Tech

[Legacy]

For news, new gadgets, info, issues like privacy, etc. I'll start this off.

Wall Street Journal, Tech section

NY Times, Tech section

CNET, All the cool new gadjects from CES, 2016

(From a post in another thread):
How “omnipotent” hackers tied to NSA hid for 14 years—and were found at last
"Equation Group" ran the most advanced hacking operation ever uncovered.

 

[phgreek]

I subscribe to a couple youtube feeds...if you search "5 inventions" multiple youtubers work in that general franchise...and you see some really cool stuff a couple times a month....some are available, and make pretty cool gifts.

 

[Legacy]

Machine-Vision Algorithm Learns to Judge People by Their Faces:
First impressions count, but they’re notoriously subjective. Now computers have learned to make snap judgments just like humans do. (MIT Technology)

 

[phgreek]

Machine-Vision Algorithm Learns to Judge People by Their Faces:
First impressions count, but they’re notoriously subjective. Now computers have learned to make snap judgments just like humans do. (MIT Technology)

WOW...I've dealt with simple genetic algorithms, and they were less than fun....these are some serious folks, with serious focus. Hats off to them.

 

[GowerND11]

Tesla is killing off the ugly solar panel. But there's one problem. - Nov. 2, 2016

Interested to see where this goes.

 

[wizards8507]

I just moved into a new house and the owners had this setup in the basement. Help!

 

[Irish YJ]

Looks pretty basic. You've got a mulitzone amplified switch (Nuvo) with inputs (XM tuner, HK AVRXX reciever, Pioneer CD) with a Tripplite power conditioner. Not sure what the extra amp (JAMO) is for, but assuming it's running another set of larger speakers.

It should have a multiroom remote as I see RF sender/reciever. Looks a little dated, so no app based control, but should do just fine. You could likely introduce some type of Bluetooth audio receiver so you can rock out with your tunes on your phone/ipad/etc.. You could upgrade to a newer HK or another receiver with built in BT and wifi music.

assuming they left the speakers (in-wall, outdoor, etc.).

Nuvo is a Legrand product, so you can likely pull the specs/manual down for their site. I've got a few HK AVRs, so I can help you with the specifics if you need, but if you have a learning remote with the Nuvo, it's likely already programmed for all the components.

 

[wizards8507]

Thanks. The Comcast guy couldn't manage to get sound out of the surround sound speakers in the basement. It played FM fine but we can't figure out how to switch to the coax input. When we cycle inputs we can't find coax at all.

 

[Irish YJ]

Here ya go (for the Nuvo). Look under "resources" and there's all the PDFs you need. Regarding the Jamo, looks like the nuvo is 8 zone, 6 amplified, 2 preamp (the Jamo is likely running the 2 zones).

Nuvo Concerto Whole Home Audio | Legrand

 

[Irish YJ]

Thanks. The Comcast guy couldn't manage to get sound out of the surround sound speakers in the basement. It played FM fine but we can't figure out how to switch to the coax input. When we cycle inputs we can't find coax at all.

Doubt the Nuvo will run surround. You're surround speakers may be connected directly to the HK receiver, and amplified off that. If that's the case, your Comcast would have to connect directly to HK (not as an input to the NUVO). Can you confirm that the surround speakers are connected directly to the HK AVR.

You likely have an output from the HK going to the NUVO which will allow you to pump out stereo (not surround) to the rest of your zones.

 

[Irish YJ]

Thanks. The Comcast guy couldn't manage to get sound out of the surround sound speakers in the basement. It played FM fine but we can't figure out how to switch to the coax input. When we cycle inputs we can't find coax at all.

Reading your post again, you'll need to set the XXX input up to coax. The AVRs give you a lot of choices (coax/spdif/optical/etc.). Can you shoot me the AVR number and I'll find you instruction.

 

[BobbyMac]

Nice bit of hardware to have left behind.

The 8 zone Nuvo Concerto package was $2k-ish. That's what my builder used in my last house. I think that's an AVR-145 or 245 Harman Kardon. I had two 245's in that house. They MSRP'd around $600.

YJ, you seem to know this stuff, am I remembering the prices right?

 

[Irish YJ]

Nice bit of hardware to have left behind.

The 8 zone Nuvo Concerto package was $2k-ish. That's what my builder used in my last house. I think that's an AVR-145 or 245 Harman Kardon. I had two 245's in that house. They MSRP'd around $600.

YJ, you seem to know this stuff, am I remembering the prices right?

yup, spot on.. I have 3 AVRs now. kept upgrading and moving the older units down stream. I've got my oldest still pumping in the garage. Starting to go away from receivers now and going to wifi speaker bars and surround for rooms I don't need to be "premium" in. The Nuvo is a nice if you want to flood the house or multi zone with the same media.

hoping some of the whole house wifi stuff standardizes and comes down in price. I like the hardwire option if your building, but can be a pain if you're moving into to a home you didn't build.

Wiz
here's an AVR manual that should help. pretty close if not a match to your unit..
it will tell you how to toggle the inputs to coax.

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/media/i3d/01/A/man-migrate/MANUAL000075004.pdf

 

[Irish YJ]

also, remember that you must set your source (cable box) to the right setting for surround. if you are using optical or coax (really an RCA), you will need to adjust your PCM or audio compression setting to allow for surround. I'll go take a look on my X1 box and add more in about 10-15min.

 

[Irish YJ]

The cable box audio setting on my x1 box is more simplified than the old ones. either stereo/PCM or surround, but it says "for HDMI". Not sure if the settings impact the coax/optical/spdif out. older/other boxes sometimes give the option of heavy or lite compression, or PCM/bitstream. Never use PCM for surround.

 

[wizards8507]

A lot of this wiring runs behind walls and I really don't want to tear anything out. My X1 box is sending video straight to the TV via HDMI. Can I run optical or coax from the box to the AVR for the sound? I've gotten it to work for standard "red and white" audio but not coax.

Also, why does the port for "coax" look like a regular RCA cable?

 

[Irish YJ]

A lot of this wiring runs behind walls and I really don't want to tear anything out. My X1 box is sending video straight to the TV via HDMI. Can I run optical or coax from the box to the AVR for the sound? I've gotten it to work for standard "red and white" audio but not coax.

Also, why does the port for "coax" look like a regular RCA cable?

Yes, optical or coax straight to AVR. Coax is just an RCA type connector, and is normally orange. It should be labeled "digital out" or "coaxial". My X1 box does not have a coax. It does have an optical. Optical IMO is better, and has a cleaner signal anyway.

Question - do you have surround speakers connected straight to the AVR? I assume they are, but wanted to confirm.

 

[wizards8507]

Yes, optical or coax straight to AVR. Coax is just an RCA type connector, and is normally orange. It should be labeled "digital out" or "coaxial". My X1 box does not have a coax. It does have an optical. Optical IMO is better, and has a cleaner signal anyway.

Got it. Optical cables ordered.

Question - do you have surround speakers connected straight to the AVR? I assume they are, but wanted to confirm.

Yes, the speakers are built into the front wall and the ceiling so those wires are all behind sheet rock.

 

[Legacy]

Best of CES 2016: Our Favorite Gadgets From This Year’s Show (Wired)

 

[phgreek]

Not gadgets but pretty cool advance...

Elephant protein destroys human cancer cells, Utah researchers say | KSL.com

SALT LAKE CITY — Researchers at the Huntsman Cancer Institute say a protein discovered in elephants appears to attack and destroy cancer cells found in humans.

Dr. Joshua Schiffman and a team of researchers have spent the last few years searching for a cure for cancer in what might seem like an unusual place: elephant blood.

"The elephants have had 55 million years of research and development to really design the perfect cancer-fighting protein," Schiffman explained. "Nature has already solved the problem."

Due to their size and the number of cells their bodies generate, Schiffman said statistically, nearly all elephants should get cancer, yet in reality that rarely ever happens.

"Elephants almost never get cancer," Schiffman said. "And we think the reason why is they have extra copies of this cancer-fighting protein."

After synthesizing that protein called P-53 in a lab, Schiffman and his team unleashed it onto human cancer cells in petri dishes.


"What we've found is that the cancer cells are all dying very quickly when they're exposed to this elephant cancer protein," Schiffman said. "It is remarkable. The lab is so excited."

For the next phase of the study, The Hunstman Cancer Institute is working with a lab in Israel to synthetically produce more of the protein, which would then be tested on mice and eventually dogs.


Dr. Joshua Schiffman and a team of researchers at the University of Utah say a protein found in elephant blood appears to attack and destroy cancer cells found in humans. (Photo: Mike Anderson, KSL TV)
If all goes well, Schiffman says human trials could start in about three years.

"I can tell you that one person with cancer is one person too many, whether it's a child or an adult," Schiffman said. "We are working as hard and as fast as we can to see if there's a way to translate this discovery to start helping people."

Schiffman said he was diagnosed with Hodgkins lymphoma when he was 15 — an experience that pushed him to do what he does today. And he said watching the P-53 destroy cancer cells for the first time is something he won't forget.

"It was probably one of the most thrilling experiences I've ever had as my career in medicine," Schiffman said.

While researchers continue to move into the next phase of this study, Schiffman also pointed out the Hunstman Institute will need to raise about $2 million to complete the animal and then human trials."

 

[Legacy]

Anonymous Shares Simple Guide On “How To Hack Donald Trump’s Smartphone”

Not sure I believe Trump would not use a secured phone, but

The notorious group claims that the President is an easy target to hacking attacks. Wondering why? Because he “refuses to use another smartphone other than the Galaxy S3.”

 

[wizards8507]

Does anyone have a Galaxy Tab S2? BJs has a crazy sale starting tomorrow and I'm thinking of picking one up.

9.7" 32GB. Regular price $500, on sale for $330 with a free case.

 

[Legacy]

US Government Bans Intel, Nvidia and AMD From Selling High End Chips To The Chinese Government (wcctech, 2015)

In an aggressive move to curb’s China’s advancements in supercomputing the US government has proceeded to ban sales of high end Intel, Nvidia and AMD CPUs and GPUs for use in Chinese supercomputers....

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

US Government Bans Intel, Nvidia and AMD From Selling High End Chips To The Chinese Government (wcctech, 2015)

Aren't those chips produced in China? Awkward.

 

[woolybug25]

US Government Bans Intel, Nvidia and AMD From Selling High End Chips To The Chinese Government (wcctech, 2015)

Seriously... are there any economists working in this administration?

Also, this should be in the politics thread.

 

[zelezo vlk]

Suddenly millions of PC nerds in China have cried out in anger.

 

[wizards8507]

Anybody else use one of these ergonomic keyboards? I just got the Microsoft Sculpt and it's the greatest computer peripheral I've ever used. I need to retrain myself when it comes to typing the letter "b" though. I use my right hand but it's on the other side of the keyboard now.

 

[phgreek]

Anybody else use one of these ergonomic keyboards? I just got the Microsoft Sculpt and it's the greatest computer peripheral I've ever used. I need to retrain myself when it comes to typing the letter "b" though. I use my right hand but it's on the other side of the keyboard now.

Have...

loved it for volume work like writing proposals where you are coughing out shit you know...shoulders, wrists, elbows neck were happier after using it...

But I found the weirdest thing with me...I have a block or something when writing code or working technical stuff where it just isn't worth it for me to deal with the little peculiarities...lose the technical train of thought too frequently...get pissed...then I'm screwed...

 

[wizards8507]

Have...

loved it for volume work like writing proposals where you are coughing out shit you know...shoulders, wrists, elbows neck were happier after using it...

But I found the weirdest thing with me...I have a block or something when writing code or working technical stuff where it just isn't worth it for me to deal with the little peculiarities...lose the technical train of thought too frequently...get pissed...then I'm screwed...

I'm either typing e-mail or using my 10-key so it's not an issue. I freaking love this thing.

 

[Irish Insanity]

Smartwatch? Non apple. Any suggestions? Just entry level. Nothing to fancy.

Smartphone. I have an S6 now. Not sure I want to pay what the S8 will cost. Anyone have any experiences, positive or negative, woth other phones? No Apple here either.