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6cow6a
Once a phone runs out of charge, how does it continue to display the "Out of Charge" screen?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "dhw8n40", "dhw8kx6" ], "text": [ "Because the battery isn't completely out of charge. It's programmed in such a way to prevent use below a certain battery level. Most phones turn off at 2% but sometimes you'll even see the phone say 0% when you turn on the screen. However that's not entir...
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6cp7xn
Given their recent rise in popularity, how exactly do wool dryer balls reduce wrinkles, dry clothes faster, etc?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "dhwkhp0" ], "text": [ "They help to separate items being dried. This allows the hot air from the dryer to circulate and thus dry items faster. Saves energy." ], "score": [ 5 ], "text_urls": [ [] ] }
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6cqajh
Why does scratching a CD cause the contents to become unreadable?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "dhwjzls", "dhwlcil", "dhwjz8c", "dhwue9j" ], "text": [ "Reading cds is done by reflecting light off each bit. I guess it's comparable to reading Braille where you feel for bumps. If you scratch the cd you no longer get an accurate reflection so you don't know what it's supposed to...
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6crav4
Do the programs that run when idle to help research some big project actually work? If so how do they work and are any better to contribute towards?
Just heard this week's This American Life talk about contributing your computer power to help SETI look for aliens. I have a beast of a PC that only gets used a few hours a day for gaming and I wouldn't mind putting it to use if I could be sure it wasn't a waste of my electricity and wear and tear on my components.
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "dhwsveo" ], "text": [ "Yeah they do. Basically certain problems that we only know how to solve by brute force, ie guessing an answer and running calculations to see if it's correct. This is only really possible nowadays with computers that are very good at doing these repetitive tasks very qu...
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6crjll
How do air traffic controllers/pilots choose which runway to use?
Hi all, I live near an airport and I realise that depending on the season/day/time, some runways are utilised more than others. How do you guys determine which runway to use and why?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "dhwvo45" ], "text": [ "The main motivation is wind. Taking off or landing with a tailwind uses much more runway length. It's like having to run to catch a train that's already rolling away - don't run off the end of the platform. Crosswind is more challenging and can upset the passengers (bec...
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6cs7co
Why do dry erase boards become so dirty and difficult to erase fully even with a new eraser and proper pens?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "dhx35ka" ], "text": [ "This is because the special surface wears out ove time. My office actually used Dry erase paint and turned our walls into a giant dry erase board, once it starts getting hard to erase, a new coat of paint will fix it up! URL_0" ], "score": [ 5 ], "text_urls"...
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6cx94x
What is Kik? and Why do people use it over texting?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "dhy3jyn", "dhy3fgg" ], "text": [ "Kik is a messenger app, can be used with just wifi and doesn't require you to share your phone number. I prefer to use Kik over texting because 1. I don't have to share my personal phone number 2. It tells you when the message has been delivered, read, an...
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6cxq9e
The FCC and the Net neutrality drama going on in the USA.
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "dhy8bqr", "dhy9dfx" ], "text": [ "It allows the Telecoms who have been accused of and lost lawsuits related to price fixing/monopolizing to do this: URL_0 Currently they aren't allowed to slow down or speed up traffic to any website, if the Trump administration is able to get the rule cha...
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6cxzfb
When a calculator resolves 1.001^10000, does it actually multiply 1.001 10000 times in sequence?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "dhyahgx", "dhyaxsz", "dhyletu", "dhylt0y" ], "text": [ "No. What exactly the calculator does depends on the calculator, but it is always quite complex and not very ELI5-friendly. Typically they will convert a^b to e^(b*ln(a)^) with the natural logarithm ln( ) and the exponential f...
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6d04i8
Why does the U.S. military still utilize iron sights for infantry?
The US military employs ~1,710,000 active men and women. Given that the cost of a relatively high end holographic sight is about $500, that would equate to $855 million for every active soldier to be equipped with a holographic sight. Holographic sights are superior to iron sights because they give the user a higher fi...
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "dhyr41b", "dhyravr", "dhytona" ], "text": [ "What happens if you trip and break your ACOG? I can't speak for every branch but I know the marine corps does use ACOGs and probably other non iron sights for combat training and in combat. I think I've used them on the standard range befor...
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6d0syj
Why was windows 8 considered a downgrade in operative systems?
I'm curious about this.and thanks in advance.
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "dhyvkmv" ], "text": [ "It was a bug-ridden mess. I had programs and games that worked fine in 7, and in 10, but not in 8 or 8.1. It was designed from the ground up to be a mobile operating system but was rammed into the desktop market which has entirely different UI needs. It had weird bugs t...
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6d5ojl
How have car antennas gotten smaller over the years while FM/AM radio quality has gotten better.
I recall that my father's old Toyota SUV had an antenna that extended when you turned on the radio but now that I have a new car of my own the antenna is tiny with the dimensions of a pencil. On top of this when I select a station my car displays a symbol that says HD Radio. How has the technology changed over the year...
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "di04l4y" ], "text": [ "Smaller antennas are not as good as the classic 1/4 wavelength whip with ground plane. FM radio is about 3 meters so a 3/4 meter or 30 inch antenna was traditional. Smaller ones use a coil of wire to help lengthen the antenna as far as the preamp is concerned. Radio rec...
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6d6fnt
Why are apps, and websites, so adamant about enabling "notifications"?
I don't like notifications on my phone. They are all disabled. This causes me to be harassed WITHIN the apps I use (and to a certain extent, websites) to enable notifications. What is the gain for the developers? Why do they want me to enable notifications?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "di08vlv", "di0af19" ], "text": [ "Notifications mean that they can engage with you *without waiting for you to come back to the site*. If they can sent you notifications, they can remind/prompt you to come back & use the site more. The more you visit a site, the more ads they can show you...
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6d6hpq
There is a gif on r/gif showing a microbot "delivering" a sperm to an egg. How does said microbot work?
[Here is a link]( URL_0 ) to the gif
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "di09c2v" ], "text": [ "It is *extremely generous* to call it a robot. It is in fact just a metal spiral which is manipulated by a rotating magnetic field. I would simply call it a creative tool which can be remotely manipulated." ], "score": [ 3 ], "text_urls": [ [] ] }
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6d6n1s
How do personnel on submarines connect to the internet?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "di0d4y2" ], "text": [ "they wait till the sub comes to the surface or periscope depth and all the remaining data is transmitted. When submerged there is no internet access. You do without." ], "score": [ 5 ], "text_urls": [ [] ] }
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6d7pqp
disk partitions, volumes, basic disk, dynamic disk, mtb, gpt
My os is on an ssd. how should I format my hdd?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "di0jxt4" ], "text": [ "MBR vs GPT is format for how the disk stores the information. MBR is older, has some limitations and issues. GPT is newer, stores the info at the begining and end of disk, and has fewer limitations. MBR is limited to 2TB in capacity without using advanced formatting, bu...
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6d85ck
What is a microprocessor? How does it work? How was it invented?
My 7-year-old niece is asking me these questions because she saw the word somewhere and someone told her that that's what her iPad uses to work.
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "di0noke", "di0svam", "di0mk4e" ], "text": [ "The simplest microprocessor needs three things: a place to store some data (memory); a set of instructions to carry out on data; and a working area in which to carry out the instructions. That's it. **data** Data is always represented as a ...
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6dadyd
When game companies are bringing down their servers for maintenance, what are they doing?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "di12pcp" ], "text": [ "They could be doing any number of things from implementing security fixes to adding new features to the game or updating UI. There is a great number of things they could be doing. However, when servers are brought down, it's because it's usually required for them to end...
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6dahyg
Google's new login?
Whenever you wanted to sign into a device that was not yours, you would uncheck this box. Now (after google's "new and improved" sign in page) If I want to sign out, I have to sign out, the go back to gmail and "remove" the account. In fact, this is just about the only difference between the previous and new sign in fo...
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "di14796" ], "text": [ "> Why would google do this? In this case it has more to do with convenience than money because, you're right ... they have very elaborate and effective ways to track you. Of course, the convenience leads to more money though. You sign out of gmail (perhaps because you w...
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6dapqs
Why does WiFi range seem to be determined solely by the router/AP?
I have noticed over the years, that increasing the power / antenna strength of an access point or router increases the distance that a signal is usable by a laptop/mobile phone/etc. While this might sound like a no-brainer, what about the signal getting BACK to the AP / router? It doesn't seem to matter how strong the ...
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "di181gq" ], "text": [ "The stronger transmitter also has a more sensitive receiver. The signal threshold that your mobile device can detect is higher than what a dedicated router can pick up, allowing the mobile device to be compact and the router to pick up the slack on both sides of the com...
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6ddzz1
How do radio statios/tv stations know how many people tune in?
Say for example: how do they calculate how many people watch the Superbowl? edit: auto correct is lame
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "di1xbla" ], "text": [ "Nielsen does this, they tell you how on [their website]( URL_1 ), but basically they just randomly select people and track everything they do by asking them to write down everything and walk around the streets with microphones to record whatever people are listening to....
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6dfr6n
Why do modern bathrooms still use tiles when grout is so hard to clean? Haven't we come up with a better solution for water-proof surfaces by now?
When I was little, there was this advertisement for a bathroom cleaning product that asked something like: "Have you ever noticed that the cleaner you get, the dirtier your shower gets?" It is so true! Why haven't we found an easier-to-clean waterproof surface by now?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "di2b9bz" ], "text": [ "Solid plastic shells and linoleum floors. But they're generally seen as cheaper options. And they wear out faster. Tile is fancier and lasts longer and is more expensive. Slate doubly so. But trust me. The cheaper and easier to clean options get PLENTY dirty too. You AL...
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6dg9r7
When you copy a file to clipboard and then paste it to a different location, what is exactly happening?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "di2dx0c" ], "text": [ "When you copy a file to the clipboard, the computer fills the clipboard with the path to that file on the filesystem and a tag that indicates that it's a reference to the file (rather than just the text like you would get if you copied that text out of a text file that ...
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6dga2b
Why Do we need even isp's at this point? Why not make everything peer to peer?
Forgive me if I've used the term peer to peer incorrectly, I mean a decentralised user controlled network(s) that links everyone together thru their own devices. Thanks for any input:) EDIT: I messed up the headline, I meant: Why do we even need isp's. SOLVED. Thank you everyone! :) EDIT 2: Why not have both? I accept ...
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "di2e8sn", "di2f19h", "di2hqrf", "di2odru" ], "text": [ "Well, the obvious question is, whose line do you use to connect yourself to someone on the other side of the atlantic ocean? Laying a cable across the pond costs about $200,000,000, so even if you and your friends all agree t...
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6dh1ad
How did objects that require practice get invented? E.g. why didn't they decide that bicycles weren't usable when they couldn't ride it immediately?
Edit: things like chopsticks, musical instruments, and the like.
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "di2lw1r", "di2pv3i", "di2n5wv", "di2mvqk", "di2n6wt", "di2qyj7", "di3azx0" ], "text": [ "You have to appreciate the history of the bicycle. We didn't leap from nothing to the penny-farthing. The first historically verified bicycle was a German invention that was called...
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6dh6zu
How is data transmitted through radio waves?
It is my understanding that data which is transmitted wirelessly is done so through radio waves. What does the raw data look like and how is it interpreted so fast by its recipient?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "di2mf4s" ], "text": [ "At its simplest, a wave can be characterised by two parameters: frequency (how often it goes from its highest value to its lowest and back), and amplitude (how wide of a difference there is between the peaks and valleys of the wave). [This chart]( URL_2 ) should help cl...
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6dhtzt
What happens when data is compressed?
For instance, compressed folders on our computers. What are the benefits?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "di2qlz2", "di2vmkf" ], "text": [ "Compression means the file still does what it's supposed to, but it takes up less memory space. There's two kinds of compression: lossy, and lossless. Lossy means the EXACT value of the data being compressed isn't important, just as long as the file made ...
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6dkwdb
Why is the internet slow in space stations if they're right next to satellites?
Shouldn't their proximity allow them faster than normal internet? EDIT: my whole life has been a fucking lie
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "di3g0nd", "di3jho4" ], "text": [ "Most of the internet doesn't pass through satellites. I'm not sure why being close to unrelated hardware is relevant. Most satellites point their transmitters and receivers at the ground. Being in space they may not be able to reach them at all.", "To...
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6dlcm7
Why do we have different battery sizes if they all do the same thing in the same way?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "di3klov" ], "text": [ "To clarify, batteries have a fuel inside them that they convert to electricity (not by burning like gasoline, but through a chemical reaction). A battery that is flat is one that has run out of fuel. Just like a car with a small fuel tank doesn't have less power than on...
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6dlkqq
Why OLED display, which are so successful on mobile and TV markets, is having a hard transition into laptop market?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "di3mi8i" ], "text": [ "You'll note that OLED televisions are *extremely* more expensive than non-OLED. This isn't a big deal on tiny phone displays, but there's not a market for that kind of markup on laptops." ], "score": [ 3 ], "text_urls": [ [] ] }
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6dm0qw
Why you must turn your phone to airplane mode on some airlines, while others offer on-flight wifi
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "di3swwy", "di3ox2d", "di3ozes" ], "text": [ "WiFi radios can be set at specific frequencies in the 2.4 and 5ghz range, configurable by the access point. This frequency can be tested to not interfere with the plane's systems. Wifi radios generally transmit at less than a watt, and mode...
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6dmalk
How do motion detectors work?
Just curious
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "di3qyva", "di3r8l2" ], "text": [ "Ultrasonic motion sensors send out a pulse every some milliseconds and records the times it takes for the pulse to reflect back. If something were to move, the pulse would be interfered with and reflect back a different time. Camera motion sensors normall...
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6dmsft
Why does Windows even allow deleting system32 if doing so will make it unusable?
Title
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "di3vjtz", "di3u4y8", "di3xzzz" ], "text": [ "The reason that they allow you to do it is because sometimes it is fundamentally necessary to delete, change, or add files to system32 in order to fix bugs in the system or upgrade things. The user either has access to the files or doesn't ...
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6dn73w
Why do subwoofers use exposed wires and clips instead of a regular plug?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "di3wy0d" ], "text": [ "Not just subwoofers, but a whole range of home-theatre type speakers, use exposed wires because people can use a custom length of wire without worrying about A) buying potentially expensive pre-made wires that might not even be the exact right length, or B) the time con...
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6dnium
Why do lights flicker when you turn a high powered machine on?
For example: a vacuum cleaner. Why do the lights flicker for a second when you click the "on" switch?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "di3ybn9" ], "text": [ "When you turn on any high current motor, it pulls in excessive current called an \"inrush\". This is always higher than running current. This is because interia properties resist change, so it takes more current to start a motor than to run it, it's under load. That big...
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6dnj0s
What does it mean if my drone has an max altitude of 500m. If I climb a 500m mountain, would it fly to 1000m above surrounding area or would it not be able to fly? What about people who live in high altitude areas like Denver or Tibet?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "di3ybpi", "di4a70h", "di4bwyl", "di3ycg6", "di4dr3n", "di40f21" ], "text": [ "It's probably the connection area in regards to the controller. It can fly 500m away from controller before it looses connection.", "I suggest this: If it is about the distance from thaa cont...
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6dnzr5
How are lightning strikes detected so that they can be displayed on maps online?
I've seen the UK Met Office display maps showing lightning strikes, and I sometimes use URL_0 when there's a thunderstorm nearby. How are the lightning strikes so accurately displayed? It looks like they're tracked by stations around the country, but how do these stations detect lightning strikes, sometimes many many m...
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "di41qlq" ], "text": [ "When lightning strikes happen, they emit a radio signature on a predictable set of frequencies. So, it's really a matter of listening to those frequencies from multiple locations, and using triangulation to determine the location. This happens very fast. My weather app ...
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6dpb2p
why do some trucks have a pair of wheels that's a bit off the ground?
what purpose does that serve? and I don't think it's necessarily because of the risk of tipping over, because some of these trucks are quite long, and the risk of tipping is very low.
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "di4ca8d", "di4cgkb", "di4ezu8", "di4jq3e", "di4dp0t", "di4gjd8", "di4gu77", "di4h039", "di4h1ly", "di4k3o3" ], "text": [ "They do touch the ground, once they are heavy enough, they need to be on the ground to relieve stress on the other axles. They are then...
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6dq1bz
why is there not cell phone service everywhere yet?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "di4i79w" ], "text": [ "Cell phone towers are expensive to build and operate, plus leasing the land, wireless spectrum, and local regulations." ], "score": [ 3 ], "text_urls": [ [] ] }
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6drc2c
Why are there so many different types of hard hats? What's the functional difference between, say, a construction helmet and a bicycle helmet?
I understand that some helmets need to be very specialized, such as a combat helmet against fast-moving projectiles. But a lot of civilian helmets seem to protect against the same kind of threat - something heavy and relatively slow-moving hitting you on the head, or alternatively you hitting something. We have bicycle...
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "di4skh5", "di4slwa" ], "text": [ "It's what your protecting against, in a motorcycle accident your trying to protect the whole head, in a construction site? Falling debris, bicycle similar to a motorcycle but much slower moving, firefighters, exactly like a construction helmet, but the de...
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6dsk72
Why do some gifs load fine on the Reddit app but others won't?
I've noticed it when swiping through pages, gifs will load fine, then one won't, then the next few will and one won't again, so I'm pretty sure it's not my internet connection. And it doesn't matter if I click into it or refresh the page. Am I missing something?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "di52u7p" ], "text": [ "I don't know why either. Happens to maybe 20% of gifs. There is an easy fix though. If it doesn't load, click the word 'imgur' just above the post title. Works a treat." ], "score": [ 7 ], "text_urls": [ [] ] }
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6dtjhv
Why does Facebook Messenger and other similar apps on the app store have random 150mb updates a few times a week?
I don't see any difference in the app at all once i update it, why is it around 150mb every time?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "di59fpi", "di58if0", "di5hw3i", "di5gs6q" ], "text": [ "Because it's easier for them, and no one really complains about it. They *could* structure the app so that smaller parts of the app could be updated individually without having to redownload the entire app. Or they could wait...
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6dvwg9
Why Aren't Resolutions Like 8k (and even higher) More Available. Comparing a 1080p phone screen size to something like a 60" TV gives me the impression a higher pixel density should be easily achievable.
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "di5s4sz", "di5um4y" ], "text": [ "Denser concentrations of electronic components employ vastly more expensive manufacturing processes. The display accounts for a significant portion of the cost of producing your phone. So, even assuming price and size scale linearly (which they don't), if...
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6dw073
Why a coder can't simply "decompile" an executable to get perfect source code for reverse engineering a piece of software?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "di5sjgn", "di5u0ip", "di5ywsl", "di5smi4", "di5x7nn" ], "text": [ "Because the compiler preforms many irreversible changes to the code. At the very least, comments and variable names are removed, names of private functions are obfuscated, and the code is optimized to make it r...
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6dx80z
How do anti-malware programs determine what is malware and what isn't?
Title. How does software like that determine malware from its harmless file counterparts? Is there any chance it could remove/quarantine a harmless file/program?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "di64l8g", "di622ej" ], "text": [ "One of the oldest methods is the signature based detection, this is basically a big list of \"this file is bad\", unfortunately malware creation kits allow people with no skill to pump out vast numbers of new malware so this method is not viable any more....
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6e0ki6
How does dust affect the computer?
Additionally, why does it seem like the performance increases when I clean the dust out of my PC?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "di6p56m", "di6zgb5", "di79vxc", "di6pbpq" ], "text": [ "Dust makes the system hotter, both by directly insulating the cooling surfaces and by restricting airflow. If you remove the dust, the cooling system can run more efficiently, which lets the CPU boost its clock rate. Dust *li...
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6e2wgs
Why ads appear to load fine even when internet is bad?
Say Im on Reddit, and my wifi internet connection is terrible. Why is it that ads and add videos appear to load without a problem, while I can barely load a gif from the discussion ? Do ads and such get a "special" treatment by internet routers? Do ads use my 4g since that would be faster ? Am I just making up some con...
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "di777ni", "di7a5wo" ], "text": [ "Ads are usually being fed through google, or an ad network. Even if reddit servers are slow, the the webpage is telling the ad to load from a different server. And ad servers are typically very very fast.", "Most websites have scripts. The scripts oft...
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6e360t
How do inventors search through the enormous patent database to make sure their new invention doesn't infringe on prior art?
I read somewhere that there are roughly 9 million and more patents. This is an absurd number to search through. Also, how thorough are patent researchers/lawyers at finding this stuff out?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "di7bbvl" ], "text": [ "It is difficult. The bottom line is you do your best to find prior art and then apply. Longer answer: searching has become pretty good these days. There are a lot of search strategies. You can search for key words that you think anybody would use when they applied for t...
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6e3j0g
How do my Google searches on one device show up as Facebook ads on another device if neither device are connected in any way?
Here is the scenario: I have a work laptop and my Android phone. I search for a very obscure and specific thing on my work laptop and it shows up as ads on my Facebook app. Here's the kicker: There is no connection between the devices i.e. I dont use any personal emails or social accounts on my work laptop so there is ...
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "di7fgt6", "di7cq2x", "di7ez79", "di7kkdb", "di7ssh2", "di7rxrb", "di7unms", "di7xyyu", "di7f3q9" ], "text": [ "On your Android phone Google has access to your phone's info - your phone number, name, your contacts, device information, etc, in fact, it is likely ...
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[ "url" ]
6e4vgd
Why do some websites stick an ad on every open nook and cranny that isn't occupied?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "di7nrdl" ], "text": [ "Ad space is sellable and making money is often the goal of a website. When a product is offered free, you are the product." ], "score": [ 11 ], "text_urls": [ [] ] }
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6e61bj
What must developers do, to convert a game from Pc to a console?
Like what must they take care of and change that it will be playable on another platform.
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "di86w31" ], "text": [ "They have to revise alot of the base programming. A PC (read Windows) program uses alot of the preprogrammed functions that windows has. Things like how to draw fonts, how to save files, how to draw circles, how to keep time, how to know input controllers. A console has...
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6e73wq
Since America has different time zones, are tv shows aired at the same time or at different time in different cities?
Living in Germany we have only one time zone so when a show starts at 8.15 pm it's 8.15. pm everywhere in the country. But when it's 8.15 pm in New York it's (I think) 5.15 pm in Los Angeles. So when a TV show (excluding live shows of course) is let's say aired at 8.15 pm in New York is it aired at 5.15 pm in Los Angel...
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "di82ssg" ], "text": [ "In the US, you generally have East Coast TV feeds and West Coast TV feeds. The other time zones are far less populated so Central Time get's the Eastern Time feed & Mountain Time generally gets the West Coast feed and those people just have to live with the inconvenienc...
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6e7q4e
how does my cell phone receive a call, or make a call, from my hand to a cell tower into someone else's hand almost anywhere on the planet nearly instantly? It seems with so many phones out there the process is infinitely complicated, yet it all happens in seconds.
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "di88tl0", "di87m59", "di88cnw" ], "text": [ "Cell towers generally communicate with each other through fiber optic cables which means your signals are going the speed of light. So at 186,000 miles a second there isn't anywhere in the world that is further than a second away. Your phon...
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6e8rq6
In HBO's Silicon Valley, they mention a "decentralized internet". Isn't the internet already decentralized? What's the difference?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "di8hkgp", "di8iktl", "di8mnii", "di8rfs8", "di8hd9n", "di97f8d", "di94a7s", "di8q4n1", "di92shn", "di8pg80", "di97h4a", "di8h320", "di8lmsc", "di8iozy", "di97blu", "di9mtlv" ], "text": [ "The internet actually is *decentralized* - in...
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6e9yel
When you edit an application or image with Notepad, what are the thousands of lines of random characters it shows?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "di8qan7", "di8teky" ], "text": [ "Notepad assumes that *everything* you try and open with it is a text file, even if it's not. ASCII and ANSI are two popular systems on how to encode text as zeroes 'n ones, and Notepad, no matter what, starts looking for text encoded in these manners. Usu...
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[ "url" ]
6ea0s7
How is the motion of fluid simulated?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "di8yj06", "di8t216" ], "text": [ "You don't simulate water molecules individually - you just don't have the computing power for that. Instead, you would model the water not as a collection of droplets but a continuum. You can then derive the Navier-Stokes equations for the motion of the f...
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6eak1o
Why are blackboxes not used in motor vehicles?
Wouldn't determining the last few actions of a car help determine who is at fault in an accident?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "di8v0zi", "di8v4p5" ], "text": [ "Dash cams are becoming more and more popular. They're not expensive and they can help you out with determining fault in collisions. Black Boxes are useful on airplanes because airplane crashes aren't generally caused by running into other airplanes (or ru...
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6easf3
What is the origin of the "http://" before a website address, what is its purpose, and why is Wikipedia's "https://" a significant difference?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "di8yp2d", "di8ws9a", "di8wyb8" ], "text": [ "Back in the early days of the internet, you had to directly connect from computer to computer, and know the computer's exact address. As the internet grew, some computers started acting as servers that you could access through various proto...
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6ecbdg
What causes audio and video tracks to fall out of 'sync' with each other during recordings? Why can't computers/devices just play them back at the same time?
It's 2017, why is it that sometimes recordings and playbacks have issues with sync still?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "di9ae7u" ], "text": [ "The biggest cause would be using a different sample rate than standard. For example, standard frame rate for a video is 24 fps. Standard audio rate for a video is 48,000 samples per second (think of it as frame rate for audio). This way, you have exactly 2,000 samples p...
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6ed4h4
Why do animal brains tend to operate far more efficiently than even the best computers?
Brains occupy a low volume and use very little energy compared to computers. How is this possible? What's preventing computers from becoming more efficient than the brain?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "di9jl26", "di9gia4", "di9foav", "di9gq94" ], "text": [ "What makes you think they are less efficient? Computers are vastly more efficient than brains, at some tasks. Running a modern game requires billions of floating point calculations per second. Even if you drafted the entire p...
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6eeaq9
How do certain apps like Facebook Messenger and Steam chat still work even though my internet service has been interrupted?
I've wondered this for a while. My internet was interrupted, but I can still use Steam chat on my computer and the Messenger app on my phone through wifi. How is that possible?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "di9mlle" ], "text": [ "Because your Internet wasn't interrupted. Your computer connects to a WiFi hotspot that connects to a modem of some sort that connects to a series of routers and switches inside your service provider's network that connect to other networks (i.e. the Internet). If that ...
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6eek6a
How in the world did the NES light gun work?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "di9nhdf", "di9q30k", "di9niy6", "di9qk4x" ], "text": [ "When the trigger is pressed, the entire screen turns black for one frame (~1/25th to 1/30th of a second depending on TV type), except any valid target on screen. The \"gun\" detects whether or not the part of the screen it is...
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6eenbu
Why did so few Genesis/SNES games allow you to save your game progress?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "di9ovtm", "di9o07b", "di9o11n" ], "text": [ "Because these older game consoles had no built-in place to save games onto. The consoles only had a minimal ROM and no permanent storage to save anything on to and no good way to connect any to it.. Usually the problem was solved either via...
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6eey0t
What is R?
All I know is that R is a data analysis tool, though I'm interested to know what it actually is and what it's used for. Thanks
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "di9qlj7", "di9qxxn" ], "text": [ "R is a programming language geared toward data analysis. It's a free, open source alternative to SAS, which is itself a closed, proprietary steaming pile of shit from the 50s or 60s that had language feature after language feature hacked on, making the sy...
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6efyd8
Why we don't have a computer processor that's can exceed 5GHz without overclocking?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "di9ynf1" ], "text": [ "Short answer: because we can't make processors small enough. Signals travel at close to the speed of light through the processor. The speed of light is 300,000 km / sec. In a 3 GHz processor, the electrical signal has only 1/3 of a billionth of a second to flow through ...
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6egww2
How come games like The Sims are billed as too complex for console if modern consoles are so powerful?
I'm aware there have been prior console games for The Sims franchise (that were heavily stripped down) and I'm aware there are games produced for the Playstation that are (kinda) *like* some console games (World of Warcraft and The Elder Scrolls are often compared when I bring this up) and that there are games that are...
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "dia6ibt", "dia6n2j", "dia6q1x" ], "text": [ "\"Too complex\" doesn't mean that the console can't handle the calculations. Obviously, modern consoles are way more powerful than the PCs that ran the original Sims game. It's a matter of interface- some games, like platformers, work reall...
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6ejgd4
How is the White House over 200 years old but still able to keep up with modern security standards?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "diar80j" ], "text": [ "It has been updated and renovated on several occasions since it was last burnt by the British." ], "score": [ 7 ], "text_urls": [ [] ] }
[ "url" ]
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6ejqrq
How do the pressure sensitive alkaline battery meters work?
How do the non-rechargeable batteries that have a '[powercheck]( URL_0 )' function work? Why does squeezing it show the charge level? Any reason they seemingly appeared in the early 2000's, disappeared, and then came back recently?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "diattve" ], "text": [ "From my understanding, pressing the points completes a circuit with a resistive load, generating heat. The indicator changes color in response to heat, and the amount of heat generated is related to the voltage of the circuit." ], "score": [ 3 ], "text_urls"...
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6el6vc
With thousands of workers producing new iPhones, how come not way more information about them is leaked?
And how do these huge factories prevent espionage?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "dib41zj", "dib45dd" ], "text": [ "They guy who oversees the shoe sole making machine does not necessarily understand how the rest of the shoe is made. There are not a whole lot who actually understand the whole thing, and those who do are probably under a close eye and NDAs.", "They'r...
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6elwg5
Ethiopia has blocked mobile internet within the country. How are they able to block mobile internet specifically?
Is it by demanding the satellite owners stop providing access within the country?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "dib98w2", "dibbma2" ], "text": [ "By forcing all cellular providers to block their internet. Cellphones don't connect to their network through a satellite, they connect to a nearby cell tower which is connected to their service provider's network. The service provider's simply needs to bl...
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6en1ku
How do Naval submarines stay in contact with the mainland?
I know that regular frequency waves have an extremely hard time penetrating water, and I know that the lower the frequency is, the less feasible it is to submerge the entire transmitter. So how do submarines stay in contact with the surface? Say if a nuclear strike was ordered?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "dibhhzh", "dibvfxl" ], "text": [ "Your intuition that low-frequency radio waves are the only means of transmitting through water of any significant depth is correct, as is your intuition that the antennae required to transmit such radio waves are too large to mount on submarines. But you'...
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6enlh1
Why when a new CPU is showing, the companies insanely overclocks it to show performance?
I recently saw a new about the Intel i9-7900X and they used nitrogen liquid to overclock at ~ 5 GHz to beat RYZEN Cinebench score. I mean, how many customers would do that?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "dibliw3", "dibl63q" ], "text": [ "The same reason why car companies advertise very fast 0-60 mph times or have a speedometer that can go to very high speeds. Even though most people will never accelerate or speed that fast, the possibility of that car being able to do it adds to its worth...
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6eno5f
Why there are so many viruses for Windows but not for Linux or Unix?
Maybe I'm wrong, but I often heard statements like you are quite safe using Linux or Unix systems regarding to the thread of catching a virus. Is this true? And if yes, why is this so?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "dibnvr6" ], "text": [ "Software developer here, OP, so far, the answers here are terrible. People think only in terms of Windows and Linux *desktops*, which, while it's true that Linux is still not a very popular desktop, is a very '90s way of thinking about things. Apple's desktop and phone ...
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6epw9w
How did media control symbols become standard (play, pause, fast forward, etc.)? Do other parts of the world use different symbols?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "dic4jvk", "dicmd17" ], "text": [ "URL_0 There is actually an international standard for all forms of icons. I'm going off of personal knowledge here, so correct me if I'm wrong, but during the 80s when electronics started to become more widespread globally and production switched from the...
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6epyng
How do sites such as URL_0 find your heritage?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "dic4crx" ], "text": [ "Typically they use the information you give them on your family and compare it to the public records they have available to them (e.g. birth certificates, death certificates, census records, military records) and follow that as far as they can." ], "score": [ 6 ...
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6eqnr7
When I'm driving through a tunnel (specifically underwater) I lose radio reception but I still have cell reception (i.e. Streaming music)?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "dic9orp", "dicbdcj" ], "text": [ "This can happen when cellular access points have been added to the tunnel. The tunnel still shields out external signals, but it has interior signals all of its own.", "Probably a 30 second or more buffer. My son has come out of his room complaining t...
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6eqxb4
When electronics, such as smartphones, preform multiple tasks at once, or for an extended period of time, what makes the device hot?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "dicca12" ], "text": [ "Any time an electric current passes through a conductor, a little bit of heat is generated. If an electronic device is hard at work, you have lots and lots and lots of tiny currents passing through lots and lots and lots of tiny conductors. Together those tiny amounts o...
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6et6kn
Hacking, and what the process actually would look like
Whenever I envision hacking I just see someone at their computer mashing away at the keyboard, but what actually IS hacking? How does one do it? What does one use?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "dicubw7", "dicv6cy", "dicz4e1", "dicwtuo" ], "text": [ "Hacking, fundamentally, is to force a system to operate outside of its intended parameters. Even if the term is most widely used for breaking into someone else's computer system, using the term in non-malicious and benign sit...
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6etgh3
How much more secure does a password become by requiring it to include both capital and lowercase letters, numerical characters and letters, etc.?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "dicw4w4", "dicvwa6" ], "text": [ "Length beats complexity. If the password does not contain any words from a dictionary and someone tries to brute force it (try every option), then there are p^n options for a password of length n with p options per letter. If your password is 8 lowercase ...
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6euu3w
How can steam have big sales so often and still stay profitable?
I.E. X game that usually sells for $60 is almost always cut to $30 when a sale comes around.
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "did62cm", "did65zj", "did7gaw" ], "text": [ "Random of guy passing through I have no real explanation but I would imagine the fact that they don't have to pay for actual stores, inventory, employees, and basically everything else that say GameStop would have to, they save more than en...
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6ev588
How do lights with two separate switches work?
I understand how a single light switch works: there's a circuit, and the position of the switch determines if the circuit is open or closed. When it's closed the light turns on. I'm asking about a setup like the one in my apartment: the kitchen light can be turned on as you come in the door or from a panel by the bedro...
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "did9iiw", "did9bwt" ], "text": [ "The configuration is known as “multiway switching”. Here’s a diagram from [wikipedia]( URL_1 ): [Diagram]( URL_0 ) Red “mains” is power. Notice that changing the position of either switch moves from an “on” state to an “off” state.", "Same basic idea,...
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6evce9
Why are headphone jacks being phased out of cell phones?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "didaghd", "didarrf", "didab7t", "didr5mk" ], "text": [ "The debate is that it takes up valuable space in the phone when the same function could be performed by a more universal port such as USB-C or through Bluetooth wireless communication. It is also a type of port which is diffi...
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6eviqh
The PageRank algorithm
I'm currently studying Computer Science at A-level and I am struggling to understand how the PageRank algorithm works, the formula looks pretty complicated and I was hoping someone could break it down for me in simple terms.
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "diderw7" ], "text": [ "The simple version is this. You want to know if a page is popular. To determine if it's popular you start with the basic idea that \"a page is popular if popular pages think it's popular\". To solve this you need two things, \"how do you know a page is popular\" and \"h...
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6exotw
Why did camouflage take so long to catch on in the military?
I mean it just seems so logical now.
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "didum8s" ], "text": [ "For a very long time it wasn't particularly logical. Until about the mid 1800s camouflaging individual soldiers wasn't just pointless, it was actually counter-productive. It was important that soldiers be highly visible. It wasn't until accurate repeating rifles made th...
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6f0yp6
Why are bar codes relatively large when usually you only need one thin scan line to identify an item?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "diejwck" ], "text": [ "You May have expierienced how long it takes from time to time for the employees to find the Barcode, now imagine its only half a cm thick." ], "score": [ 3 ], "text_urls": [ [] ] }
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6f14iu
What is HDD or SSD cache, and why does it make the storage device faster?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "diel8io", "dien7vt" ], "text": [ "Caching is the concept of using a smaller faster storage medium to store the most accessed data so it is faster. For example when you access something on your hard drive the operating system will store that data in the main memory. But when you are done w...
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6f197t
the second half of TLS/SSL
I get that it uses asymmetrical encryption - so when I connect to a site's server it gives me a public key - I encrypt my data in a one way function (e.g. I encrypt with the public key my whole payload and it can only be decrypted with the site's private key.) Makes sense - the data going to the site's server is encryp...
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "dienz8e" ], "text": [ "The public key isn't used to encrypt the data, it's only used for key exchange - the client uses this key to encrypt and send information that will be used by both parties to generate a shared key, just for this session. This key is then used for a symmetrical encryptio...
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6f1om9
What does Big Data really do with our data?
I want honest, true answers please. No fear-mongering or anti-corporate propaganda.
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "diep72y", "diepds5", "diepcvt", "diept3k" ], "text": [ "\"Big Data\" isn't an entity so it does nothing with our data. \"Big Data\" refers to the concept of using large amounts of data to draw conclusions or direct action. Some company might collect \"Big Data\" about their custom...
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6f1zic
Why are credit/debit cards not coded with the card type?
Frequently when I purchase something with my credit card, the machine asks whether I'm using a credit or debit card. I've even chosen the wrong one before out of curiosity and the transaction went through just fine, and showed up normally on my statement later. So if it's going to work regardless of which button you pr...
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "diev7kg", "diermkq", "dif6kk5", "dif4u49" ], "text": [ "It seems you misunderstood. It's not that the terminal is stupid, it's because the terminal is smart. The reason some payment terminals ask you the type is because your card is of both. It has credit side which means your ban...
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6f25lz
how does a Chromecast work
When I cast a show from Hulu or Netflix how does the Chromecast still play after on my TV while my phone is off the wifi network?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "diesu7c", "dievl05" ], "text": [ "Your phone tells your Chromecast over WiFi what to play. It also tells your Chromecast what volume to play, to play/pause, and to skip if you request it to. Since it basically just tells your Chromecast what to play, if your phone goes off WiFi it won't s...
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6f2rgd
How do railroads work? Are they just like freeways for trains? Could I buy a train and drive it anywhere I want?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "dieyxae", "dieyh39", "dieyhsa" ], "text": [ "Nope. Either you own the tracks, or you negotiate the right to use it with the owner (\"trackage rights.\") Most railroads in the U.S. are privately owned by companies like Norfolk Southern or Union Pacific. Amtrak is a peculiar case: It's ...
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6f31uh
Since I assume hacking/DDoS attacks are illegal, how have groups such as Anonymous and Our mine not been discovered and arrested?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "dif0hfe", "dif0iqi" ], "text": [ "It helps that Anonymous isn't a group. It's just a name that some hackers and a lot of neckbeards operate under whenever they're doing things. Individuals definitely get arrested but you can't arrest everyone who calls themselves Anonymous, only the ones ...
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[ "url" ]
6f345b
How do people remove vocals from a song for adverts for example?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "dif0ewi", "difax5k" ], "text": [ "Most songs nowadays are composed using layers on a track. So all it really takes is removing the layer. It's trickier with older songs that didn't use this production method.", "Little late to the party but I figured I'd add my two cents and hope you ...
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6f4ktq
Why are there so many almost inaudible volume notches on TVs?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "difeg1c" ], "text": [ "It's easier to have your volume start at zero and increase by a set amount for each 'notch'. In order to have useful sized increments at higher volumes you end up with some at the lower end that seem pointless. If you run your tv through an amplifier also, some of those...
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6f4pmw
Why in most video games, does it seem that Friendly/Ally A.I. has a much worse A.I. then what Agressive/Enemy A.I. have?
For example; many games have enemies that will only attack the player once they are in sight, but the ally will notice enemies through a wall and will attack the wall thinking they are making progress.
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "difjpyo", "difeaw1" ], "text": [ "In a lot of games, the friendly AI is restricted to doing very little so that the player has to do most of the actions required to progress. You see this in a lot of FPS single-player campaigns where your squadmates often seem to be doing nothing useful d...
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[ "url" ]
6f5w9r
How is push-to-start button on cars safer from theft than the old school manual-key-to-start?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "difo7ui" ], "text": [ "Simply, it isn't. The push vs latest version of turn has no bearing on security. With a modern​ turn key, the turning doesn't start the car. It's the key electronics that start the car. The mechanical motion is just user design." ], "score": [ 4 ], "text_url...
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6f6ey0
Why aren't large files like games downloaded as zip files then unzipped to save time?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "difs2zb" ], "text": [ "They typically are, although not as .zip format. The download is compressed as much as possible - have you not noticed that the installer is much smaller than the installed game?" ], "score": [ 13 ], "text_urls": [ [] ] }
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6f6i7e
To what extent would electric cars help in reducing carbon emissions?
If there is a sudden increase in electric cars, the demand for electricity to charge the electric cars will also increase. This would lead to more burning of fossil fuels to produce enough electricity to cope with the rising demand, especially considering that electric cars don't have great mileage. So would the net ca...
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "difw0jv", "difssqn", "difsvkz" ], "text": [ "Others have pointed out that using electricity from fossil-fuel plants in electric cars is more energy efficient than using the fossil fuels directly in combustion engines. Here is a (simplified) calculation by how much: Energy efficiencies...
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6f81c2
What do we measure in MHz when we are talking about CPUs, does it have any moving parts like a Hard-Disk does?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "dig663w" ], "text": [ "A CPU is essentially made from switches. Tiny areas on a piece of silicon - a microchip - can be created such that they allow electricity to pass from one place to another when there is electricity supplied at a third point and not otherwise; or the inverse, they preven...
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6f8iln
Ubuntu, Debian, Linux - What are they exactly? What's the difference?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
{ "a_id": [ "diga5lw", "dig88bw" ], "text": [ "Linux isn't an entire operating system, it's just the core of one- the part that interacts with the hardware, called the kernel. All the tools and programs that run on top of that layer, the parts you interact with (called the \"shell\") aren't part of Li...
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