I know it is subpar, so I plan accordingly.

It shouldn't be just for the wealthy and the government

The level of insight that a good pattern of life analysis can achieve is stunning. The telemetry that is embedded or externally collected is a torrent.

The argument that data collection is protected free speech is a weak argument. First, just because it is collected and available for purchase should not mean the government can use it without a warrant. Second, massive data collection and integration was not even a concept when the Bill of Rights was written.

I need access to slashdot, you insensitive clod!

JPL is a FFRDC and CalTech has been the incumbent contractor since the beginning. According to the rules in the Federal Acquisition Register (FAR) it should have been free and open competition a long time ago. I do not have specific knowledge on the JPL contract, but it is likely the sole-source justification has not had much scrutiny.

I am not saying the contract should go to a for-profit corporation (in California that would make it subject to taxes--an instant cost increase). I do think opening up competition would force a revisit to the cost structure, which is a healthy process.

From the perspective of US law, the spectrograms are a recording. An audio recording captures a sequence of sounds, which can include music, spoken words, or other audio elements. These sounds must be fixed in a tangible medium. Printed spectrograms meet the definition.

I know. I do feel privileged that I got a comment from you.

Because this is the internet, it's pron. it's always pron.

But I am having a hard time feeling sorry for the people that help make the modern attention-based economy that has savaged privacy. Much of the buffoonery going on today can be laid at the feet of social media.

Hopefully not USB-A because docking will require at least 3 attempts

Typically that is something that is negotiated. A company (which often includes government created corporate entities) can offer a lower rate if they retain IP rights as that offers the opportunity to monetize. For example, CSIRO licenses technology that was funded by taxpayers and revenue from licensing IP.

There you go, using facts. We don't let facts get in the way of a good narrative.

Completely agree with your setup, but even on slashdot perhaps 10-20% of the readers could implement. In the real world, vanishingly small.

That said, the Walmart house brand Onn has been a delightful surprise.

It won't need the user anymore. Makes me think of the Dean Koontz novel Demon Seed.

Of course it will. Google will pimp you out to a scammer--they have no morals