Archive for the 'Tech' Category
1st Sign Of The Apocalypse?
In a move this is bound to have many a wild-eyed programmer choking on his energy drink, Microsoft has announced an official nod to open source. While they will not be taking the plunge themselves, they promise no to sue open source programmers working with MS products (among other things). The move is not a total shift to the open model it is a significant step to at least play nice with OS projects. Here’s the meat of the press release:
As an immediate next step, starting today Microsoft will openly publish on MSDN over 30,000 pages of documentation for Windows client and server protocols that were previously available only under a trade secret license through the Microsoft Work Group Server Protocol Program (WSPP) and the Microsoft Communication Protocol Program (MCPP). Protocol documentation for additional products, such as Office 2007 and all of the other high-volume products covered by these principles, will be published in the upcoming months.
Microsoft will indicate on its Web site which protocols are covered by Microsoft patents and will license all of these patents on reasonable and non-discriminatory terms, at low royalty rates. To assist those interested in considering a patent license, Microsoft will make available a list of specific Microsoft patents and patent applications that cover each protocol.
How Big Is That Planet In The Window?
Been doing a little star gazing lately (no not on E!), and found this helpful guide to planets apparent size. The chart breaks down how much magnification it would take to make each planet appear the same size as the moon to the naked eye. These numbers are “best case” since they are when the planet is in opposition to Earth (closest in relative orbits).
Mercury 250x
Venus 75x
Mars 100x (ave)
Jupiter 40x
Saturn 100x
Uranus 500x
Neptune 750x
Pluto 400x (just to be visible)
RC Cars Military Style
So what if you were a marine and needed to take a peek around a wall without giving that sniper a free shot? How do you know if the next room is clear of IEDs?
What if you had brought a 1 lb dumbbell that could solve both problems? Call it the smartbell, the recon scout is just over a pound… but the little beauties ability to transmit video back to a soldier safely up to 300 ft away makes it worth its weight in gold. Even with the transmitter the kit tops out at 3 lbs, allowing these to be easily deployed with ground troops.
Give this thing an energy weapon and let the terrorist video games begin!
Gameboy PC
With all the new style gameboys running around these days, it was about time for some love for the orginal. Sporting some new inards, this old school game boy actually has full on PC power. Complete with win XP running on a 4 Gig CF HD, and USB, NIC & VGA ports. Nice.
F-35 - Joint Strike Fighter
The future of western fighter jets is almost here. The Joint Strike Fighter is a fighter family developed for the Air Force, Navy & Marines. The fact that 70-80% of the 3 variants is the same allows the tax payer a savings of 20-25% per plane. Which can get to be significant as it will eventually replace a large portion of the planes in service (4000 or so).
The Air Force and Navy models are very similar with the exception of the necessary changes for carrier landing. The Marine variant however has a sweet vertical take-off and landing ability. All 3 have the latest in stealth and electronic intel gathering technology. Not to mention the serious payload of weapons they can carry internally. Carrying the weapons internally reduces drag and therefore increases range; It also reduces the radar signature of the plane. Everything from bunker busters to cruise missiles to conventional missiles can be carried stealthily to targets at super sonic speeds (something previous stealth bombers lacked).
All in all, it looks pretty sweet and should be put into full service in the next 4-5 years.
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Blu-ray or HD-DVD?
Neither. (Yet)
Technologically, they are close enough that it doesn’t matter which one wins the "format war" but there are reasons not to jump on the bandwagon just yet.
1) There is a reasonable chance that one will win and the other will die so that should give a consumer pause.
2) There is also a possiblity that neither will win. Some "experts" think video on demand and internet downloaded movies will take over all DVD formats before the new ones become viable. They’re wrong. Just remember these experts have been talking about video on demand since the cable modem was invented - back then it was just a few years away… They are also wrong that customers don’t want to own things. For the same reason the "renting software" concept is going to fail, people don’t trust big companies to hold all their possessions for them. Because their is nothing to stop them from deciding "oh this month viewing your movies costs twice as much".
If a movie service could replace owning DVDs it already would have. Think about how many people live within walking distance of a Blockbuster? And how many of those people still own DVDs? Exactly. Video demand might kill Blockbuster, but it’s not going to off personal movie collections.
3) There is a STRONG possiblity that this won’t take meaningful hold on industry any time soon. I remember back in 1996 when people wondered if they should even buy a regular (non-HD) TV since it was about to be obsolete. Let’s see, 10 years later we have like 1/3 of TV being sold are HD or "HD ready" (I talking all TVs not just the big ones where HD sets have overtaken their 4:3 ratio brothren). Not to mention all HD programming out there. There aren’t nearly enough HD channels available yet and even fewer channels that actually broadcast fully in HD. So keep that in mind as you are considering the need for an HD-DVD player (or Blu-ray).
HondaJET
This ain't your dad's Accord… Honda has officially entered the light Jet market. Honda which only a few years ago entered the aviation market by producing aero-engines is now going to start making the entire aircraft.
Don't expect them any time soon, however, as the FAA certification process takes several years. But by 2010, you'll be able to buy a Honda that can really fly. ;)
Latest Sony Ultra Portable
Step right up and pre-order your VERY mobile mini notebook weighing in at only 1.2 lbs!!
Sporting a 4.5" screen, a 30 Gig HD, Windows XP and a normal notebook price… its power to go. Not really designed to as a desktop replacement, but for the minimalist techies out there a "must have".
Ipods Cooler Than Beer
That's right among the coolest kids in town (college kids of course), the Ipod has — at least temporarily — de-throned drinking beer as the number one "in" thing to do. iPods were rated as "in" by 73% of undergrads while beer and facebook.com ranked #2 with 71%.
Does this mean that we are becoming a geek-ier nation or that tech is going mainstream when a gadget and a web site are going toe to toe with getting sloshed?