knapper_tech - Slashdot User

Comment CONSPIRACY (Score 1) 325

by knapper_tech on Tuesday February 24, 2009 @10:58AM (#26969443) Attached to: NASA's Orbiting Carbon Observatory Mission Fails

This is exactly like the failed launch of a climate monitoring satellite in the movie "The Arrival" where aliens were trying to terraform earth to make it warmer and were trying to keep us complacent by making it impossible for any scientists to ever present conclusive evidence! The aliens, oil companies, and Obama are all in on it! We've elected aliens!

Charlie Sheen was in it! He obviously knows a lot because he's slept with over 5k women!

I'm sick of the government, oil industry, and aliens getting away with shit! Time for some wooden stakes and DNA testing!

Comment Don't "Protect" Me (Score 1) 690

by knapper_tech on Monday February 16, 2009 @11:08AM (#26872327) Attached to: Do We Need a New Internet?

This post should be very, very, redundant by now, but if the internet gets in any way less free and I end up losing access to information streams, it will be a huge loss. I have learned about so many things through the internet. Anything that slows the rate of knowledge prorogation is, in my view, evil.

Comment Re:Who's the Customer? (Score 1) 420

by knapper_tech on Sunday February 08, 2009 @10:28AM (#26772143) Attached to: Nvidia Is Trying To Make an x86 Chip

.........mod troll for the Kool-Aid remark =)

We always need another x86 supplier. Look at the big picture. Both Intel and AMD are talking about integrating components of GPU's directly onto the CPU die. Firstly it represents a direct assault on nVidia's ability to do business. nVidia must build an x86 CPU.

Also, streaming architectures are probably the way of the future. All of the really successful HPC chips lately utilize some form of steaming processor or coprocessor. (Don't kill me if "streaming" isn't the perfect descriptor for blue gene etc) CPU manufacturers are trying to strap components of GPU's onto CPU's. nVidia has been doing much more interesting things on their GPU's, and I'm tempted to predict we'll see nVidia with the first real x86 streaming monster with lots of math co-processing and graphics capabilities hard-wired in.

As far as companies go, nVidia is one of the best. The CEO is an animal. nVidia is a company you want to see going forward so that they will continue innovating. Watching them get pushed out of the integrated x86-streaming future is unacceptable and would represent a huge loss to the consumer.

Comment Litigate to Gain Market Access (Score 3, Insightful) 420

by knapper_tech on Sunday February 08, 2009 @10:20AM (#26772093) Attached to: Nvidia Is Trying To Make an x86 Chip

I think we're at the point where x86 licensing is honestly kind of silly. For the sake of competition, I believe nVidia will find the right buttons to press and get at least enough breathing room to build parts.

Saying that x86 is a technology that allows Intel or AMD chips to run very powerful software is completely off-target. x86 is a vast software market, which chip makers continually convoluted their designs in order to have the ability to serve.

In other words, it's quite clear that x86 is not a technology anymore and has become more like a standard, which all companies should have some fair access to.

Comment Re:"The Turtles" (Score 1) 1397

by knapper_tech on Monday February 02, 2009 @07:46PM (#26701713) Attached to: Why Do We Name Servers the Way We Do?

Forgot the best part. http://www.ou.edu/asia/images/ASAssin.jpg
Server was built out of old components, stripped down into a headless machine, packed into boxes with ventilation slots, and parked over in a corner pirating bandwidth in a room it wasn't supposed to be in. But it looked like just some boxes, so nobody cared. Top box had the APC/surge protector in it.

Comment "The Turtles" (Score 2, Funny) 1397

by knapper_tech on Monday February 02, 2009 @07:43PM (#26701659) Attached to: Why Do We Name Servers the Way We Do?

Splinter(head node)
Leonardo
Donatello
Rafael
Michelangelo

Just a little make-shift cluster for large Blender renders implemented with Dr. Q. Splinter told the turtles what to do.

ASSassin
Asian Student Society...assin. A gentoo box built for hosting a website for Asian Student Interest Advocates.

Comment Manner Mode -- Feature or Crime? (Score 1) 1235

by knapper_tech on Monday January 26, 2009 @04:29PM (#26612069) Attached to: New Law Will Require Camera Phones To "Click"

My Japanese phone has an option called "manner mode" that has a dedicated button on the side of the chassis that eliminates all potential for being cell-phone-rude. Some societies find phone clicking etc kind of annoying? Let's say I'd rather not bother people while clicking away at the museum etc. Am I a criminal? Would I be a criminal just for carrying my phone since its tone can be disabled?

This is a redundant law anyway. If the photos were being taken of something inappropriate and for illegal usage, the "artist" is already a criminal. As prevention, the existence of a manner mode option on my other phone demonstrates how out of step the legislation is with other concerns of the ordinary citizen.

Lastly, tell me this isn't national legislation. Surely there is something better to be done than trying to eliminate the wave of opportunistic camera-phone wielders waiting for that perfect chance to slip a shot that will put smiles on coworkers' faces...like fighting obesity so said pervs will be taking more flattering pictures on their ninja phones? Economy? Anyone?

Oh my God...fire them all.

Red Alert 3 Expansion Announced 41

Posted by Soulskill on Saturday January 10, 2009 @02:33AM from the that-was-left-handed dept.

TheProphet92 writes "Electronic Arts has announced a single-player only add-on to their popular real-time strategy game, Command and Conquer: Red Alert 3. The expansion features new units and more campaign levels to play. Although not a part of the expansion, 25 new multiplayer maps will be released as part of a patch. 12 of them are 1v1 maps and the remaining 13 are 2v2. Amer Ajami, an EA exec, said, 'Uprising is a game that in many ways reflects the feedback we have gotten from the Command & Conquer community. We're giving gamers more of what they want — more of the fast, fluid and fun gameplay, more of the story we began to tell in Red Alert 3 and more cutscenes featuring top-notch Hollywood talent. At the same time, we're excited we're going to be able to bring new things to the mix, including new units and the Commander's Challenge, which is a great way for players to hone their skills and get deeper into the combat.'"

UK Email Retention Plan Technically Flawed 115

Posted by Soulskill on Saturday January 10, 2009 @01:09AM from the never-stopped-'em-before dept.

deltaromeo points out a BBC report calling the UK's law requiring ISPs to retain users' emails for at least a year an "attack on rights." The article also points out financial and technical flaws with the plan (which we first discussed in October). TechCrunch goes a step further, detailing how it conflicts with other governmental goals. Quoting: "...with one hand the government seeks to lock down the British Internet with an iron fist, while at the same time telling us it is boosting innovation and business online. It is quite clearly blind to the fact that one affects the other. Are we also expected to think that the consumers using online services are not going to be put off from engaging in the boom of 'sharing' that Web 2.0 created? How would you feel if every Twitter you sent, every video uploaded, was to be stored and held against you in perpetuity? That may not happen, but the mere suggestion that your email is no longer private would serve to kill the UK population's relish for new media stone dead, and with it large swathes of the developing online economy."

Submission + - Can Auto Industry Retool to Build Rails?

Submitted by

knapper_tech

on Friday December 26, 2008 @03:10PM

knapper_tech writes: "The scope of the auto industry troubles continues to increase in magnitude. The call to retool and develop new vehicles has been made several times already, but with all of the challenges from labor prices and foreign competition, what exactly can the industry retool to that will be more competitive? In light of superior competition facing losses, there doesn't seem to be enough room in the industry moving forward. In the context of finding a new place in the auto industry, the future isn't bright. Calls for no disorderly collapse of the cash-strapped big three and a reluctant congress can only point to an underlying lack of direction.

However, consider two other standing economic challenges. The airlines have continued to struggle due to fuel prices and heightened security. Consumers backed off of SUV's due to high fuel prices, and while those prices have eased in the face of global recession, the trend will pick up again with growth in China and India leading the fight for resources.

In short, things are moving less, and the industries that support that movement are in need of developing new products while consumers are in need of cheaper means of transportation. Looking abroad, it's clear the US has far lest invested in local and regional rail systems. With regard to high-speed rail systems, the US is conspicuously behind. France's TGV is moving people at 574km/h. China operates the world's first commercial maglev line while the famous Japanese Shinkasen goes without mentioning. In the US there is only one line in operation between DC and Boston with a few more planned as a result of the 2008 election in California.

The traditional barrier to implementation of rail systems is the initial investment costs, but in the context of economic stimulus, such investment sinks are actually desirable. The auto industry has clearly taken note with proposals from companies like Caterpillar for huge new infrastructure projects.

A friend who recently bought a house observed that real-estate prices are on the rise nearer to city centers, where the fallout of mortgage problems and expensive, time-consuming drives from the suburbs can be avoided. Recalling the huge number of urban revitalization plans and efforts to increase the viability of older city centers, it seems as though many municipal governments would also be in line to gain from the added density of rail systems and increased activity they can support in downtown areas.

Putting it all together, it seems like now would be a good time to direct the industrial capacity of the automotive and supporting industries to developing local and regional, high-speed rail systems to provide a more efficient and effective infrastructure basis for US cities while essentially creating a new market where competition from foreign car manufacturers will not be a problem. At the same time, a huge labor force would be required. The task would call for engineers for development, factory workers for manufacturing, operators, and maintenance workers. Caterpillar still gets to sell construction equipment. The inevitable stream of stores popping up around stations would provide new commercial areas. Last-mile bus and taxi services would also have a new place. The list goes on.

Besides the savings in fuel, the US could also gain international prestige and possibly help lead China and India away from our mistakes, helping to stem the rising demand for oil globally and avoiding the attendant international tension. Climate change is yet another win in this scenario.

It seems like we're not exactly headed in that direction, and I'm curious to see what slashdot readers think of all this. What pieces need to be in place to make the investments pay off? What are additional resources that are required? Can the industries really make such a change of direction? Do we have everything we need in the US? How would such systems work out long term? Would the initial investments be able to pick up fast enough to stimulate the economy?"

Submission + - MIT Engineers World's First Schizophrenic Mice

Submitted by

Frosty Piss

on Sunday July 29, 2007 @11:53PM

Frosty Piss writes: "MIT researchers have created a schizophrenic mouse that pinpoints a gene variation predisposing people to schizophrenia. Research with the mouse may lead to the first genetically targeted drugs for the disease, which affects 1 percent of the population worldwide. This is the first study that uses animals who demonstrate an array of symptoms observed in schizophrenic patients to identify specific genes that predispose people to the disease."

Submission + - How much are we paying for SMS?

Submitted by Komaji on Sunday July 29, 2007 @11:44PM

Komaji writes: Many mobile prepaid service plans in the US still require a per SMS charge. Most charge for sending and receiving and include a premium charge for sending to other countries. Have you ever sat down to figure out how much you're really paying for this frictionless and convenient mode of communication?

Submission + - 12 satellites working for high charge electrons (terradaily.com)

Submitted by on Sunday July 29, 2007 @11:26PM

An anonymous reader writes: A rare, timely conjunction of ground-based instrumentation and a dozen satellites has helped scientists better understand how electrons in space can turn into 'killers'. ESA's Cluster constellation has contributed crucially to the finding. 'Killer' electrons are highly energetic, negatively charged particles found in near-Earth space. They can critically, and even permanently, damage satellites in orbit, including telecommunication satellites, and pose a hazard to astronauts. The funny news from the scientists at the ESA can be found HERE

Submission + - What's Keeping US Phones in the Stone Age?

Submitted by knapper_tech on Thursday July 26, 2007 @12:47AM

knapper_tech writes: After seeing the iPhone introduction in the US, I was totally confused by how much excitement it generated in the US. It offered no features I could see beyond my Casio W41CA's capabilities. I had a lot of apprehension towards the idea of a virtual keypad and the bare screen looked like a scratch magnet. Looks aren't enough. Finally, the price is rediculous. The device is an order of magnitude more expensive than my now year-old keitai even with a two-year contract.

After returning to the US, I've come to realize the horrible truth behind iPhone's buzz. Over the year I was gone, US phones haven't really done anything. Providers push a miniscule lineup of uninspiring designs and then charge unbelievable prices for even basic things like text messages. I was greeted at every kiosk by more tired clamshells built to last until obselescense, and money can't buy a replacement for my W41CA. I finally broke down and got a $20 Virgin phone to at least get me connected until I get over my initial shock. In short, American phones suck, and iPhone is hopefully a wakeup call to US providers and customers. Why is the American phone situation so depressing?

Before I left for Japan about a year ago, I was using a Nokia 3160. It cost me $40 US and I had to sign a one year contract that Cingular later decided was a two-year contract. I was paying about $40 a month for service and had extra fees for SMS messages.

After I got to Kyoto, I quickly ended up at an AU shop and landed a Casio W41CA. It does email, music, pc web browsing, gps, fm radio, tv, phone-wallet, pictures (2megapixel), videos, calculator etc. I walked out of the store for less than ¥5000 (about $41) including activation fees, and I was only paying slightly over ¥4000 (about $33) per month. That included ¥3000 for a voice plan I rarely used and ¥1000 for effectively unlimited data (emails and internet).

Perhaps someone with more knowledge of the costs facing American mobile providers can explain the huge technology and cost gap between the US and Japan. Why are we paying so much for such basic features?

At first, I thought maybe it was something to do with network infrastructure. The US is a huge land area and Japan is very tiny. However, Japan would have lots of towers because of the terrain. Imagine something like Colorado covered in metropolitan area. Also, even though places like rural New Mexico exist, nobody has an obligation to cover them, and from the look of coverage maps, no providers do. Operating a US network that reaches 40% of the nation's population requires nowhere near reaching 40% of the land area. The coverage explanation alone isn't enough.

Another possibility was the notion that because Americans keep their phones until they break, phone companies don't focus much on selling cutting edge phones and won't dare ship a spin-chassis to Oklahoma. However, with the contract life longer, the cost of the phone could be spread out over a longer period. If Americans like phones that are built to last and then let them last, the phones should be really cheap. From my perspective, they are rediculously priced, so this argument also fails.

The next exlpanation I turned to is that people in the US tend to want winners. We like one ring to rule them all and one phone to establish all of what is good in phone fashion for the next three years. However, Motorola's sales are sagging as the population got tired of dime-a-dozen RAZR's and subsequent knockoffs. Apparently, we have more fashion sense or at least desire for individuality than to keep buying hundreds of millions of the same design. Arguing that the US market tends to gravitate to one phone and then champion it is not making Motorola money.

At last I started to wonder if it was because Americans buy less phones as a whole, making the cost of marketing as many different models as the Japanese prohibitive. However, with something like three times the population, the US should be more than enough market for all the glittery treasures of Akiba. What is the problem?

I'm out of leads at this point. It's not like the FCC is charging Cingular and Verizon billions of dollars per year and the costs are getting passed on to the consumer. Japanese don't have genetically superior cellphone taste. I remember that there was talk of how fierce mobile competition was and how it was hurting mobile providers' earnings. However, if Japanese companies can make money at those prices while selling those phones, what's the problem in the US? It seems to me more like competition is non-existent and US providers are ramming yesteryear's designs down our throats while charging us an arm and a leg! Someone please give me some insight.

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