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Outernet: [^]
"By leveraging datacasting technology over a low-cost satellite constellation, Outernet is able to bypass censorship, ensure privacy, and offer a universally-accessible information service at no cost to global citizens. It's the modern version of shortwave radio, or BitTorrent from space." And, their goals, for starters, are rather modest:
"WHAT WILL OUTERNET DELIVER?
NEWS AND INFORMATION
International and local news
Crop prices for farmers
Bitcoin blockchains
APPLICATIONS AND CONTENT
Ubuntu & OpenStreetMap
Wikipedia in its entirety
Movies, music, games
EDUCATIONAL COURSEWARE
Khan Academy and Coursera
British Council's LearnEnglish
Teachers Without Borders
EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS
Used when cellular networks fail
Disaster relief coordination
Global notification system"Oh my: yet another bright shining future to live for ... mmmm.
“But I don't want to go among mad people,” Alice remarked.
“Oh, you can't help that,” said the Cat: “we're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad.”
“How do you know I'm mad?” said Alice.
“You must be," said the Cat, or you wouldn't have come here.” Lewis Carroll
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So...no google then? 
Those who fail to learn history are doomed to repeat it. --- George Santayana (December 16, 1863 – September 26, 1952)
Those who fail to clear history are doomed to explain it. --- OriginalGriff (February 24, 1959 – ∞)
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"Information wants to be free" - Stewart Brand
<more complete quote>
First hackers conference 1984:
"On the one hand information wants to be expensive, because it's so valuable. The right information in the right place just changes your life. On the other hand, information wants to be free, because the cost of getting it out is getting lower and lower all the time. So you have these two fighting against each other."
</more complete quote>
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I think they're delusional. A downlink only service is going to be limited to the same sort of push only content as traditional media. And while they talk about adding a future uplink capability for phones/tablets, the significantly higher power levels required (vs cellular service are why modern satellite phones have form factors that look more like a 20 year old brickphone than a last generation dumbphone while having talk times that are much shorter than anything else that's been in the market in a long time, make the idea implausible at best.
Did you ever see history portrayed as an old man with a wise brow and pulseless heart, waging all things in the balance of reason?
Is not rather the genius of history like an eternal, imploring maiden, full of fire, with a burning heart and flaming soul, humanly warm and humanly beautiful?
--Zachris Topelius
Training a telescope on one’s own belly button will only reveal lint. You like that? You go right on staring at it. I prefer looking at galaxies.
-- Sarah Hoyt
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 I'm missing something... Does anybody understand how this wood (pun intended) be appealing?
http://news.msn.com/science-technology/how-the-internet-of-things-could-make-media-physical-again
I prefer to remove clutter from my life and not have to keep track of wooden tiles. I say throw them in the pellet stove and be done with it.
Now maybe if the medium was a little cooler... like the crystals Superman used in the fortress of solitude. That has a coolness factor, but scrabble tiles... I don't think so.
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Clicky fail.
<voice type="Ebeneezer Scrooge"> Bah. dumb bugs </voice>
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littleGreenDude wrote: Does anybody understand how this wood (pun intended) be appealing?
It'd be appealing to anyone who's afraid for the word "virtual". It's useless, but at least it's physical.
Bastard Programmer from Hell 
If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^]
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The landscape is a mess so it is hard to find the answer from a Spec sheet, especially since RT can't install apps unless from Windows Store but:
It occurred to me that a Windows Tablet could be ideal for a simple manufacturing processing that I am putting together. If I could plug one up to multiple printers via USB (not cloud new fangled magic), and run a permanent power line (via USB is fine) and connect to WiFi, and install my own custom app without requiring internet access then I would have a brilliant touch screen interface for the line! Problem is, I don't get the feeling that all of this will "work" on the lower-end models. (If I had to pay PC prices I would just buy a PC)
Does anyone Own a Windows tablet that is capable of the above? I would prefer no speculation since the only real way to know is to buy one. Especially, since so many only have 1 USB port.
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The big problem with this is the sideloading of apps. Under Windows 8.1, sideloading is still a problem. There are so many restrictions/complications as to beggar belief. Details here[^].
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Yeah, I wanted to avoid all that mess and just use .NET apps which I assume Windows 8 supports?
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Yes, but they still have to be sideloaded if you're running them on RT. Sorry.
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8.1 != RT?
Some tablets are 8 and 8.1 and some are RT right?
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8/8.1 is the Windows version number. RT is the nomenclature for devices/editions that only run Windows store apps. If the tablet is running Pro (or higher), then it's not RT. You see, that's the problem with the whole "rebrand" that they did. It's just too damned confusing - and I deal with W8 just about every day.
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Well thanks for the information. I guess I would be better off buying a convertible (laptop that flips to tablet with touchscreen) device from a pawnshop running Windows 7 !
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Ennis Ray Lynch, Jr. wrote: a pawnshop running Windows 7
I'm reasonably sure that pawnshops haven't advanced that far. 
This space intentionally left blank.
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Ennis Ray Lynch, Jr. wrote: better off buying a convertible device from a pawnshop
Spelling mistake?
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The Surface Pro is an x86 CPU (Intel i5) and runs the same version of Windows 8.x as you would on a regular desktop or laptop--the only real difference is the form factor. For your use case though, it probably wouldn't be cost-effective.
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Sledge Hammer[^]
There are only 10 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.
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True Detective
Banshee
Strike Back
Game of Thrones
Klondike
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I like the opening credits to True Blood. I still mostly fast forward through them though.
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