Disqus - Latest Comments for java_jack

Re: Is the Obama Administration Juicing the Unemployment Stats?

java_jack — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 11:15:25 -0000

I don't know if the numbers are false or not. 8.1 to 7.8 is a significant drop to say the least. When looking at the net jobs created over the past 12 months, it doesn't seem to make sense. Perhaps the issue here is the number of people that are underemployed or those that have just given up and removed themselves from the job hunting process.

The reality is the number has never been an accurate reflection of the employment rate. Now, I would suspect it would be a bit challenging to falsify the numbers, I would not say it is out of the realm of possibility either.

I think the author of this article is taking a very naive view of things and too easily discounts things. Whistle blowers are not praised and don't get 15 mins of fame. More often than not they are criticized and demonized for trying to do the right thing. Therefore, there is not much incentive for anyone to come forward. Therefore, there is significant upside to fudging the numbers for the govt.

However, it is a risk but 3rd party independent sources could do their own reporting on the numbers. If enough people challenge the numbers, this could raise serious questions about the validity of the numbers and the BLS management. Such activities would not reflect well on the the President.

To say the numbers could never be cooked is wrong. To say definitively without evidence that the numbers are cooked is equally wrong. The reality is we don't know for sure if they are or are not cooked. I do think that it is a big move from 8.1 to 7.8 and I don't see anything in the net job creation that would explain it. However, that does not mean they were cooked. A more detailed explanation would seem to be in order on how the number was reached.

Re: Switched On: Why the digital hub died

java_jack — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 11:59:04 -0000

What people here fail to realize is while some Engadget readers can be very immature and make some of the most assinine comments, the fact that Engadget, being a tech site is going to attact tech readers. Therefore, the audience here is not very representative of the mainstream user.

The average user does not know what a NAS is nor do they care. They want simplicity, ease of use, low cost with a high WAF.

The PC is a digital hub because it speaks a universal language that is spoken by so many different devices. It can easily connect to MP3 players, cameras, camcorders, etc. and understand MP3, Mpeg 2, h.264, DIVX, XVID, WAV, AAC, etc. It doesn't hurt that it is a great productivity tool, web surfing tool, and so much more. It is a digital hub because it has been a mainstay device in the home for over 20 years. We grew up on the PC.

However, the world is rapidly changing. The smartphone is reshaping what we want to do with our music, images, movies, etc. and how we access that content.

While the PC is not going away, the role it plays will be changing. The PC will be a heavy lifting device and may still act as a digital hub in many ways, however, we will likely have 2 classes of devices in our homes going forward...content creation/editing devices (i.e. the PC) and content consumption devices (smartphones, slates, etc.).

The consumption devices will probably garner the most mindshare and use while the creation devices will handle the larger/longer workloads that require the horsepower, user interface and complexity that the consumptions devices will not handle nor offer the interface that is efficient for such tasks. Heck, the consumption devices won't even have any interest to play in those areas.

Re: Windows 7 in an HTPC, Part One

java_jack — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:16:58 -0000

An HTPC is much more than just a streaming Hulu box. HTPCs provide a local way to access Movies (online, local or physical disc), Music, Photos, DVR applications (when tuners are installed), stream content to other PCs/extenders, and more.

Streaming boxes are fine and you can do that a lot cheaper than with a full blow PC. However, they are also limited in functionality. If you want full functionality, then having an HTPC under the TV is really the easiest solution.

Take your Hulu+PC+PlayOn for example. You still need an extender as well here. While this may give you access to content stored locally on your PC (which I can do to a certain extent with any PC + Extender anyway), you are limited to content stored on that PC. What if you want to play a DVD or Blu Ray? If your PC is in another room, you already have an inconvienence issue and while I am not fully familiar with PlayOn, I am not sure it will allow you local control of a phyisical disc on a remote machine. Perhaps it does, not sure, but it is already an inconvienent solution compared to a local box under the TV.

Furthermore, if I am going an extender route, then not sure why you would even need PlayOn to start with since the extender would give me access to just about all my media content on the PC.

Looks like PlayOn relies upon RSS feeds and Plug Ins to bring specific content to the extender via the PC. What about non plug in sites (say NBC for example)? The local HTPC can access any site/any content via a traditional browser as needed. While not the ideal option, it has significantly more flexibility to access content that any other platform.

Win 7 makes huge strides in making the HTPC more relevant and easy to use than ever before. If you are not a MS fan, then solutions like Sage TV, Myth TV, Boxee, XBMC and other solutions are also doing this.

Now, I personally feel that Win 7 is a big step forward. Still needs some work but even the latest Netflix/Internet TV update that came out last week increases the viability of this platform.

Re: 17 Real Flight Attendant Quotes

java_jack — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 12:38:32 -0000

Here are a few more from a recent flight on AA.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, please be careful opening the overhead compartments after landings and items may have shifted during flight. As we all know, shift happens"

"In the unlikely event that this flight becomes a cruise, your seat cushion may be used as a flotation device"

"Your flight crew is here for your safety and service so if you have any questions are would like anything...like a back rub, foot massage, please feel free to ask...the person sitting next to you."

Re: What Would You Pay For Media Center?

java_jack — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:37:22 -0000

I think for a dedicated, media centric OS, I would pay somewhere between $50 and $100 USD. However, I would also want to see further refinements to the OS so that it was more responsive in a media centric environment, more internet video content directly integrated into the OS and more on the finishing touches. There are a lot of great 3rd party plug in apps for MCE, however, some of these things should already be there but they are not.

Re: Is there a future for Home Theater PC’s?

java_jack — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:20:35 -0000

Nice blog. I would agree that the PC platform is the most versitile solution to meet the demands of the consumer. However, it is also the best kept secret of the industry.

I have 2 HTPCs in my home...when friends come over and I demo it to them, they are stunned at everything I can do with it. When I explain that this a PC, they are even more blown away. When I explain that I was able to dump my cable and strictly use my HTPC for all my TV viewing needs, a look of disbelief crosses their faces.

The mainstream audience does not know about it and that is a problem. The HTPC will have a hard time crossing the gap unless a CE vendor picks it up and introduces it to the larger audience.

I am excited about the changes that Win 7 is bringing to the table, but MS needs to do a better job of reaching out to the audience to show them what they are missing.

I see plenty of "I'm a PC" commercials on TV, but where is the commercial that shows off an interface like Media Center?

Currently even the best streaming boxes have a very small audience when compared to the mainstream market.

HTPCs, streaming boxes, etc. are still a niche play. Connected devices like those shown at CEDIA last week will help open the audience up to the online world in the livingroom, but the HTPC has a long way to go to gain mind share.

Now, I have a series of blogs that I have written to try and show consumers why the HTPC makes sense and how they might get into the game, but there is no easy way to reach the large audience.

For those interested in reading the blog series, you can find it at:

http://links.amd.com/Home

We would love to see the HTPC platform grow as that would be good for our business, but there are some challenges to overcome.