Gaawk (me choking on, well, opinions)... I am sure I am not the only one. That there are people interested is how Apple has implemented Bluetooth. For instance, I am rather sure HID [Human Interface Device] Bluetooth keyboards work w/iPods but SPP [Serial Port Protocol] Bluetooth keyboards (if there is such a thing) do not. While, I believe, SPP keyboards should work with RIM products. The Bluetooth keyboard I am using w/my iPod is 3rd party. Further, I would be very surprised if it had an Apple authentication chip inside. I am also rather sure A2DP [Advanced Audio Distribution Protocol] Bluetooth headphones work with iPods even with out a authentication chip. I bought A2DP headphones for a Sony phone and when iPod included this feature in a FW upgrade the phones worked with the iPod. What I (and I believe others) want to know is what Bluetooth devices work and/or how to get them to work with an iPod. (1) What Bluetooth protocols are supported? (2) Do you need an authentication chip for any of them? (3) Can an application gain access to Bluetooth SSP? (4) Can an application gain access to Bluetooth HID? (5) Will any Bluetooth keyboard work w/an iPod? [Let's keep this branch of comments restricted to the facts - sort of like the "wiki" branch off of this slash-dot story.] ...thanks

What about replacing the Wii pointer with one of these $5 devices (device needs to contain an 2D array of bar codes). One $20 camera could track many devices. May not make sense for 1 or 2 users. But for half a dozen uses this approach is most likely cheaper! And if you used 2 cameras you could probably localize the player in 3 dimensions along with the direction the $5 dollar device is pointing. (Can not believe this does not show up at the top of one of these discussion threads.)

I felt compelled to post in this thread until I read yours. I'm sending this summation to my kid who is on the verge of finishing her undergraduate engineering degree. Nicely done - all bases covered!

NFS Server. Samba Server. SqueezeCenter Music Server. SwissCenter Media Server. Wizd Media Server UPNP Server. BTW, run a VNC server on it and pop up the screen on another computer running the VNC client should you have the need during configuration or when running your server apps.

First off, many times it's not the money but the satisfaction that is the pay off. That, for instance, is why I and others submit code to open source projects. Also consider this person's intentions are the most unbiased available. There are instances in consumer technology where it does not make short term business sense to support the customer. For instance, from a recent slashdot article, DOCSIS 3 is not a cable provider's friend. So why would they put effort in providing support (given they even allow it). Lastly, everyone is hitting the business reset button. Many markets are turning into a commodity market (low mark ups with little, if any, added value). If your company is not in control of it's own market segment (that is, it's in 2nd or worst place), there is little else it can do. Or, maybe not. Maybe this is the pool of talent you've been looking for. Maybe this is the magic bullet.

The eddie currents set up in the moving shield will resist the effort to move it. Even if you recovered all the energy from a changing magnetic field you would probably only break even. This assuming the usual "forget about mass and friction for this problem". For Eddie currents (aka Focault current) see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddy_Current