In selecting the six test site operators, the FAA considered geography, climate, location of ground infrastructure, research needs, airspace use, safety, aviation experience and risk. In totality, these six test applications achieve cross-country geographic and climatic diversity and help the FAA meet its UAS research needs.
Mars Express Orbiter Buzzes Martian Moon Phobos
During the flyby, DSN operators reported “a slight effect in the Doppler residuals,” meaning that, as expected, Phobos’ gravity had accelerated Mars Express’ orbital velocity very slightly. Through careful analysis of the Doppler shifting of the radio signal, Phobos’ gravity can be measured, allowing scientists to discern its mass and density — the most precise measurement to date.
via Mars Express Orbiter Buzzes Martian Moon Phobos : Discovery News.
However, the operation allowed the spacecraft to beam back an extra 200 Gigabits of observational data, including imagery of Phobos during an earlier 500 kilometer pass of the moon.
Chromebooks’ success punches Microsoft in the gut
By NPD’s tallies, Chromebooks accounted for 21% of all U.S. commercial notebook sales in 2013 through November, and 10% of all computers and tablets. Both shares were up massively from 2012; last year, Chromebooks accounted for an almost-invisible two-tenths of one percent of all computer and tablet sales.
Stephen Baker of NPD pointed out what others had said previously: Chromebooks have capitalized on Microsoft’s stumble with Windows 8. “
via Chromebooks’ success punches Microsoft in the gut – Computerworld.
Catalog Reveals NSA Has Back Doors for Numerous Devices
There is no information in the documents seen by SPIEGEL to suggest that the companies whose products are mentioned in the catalog provided any support to the NSA or even had any knowledge of the intelligence solutions. “Cisco does not work with any government to modify our equipment, nor to implement any so-called security ‘back doors’ in our products,” the company said in a statement. Contacted by SPIEGEL reporters, officials at Western Digital, Juniper Networks and Huawei also said they had no knowledge of any such modifications. Meanwhile, Dell officials said the company “respects and complies with the laws of all countries in which it operates.”
via Catalog Reveals NSA Has Back Doors for Numerous Devices – SPIEGEL ONLINE.
Cooperation such that telecom equipment providers provide in support of CALEA would be needed for this to work.
Facebook’s so uncool, but it’s morphing into a different beast
Facebook, on the other hand, has become the link with older family, or even older siblings who have gone to university. To prevent overgrazing as others beasts have occupied its terrain, Facebook has to feed off somewhere else. It has thereby evolved into a very different animal.
via Facebook’s so uncool, but it’s morphing into a different beast.
NASA’s LLCD tests confirm laser communication capabilities in space
The LLCD is a demonstration of the practicality of using broadband lasers for deep space communications with download speeds orders of magnitude greater than conventional radio communications. With the ability to download data to Earth at 622 megabits per second (Mbps) and upload at 20 Mbps, the LLCD transmitted a record-breaking download on October 20 from lunar orbit using a pulsed laser beam that was picked up by the main LLCD ground station in New Mexico, which is one of three set up in the US and Spain.
via NASA’s LLCD tests confirm laser communication capabilities in space.
How to block flash videos using Squid proxy Server
A popular request is to block certain content types from being served to clients. Squid currently can not do “content inspection” to decide on the file type based on the contents, but it is able to block HTTP replies based on the servers’ content MIME Type reply.
via How to block flash videos using Squid proxy Server | Linux Blog.
The Two Cultures of Computing
There are now two main cultures in computing: Most computer users treat software as a tool for getting tasks done, while programmers hold conversations with their software. One big challenge when teaching programming, no matter in what language, is getting students used to a conversation-oriented programmer culture, which is very different than a tool-oriented user culture.
Boost Satellite Bandwidth and End Jittery Videos
The tweaked version of TCP being honed by the MIT group and colleagues instead sends mathematical functions describing multiple packets so that a receiving device, such as a satellite terminal, can solve for missing ones without having to refetch them. “You transfer more packets than what you normally would, but you don’t have to retransmit,” Khan says.
via Boost Satellite Bandwidth and End Jittery Videos | MIT Technology Review.
This is a problem streaming in wifi networks with sketchy coverage as well. This is similar to a snippet I posted here on 10/25/2012 in reference to this article also from the MIT Technology Review A Bandwidth Breakthrough
Apparently they’re still working on this TCP retransmission problem.
The Art and Science of Digital Forensics
The need to a proficiency in digital forensics is manifest in the recent attack against Target stores. After an aggressive attack, the store called in external digital forensics consultants to help them make sense of what happened.
The book starts with an anatomy of a digital investigation, including the basic model an investigator should use to ensure an effective investigation. While the author is not a lawyer; the book details all of the laws, standards, constitutional issues and regulations that an investigator needs to be cognizant of.
via Book Review: Digital Archaeology: the Art and Science of Digital Forensics – Slashdot.