The Reading Vent & Rant Thread

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by theducks

For years, Analog speedometers had both scales. I can't recall if Metric is an option on my car with a Digital only display.
We just need to change Cold Turkey.

On most cars with digital displays, you can switch systems though it may require accessing a hidden menu. The car I own does it in one spot while a friend's car has individual settings for miles/kilometres for speedometer & odometer (why would anyone want to show speed in kilometres and total distance in miles?), mileage between miles per gallon and litres per hundred kilometres and temperature (°C, °F).

[Quoth]

(why would anyone want to show speed in kilometres and total distance in miles?

British people in France?

[andyh2000]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Do you really think Amazon pays for outgoing data?

Well I would imagine that they have to pay for a line to join the rest of the internet. And that line (more likely lines) has a particular carrying capacity that costs more the bigger it is. So yes, I do think that. But I don't know anything concrete about it.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by andyh2000

Well I would imagine that they have to pay for a line to join the rest of the internet. And that line (more likely lines) has a particular carrying capacity that costs more the bigger it is. So yes, I do think that. But I don't know anything concrete about it.

I think it's historic from when there were Kindle models with cell/mobile modems (and some had no WiFi). Amazon certainly paid for the cellular/mobile data. The Oasis 2 still had an option for 3G. The DXi / DXGi was mobile/cell only; no wifi. I don't know if there are current or 4G models.

The ebook traffic on their data centre internet access would now be a tiny fraction of Amazon traffic. But any device with "free" cell/mobile access for Amazon built in costs them money.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Quoth

I think it's historic from when there were Kindle models with cell/mobile modems (and some had no WiFi). Amazon certainly paid for the cellular/mobile data. The Oasis 2 still had an option for 3G. The DXi / DXGi was mobile/cell only; no wifi. I don't know if there are current or 4G models.

The ebook traffic on their data centre internet access would now be a tiny fraction of Amazon traffic. But any device with "free" cell/mobile access for Amazon built in costs them money.

If the eBooks are not being sent via cellular, or an old model with limited capacity such as a Kindle Touch. then there is no reason at all to have the graphics modified to be lower resolution and/or higher compression.

[ownedbycats]

Just add a toggle as to whether to send low or high-quality. That way people on slow internet don't take forever to download a book. QED.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

Just add a toggle as to whether to send low or high-quality. That way people on slow internet don't take forever to download a book. QED.

If you have slow Internet, you just wait.

[nabsltd]

Originally Posted by andyh2000

Well I would imagine that they have to pay for a line to join the rest of the internet. And that line (more likely lines) has a particular carrying capacity that costs more the bigger it is.

Amazon likely does not pay for peerage, as they are essentially an ISP controlling large chunks of the Internet backbone.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by nabsltd

Amazon likely does not pay for peerage, as they are essentially an ISP controlling large chunks of the Internet backbone.

I Amazon had to pay for data transmitted, then so would any one else using their web services.

[theducks]

At some point, Amazons traffic has to travel on someone else's network.
This is why Net Neutrality is so important. Competitors were 'shaping' the bandwidth to clients. Use us and you get Full HD. Use them ???

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by theducks

At some point, Amazons traffic has to travel on someone else's network.
This is why Net Neutrality is so important. Competitors were 'shaping' the bandwidth to clients. Use us and you get Full HD. Use them ???

And Trump came in and killed Net Neutrality.

[ownedbycats]

I see word 'poignant' one more time in backcover summary, I scream.

[Solitaire1]

Originally Posted by jbjb

Celsius - yes!

Metric system for science and engineering - most definitely yes!

Everyday life - it's a mix - here in the UK most things are metric, but distances are still in miles, (car) speeds in miles per hour and fuel consumption in miles per gallon. Beer is still (thank goodness*) sold in pints in pubs.

* A pint is the right amount for beer - don't ask me why, it just is.

The last point is an advantage of the U. S. Customary System (USCS): The measurement are based on what people actually use. In fact, I would not be surprised if they eventually come up with two new measures: The can (12 oz) and the bottle (20 oz).

Also, the odd conversion factors are due to making the measures work together. All of the measures in the USCS were not intended to work together, each one was a standalone. You chose a measure and then use it. In fact, trying to get the measures to work together is the reason that the mile is 5,280 feet (it was originally 1,000 paces/5,000 feet but was adjusted to make it equal to 8 furlongs).

To me, when it comes to temperature Celsius and Fahrenheit are both equally usable. Unlike with Metric Measures and USCS measures there's no conversion issues within the measure. It is just a case of what people are used to.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

I see word 'poignant' one more time in backcover summary, I scream.

What I really dislike is...

If you liked xyz and abc
For fans of abc

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by Solitaire1

The last point is an advantage of the U. S. Customary System (USCS): The measurement are based on what people actually use. In fact, I would not be surprised if they eventually come up with two new measures: The can (12 oz) and the bottle (20 oz).

Mixing up.
People use those because that's what's available.