from the the-internets-take-to-the-air dept.
The sky is going to become a busier place if Facebook and Google get their way.
The tech firms are investing in rival efforts to beam the internet down to the ground from flying objects in the stratosphere - twice as high as aeroplanes normally fly.
Facebook aims to build a network of laser-beaming drones that will tightly circle known black-spots.
Google also has a drone project about which it's tight-lipped.
But the company is more open about an attempt to send "strings" of giant balloons circumnavigating the globe to provide persistent data links to the parts of the planet they pass.
Chatter about penis sheaths and search for penis sheath accessories is clearly worth the expense.
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One of the Google X "moonshots", a plan to use solar-powered drone aircraft to provide Internet connectivity to rural areas, has been axed. Some of the engineers may be reassigned to Project Loon and other efforts:
Back in 2014 Google (now Alphabet) bought Titan Aerospace, a company specializing in solar-powered drones that could fly at high altitudes for long periods of time. The goal was to offer internet access to rural areas that lacked connectivity by beaming it down from on high. In that way it was similar to another moon shot, Project Loon, and to Facebook's Aquila.
Today, however, Alphabet confirmed to Business Insider that it had ended its exploration of solar-powered drones. In fact according to a spokesperson, the project ended almost a year ago. That would make it part of a big group of setbacks for X, formerly X Labs, the incubator for wild ideas that has suffered under the strict financial discipline being imposed by Alphabet and its CFO, Ruth Porat. Bloomberg offered a rundown of the high-level departures that have occurred since the creation of Alphabet as a holding company and the separation of X from Google
Also at 9to5Google and Bloomberg.
Previously: Google Releases New Project Loon Video
Google to Provide Sri Lanka with 3G Internet Using Balloons
Facebook's Laser Drones v Google's Net-Beaming Balloons
Google May Test Balloon Internet Service Over the United States
Google Testing Project Loon: Concerns Are Without "Factual Basis"
Google Asks for Airspace Access for Internet Balloons
(Score: 2) by Nerdfest on Saturday November 14 2015, @09:38PM
Facebook is not implementing internet, they're implementing FaceBook, basically a new AOL style walled garden.
(Score: 2) by captain normal on Sunday November 15 2015, @03:13AM
Yeah!! $20 a month for all the internet you want!
When life isn't going right, go left.
(Score: 3, Informative) by takyon on Saturday November 14 2015, @10:07PM
http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/mar/03/googles-titan-drones-to-take-flight-within-months [theguardian.com]
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 2) by Beryllium Sphere (r) on Saturday November 14 2015, @10:22PM
Some of the elite in Pyongyang have computers. They want cat videos as much as anyone else. Seeing the rest of the Internet will make it harder for them to believe what they're told every day.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 14 2015, @11:26PM
The elite knows. But they don't care, that's what makes them elite.
(Score: 1) by Ethanol-fueled on Saturday November 14 2015, @10:44PM
Hmeh. Behold! The one sheath to rule all sheaths! The Tommy Gunn [amazon.com] extender!
It is at once king and weapon of mass-destruction, wielded by only the most alpha of mortal men. It destroys everything in its path! As lengthy and girthy as a 24 oz. can of beer, it compels all in its presence to bow down!
(Score: 2) by MichaelDavidCrawford on Sunday November 15 2015, @12:25AM
Just the other day I stumbled across the selection of drones offered by Target. The small ones were quite cheap.
I often have the problem that I can't get wifi where I want to hang out. So what I could do is launch a drone with an 802.11 repeater then leech off the WiFi at McDonalds while I'm up all night hacking at The Roxy in Portland.
Yes I Have No Bananas. [gofundme.com]
(Score: 3, Informative) by captain normal on Sunday November 15 2015, @03:22AM
Might work Michael. 'cept that you'd likely need a signal amp or two in the set up. Line of sight is important, but so is distance for signal strength.
When life isn't going right, go left.
(Score: 2) by captain normal on Sunday November 15 2015, @03:29AM
You could also try this: http://www.ccrane.com/WiFi/CC-X-Mile-Long-Range [ccrane.com]
When life isn't going right, go left.
(Score: 2) by MichaelDavidCrawford on Sunday November 15 2015, @10:31AM
"I'd like a can of Pringles."
Yes I Have No Bananas. [gofundme.com]
(Score: 2) by bziman on Sunday November 15 2015, @08:34PM
I've always wanted to do that, too, except that those cheap drones can't stay aloft very long - you'd get maybe twenty minutes before it had to land and recharge.
Maybe you should think about convincing the Roxy to offer free wifi?