A senior editor at the Experimental Aircraft Association tells the long and storied history of Microsoft’s Flight Simulator, remembering how he’d used version 1.0 of the product “when I was about 12 years old (nearly 40 years ago)” before working on it when he was a Microsoft employee for more than 10 years, until it was cancelled in 2009. But in…
Tag: lighting
EU Brings In ‘Right To Repair’ Rules For Appliances
An anonymous reader quotes a report from the BBC: Household appliances will become easier to repair thanks to new standards being adopted across the European Union. From 2021, firms will have to make appliances longer-lasting, and they will have to supply spare parts for machines for up to 10 years. The rules apply to lighting, washing machines, dishwashers and fridges. But…
Both Apple and Amazon Are Quietly Building Networks That Know the Location of Everything
Wired reports on both Sidewalk, Amazon’s new low-bandwidth long-range wireless networking protocol, and Apple’s new position- and distance-measuring U1 chip (mentioned in a recent keynote). Apple’s U1 chip — which allows precise, indoor positional tracking via the latest iPhones and will power, at the very least, directional AirDrop file-sharing — popped up on screen but was never even mentioned. The interest-piquing…
Meet Alpha Cephei, a rapidly rotating star
While not one of the most conspicuous stars in the night sky, Alderamin – aka Alpha Cephei – is easy to spot, and is interesting for its rapid rotation on its axis. Source: https://earthsky.org/brightest-stars/alderamin-the-kings-brightest-star…
Harvest Moon on Friday the 13th
For the Northern Hemisphere, the September 2019 full moon is the closest full moon to the September autumn equinox, so it counts as the Northern Hemisphere’s full Harvest Moon. Source: https://earthsky.org/tonight/harvest-moon-on-friday-the-13th…
1st quarter moon is September 5-6
The 1st quarter moon comes on September 6 at 03:10 UTC. You’ll find the moon high up at sunset on both September 5 and 6. It appears nearly or completely half-illuminated, like half a pie. Source: https://earthsky.org/moon-phases/first-quarter…
Trump Administration Is Rolling Back Rules Requiring More Energy-Efficient Bulbs
An anonymous reader quotes a report from The New York Times: The Trump administration announced new rules on Wednesday to roll back requirements for energy-saving light bulbs, a move that could contribute to the greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change. The Energy Department’s filing in the Federal Register will prevent new efficiency standards from going into effect on Jan. 1…
‘Why the Amazon Basics Keyboard Is My Favorite Keyboard’
Full stack developer and teacher, Nick Janetakis, says the Amazon Basics keyboard is one of his favorite general purpose/programming keyboards. “It hits all the major points that make a keyboard good and it also happens to be only $14,” he writes. From his blog post: Quiet as Possible: I have one freelance client (ahem Ryan!) who has really loud mechanical key…
Full Sturgeon (or Snow) Moon on August 14 and 15
On August 14 and 15, 2019, everyone around the world (except far-northern Arctic latitudes) will see a full-looking moon from dusk until dawn. Source: https://earthsky.org/tonight/sturgeon-moon-beams-from-dusk-till-dawn…
Peak Perseid mornings: August 11, 12, 13
Unfortunately, during the 2019 peak of the Perseid meteor shower, the moon is nearly full and in the sky nearly all night. Still, you might catch a meteor in moonlight, or after moonset, shortly before dawn. Source: https://earthsky.org/tonight/peak-night-for-the-perseid-meteor-shower…