Recently in Technology Category
So I've moved this blog to Wordpress.
I've been meaning to do it for quite some time, after I figured out how to make my own template. But who really knows when I'll have time to do that??
It will still appear in the same place: saroy.net. However, you may need to update your feed readers. (I don't actually know whether this will be required, but hey -- if you don't see any new posts in your feed reader within a couple days, that's probably your issue.)
Things may look funny for a while as I try to settle on a template, edit my sidebar, etc, but here I am!
So there's this spacecraft in the vicinity of the moon today. It's called the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, or LCROSS for short. Tomorrow morning around 6:30 a.m. Central, LCROSS will crash into the moon -- which has actually been the point of its mission all along.
The LCROSS mission is a search for water on the moon. The LCROSS mission is going to do this by sending a rocket crashing into the moon causing a big impact and creating a crater, throwing tons of debris and potentially water ice and vapor above the lunar surface. This impact will release materials from the lunar surface that will be analyzed for the presence of hydrated minerals which would tell researchers if water is there or not
Of course this mission didn't really make it into widespread public knowledge until someone out there thought something like this:
Hey! Crashing something into the moon? We're BOMBING the moon! Holy crap! Stop the presses! It's horrible! How can we crash things into the friendly old moon? It might knock it off its orbit! Or shatter it into a hundred pieces! It's the end of the world!
So yeah. It is always sad to be reminded of the general lack of basic science knowledge that exists in society today.
In the midst of the LCROSS craziness, President Obama hosted a star party on the White House lawn last night. 2009 is the World Year of Astronomy and this week is Space Week, so the event was intended to highlight Obama's "commitment to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education."
It looked like a pretty cool event, and it's nice to see Obama paying attention to science. And yet I must admit that it feels like lip service. We're 9 months into his administration and NASA still has no better forward plan than we did a year ago. There are more important issues facing the country than NASA, to be sure. But without some direction on where we should go, NASA could flounder for years...
On Friday, my shiny new iMac arrived in the mail. Joy! (I joked on Twitter that I bought it because I was bored during last Tuesday's presidential debate, but that's not actually true -- well, not the part that I bought it because I was bored, anyway.) I spent the rest of the weekend playing with it and generally ogling how pretty it is, how simple it is, how easy it is to use, and how freaking awesome the bright 24" display is. Though it will eventually have a permanent home on my desk in the study, it's currently sitting front and center on my dining room table!
It is awesome.
Until my laptop gives out, I'll be a dual Mac-PC person, using my Dell laptop when I need something portable but doing all my graphics and web work -- which for the past three years has been done on my laptop -- on the iMac.
My switch to Mac is something that I've been thinking about for a long, long time. Though I have been using Apple products for years -- starting at Georgia Tech when I was an editor for the school newspaper; all our layout work was done on a Mac -- I've remained hesitant to switch despite my affinity for Apple's simplicity and attention to user interface.
One reason is that I'm more comfortable with Windows. I've used it through enough versions of the OS that, for the most part, I know how to do everything I need to do, from setting up peripherals to changing system settings. But that was only a minor reason. After all, I'm certainly competent enough to learn my way around the Mac OS. (Not to mention that I've been using and enjoying other Apple products like the iPod and then iPhone.)
No, the single major reason I hadn't switched up to this point was software. I own plenty of costly software, most notably the entire Adobe Creative Suite which I use on a daily basis, and each is a Windows edition. Sure, I know that Macs now have the ability to run Windows, both from startup via BootCamp and as an "OS within an OS" using third party virtualization packages. But if all I'm ever going to do with my Mac is boot it up with Windows then really, what's the point? I saw absolutely no advantage in buying a Mac if all I planned to do was run a bunch of PC applications.
But my laptop is getting older and this semester as I started working with InDesign as part of my desktop publishing class, it quickly became apparent that the laptop was quickly losing the ability to keep up with my work. I added more memory a few months ago, but that didn't make much of a difference. Also, doing a lot of design and graphics work on a 15" screen pretty much sucks. I'm constantly squinting or pulling the laptop closer to my face to really inspect things at a fine level, and while it was workable, after three years it was certainly getting old. Then there was the fact that my class was using Adobe CS3, and then the company announced CS4...and suddenly it was the right time for me to upgrade to the newest versions of Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. Since Macromedia was bought by Adobe, upgrading the suite also got me the newest versions of Dreamweaver and Flash.
So my hardware is getting creaky, and it's time to update my software so...enter Apple.
Once I decided to finally make the jump, I thought long and hard about which model would best suit my needs. At first, I planned to simply replace my laptop with something comparable like the 15" Macbook Pro (note that these decisions were all thought about prior to Tuesday's Apple announcement that they are overhauling their laptop line). But this was hard to justify. If my reason for getting a new computer was power for graphics, it made more sense to get a desktop which would 1) have more processing power and 2) allow for a much larger display.
So a desktop, then, is what I wanted. I next checked out the Mac Pro line, which looks amazing. But at $2299 for the most bare bones (single processor) version -- and that price doesn't include a monitor, which is one thing I definitely wanted to improve if I was going to buy a new computer -- there's just no way I could justify the price involved in getting one of the Pro machines.
Finally I came back to the iMac line. I'd thought about them at the beginning, impressed by the 24" iMacs that the UHCL computer lab recently bought for the graphics classroom, but I hesitated because they are all-in-one. Everything's enclosed along with the monitor. Like iPods and iPhones, an iMac's innards are difficult to access. What if I need to upgrade something? But as I thought about this, I realized that in all the years I've owned computers, there are only two things I've ever upgraded myself: hard drives and memory. The top-of-the-line iMac comes with a 500 GB hard drive, which is more than enough space. My current backup drive is only 500 GB and holds every single file I deem important with room to spare, and external hard drives are so cheap these days that even if I find that the 500 GB internal drive is full a couple years down the road, it won't be a problem to move data elsewhere. (I mean, my laptop only has a 40 GB drive. 40! I basically live on external drives at the moment.) That left memory, which is the one thing on the iMac that is easily upgradable via a slot on the bottom of the machine.
So iMac it would be. I checked out the educational discounts and was planning to go that route (I'm going to cry when I finish my digital media master's next year and lose that discount), but then Irwin suggested I check out the refurbished models as well. Bingo! I was able to get the current top-of-the-line iMac at a $300 discount, which put it right in the price range of what I'd pay for a laptop anyway.
Decision made. iMac bought.
And it is awesome so far.
Ah, the iPhone. Apple introduced the "Gen 2" version yesterday, as you may have heard. It runs on the 3G network and it's got GPS. But other than that, there are no huge hardware changes. I don't really need 3G and GPS so for once I'll overcome my need to have all things tech -- gasp! -- So I'll be keeping my current iPhone and upgrading to the new firmware. Which looks great! Lots of updates and the app store is finally coming out so I can add 3rd party programs. I do adore my iPhone and now that it's only $199, I think they are going to sell a crapload of them.
In other news, after this morning we have all our ducks in a row for the undocking tomorrow. The events summary is finalized with times of all the important milestones -- when the Shuttle-ISS stack gets into the proper attitude for undocking, when the solar arrays are properly configured so as to avoid any damage from pluming by the shuttle's thrusters, when we undock. After that, we do a one lap flyaround of the ISS so that we can get some pretty pictures, and then it's time for the two separation burns that take the shuttle on its merry way away from ISS and towards a landing on Saturday. Undocking is scheduled for 6:42 a.m. Central time and should stay there, barring any problems. But this has been a very problem-free mission (knock on wood). Good stuff. And only one more early morning for me!
The only downside is that my odd hours have left me with little-to-no energy or motivation to work out. I'm not going to beat myself up about it. Instead, I'm going to jump back in after we undock tomorrow. I'm tired of beating myself up about what I do, how often I do it, and how hard I push myself. I'm also just tired. :)
I think this is the preview Karen is referring to in her comment on my last post. There is a short clip of someone on the Vomit Comet, but it is not me. The majority of the footage that Discovery has cleaned up and digitized in HD is from the early NASA programs. The clip of the Vomit Comet looks, to me (based on other video I've seen), like something from the early days of the shuttle program.
Nonetheless, When We Left Earth looks like an awesome series and I hope many of you will check it out. It is one of the coolest things I've seen thus far being done to celebrate NASA's 50th birthday this year. The series begins this Sunday night on the Discovery channel, and I totally invited myself over to Gavin and Jen's place to mooch a viewing on their HDTV. You can come too! I'm sure they won't mind. ;)
CHECK. IT. OUT. The Mars Reconaissance Orbiter, which has been orbiting Mars for the past two years, took a picture of Phoenix as it parachuted towards its successful landing on Mars last night. That is SO FREAKING COOL. In fact, this may be the most amazing photo I have ever seen. Something we sent all the way to Martian orbit was able to capture a photo of something else that we sent all the way to the Martian surface. Amazing.
More Phoenix info is all over the web for those of you who are interested (and that should be pretty much everyone because landing things on Mars is pretty dang cool).
- I got to have dinner with my brother Brian on Sunday night! He is in town this week working for an unnamed company. Seriously -- he couldn't tell me who he's working for this week. He does financial consulting, and he said he couldn't tell me because it's a public company, so I can only assume he's working for someone who's considering a merger or acquisition or something. How mysterious of him. He's staying downtown and said he'd be quite busy so I don't know if I'll get to see him again, but I'm glad he flew in early on Sunday so we could have dinner. Star Pizza. Mmm.
- The iPod Shuffle got a price cut today -- only $49 now. And a new 2GB version is available for $69. This is a great deal for a great little music player. I bought a Shuffle as soon as they came out, and it is the perfect music player for running. It clips onto my shorts (with the built-in clip) and weighs next to nothing.
- The war is over and HD-DVD is officially dead. You can safely buy your Blu-Ray player now. Of course, I don't have either since I don't have an HDTV. I know. It's maybe the only area of technology that I haven't bought into yet. Gasp!
- I rode just a hair over 45 miles on Sunday with two girls from BAM. We'd planned to go at least 50, but we dead-ended into a dirt road after 22.5 miles due to a wrong turn on my part, so we just decided to head back. I'd planned to add an extra 5 at the end of the ride, but by the time we got back to the cars I was ready to be done. Holy crap, was it windy!! The wind was as bad as I faced during the half ironman last year. We could only maintain about 12 mph going west on 96, but when we turned around to head back, we were crusing at 22 mph without a problem. For once, I didn't let myself get too down -- I just tucked my head down and kept going. We averaged just over 15 mph for the full ride. The only negative thing is that I felt way more beat up after this weekend's 45 miles than I did after last weekend's 41 miles. My back and neck were really aching. I'll blame the wind. Still, I hope I feel a bit better during next weekend's planned 55-60 miles.
- My graphic design job is sorta, maybe back on. It's a long story. It still hasn't all been sorted out yet.
- Three day weekends are awesome.
So I'm getting rid of my landline and going cell-phone-only. Finally! I saw a link on TechBlog about a new improved version of AT&T's "Naked DSL" and promptly called the phone company. Voila. Bill cut by 60% and I am rid of a landline that's only use was to allow telemarketers to harass me! For those who might still have my landline number lying around, be aware that the 281 area code number will no longer work after Tuesday. My cell number (the 832 area code) has not changed.
In other news, check out the new Garmin Forerunner 405!
It is so pretty! And small! And sleek! And did I mention pretty! I want it.
I am such a sucker for pretty technology.
The shuttle launch managed to hold my weekend hostage even though we didn't up up actually launching. Disappointing, but it was the right decision. The problems with the engine cutoff sensors have to be figured out; they are just too important to keep on launching without fully understanding the issue. On the plus side, I now have plenty of things to work on this week, including two ascent sims and my rendezvous midpoint evaluation. On the minus side, the launch date is currently no earlier than January 2, and if that does indeed turn into the new launch date, I won't be going to Corpus Christi for New Years after all.
Such is life in the space program.
A lot of people compare the space to aviation, with understandable reasoning. Both involve flying, both involve getting up in the sky. Both involve fantastic machines. Both get you somewhere faster. Both defy gravity in their own way. Heck, I have two degrees that clump airplanes and spacecraft together to form one big field of study called aerospace. They seem similar, right? People are always saying that where we are in the space industry is where aviation was a hundred years ago. But I think comparing an airplane to a spaceship is like comparing apples to oranges. Sure, they're both round and they're both fruit, but that's about it. It's the same with airplanes and spacecraft.
A Cessna flies on what's basically a souped-up version of an automobile engine; larger planes use more complicated jet engines but can stay in the air if one fails. They fly fast compared to cars, but still usually under the speed of sound. They only go a few miles above earth. They use the air to generate lift. And maybe most importantly, they never leave the atmosphere, so they don't require extensive life support systems. Anybody can learn to fly one.
Spaceships require so much more. Engines that generate an order of magnitude more thrust than an airplane engine. Toxic chemicals kept a sub-zero temperatures. Life support systems to support long-term occupants, including air to breathe, a pressurized cabin, a toilet, and more food than just some soda and peanuts. Because remember -- astronauts go into space for a few days, not a few hours, and simply gliding down to where the air is thicker or the pressure is greater isn't an option. Spacecraft need heat-resistant materials to keep the vehicle intact, since it's going thousands of miles per hour faster than an airplane. Nobody can learn to fly the space shuttle during portions of its flight; it must be controlled by computer. The environment is hotter, colder, and emptier. The vehicle is faster and infinitely more complex.
We were pondering some of these issues over the weekend as Jose considered what will happen someday when a commercial spaceflight operation encounters similar problems. Will they scrub the launch for a month while a team of hundreds tackles all the nitty gritty details of the problem? Will they even have hundreds of people to tackle a problem? What kind of manpower will they have? Will they relent to the pressure of paying customers to launch despite potential issues?
NASA made the right decision to stand down for a month, but we have that luxury as a large public organization that answers to the population of an entire country. Will private companies act the same way when faced with similar problems? Because they will have problems.
Such is life in the space program.
For the second year in a row, I found myself awake at 4:30 a.m. on the day after Thanksgiving and on my way to Circuit City to join the crowds of Black Friday shoppers. I must admit that despite the early hour and the masses of gadget-hungry people, there is a certain appeal to the whole thing. People watching is pretty entertaining, especially when the doors first open and you get to watch people go literally running down the aisles.
We were at Circuit City to pick up a TomTom GPS navigator for Jose's mom, but as we stood in line to pay I was tempted by a stack of HP portable photo printers on sale for $50. I have always been interested in getting one, but it seemed like too much of a non-essential item. I mean, I already have a printer capable of doing photos once I download them to the computer, edit them, etc, etc. But I couldn't resist, so I grabbed one.
We finally opened it tonight after a lazy day of post-shopping napping and movie-watching, and it is such a fun little gadget! To start, the printer itself is so small and cute -- which I love as a fan of good product design. But it's also amazingly easy to print with, even moreso than I expected. (I know I'm way behind the curve on this particular piece of technology, but oh well.) I plugged my compact flash card in and wham! Printed a photo of Jose and me atop the Space Needle two weeks ago. I plugged Jose's camera in and boom! Printed a photo of him flying his long cross country a few months ago. I even plugged my iPhone into the USB port and voilà! Printed the photo of Lady the puppy that I took when we got here on Wednsday night.
This thing is gonna be fun. After all, photos are so much better when you can hold them and pass them around.
