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Comment Re:What do you expect? (Score 4, Interesting) 53

I was going to use Google as an example of how it should work. Chrome supports open standards, and incompatibilities are minimal because if Chrome doesn't conform to the spec it's treated as a bug and fixed. When Google wants to add new features, they go through the process of getting them added as open standards. Sometimes they fail and have to be abandoned, and Google accepts it, e.g. the pseudo-anonymous ad impression reporting tech they developed.

Google actually has an open standard for spreadsheet programming using Javascript, which it's a shame nobody else uses because it's the last big hurdle to migrating away from Excel for a lot of people.

Comment Re:That can't be true. (Score 2) 102

This has been the case for a very, very long time already. Corporations have been self censoring forever. You can find maps that are decades old which show Taiwan as part of China, for example.

You would expect nothing less. The far more important issue is people relying on AI as a source of information about these things. People need to learn to always question AI and verify its claims.

Comment Re:An elegant chip (Score 2) 41

You certainly can write pixels directly into a bitmap on Windows. I suggest using SDL to make your life easier.

I prefer 6502 myself, but the Z80 has some interesting features. The pseudo-DMA mode, essentially an optimized copy loop, is nice. Quite a few games back in the day used it, notably Ghosts and Goblins on the ZX Spectrum which redraws the entire screen with it every frame. It's a relatively easy to integrate chip, and the port feature allows for a clean memory map and low cost/complexity peripherals.

Comment Re:Overheard (Score 1) 28

While you probably wouldn't want this as a daily driver for many other reasons, solar panels on cars make sense. 5 MPH or even less isn't much, but it's not nothing, and it's basically free. The car already has a DC charger on-board, so the added cost isn't much, and cars spend most of their time parked, usually outdoors.

The original Nissan Leaf had a small solar panel option that charged the 12V battery. That is a good idea. EVs obviously don't need cranking power for an ICE, but they do need 12V for basically everything electric except for traction. For safety reasons the traction battery is disconnected when the vehicle is parked (you may have heard the relays click). Consumers also want always-on dashcams to catch door dingers and people hitting parked cars. The cost is almost negligible too, although I'm sure Audi will charge 1,500 Euro for it.

Comment Re:Disturbing (Score 5, Insightful) 41

What's really interesting is not the fight itself, but the fact that Chinese robot companies have commoditized humanoid robots that are capable of acrobatics already.

You can buy an off-the-shelf humanoid robot that has everything needed to balance, move with both feet off the ground at the same time*, get up from being knocked over etc. All the sensors, joints, and software needed to make it happen are there, you just need to teach it some fighting/dancing/labour moves.

* This demonstrates a high level of advancement. Older/shitter robots like Elon Musk's Optimus look constipated because they have to be balanced on at least one foot at all times. Boston Dynamics pioneered robots that can, like humans, throw themselves off balance and catch themselves. Both feet can be off the ground at the same time, and to walk or run like a human it's a requirement to be able to essentially fall forwards and catch itself on the leading foot.

Comment Re:Reversible Irreversible ? (Score 1) 54

They probably need to keep the data around for a while, for legal reasons. They might get sued, and if it was deleted it will be worse for them. They might get a law enforcement request for the data, and it would look bad if they deleted it.

The bigger issue is that unless you get lucky and go viral, there is no way to get this kind of thing resolved and all you can do is sue to get your costs covered.

Comment Re:Hearing aid batteries (Score 1) 75

And also diver's watches, so there is no excuse for smart watches not having a replaceable battery either. People understand perfectly well that they need to have the gasket properly replaced if they want to maintain water resistance. Not that anyone would warranty a smart watch by the time the battery needs replacing.

Comment Re:Anonimisation (Score 3, Interesting) 50

It's almost impossible to anonymize search data. Google can do it internally and simply avoid processing it in a way that could reveal identities, to comply with GDPR, but other companies will not be so limited. In theory GDPR applies to them too, but the danger is that we end up in a Facebook like situation with shadow profiles on people who have never used their services.

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