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I wonder if this might have something to do with iTunes. They already sell/rent HQ/HD movies, but maybe there is something they are going to launch in the future? Just an idea.
 
I wonder if this might have something to do with iTunes. They already sell/rent HQ/HD movies....

Well, Itunes has videos that technically meet the definition of HD, but nobody would call them HQ if they've actually watched good HD television.

If Apple's really going to jump on the HD bandwagon (and I mean 1080p content at 25 Mbps or higher) it would be worth investigating.

If it's just more of the sub-DVD stuff that they claim is HD - no thanks.
 
This rumor is poorly written...from the typos "to" instead of "for" to the lack of info.

Does anyone have any idea:

1)Why the government needs a server farm?
2)why the government would choose Apple (over Sun or HP or IBM or Dell or...)
3)What application this server farm is supposed to power? Or, is the government just asking Apple to "open up shop" in NC and therefore employ 50-100 people to run the building/farm therefore creating jobs?
4)Why the government would give such a huge tax break instead of just buying the hardware/service outright at a government-mandated bid (assuming even if they NEED Apple software like the OS)? Could be just a shell game "we'll let you NOT pay us millions in taxes while you give us millions in free "services")



-Eric

Answer:

Deniability due to a "commercial" vendor.

Why do you think Apple hooked up with ATT who has the governmental post-nuclear contract??
 
08_08_05_iceland_data_islandia.jpg

The rolling hills of a proposed server farm in Iceland from Data Islandia designed by architect Robert Örn Arnarson.

Those structures have the same design elements as explosives bunkers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawthorne_Army_Depot

http://160knots.com/images/Hawthorne/Bunkers.jpg
 
Ah Phooey,

Them inspiration smoking greenies are always getting in the way of science.

We already got a green source of energy, atomic fission.
If you argue otherwise you probably never payed attention in school, or when you were in school this stuff was still in R&D :)

The earth is naturally radioactive. So is the universe. ALL types of radiation can be blocked by a few centimetres of lead, or 1m of concrete or 30m of steel. Its merely political BS about where the rods are stored longterm.

What about Chernobyl?

Wa Wa Wa,
Talk about Media hype.
They were doing a test to see if the reactor could shut down safely. The reactor was acting up and should of been shut off before the test was finished. The guy in charge was being a prick. Guess what! Chernobyl was human error. Guess what!!!! We have computers and decent non Microsoft operating systems.

Fusion is the answer? Its cheaper yes, but it still produces Gamma and Neutron radiation so were still gonna get some more greenies complaining. :mad:

Related to the server farm...

Ooooh its so pretty :apple:

I hope I can work for Apple in the future.

At least give credit to the writer. The sentences you just wrote are quotet!
The "original version of these" is The Revenge of Gaia by James Lovelock



Ok, besides this. I am no "green integralist" at all but atomic fission in itself is not the solution. Look at France, the only problem they now have is scarcity of water to cool atomic fission power plants. As soon as a river goes below a certain level of water the plant has to reduce output because there is not enough water to cool it. And also too many plant concentrated rise the temp of water destroying the ecosystem (upon which many animals and humans base their lives) and creates a wet microclimate.
Should we stop building atomic fission plants? Never! Just remember that future energy needs will not be solved by only one vector, there will have to be many, all of them as much environmental friendly as possible (atomic fission but also wood (which is renewable if done correctly), wind, tides, dams).
The best way to cope is to reduce the need. Long story short. I am an architect, and building a "friendlier" home (not nerdy jungle style cabanas) allows you to save a lot of money and also energy, which reduces the need for new plants... And to the costs. I know in the US homes tend to cost little to build (most of them anyways), but the increase in cost would never be unsustainable. And homes, in the end, cost a lot anyway given the market forces that actually influence prices.


Back on topic. Maybe some of these companies build R&D outside California also because they can implement "no competition" aspects in their contracts with workers (AFAIK this is not possible in California)
 
lol,

it's pretty funny to see all the guessing about NC.

First, Charlotte is NOT halfway through the state. Charlotte is located at the bottom of the state near Rock Hill South Carolina. You can be in South Carolina in about 15 minutes.

Charlotte is the second largest banking center in the nation.

The Triangle (where I live) slightly more east and closer to the center of the state top to bottom. If I'm not mistaken it surpassed Silicon Valley about three years ago as the fastest growing and largest technology center in the nation.

We rarely see the effect of hurricanes in either place other than some heavy rain and winds. Charlotte and Raleigh have each been hit by a hurricane once in my lifetime of 32 years. Even then it wasn't near enough to take out a data center.

The Triangle is also one of the fastest growing and most stable economies in the US. More old New Yorkers are moving here lately that Florida. Raleigh and Cary are consistently voted the best/safest places to live in the nation.

While that's all nice and dandy. Neither one of these places will probably see the data center. For reason pointed out in the tax relief bit (unemployment factors) and location to the data backbone, the most likely place is actually the Triad, more specifically Greensboro. Apple just built their fourth and largest apple store in the state there and they are giving tons of incentives to tech and pharma companies to bring their unemployment down. It's dead center between Raleigh and Charlotte and it sits DEAD SQUARE on the data backbone. The University of North Carolina at Greensboro got their networks jacked directly into the grid when I was a student there in 1998. All fiber that far back was a big deal.

It's centrally located in the state and other than the occasional thunderstorm and some light snow here and there it rarely sees any harsh weather. There is plenty of cheap property being sold and it's right near an international airport. Honda actually just started it's small planes assembly center there.

More than likely this is where it will be.

Cheers.
 
lol,

While that's all nice and dandy. Neither one of these places will probably see the data center. For reason pointed out in the tax relief bit (unemployment factors) and location to the data backbone, the most likely place is actually the Triad, more specifically Greensboro. Apple just built their fourth and largest apple store in the state there and they are giving tons of incentives to tech and pharma companies to bring their unemployment down. It's dead center between Raleigh and Charlotte and it sits DEAD SQUARE on the data backbone. The University of North Carolina at Greensboro got their networks jacked directly into the grid when I was a student there in 1998. All fiber that far back was a big deal.

It's centrally located in the state and other than the occasional thunderstorm and some light snow here and there it rarely sees any harsh weather. There is plenty of cheap property being sold and it's right near an international airport. Honda actually just started it's small planes assembly center there.

More than likely this is where it will be.

Cheers.

I don't think it will be in the Triad either. According to the article, they're looking at either Catawba County (Hickory) or Cleveland County (Shelby, just west of Charlotte). One of the deals with all the corporate welfare...I mean tax incentives, that they're offering to Apple, is it has to be in an area that has been economically depressed. I have lots of family in Catawba County and it definitely qualifies.
 
Good liberal company? You must be joking... I love Apple, but there is nothing liberal about a benevolent dictatorship whose products bring in margins that would make even the most steadfast capitalist blush. :)

Steve is a business man through and through. Al Gore is on the board of directors to appease the environmentalist. Plus, not even liberals like paying high taxes... That is for the rest of us. Look at how many of them *forget* to pay their taxes. :eek:

But I digress from the topic. Sorry, I couldn't resist.

Who could possibly, ever think anything like that? ;)

Btw, is it your dog in your avatar? He/She looks beautiful!

08_08_05_iceland_data_islandia.jpg

The rolling hills of a proposed server farm in Iceland from Data Islandia designed by architect Robert Örn Arnarson.

IT IS SKYNET, I tell you! :D

Seriously, that actually looks a lot better than the normal, rectangular buildings that these things always end up in. Just a professional opinion... ;)
 
lol,

it's pretty funny to see all the guessing about NC.

First, Charlotte is NOT halfway through the state. Charlotte is located at the bottom of the state near Rock Hill South Carolina. You can be in South Carolina in about 15 minutes.

Charlotte is the second largest banking center in the nation.

The Triangle (where I live) slightly more east and closer to the center of the state top to bottom. If I'm not mistaken it surpassed Silicon Valley about three years ago as the fastest growing and largest technology center in the nation.

We rarely see the effect of hurricanes in either place other than some heavy rain and winds. Charlotte and Raleigh have each been hit by a hurricane once in my lifetime of 32 years. Even then it wasn't near enough to take out a data center.

The Triangle is also one of the fastest growing and most stable economies in the US. More old New Yorkers are moving here lately that Florida. Raleigh and Cary are consistently voted the best/safest places to live in the nation.

While that's all nice and dandy. Neither one of these places will probably see the data center. For reason pointed out in the tax relief bit (unemployment factors) and location to the data backbone, the most likely place is actually the Triad, more specifically Greensboro. Apple just built their fourth and largest apple store in the state there and they are giving tons of incentives to tech and pharma companies to bring their unemployment down. It's dead center between Raleigh and Charlotte and it sits DEAD SQUARE on the data backbone. The University of North Carolina at Greensboro got their networks jacked directly into the grid when I was a student there in 1998. All fiber that far back was a big deal.

It's centrally located in the state and other than the occasional thunderstorm and some light snow here and there it rarely sees any harsh weather. There is plenty of cheap property being sold and it's right near an international airport. Honda actually just started it's small planes assembly center there.

More than likely this is where it will be.

Cheers.

First - lets remember that Apple has not commented on this artical. So who knows if it will be built anywhere.

I think what was meant by "halfway through the state" was east / west (to point out it is not on the coast).

Can you provide your source showing RTP has surpassed Silicon Valley as the largest tech center in the country? I would also like to see the source for "are consistently voted the best/safest places to live in the nation". I missed this news flash and would like to read up on it.

The article says the two possible counties are Catawba County or Cleveland County. The fact that Apple just opened a new store in Greensboro has no bearing. If anything it shows Apple thinks people there have money to spend, not high unemployment. Your right that the backbone goes through there, and it then heads southwest and could be easily accessed from other points in the state. As for airports and weather, Charlottes international has many more flights and access then Greensboro, and the weather in the two counties in question is similar to Greensboro too.
 
Btw, is it your dog in your avatar? He/She looks beautiful

Thanks. I do have a great dog named Max, but that is not he. That image is from some wallpaper I downloaded from digitalblasphemy.com I believe.


Can you provide your source showing RTP has surpassed Silicon Valley as the largest tech center in the country?

I don't know about surpassed, but it is definitely one of the fastest growing tech centers in the US. Here is an interesting article comparing the two areas.

http://www.stantonchase.com/latest_news/research_triangle_stature.pdf


I would also like to see the source for "are consistently voted the best/safest places to live in the nation". I missed this news flash and would like to read up on it.

If you'd Googled it you would have found a couple of examples on the first page of results.

Ranked 4th 2006
http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2006/snapshots/PL3755000.html

Ranked 2nd 2008
http://triangle.bizjournals.com/triangle/stories/2008/05/26/daily17.html

RTP is starting to feel like a mini-NorthEast as most of my neighbors are from either Boston, New York or Washington, DC escaping the cold and high taxes.

Here's hoping the new new Apple server farm comes to RTP or nearby. :D
 
Thanks. I do have a great dog named Max, but that is not he. That image is from some wallpaper I downloaded from digitalblasphemy.com I believe.




I don't know about surpassed, but it is definitely one of the fastest growing tech centers in the US. Here is an interesting article comparing the two areas.

http://www.stantonchase.com/latest_news/research_triangle_stature.pdf




If you'd Googled it you would have found a couple of examples on the first page of results.

Ranked 4th 2006
http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2006/snapshots/PL3755000.html

Ranked 2nd 2008
http://triangle.bizjournals.com/triangle/stories/2008/05/26/daily17.html

RTP is starting to feel like a mini-NorthEast as most of my neighbors are from either Boston, New York or Washington, DC escaping the cold and high taxes.

Here's hoping the new new Apple server farm comes to RTP or nearby. :D

Thanks for the info. I'm from NC and am very familiar with RTP area and stay informed about it. I was mainly replying to the original poster to ask him/her to backup their clams because as stated, they are incorrect. I agree with you that it is one of (if not the) fastest growing tech centers, but that is different than "has surpassed Silicon Valley". And as you point out, there have been several reviews that have it as a big tech center as the links you provided prove. But again, that was not the claim the person I replied to made. I think you give a more accurate view of the facts than the OP did.
 
The article does not mention RTP, but the Hickory area. (Catawba County or Cleveland County)

Google's server farm / data center is in Hickory, NC as well.

Weather there is cool (doesn't get too hot), and land is cheap as are taxes. Network is good, being close to big 'pipes' routing from Atlanta. It makes sense.
 
Not Charlotte, thats more in central NC, halfway to Tennessee

Yeah, I live in central NC (Chapel Hill) and we get nice, diluted versions of hurricanes. NC isn't a HUGE hurricane state but hurricanes do happen every few years.

Also, that's kind of a weird reason to not consider NC.
 
I'm very interested to see what type of servers they'll really use, be it OS X XServes or something running Linux.
 
Look at how many of them *forget* to pay their taxes. :eek:

As someone who deals with tax law on a daily basis, should I get into the non-liberals who fail to pay their taxes?

I mean, this game could be played all day with both sides.

One calling out the other is even beyond the pot calling the kettle black.
 
First - lets remember that Apple has not commented on this artical. So who knows if it will be built anywhere.

I think what was meant by "halfway through the state" was east / west (to point out it is not on the coast).

Can you provide your source showing RTP has surpassed Silicon Valley as the largest tech center in the country? I would also like to see the source for "are consistently voted the best/safest places to live in the nation". I missed this news flash and would like to read up on it.

The article says the two possible counties are Catawba County or Cleveland County. The fact that Apple just opened a new store in Greensboro has no bearing. If anything it shows Apple thinks people there have money to spend, not high unemployment. Your right that the backbone goes through there, and it then heads southwest and could be easily accessed from other points in the state. As for airports and weather, Charlottes international has many more flights and access then Greensboro, and the weather in the two counties in question is similar to Greensboro too.

Ah yes, I stand corrected in my response to hobbbz. He did mean central length-wise.

As you'll notice in my post I said "If I'm not mistaken it surpassed Silicon Valley about three years ago as the fastest growing and largest technology center in the nation." I didn't say there is no doubt that RTP is outpacing SIlicon Valley in growth.

I would argue that I'm not mistaken though, as this article points out there is nearly 8% growth in the durham area and Raleigh is also on the list which forms the other tip of the three part triangle.

http://www.insidetech.com/benefits/articles/2460-the-30-best-cities-for-tech-jobs?page=28

Not sure how to find original bit as it was on the news. Sorry I don't log wikipedia references every time I see a news article. As for being the largest, they didn't go into detail as far as I remember, but I take them at their word being WRAL. They could have meant shear acres dedicated to the campuses as far as I know.

There have been several articles in recent years about the safest/best places to live. As stated above, a simple google will turn those up. Seeing as how those are largely subjective each time around I've seen it bounce between #2 and number 25# depending on what year or what article. Raleigh/Chapel Hill tend to float around about the same. I for one wouldn't live in Cary if you paid me too. It's the most vanilla-white housing development/mcmansion joint I've ever seen, but that's better than trailer parks and government housing I guess.

That's all pointless though since I'm not arguing whether Charlotte or RTP would be the better location. I don't see it going to either of those two if job-dates are a sticking point as I think they have both stayed FAIRLY healthy during the downturn. Just putting in my two cents as a born and raised North Carolinian. Born in Charlotte/Concord, raised there and near Winston-Salem. Spent my college years in Greensboro and visit often as my in-laws live there currently. Lived the past 9 years back and forth between Raleigh and Wilmington.

As per my experience Catawba could work. I see no reason they wouldn't put it there, but there is also just as few reasons they wouldn't put it in Sanford, or Cherokee, etc if it's only about job rates, lol. It's all conjecture at this point. I can tell you now though if they are attempting to locate centrally, near the backbone and in an emerging area where they can still get the job-rate benefit, the triad is it. Go anywhere in the area and you'll see the remnants of how stagnant and downtrodden it was for several years. With it only now starting to bounce back and wooing tech companies hard, I see it as a good counterpoint to Catawba Co. The central proximity to the two largest tech/finance/culture hubs of the entire state doesn't seem like a bad idea either.

They may very well do just what the article guesses and put it in Catawba, I just find that an odd choice given the benefits of the triad and the fact that it also meets the criteria of the tax break.

Either way, NC is a perfect choice for this kind of addition and I'd like to see it go through if it turns out to be true. All my life I wanted to get out of NC having traveled alot around the US/Canada, but the last several years it has really started to become a pretty awesome place to be. Lot's of tech, Videogame and creative industry jobs starting to make their way here as well as some cool new green jobs. There is also a bit of a culture shift for the better with the mix of people that are moving to the region.
 
Yeah, I live in central NC (Chapel Hill) and we get nice, diluted versions of hurricanes. NC isn't a HUGE hurricane state but hurricanes do happen every few years.

Also, that's kind of a weird reason to not consider NC.

HAHAHA, good point, since California could fall off the continent at any point. Or Texas could secede from the union, or Florida could get wiped off the map with a hurricane, or Chicago could freeze over and New York will flood when the ice caps melt.

Just being facetious. ;)
 
As someone who deals with tax law on a daily basis, should I get into the non-liberals who fail to pay their taxes?

I mean, this game could be played all day with both sides.

One calling out the other is even beyond the pot calling the kettle black.

:) All in good humor here...

I'm sure what you've said is absolutely true. The difference is one side of the fence doesn't espouse raising taxes while seeking cabinet positions and failing to fully pay their own taxes at the same time. :eek:
 
At least give credit to the writer. The sentences you just wrote are quotet!
The "original version of these" is The Revenge of Gaia by James Lovelock



Ok, besides this. I am no "green integralist" at all but atomic fission in itself is not the solution. Look at France, the only problem they now have is scarcity of water to cool atomic fission power plants. As soon as a river goes below a certain level of water the plant has to reduce output because there is not enough water to cool it. And also too many plant concentrated rise the temp of water destroying the ecosystem (upon which many animals and humans base their lives) and creates a wet microclimate.
Should we stop building atomic fission plants? Never! Just remember that future energy needs will not be solved by only one vector, there will have to be many, all of them as much environmental friendly as possible (atomic fission but also wood (which is renewable if done correctly), wind, tides, dams).
The best way to cope is to reduce the need. Long story short. I am an architect, and building a "friendlier" home (not nerdy jungle style cabanas) allows you to save a lot of money and also energy, which reduces the need for new plants... And to the costs. I know in the US homes tend to cost little to build (most of them anyways), but the increase in cost would never be unsustainable. And homes, in the end, cost a lot anyway given the market forces that actually influence prices.


Back on topic. Maybe some of these companies build R&D outside California also because they can implement "no competition" aspects in their contracts with workers (AFAIK this is not possible in California)

Never heard of that book, just my physics teacher used to say that.
 
For now all that I see is that I haven't been able to access my mobile me account and email for one entire day. On the site there is a live chat support announcement, but of course nowhere is the option offered.

Being a professional I thought I would get extra reliability when I pay su much for my email account.

No matter what Apple does with their server farms, the mose wise option is to use Google Mail.
 
how to invest a lot of cash...

Think most people on here are missing the point. The cost for a next generation data-center is significant.

Think you might be looking at around half that figure for building, power, cooling. Of the remaining, half on servers, half on management.
 
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