As they have all already got the addiction for them selves in the community.. well though i would not argue that Vista has severely hampered the normality for Microsoft… but then same short of concerns where raised earlier with XP OS…

PS: I linked to you guys here: http://talleywhackers.wordpress.com/2008/05/01/bills-toronto-games-value/

While a large number of the apps are only for technology demonstration purposes, it is easy to see how this could indeed become a ubiquitous appliance in many commercial settings. Maybe we’ll see initial adoption by the end of this year? (200

Using silverlight 2 and expression, the development for this device will be great. Now that the Silverlight 2 beta is out, I would recommend grabbing a copy. It is going to be very nice to be able to develope web, windows, surface, mobile apps through the same code base.

Here are some videos from units on display at MIX 08 including a Snow Board Customization App.
http://www.4tay.com/blogs/Adam-Parker/Microsoft-Surface-Demonstration-at-MIX-08/1/1/701/

This sure has come a long way from their sample unit in Redmond. Only thing left is a good/quick way of capturing user input (text).

Their site still shows info about the gPC along with a video they made demonstrating it.

http://nasws.freelancepartnership.com

I hope someone finds it the information useful.

I wouldn’t say that no one is considering Pickering. Just check out http://www.gtaa.com/en/community_relations/pickering_project/

There was also some requirement that Toronto and York had to agree with how they would come up with their third before some deadline, or the province’s third would not be placed in that “account”. Toronto and York bickered over how this should be split and at the 11th hour when the province’s third was beginning to fade, they agreed on a 60/40 split (I believe with Toronto covering the 60, but don’t quote me on that). For Toronto and York, this was all academic since the whole thing required a third from the feds, and that was a pipe dream at the time.

Then, a year later, the feds came up with their third, making it seem like a done deal. I’m not so sure, since neither Toronto nor York were happy with the sharing split they came up with. This is Toronto, the city run by a bunch of councillors who have great difficulty taking a photo together, and York, the region with councillors representing places like Sutton, Keswick, and Newmarket when it comes to paying for the construction and operation of a subway to Vaughan. Oh yea, that sounds like a formula for a done deal!

As for the issue of the TTC going into York region, don’t forget that they operate contracted services already. In almost every case, when a TTC bus crosses Steeles Avenue, it “becomes” a YRT bus (collecting a YRT fare and accepting YRT/VIVA transfers and issuing transfers that are accepted on YRT/VIVA). My description of not every subway going north of Steeles is no different than what occurs with buses.

One issue regarding this, is that there are some “personal” feelings on the part of some regional councillors who are on the YRT board as it pertains to their feelings about the company contracted to operate VIVA. Without pointing any specific fingers, there are some who are all gung-ho about a subway up Yonge Street to be operated by the TTC for the sole reason that it will not be operated by the private operator of VIVA. I read something about “subway” not being part of the scope of their contract, and the thought of spending money on reserved bus lanes for VIVA operation seems to encourage their promotion of a subway. Though, I wonder why LRT would not also be out of the scope of the contract with the operator. VIVA is a brand that I understand is owned by YRT, but I am beginning to suspect that the contractor might have legal rights over anything with the VIVA brand on it.

Andy MJ

I have heard that only every third train is likely, but in any case it won’t be more than any second (the same goes for an extension up Yonge as well). While cost is a main concern, there is a technical limitation.

The newer signalling system on the Sheppard line was mentioned, and theTTC has planned for a replacement of the signalling system on older parts of the line over the next several years. Replacement parts for the older system have had to be machined in house for several years and the newer system will provide a number of benefits such as automation and single track operation (something that would allow 24 hour operation while still carrying out routine maintenance).

The biggest benefit, especially for the Yonge line, is that the new system allows 90 second headways. This can increase the capacity of the Yonge line by more than 30%. The one roadblock to 90 second headways that a new signalling system will not remove is the 140 second minimum turn-around time at terminals. Unless new terminals on extensions are built with loops (train arrives, unloads, proceeds through loop, returns on other track, loads, continues), the only way to get 90 second headway over most of the line is to have two terminals at each end.

If both ends are extended to Highway 7, I strongly susepct that Steeles would be one turnback location at each end. Commuters at the end of a hard workday expecting to ride all the way to Highway 7 will have a 50/50 chance (or possibly worse) of having to exit at Steeles and wait for the next train.

A branching line, as suggested above, would accomplish the same thing, with 180 second headway on each branch and 90 second headway on the rest of the line.

I know that Abrams has been hit and miss and if I could pick a direction for a Star Trek helmsman there are several others I could think of (one you suggested, Ridley Scott is a tasty alternative) beyond him. Still, I gotta hope that more of Lost comes through than say one of his other ‘enterprises’…heh, sorry couldn’t resist.

And like my Dad used to say, “There is NO bad science fiction. Only an absence of it.” Ah, I wish he were still here on planet Earth.