Posts by Glesga Snapper

Police radios will be KILLED soon – yet no one dares say 'Huawei'

Re: Push-to-talk latency

Affirmative/Negative means simply yes/no.

"Rodger" has a very specific meaning, at least in UK military usage, which is "Your last message was received, I understood it and am carrying out any orders contained within it".

Re: Push-to-talk latency

IIRC, aviation types actually use the shorter "affirm" for yes, precisely so that it can't be confused with "negative" if the start gets truncated and all you hear is "...ative".

Re: Push-to-talk latency

They already do. Hit the PTT key on your TETRA terminal and you'll get a tone that indicates that it has a connection to the network and that you can start talking. You get a different, error tone if there is no network available.

New MH370 search zone picked using just seven satellite 'handshakes'

The amount and type of data sent back from the aircraft is determined by the customer (the airline) options selected; i.e kit fitted and service level agreements with Inmarsat, etc.

If I recall correctly, MAS had opted for only very basic data reporting services through Inmarsat, so once the aircraft was out of range of land based VHF ACARS sites options for transmission of data was limited. Add to this that the ACARS system on board appears to have been disabled, either through deliberate interference or accident, then the lack of data from the aircraft isn't surprising.

Some insist that the fact that ACARS was disabled, but not the SATCOM radio points to deliberate interference; it's possible to just log off ACARS from the flight deck, but disabling SATCOM would have involved a trip to the aircraft's avionics bay (located below deck and accessed via a hatch outside of the flight deck) to pull circuit breakers. It's been suggested that any fire would have taken down all systems equally, including (as you pointed out) the autopilot, causing the aircraft to crash a lot sooner than it did.

It's a weird case and I don't think we'll ever know the full story, even if the flight recorders are recovered. The CVR has a loop time of 3 hours, so any voice recordings of the beginning of the incident has likely been lost. The investigation will have to rely upon the FDR, that has a much longer recording period.

Boeing bent over for new probe as 787 batteries vent fluid, start to MELT

Re: Not sure about this

787 is a twin engined aircraft.

By using electrical systems to replace traditional hydraulic and bleed air (pneumatic) systems you reduce the requirement on the engines to power said systems, meaning they can use more of their energy propelling the aircraft. E.g. de-icing systems that use bleed air reduce engine power enough that their use is factored into takeoff distances.

Also, doing away with these systems allows you to remove the associated equipment and ducting and therefore weight. E.g. if you are no longer using high-pressure, high-temperature bleed air from the engines to pressurise the cabin, then you don't need such complicated systems to reduce it down to a usable pressure and temperature for the task. An additional benefit is that you also no longer have the risk of oil, etc contaminating the cabin air.

Space station 'naut supplies Reg with overhead snap of Vulture Central

It's noise from the sensor. Given the speed that they would be passing over, a long exposure shot wouldn't be an option (without some sort of tracking camera mount), so they would've needed to crank up the ISO (gain) on the sensor in order to get a usable shutter speed.

Amazon Kindle Touch Wi-Fi eBook reader review

Re: How?

Kindle Touch does this too - tap the top right corner and a "fold" appears.

Re: After this review, I really only need to know if it works with Calibre...

I can confirm that it does indeed work with calibre.

Nikon D4 DSLR review

Re: How much?

To be honest, that might hold true for consumer level cameras, but £5k pays for a lot of film and processing. Not to mention the fact that hi-end DSLRs have a much shorter service life than pro film cameras used to, due to the rapid march of technology.

Film vs digital costs are notoriously difficult to compute as the variables are complex, but I'l wager the savings aren't as large as you think and much of the cost of digital is up-front. In addition, digital has extra costs related to post-production that can be difficult to sell to a client, for many of whom "digital = cheaper".

Higgs boson hunters have god particle in their sights

The Font of Chumps.

FTFY

New account of Flight 447 disaster published

Stick priority.

If both side sticks are moved at the same time an aural warning "dual input" is given by the aircraft.

In addition to this, there is also a visual warning light on the glare shield, just below the pilots' eye line, that illuminates to indicate that the other pilot is making control inputs.

Pressing the red button on the side stick gives that stick priority and cancels out the inputs from the other stick.

Lovely electric car breaks out of Oz

Wow!

That is a seriously nice looking car. Can I have one with a V12 in it please!

Bin Laden's porn stash: Too good to be true?

Steganography?

I suspect the reporting of "subliminal messages" has more to do with the gutter press misunderstanding the concept of steganography, that some comedy, backwards masked nonsense.

Some CIA type probably mentioned that they were checking to see if there are any "hidden messages" embedded in the images - gutter press hears "subliminal messages" and runs with bollocks headline.

EU copyright database could help reform the laws on orphan works

A title.

@AC

I believe you are confusing a licence with total copyright buyout. When a client commission work from me they are granted a licence to use/reproduce that work in pre-defined ways and for an agreed period of time. The licence may also stipulate exclusive or non-exclusive rights to the image.

A client may wish to completely buyout copyright in perpetuity, but they should expect to pay a price commensurate with that level of control.

Finally, the majority of images that I supply to clients are in digital form, so I don't know what you're wittering on about CD/DVDs for. In this digital age it's not unusual for images to only exist in hardcopy at the final stage of going to a commercial printer.

What?

Really?

I have found images that I created, which have been stripped of their metadata by a third party (by accident and on purpose). If these get into the public domain then it is not the fault of the author that they can't be identified.

I'll think you'll find most authors of creative works keen to be identified correctly.

Net censors use UK's kid-safety frenzy to justify clampdown

a title

Nail...Head.

Doner kebab saves bloke's life

Exaggeration, surely?

It does seem like rather a lot, doesn't it?

I seem to remember from my TA days that the first field dressings that we were issued were designed to hold about a pint of blood. When blood spots started to appear on the outside of the dressing, you whacked another one on top of the previous - up to a maximum of three.

The logic being; someone who has lost more than three pints of blood is very likely to die and therefore you should direct your efforts toward casualties with greater survival odds.

Simple, if a slightly brutal, logic.

US Army: Judge Dredd smartgun in every squad from 2014

A title, damn you!

I'm guessing that the rod above the barrel is part of the gas system that's used to operate the weapon's breach mechanism.

I think the toothed bit on the bottom looks like a Piccatinny rail or similar, used for mounting accessories such as torches.

USA to bin colour-code terror warning system - report

Also...

I also seem to recall there was a TAHITI state too, which referred to the current mortar threat (a favourite PIRA method for attacking barracks).

I think the names were chosen randomly by the same computer that they use for operation names i.e. OP CORPORATE, GRANBY, TELIC, etc.

Apple shrinks Mac Mini price

A Title.

*cough* bittorrent *cough*

Notorious Koobface worm ported to Mac OS X

A Title.

Is it just me, or does anyone else keep reading the name of the virus as "Knobface"?

Jobs' Lion to marry Mac OS X and iOS

A Title.

Which part of "Quick Sneak Preview" did you not understand?

Microsoft, Adobe merger? Yeah, right

Also...

For me, the new masking and edge detection tools, alone, made it worthwile.

HDR is a bit of a parlor trick really; there are companies making specialist HDR software that's much more flexible, when compared to Photoshop's implementation. Still, it has been improved again in CS5 though.

Every new version brings lots of incremental improvements (important workflow ones, not Ooh Aahh marketing ones) that makes it worth upgrading; things like improved 16bit support and the ability to use smart objects for more and more things.

A Title.

You obviously don't use photoshop to make a living then.

'We Want Two' Navy carrier plan pondered by Cabinet

Because.

Because it was only built to civilian standards and, as such, was only intended to have a limited service life.

In short, it's falling to bits.

Canada prostitution laws pulverised: politicians apoplectic

Surely...

being a "Progressive Conservative" is an oxymoron?

Microsoft to hug fanbois on 26 October with Office 2011 for Mac

Indeed.

Amen to that brother!

Wacom Cintiq 21UX interactive pen display

Aspect Ratio.

I'd image that the choice of a 4:3 aspect ratio is that it's closer to the traditional photographic sizes than 16:9 widescreen. If fact, I can't think of any professional stills cameras that shoot in 16:9, although I do have a Fuji point & shoot in a drawer somewhere that had it as an option.

Cutbacks strip speed cameras from Blighty's roads

NIMBY

Your friend sounds like a right nob.

India to place $11bn order for AIP hi-tech submarines

Sorry!

I meant "naval"

Nope

That's definately an Indian navel ensign at the back. The clue is in the upper left corner - a small indian flag.

Pictures of Ubuntu: Linux's best photo shots at Windows and Mac

Same thing.

He is talking about the per channel bit depth; 8bit/chan = 24bit overall.

The 8bit alpha is an additional channel, used for masks and stuff.

Nikon Coolpix P100 bridge camera

Title thingy.

All my Nikon's have this.

Nokia: digital SLRs are doomed

Stop it...

my sides are hurting!

Seriously, I have only just stopped laughing enough to post this message.

Someone tell this fool he's 21 days too late.

Legal high fire sale starts now

Actually...

I'd prefer to tie *you* to a post and shoot *you* with a big fucking gun.

BBC confirms death of 6Music, slashes online budget by a quarter

Here in Glasgow.

Here in Glasgow, there are already Asian FM stations that are very popular. In contrast, there are currently no commercial offerings that could replace 6 Music.

That said, I don't want to see either axed.

Also, do we need 1Extra, that is just a continuation of the bland, RnB shitfest that is Radio 1?

Climategate hits Westminster: MPs spring a surprise

Idiot.

What the hell are twittering about? No one is suggesting that what you have written above is a good idea.

The problem comes from a bunch of scientists who have allowed their beliefs get in the way of proper science and have acted in a manner that has now brought disrepute upon their work. Their actions have strengthened the case of the very people that they despise.

MPs get ready to grubby hands in 'wash-up'

Typical.

More disgusting behaviour from grubby little pigs, with no one but their own vested interests in mind. I want Labour out, but I don't think any of the other options are much better, to be honest.

BBC to cull radio stations, halve websites in painful biz review

Way to go Auntie...

Get rid of the one radio station that's actually worth listening too!

6Music is the jewel in the crown of the BBC's current line-up; a wide range of really excellent music, played by DJs who actually know what they're talking about, rather than fat, talentless knobs like Moyles.

If 6Music is canned, then the Beeb's last chance of a digital switch-over through anything other than coercion will disappear with it.

Scots unleash world's strongest beer

Good on ye BrewDog!

I await the Portman Group having a sense of humour failure, as per normal.

If it's like their previous strongest creation "Tactical Nuclear Penguin" it'll be supplied with a cork stopper, so that you can savour properly.

Anti-Internet Explorer 6 protests grow with online petition

Sounds familiar...

In a previous job, I worked for an arms-length, quango type company that administered an EU funding stream for the Scottish Executive.

Part way through my employment they changed the process that applicants used to claim money, from paper forms to an online system. This system (which arrived several years behind schedule) was designed to run on IE6, and although we found it would run on other browsers, it would often do odd things. On one occasion I recall phoning the Exec's IT peeps on behalf of a small voluntary organisation who, to save money, were trying to run entirely using OSS - their response upon hearing that the applicant was running Firefox was "Oh good, we don't need to deal with this one.".

We also had remote access to one of the Exec's internal databases through a web front-end, which, you guessed it, only ran on IE6.

I wouldn't be surprised if both these system are still around and causing misery.

Oz banker caught porn-surfing on live TV

Badum Tish...

"hardened bankers" indeed

First mass-produced camera heads to auction

That would be...

the focal length, rather than the diameter of the objective lens, methinks.

Brits left cold by mobile internet

Yes, too costly.

Definitely too costly, unless you have either an iPhone, or a top-tier talk plan. Whilst everyone has been moaning about the supposed 750MB cap on Orange iPhone data (you don't get charged for going over it, by the way) it's a damn sight more generous than most other plans. Take a look at the cost of data bolt-ons, they're pretty pricy.

It was this, coupled with rubbish speeds that kept me from using data much on previous phones, smart or otherwise.

BT reveals faster broadband pricing

Too right.

I got shot of 'em after Phorm and I made damn sure that they knew that's why I was leaving too.

British troops to get new all-terrain camouflage kit

Actually...

The reason for the IP rights control is not to stop UK troops from buying their own kit, it's to stop some of the cheap, nasty kit that gets produced by less than reputable companies. This cheap kit usually doesn't meet the NATO IRR specs, meaning that you literally glow in the dark, when seen through night vision optics.

Commercial producers have been involved in the procurement process from the start and will be granted licence to produce good quality gear that meets the correct specs.