like an odd restriction to me. Unless you can prove you can write readable text, you can't upload pictures.
Comment Re:I wouldn't publish on Kindle if it was Open (Score 1) 315
DRM helps no one achieve anything. Best selling author and former Director of European Affairs for the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Cory Doctorow http://craphound.com/ is an interesting guy and practices what he preaches. He lets you download his books from his website for free. Of course, if you want a nicely bound paper version, you can buy a copy. Of you can go to see the stage show of the book or the film of the book. I don't think he's starving.
Comment Too much hyperbole (Score 1) 790
It may be extreme and excessive in some departments but not all as the author would like you to believe. That sort of acceleration has been commonplace on sports motorbikes for years and my eyeballs haven't deformed yet.
Comment Get someone else involved (Score 1) 601
Find a partner. Programming in a team is a whole lot more motivating and productive than solo. You're forced to work to produce code if the other guy needs to integrate with it. You'll also get someone to bounce ideas off this can inspire and motivate. Set milestones and reward yourselves when you reach them.
Comment Get involved (Score 1) 1354
Go out and do stuff, like join clubs or get involved in local events. Some ideas:
1. Join a local amateur dramatics society. You don't have to act/sing/dance. You can work backstage on lights and sound (geeky stuff) or build sets. There are always more females than males at these things. The social side is huge.
2. Join a club to learn or enjoy one of your less geeky interests, like maybe dancing, playing music, photography, walking, etc.
3. Work in a bar at weekends. Girls you don't know will come up to you and talk to you - and order drinks.
4. Join a gym (you probably need to anyway) and look out for social activities.
5. Read the local papers for activities and events in the area.
Also: wash, shave, brush your teeth, cut your hair, wear clean clothes. Remove other useless blemishes such as iPhones.
Good luck.
Submission + - Panasonic and Sumitomo teaming up to make OLED TVs (cnet.com)
rallymatte writes: "Currently, there's only one consumer model available of OLED displays, it's the Sony XEL, that will be yours for a mere $2,500, giving you a screen at the size of 11 inches. But now Panasonic and Sumitomo are teaming up to develop 40 inches or larger OLED TVs by 2010. OLEDs enable a greater range of colors, gamut, brightness, contrast and viewing angle than LCDs because OLED pixels directly emit light. OLED pixel colors appear correct and unshifted, even as the viewing angle approaches 90 degrees from normal. LCDs use a backlight and cannot show true black, while an off OLED element produces no light and consumes no power."
Submission + - MS VP boasts Office 2007 saves 50% over Openoffice (microsoft.com)
Anonymous Coward writes: "Microsoft Corporate Vice President Allison Watson recently told partners several MS success stories, including this one:
"After 16 months of employee frustration, lost revenue, delays in getting proposals to clients, and escalating IT support costs, Art of Transport Logistics migrated from OpenOffice.org to the 2007 Microsoft Office system. Projected savings? Around 50 percent in support costs, with an uplift in staff productivity of US$550 per person, per year."
See:
http://www.microsoft.com/emea/partnersolutionmarketplace/CaseStudyDetail.aspx?casestudyid=4000003242"
"After 16 months of employee frustration, lost revenue, delays in getting proposals to clients, and escalating IT support costs, Art of Transport Logistics migrated from OpenOffice.org to the 2007 Microsoft Office system. Projected savings? Around 50 percent in support costs, with an uplift in staff productivity of US$550 per person, per year."
See:
http://www.microsoft.com/emea/partnersolutionmarketplace/CaseStudyDetail.aspx?casestudyid=4000003242"
Submission + - Dormitory turned into huge 12x10 color display. (projekt-piwo.pl) 1
macson_g writes: Students from Wroclaw University of Technology (Poland) once again turned one of dormitories into huge display. The project is called P.I.W.O. (B.E.E.R.). This time they converted 10-story building into 4-color, 12x10 display. The display was used to display animations, and to play interactive games as well. On the project page (in polish, Google translation here) you can watch almost hour-long video, featuring music videos, Tetris session, dancing Michael Jackson, Duke Nukem and Mario.
Submission + - Los Angeles Acquires a Valuable Business Resource (eprnetworkblog.com)
CaliFindIt writes: "Cali Find It has just launched a new site that aims to be a valuable resource to the local businesses and communities of California. The site offers a comprehensive local business directory that utilizes S.M.A.R.T. technology to simplify searches while accommodating cellular phones and PDAs with touch screen technology."
Submission + - Spanish scientists find cocaine in the air (yahoo.com)
lee317 writes: "AFP has a story on the results of a study revealing that the air in Barcelona and Madrid has detectible levels of cocaine, with higher levels on the weekend, "suggesting higher consumption at this time." Not to worry, the scientists say that it would take more than 1,000 years for a person to inhale one dose of the drug based on their findings of 29 to 850 picograms per cubic metre of air (a picogramme is one trillionth of a gram)."
Submission + - Budget spy opps in South Australia
GenThrift writes: Model air plane enthusiast captures criminals with home made drone survailance
"A MODEL aeroplane equipped with a camera has inadvertently captured graffiti artists at work in the southern suburbs, leading to their arrest.The aerial surveillance was carried out over the Aldinga Bay Surf Life Saving Club in March by an model aircraft enthusiast using what police described as a "slow -flying electric remote-controlled aeroplane".The modified aircraft was rigged with a camera, attached with a rubber band, which had been set to capture images every 1.5 seconds.The images proved much more interesting than the plane owner was expecting — they captured graffiti vandals at work.The plane operator sent the pictures to South Coast police who used them to identify the alleged offenders."
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,25480726-5006301,00.html
Submission + - New Kevlar Tape Reinforces Walls Against Hurricane
Hugh Pickens writes: "When a hurricane or tornado looms, a new tape could soon help homeowners keep their walls from blowing apart. X Flex tape, a clear, Kevlar-reinforced tape tested and developed in conjunction with the US military, is set to become available to civilians within the next year. X Flex is three layers sandwiched together. The outer two layers are standard plastic wrap. Inside that are clear strands of Kevlar, the synthetic fabric used by soldiers for body armor, woven together at a 45 degree angle. The Kevlar strands allow the tape to bend and flex more than six inches but not break, stopping terrorist munitions or Mother Nature's fury. "You can paint over it or put wall paper over it," said Abboud Mamish of Berry Plastics Inc. who worked with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to develop X Flex. "Putting nails through it [to hang a picture] should not affect its ability to stop a two-by-four going 100 [m.p.h.]." A specially formulated adhesive system allows X-Flex to be applied to the primed interior side of an exterior wall simply by removing the protective film liner and sticking the product to the wall. Berry Plastics claims that X Flex can stop a wood two-by-four from puncturing a home wall at 85 mph (hurricane conditions) and even 100 mph (tornado conditions)."
