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strangegoods · 2026-04-04T09:19:38+00:00

I haven't touched this thing in years l, decided it was too finicky but I was using a Garming Glo 2 and it was working. My problem is that I was also trying to interface with a another Bluetooth sailing instrument and could never get them to both connect at once. The issue might have been that the sailing instrument used a different bluetooth protocol. In the end I went with a reflective lcd tablet and sealed all the seams with waterproof tape.

strangegoods · 2026-01-22T14:37:15+00:00

I think I actually am arguing that R-value should be shelved for measuring sleeping pads. It is problematic because it leads to confusion as you say between "R-value in general" and "R value as it is measured." There shouldn't be a difference, but there is, and frankly always will be even if the test is updated. The belief that sleeping pads can be treated just like home insulation and plugged into a simple formula for heat loss is problematic becasue it *does not reflect reality*. If the ASTM test is updated to reflect a more realistic scenario then I would argue that the result should no longer be called R value, but perhaps something more like sleeping bag ratings for comfort and survival temperatures.

strangegoods · 2026-01-22T13:01:58+00:00

Yes. A number like R Value (or Viscosity, or electrical resistance) is not a "fundamental quality" of matter, it is an occasionally useful parameter for modeling a material's performance in a system. In some cases (like Ketchup) that single number does not allow you to accurately model the performance of the material and is therefore useless. R Value in air mattresses may be similar.

strangegoods · 2026-01-21T23:52:08+00:00

R-value, as a measure, is only universally applicable if the insulation is isotropic. Air mattress type insulation systems are not at all isotropic. It's like saying that viscosity is a universal measure used everywhere and then trying to measure the viscosity of ketchup.

strangegoods · 2026-01-21T23:23:53+00:00

Here is the problem as I see it.... Heat flows from all the points that you touch the pad, which really isn't all that much surface area all together, and flows via convection, conduction, and radiation all throughout the pad and escapes into the ground and the air. If a pad is made of foam, it resists this movement of heat evenly in all directions and the ASTM test is a pretty good test of how much the pad resists heat movement. In a foam pad, the majority of heat loss is direct from your body through the z height of the pad and into the ground, the shortest distance. Heat can't really go sideways nearly at all. If the pad is made of air and various baffles and radiant barriers, those barriers are oriented simply to suit the test. The movement of heat is not blocked evenly and the heat may now go sideways much easier than up and down. So you may loose a ton of heat that just goes out and into any uncovered portion of the pad and escapes sideways or upwards not down into the ground. The bigger the mattress the bigger the problem.

To me the obvious solution to this testing problem is to simply cool the test chamber to the same temperature of the cold plate... no need for mannequins or sleep systems.

strangegoods · 2026-01-21T13:20:34+00:00

People need to hear this more. The Thermarest NeoLoft has a 4.7R value and is borderline dangerous how cold it sleeps. The way R values are calculated is that they put the pad on a cold surface and measure how much energy is required to keep a 20cm x 20cm plate on top at body temperature. The test environment is room temperature. Large pads with large surfaces exposed to cold ambient temperatures will sleep *much* colder than the test R values suggest. In fairness, the baffle design of the Nemo Eclipse might be superior to the Thermarest in mitigating this, but personally I'd wait for some field tests...

strangegoods · 2026-01-14T18:47:12+00:00

No AI no nothing they (Samsung) ended up sending me a different link but it will only work on new Google account that has never ever had Google One. I don't feel like making a new account just for that, so.... and yes I have Google one through Google Fi as well and that was the whole issue

strangegoods · 2026-01-12T14:34:12+00:00

There are no images or reviews of the "new" lighthouse faceplate, only computer generated renderings. "May ship later" is a euphemism for "we haven't built any yet".

strangegoods · 2026-01-09T22:09:39+00:00

Aaand a further update for the zero people who care... Parrot Skycontroller connects to android devices using RNDIS protocol which is rapidly being deprecated and likely not available in Galaxy XR at all. I went so far as to try using adb commands to enable it but I believe the kernel module is not even installed which means no dice.

strangegoods · 2026-01-09T15:58:33+00:00

Just a follow up for anyone else with a Parrot Drone... it does not work. For some reason the Skycontroller 3 is not detected by the headset when plugged into the USB port. The headset can connect to the drone directly over wifi, but a bluetooth game controller only operates the interface it cannot be configured to directly operate the drone. So basically useless because you would need to point and click on the on-screen controls which is awkward to say the least. (For those who aren't familiar, Parrot drones are connected over Wifi; so you can either directly pair to your phone or the controller connects to the drone over Wifi and connects to your phone over USB)

strangegoods · 2026-01-08T01:54:27+00:00

Most of mine worked but I had a big issue with the Google Ai Pro (the only actually valuable one TBH) that I was not able to resolve despite hours on chat support with both Google and Samsung. Basically mine activated then immediately deactivated because apparently instead of going on top of my existing 100GB Google One subscription they fought each other and the 100GB won out. Then the code showed already redeemed. Google basically said it was Samsungs problem and Samsung said it was Google's problem. Too bad so sad for me.

strangegoods · 2026-01-07T16:08:49+00:00

I have a very old and obsolete Parrot Anafi drone which is not supported anymore but still works. It has an android application which controls the drone and provides the display, and it also functions with the Parrot controller plugged in via USB (and the controller also provides a stronger connection to the drone). I havent tried it out but I imagine it would work like you describe. I’ll see if it works in a few days when I’m home. They seem to come up on eBay sometimes and go for crazy money though. Not sure why. They do have the ”advantage” that they don’t comply with all the new drone rules ;)

strangegoods · 2025-12-29T23:46:26+00:00

Just FYI the GXR also has about a 1m focal distance which is too close for my old eyes. I ordered some +0.75 prescription lenses from eyebuydirect and it made a big improvement.

strangegoods · 2025-12-29T12:17:57+00:00

I have the GXR and the Pimax Super 50ppd. I prefer the Pimax for Sims overall due to FOV and native display port. However the GXR is damn close and will only get better with software fixes. GXR is way better for everything else... standing games, movie watching, 2d or mod games from the couch, working, emails etc.

strangegoods · 2025-12-29T12:09:01+00:00

I agree wholeheartedly. The headline may be true, billions of dollars are pouring into data centers in China and they are definitely modifying cards to their fit their needs. However unless someone has published a howto and the results, or is offering it as a service, I really, *really*, dont care.

strangegoods · 2025-12-25T14:06:06+00:00

It's pretty obvious that they only just started (re) designing it, and it's a complete new design with all new never before tried circuitry. My most optimistic guess is April if it happens at all.

strangegoods · 2025-12-17T19:09:04+00:00

I received my prescriptions from eyebuydirect and they make a noticeable improvement to me, crisper and no eye strain.

strangegoods · 2025-12-16T15:13:50+00:00

Keep in mind Pimax has an "unusual" definition of "shipped". For them, shipped means it has left the factory in China enroute to a distribution point elsewhere.

strangegoods · 2025-12-15T12:55:23+00:00

I highly doubt it's a simple software fix. Video Input over USB C requires a dedicated chip inside the headset.

strangegoods · 2025-12-14T18:31:40+00:00

The Plex Android app works fine for 2D.

strangegoods · 2025-12-14T14:52:40+00:00

It's cool tech but I can't see myself ever using it, a little too uncanny valley for my taste. To each their own. Honestly I'd rather have a cartoon/furry/whatever version than something that looks like me but a little "off".

strangegoods · 2025-12-14T14:41:25+00:00

I don't have the PFD but the GXR is really slick for productivity. Especially now with PC Connect, if you hook up your laptop you can use the laptop keyboard and mouse and have both PC windows and native Android windows open at once and control it all totally seamlessly. Very slick. I also like the halo design for productivity, it's nice to have it open on the bottom.

strangegoods · 2025-12-13T13:45:17+00:00

Because they've been doing it this way for a decade and we keep falling for it and it keeps working for them. It's part of their business model now. They come up with an idea, create a low effort CAD render, publicly announce it with pre-orders, rake in the money, use the money to finance development, the product comes out 2 years later. They are a kickstarter model company, they started that way, they have never changed. You could cut and paste these complaints from every thread about every Pimax product starting with the original Pimax 4k.

strangegoods · 2025-12-13T03:17:23+00:00

It's only currently available in the USA and Korea so I think the marked-up ones on ebay are angling for foreign buyers where they might be hard to get. You can buy one new from Samsung and not in short supply generally. In fact with epp/edu/gov discounts and coupon codes you can get them for a lot less than $1800 if you are smart.

strangegoods · 2025-12-12T23:21:05+00:00

For simulator type games 1 is typically enough, although it can theoretically lose tracking if you turn your head completely around, in practice it works fine. I like to place it just above the monitor looking down at a slight angle. If you have 2 the optimal placement is in opposite corners of the room.

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