[AirSluf]

XXXXX

[Escher]

Wow! Apple is on a roll....

What could be next?

Escher

[BarracksSi]

Originally Posted by AirSluf ... improved behavior for applets in Safari,...

I really hope it'll fix the problem I have when I download a radar loop from NOAA.

It would download, run, and generally behave well, but if I start messing around (closing other windows, or cycle through windows, or other random stuff), Safari would crash completely -- and take five minutes to do so.

Here's where I go: http://www.erh.noaa.gov/radar/loop/D.../si.klwx.shtml

I'll post again to report whether the update fixed it.

[BarracksSi]

Update -- so far, it's going well. I've had one loop going, and switched to a second a while ago. No real problems yet, although the occasional text entry fields sometimes don't look quite right. If it's fixed, and won't crash anymore, I'll be happy.

[Escher]

Originally Posted by BarracksSi I really hope it'll fix the problem I have when I download a radar loop from NOAA.

I am addicted to NOAA's short range base reflectivity radar loop. NOAA's products are ad-free thanks to our taxpayer dollars and I prefer them over the watered down info at weather.com.

On my 12-inch PB G4/1.33Ghz/768MB RAM, both load time and performance of NOAA's Java applet in Safari are noticeably improved with this Java update. I'm pleased as punch.

Escher

PS: BarracksSi, what is it that you do with NOAA weather in the barracks in/near DC?

[BarracksSi]

Originally Posted by Escher PS: BarracksSi, what is it that you do with NOAA weather in the barracks in/near DC?

It's for my own enjoyment -- there's nothing official about it at all.

Then again, with what I do (I'm in the Marine Drum & Bugle Corps), it's really nice to get solid up-to-the-minute information since we perform outdoors 90% of the time.

I've marked the NOAA site as my browser homepage ever since a college friend switched majors from music to meteorology (he's a researcher at U of Alaska-Fairbanks now). I have a bit of an idea of what some of the text data means, but I can get in way over my head with just a few clicks -- and that's pretty fun, in a very geeky way.. lol

[Escher]

Originally Posted by BarracksSi it's really nice to get solid up-to-the-minute information since we perform outdoors 90% of the time.

That's awesome, BarracksSi. I always enjoy the application of high technology to traditional tech-less activities. With this week's double-whammy hurricanes, I hope you don't have to perform outside too much.

It's amazing how much more complete and up-to-date NOAA's information is in comparison with what's on weather.com. NOAA's Java applet is incredibly full featured. Weather.com's radar loop is a joke in comparison. NOAA is one of the areas where I am unconditionally thankful that the government is spending a good chunk of my tax money.

I've marked the NOAA site as my browser homepage ever since a college friend switched majors from music to meteorology (he's a researcher at U of Alaska-Fairbanks now).

NOAA as your homepage... Now that's dedication to weather! And switching from music to meteo? All I can say is wow (even though that was your friend, not you). I had a hard time with the elementary music classes I took in college (cantus firmus stuff, etc.; they were pre-requisites for my voice and piano lessons). I can't even imagine dealing with atmospheric science, even though I would have tried if it had been available at my school.

As a hot air balloon pilot, I watch the weather quite a bit, even though I don't fly at all around DC. If it were up to me, our TV would be on the Weather Channel all day, instead of tuned in to CNN. When I'm on the road to a balloon meet, tuning in to the Weather Channel is the first thing I do after checking into a motel. I just wish there were a TV-weather equivalent to C-SPAN, i.e. a NOAA weather channel with more up-to-date radar and no ads, unlike the Weather Channel.

Escher

[BarracksSi]

Originally Posted by Escher NOAA as your homepage... Now that's dedication to weather!

Heh -- well, after all, it's the most immediately important news that I need for the day. I also grew up in Nebraska, and one of the "You know you're a Nebraskan when..." lines says, "...you check the weather forecast before deciding what to wear that day."

And switching from music to meteo? All I can say is wow (even though that was your friend, not you). I had a hard time with the elementary music classes I took in college (cantus firmus stuff, etc.; they were pre-requisites for my voice and piano lessons). I can't even imagine dealing with atmospheric science, even though I would have tried if it had been available at my school.

I'd be involved in science, too, if I hadn't gotten so addicted to music. I was having fun doing physics & stuff in high school, and I even preferred the algebra class in college (complete with derivative functions and other fun stuff) to the non-math-major-oriented "Math Concepts 101" when I needed a math credit.

I just wish there were a TV-weather equivalent to C-SPAN, i.e. a NOAA weather channel with more up-to-date radar and no ads, unlike the Weather Channel.

I think that's your cable provider's problem -- we've got a 24/7 weather-only channel here on Comcast, and it's sent by Weather Channel. There are no meteorologists spreading WXFUD (Weather Event Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt), but instead, just the facts, text forecasts, and radar loops. Still not as geeky as NOAA and some other extra-wild weather sites, but it's good to have.

[Escher]

Originally Posted by BarracksSi I'd be involved in science, too, if I hadn't gotten so addicted to music.

Hey, BarracksSi. I'd be involved in science too, if I hadn't been so misguided and decided to become a lawyer. Seriously, I really should have been an engineer or an architect.

I think that's your cable provider's problem -- we've got a 24/7 weather-only channel here on Comcast, and it's sent by Weather Channel.

I have Comcast here as well. Are you talking about the Weather Channel on #62? Or is there a second Weather Channel?

There are no meteorologists spreading WXFUD (Weather Event Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt), but instead, just the facts, text forecasts, and radar loops. Still not as geeky as NOAA and some other extra-wild weather sites, but it's good to have.

WXFUD! Awesome term! I'll have to remember that.

My hunch is that we're talking about the same channel, the Weather Channel. I agree that the radar loops and local info on the 8s is highly useful, but I have no use for their "news" reporting (e.g. reports about people surviving hurricances in their basements etc.). I also hate the ads. That's why I was saying I want something more like C-SPAN/NOAA (which are ad-less).

Of course, weather info is just like everything else. If you want the really good products, you have to pay for it. I've helped friends with long-distance gas balloon races. They usually I hire a professional meteorologist who pulls up custom data on a multi-screen setup, adds his own wisdom to the mix, and they are in contact via satellite phone throughout the flight. It's a shame such services don't in our budgets.

Escher

[BarracksSi]

Originally Posted by Escher I have Comcast here as well. Are you talking about the Weather Channel on #62? Or is there a second Weather Channel?

You liked the WXFUD, huh -- thought of that on the spot.. lol

I should've looked at your location to see that you're in DC, too. My cable is basic, non-digital Comcast, and somehow they've got a weather-only thing way up on 112 (the regular channels stop at 79). I haven't seen it listed on either Zap2It or Yahoo TV listings, so I was surprised when my DVD/VCR combo discovered it when it auto-programmed its channels.

Anyway, off for pizza & Olympics with a neighbor --

[Escher]

Originally Posted by BarracksSi My cable is basic, non-digital Comcast, and somehow they've got a weather-only thing way up on 112 (the regular channels stop at 79).

A-ha! So there really is a second Weather Channel. I'll have to check this out. I hope my TV is capable of dialing into 3-digit channels. I don't think I've ever seen any channel above 70. But I'm terrible at dealing with the TV.

Thanks for tipping me off to "WC2," BarracksSi. Let's hope I can get to it.

Update: Just dialed "112" into my TV manually and indeed, there's "weatherscan" without the WXFUD. You learn something new every day.

Escher

[BarracksSi]

Originally Posted by Escher Update: Just dialed "112" into my TV manually and indeed, there's "weatherscan" without the WXFUD. You learn something new every day.

Sweet

On some nights, before going to bed, I'll select 112 on my TV and turn it off. Then, if I turn it on in the morning, it's already on the most important channel.

[Escher]

Originally Posted by BarracksSi On some nights, before going to bed, I'll select 112 on my TV and turn it off. Then, if I turn it on in the morning, it's already on the most important channel.

That's the way to go. Except that our default channel is usually CNN on 42. When my wife got home from work yesterday, she turned on the TV and went: "What the hell is this?" (I left the TV on 112.)

Maybe its time to get a 2nd TV for myself. Or a toy from El Gato to view TV on my Mac.

Escher

[bassplayinMacFiend]

Originally Posted by Escher That's the way to go. Except that our default channel is usually CNN on 42. When my wife got home from work yesterday, she turned on the TV and went: "What the hell is this?" (I left the TV on 112.) Maybe its time to get a 2nd TV for myself. Or a toy from El Gato to view TV on my Mac. Escher

I hear ya man, trying to change from the news channels when my wife is home is as easy as breathing under water.

[Luca]

I come to this thread after not reading any posts in it for a while, and look what I find! Not discussion of the Java update, but people talking about what cable channel they have their TV set to automatically use. Tut-tut!

[Escher]

We've admittedly drifted off topic. But the bottom line is still that Java 1.4.2 Update 1 improves playback of radar loops from the NOAA as well as Weather.com website.

Escher