The Official Technology Thread

[YYZ]

https://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msca/en_CA/pdp/Dell-Inspiron-15-i5559-4682SLV-Signature-Edition-Laptop/productID.333111400?tduid=(211df1df9ee820edab4d9628475c8f0e)(240780)(2316686)(CAqD7bLWUPI-mFQqXZkf61hlsZfoE9VRKw)()

 

[Frank E]

That's a pretty great deal, right?

 

[YYZ]

That's a pretty great deal, right?

Checks all your boxes, except for the SSD.  If you find that you really need an SSD it's easy enough to swap out and re-install Windows.

 

[madkenstalin]

SSD is the best upgrade on any computers i've installed. Though I don't have one on my own laptop as it doesn't give me the storage i require, and I don't want to mess about with NAS drives for music etc.

 

[YYZ]

Here's another one, with an SSD but $200 more;

http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/product/acer-acer-aspire-e-15-6-laptop-black-intel-i5-7200u-256-ssd-8gb-ram-nvidia-940mx-windows-10-e5-575g-55nw/10497405.aspx?path=0cd901e6e3dfa28970b5d143aba0f175en02

 

[hockeyfan1]

TED Conference given by His Holiness Pope Francis.  He touched on many topics but particularly on the impact science & technology, and how it affects our world, it's people, being both positive and negative in scope.  In other words,  "there is no 'you' without an 'us' ":

"In this complicated and often confusing world, Pope Francis has become possibly the only moral voice capable of reaching people across boundaries and providing clarity and a compelling message of hope," said Bruno Giussani, TED's international curator, who finally coaxed Francis into participating.

The theme of TED's conference was "The Future You," and Francis did what he does best, delivering a plainspoken sermon on the importance of interconnection and tenderness. Essentially, he told the academics and innovators, scientists and techies, there is no "you," without an "us."

"Quite a few years of life have strengthened my conviction that each and everyone's existence is deeply tied to that of others," Francis said. "Life is not time merely passing by, life is about interactions."

Pope Francis said scientific and technological innovation is fine, but not when it blinds us to the suffering of people sitting next to us on the subway.

"How wonderful would it be, while we discover faraway planets, to rediscover the needs of the brothers and sisters orbiting around us," he said.

Too often, Francis continued, modern "techno-economic" systems put products ahead of technology.

"People's paths are riddled with suffering, as everything is centered around money, and things, instead of people."

"A single individual is enough for hope to exist, and that individual can be you. And then there will be another 'you,' and another 'you,' and it turns into an 'us.' And so, does hope begin when we have an 'us?' No. Hope began with one 'you.' When there is an 'us,' there begins a revolution.

"Tenderness means to use our eyes to see the other, our ears to hear the other, to listen to the children, the poor, those who are afraid of the future," Francis said in his TED talk. "To listen also to the silent cry of our common home, of our sick polluted Earth...."

Tenderness isn't for the weak, the Pope continued. It takes spiritual and emotional strength to empathize and act on behalf of the neediest. And the alternative, arrogant and out-of-touch leaders, are like fall-down drunks who ruin the party for everyone.

...the more powerful you are, the more your actions will have an impact on people, the more responsible you are to act humbly. If you don't, your power will ruin you, and you will ruin the other."

Good thing, then, that politicians and big companies don't own the future, Francis said. We do.


http://www.cnn.com/2017/04/26/world/pope-ted-talk/

 

[hockeyfan1]

Google's parent company Alphabet, is planning to build a residential/commercial/environmentally-conscious neighborhood on the Eastern part of the waterfront.  It will blend hi-tech with the above description, yes, including driverless cars:

[tweet]920387297941639168[/tweet]

 

[hockeyfan1]

The future of medical diagnosis and what it will mean for both doctors & patients:

As well as being more effective, treatment will become more efficient, says David Agus, a professor of medicine and engineering at the University of Southern California. According to Agus, who is also a bestselling author on the future of health, personalized treatment and preventive strategies will lessen the financial burden on the system.

?It?s testing the right patient at the right juncture in life,? he says. Women now have a colonoscopy and a mammogram when they turn 50 even though thousands of people under that age die of breast and colon cancer every year. ?Soon you?ll be able to say with accuracy whether or not you will develop a particular disease, so you and your doctor can immediately discuss prevention. This will lower health-care costs over time.?

That is the best part, something I've always hoped should be done.  If only this had come to fruition decades ago...nevertheless, prevention is the key. 

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

I picked up an Amazon Echo on it's launch day in Canada.  Very happy with it, but there's still much to explore about what it can do.  They've definitely Canadianized Alexa, from (when asked) her favourite sport (curling), to her favourite song (Fifty Mission Cap), to her favourite hockey team (Montreal).  But seriously, what Habs fan has Fifty Mission Cap as their favourite song?

 

[YYZ]

I picked up an Amazon Echo on it's launch day in Canada.  Very happy with it, but there's still much to explore about what it can do.  They've definitely Canadianized Alexa, from (when asked) her favourite sport (curling), to her favourite song (Fifty Mission Cap), to her favourite hockey team (Montreal).  But seriously, what Habs fan has Fifty Mission Cap as their favourite song?

I'd return it.

 

[Zee]

I picked up an Amazon Echo on it's launch day in Canada.  Very happy with it, but there's still much to explore about what it can do.  They've definitely Canadianized Alexa, from (when asked) her favourite sport (curling), to her favourite song (Fifty Mission Cap), to her favourite hockey team (Montreal).  But seriously, what Habs fan has Fifty Mission Cap as their favourite song?

I'd return it.

Good call.  Google Home Mini is only $39 and doesn't like the Habs as their favorite team.

 

[Nik]

Well, the important thing is that you let either Google or Amazon have an always on microphone in your home.

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

 

[ZBBM]

You win!

 

[Zee]

You win!

They can eavesdrop all they want at my place.  All they're hear is "c'mon SHOOT!  Dammit Polak what are you doing!???"

 

[Coco-puffs]

You win!

They can eavesdrop all they want at my place.  All they're hear is "c'mon SHOOT!  Dammit Polak what are you doing!???"

Somehow, your next foray onto the internet has Polak jerseys' advertised

 

[Nik]

Somehow, your next foray onto the internet has Polak jerseys' advertised

And if the microphone is a little static-y some of the things we say about the coach might lead to very interesting search results.

 

[Nik]

I just upgraded my phone from a Galaxy Note 4 to a Galaxy S8+ and I have to say...phone technology isn't exactly leaping ahead the way it felt like it used to. The S8+ is nice and everything, and it cost me nothing as my plan had expired anyway, but I'm doing my best to find significant differences between it and the 3 year old phone I was using.

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

I?m still using the IPhone 6 for much the same reason, I?ve had a free upgrade available for well over a year and just haven?t seen anything that is miles better. 

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

Well, the important thing is that you let either Google or Amazon have an always on microphone in your home.

Yes, like all household appliances, the Echo microphone does have the natural design flaw that it's on unless it's turned off.