Personally I am happy that Galileo will be put in service as we need better accuracy as well as the system which is not under military control. Although I am sure US Military already has looked into jamming or otherwise disabling Galileo above certain territories as certain times.
Apparently GPS and Galileo will play along nicely and we all will have more reliable GPS service as well as a nice add on: "...Galileo satellites will be able to detect and report signals from Cospas-Sarsat search-and-rescue beacons in the 406.0–406.1 MHz band, which makes them a part of the Global Maritime Distress Safety System."
Andrew, yes you can't trust the US "government" because you know they are the boogeyman! booga wooga!
In any case, if you really trust your own government, good for you! But do keep in mind that Norway already has a population of less than five million, and with a fertility rate of 1.78, it means that there are less Norwegians today than there were yesterday, and there will be even less tomorrow. So what will you do when there is no one left to run a government, then who are you going to trust? Or perhaps a better question should be if you will still trust your government when it looks like the Pakistani government? Because it is certainly headed that way, but that is one direction in which a GPS, whether European or American, will not be able to help you.
Easy there, Dolemite. I trust my government to work for it's citizens - but I don't trust a foreign one. Is that so hard to understand? To each his own.
As for my country's low birthrates; it hardly matters. Each year thousands of Europeans move to my country. We offer high wages and loads of unfilled positions, not to mention free healthcare and schools. They are not born here but they end up being every bit as good Norwegians as the rest of us. Just last year (2007) over 40.000 people moved here and settled. That more than makes up for the difference.
And even if we did end up less than one million people so what? We have 700 million European neighbors. Or maybe I should hire some Americans to clean my house? I am sure we can arrange for guest worker status, hehe.
As a Norwegian, I will proudly say that I do not trust the Norwegian Government. In fact they have broken their promises to me and other Norwegians several times and I fear more about the results of Politically Correct talk and ignorant actions. It is amazing how Pakistanis can immigrate in mass while because I earned about 10000 NOK less than I should I couldn't allow my American BF to immigrate to the US whom I met while going to school there.
I'd rather support a country that is a bit over zeolous in their protections of their citizens than a country that blindly thinks it owes something to the rest of the world even to the expense of its own citizens.
However, back on subject I think better more targeted GPS is better for us all. Also to the original poster, yes there are features you can pay for but general service is free and that includes more accurate positioning.
Andrew, you have to be kidding me, right? 700 million Europeans? My friend, the survival of your culture is not something you can outsource to someone else. Even if you had, Europe is by far the worst choice possible, considering that they themselves rely on immigrant populations to keep their pension funds going.
How can you rely on Europe when the populations of Germany, Italy, Spain, Russia, Greece, and even France and others are all shrinking? The Norwegian population is literally dying out, and yet that it is in a better situation than the rest of Europe. So you sure as hell should not expect the Europeans to prop up your population.
As for the quality of the immigrants, you said "They are not born here but they end up being every bit as good Norwegians as the rest of us." Well, if only the world were as full of roses and teddy bears as you think it is. If the immigrants to Europe were as good as citizens then Europe would not be quickly becoming the mecca of honour killing outside of Saudi Barbaria and Pakistan. In fact, rape, especially gang rape, by immigrants would not be becoming as large a problem as it getting, including in Norway. In fact, if it were as you say it is, then Theo van Gogh would still be alive. Remember Theo van Gogh?
I suppose that I am willing to concede to you that it is not necessarily the immigrant population that is the problem, as the vast majority of immigrants tend to be extremely hard workers, and generally quite dedicated to their new countries. The problem however, is their progeny. Europe has the honour of making sure that the second and third generation immigrants to Europe are more radicalised then their parents and grandparents. The rioting Algerians in France, the exploding Pakistanis in Britain, and the honour-killing happy Turks in Germany are proof of that.
Whether you believe me or not, it does not matter, as this is not about me. But perhaps you will believe one of those Norwegian immigrants you are swooning over: Mullah Krekar
I find it interesting that Americans are so interested in demographic trends in the EU. As a nation of immigrants, I guess that is understandable. However, why do you hang onto discredited right-wing nonsense from Mark Steyn to attack a new navigation system being constructed? The chance of 'EUarabia' is very remote. The term was created as a way to discredit what free and democratic people thought of the illigeal invasion of Iraq.
As for the figures, the reality is that demographic change happens all the time. Birth rates are as much a factor of economic concerns as anything. In which case the birth rate in the US will be falling soon as your economy tanks. But its okay. While the Islamification of Europe has been show to be just right-wing rubbish, the Mexicfication of the US is a very real trend! I for one look forward to it. The latin types are far less uptight!
I am also a Norwegian, and I trust the Norwegian government a bit more than the US one. Not because our is so good but at least our government is mostly driven by our elected statesmen and not only by our larger cooperations.
But I will not pay for GPS service when the US system is free. I am not that found in paying for something i legally can have free.
Sasha S.: The American Government are not allowed to do that. USA isn't like the rulers of the world, and they do diffidently do not have control over a European GPS spinoff.
Anyway, sounds great, finally Galileo seems to come somewhere.
A lot of people will be using the Galileo system. The US system is fine for you're $200 Sat-Nav systems but try landing a plane using it. Put simply you can't - it's simply not accurate enough. The second point is that airlines, and other safety critical applications will not accept a system which is under the millitary control of a forign government. In the case of some kind of millitary emergency in the US (eg N.Korea leting off a few missles) that US gps system will be encrypted in the blink of an eye. A hugly unlikey situation but since it is still a posibility they can't take that risk.
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The US GPS system is free for all to use. Galileo will not be free so no one will ever use it.
Galileo will have free as well as paid services. More info can (as always) be found in Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galileo_positioning_system#Services)
Personally I am happy that Galileo will be put in service as we need better accuracy as well as the system which is not under military control. Although I am sure US Military already has looked into jamming or otherwise disabling Galileo above certain territories as certain times.
Apparently GPS and Galileo will play along nicely and we all will have more reliable GPS service as well as a nice add on: "...Galileo satellites will be able to detect and report signals from Cospas-Sarsat search-and-rescue beacons in the 406.0–406.1 MHz band, which makes them a part of the Global Maritime Distress Safety System."
Err.. You do realise that Eurpopean military/political leaders will be able to swtich off the G system as well!
You can be sure European governments and military *will* use it.
And I will gladly pay for access because I trust *my* government, but not so much the US...
@Ian:You do realize the difference between having a system under civilan control versus one controlled by the military, right?
Yeah, 'cause I can't count the number of times the US military has shut off civilian acess to GPS... oh, wait.
Andrew, yes you can't trust the US "government" because you know they are the boogeyman! booga wooga!
In any case, if you really trust your own government, good for you! But do keep in mind that Norway already has a population of less than five million, and with a fertility rate of 1.78, it means that there are less Norwegians today than there were yesterday, and there will be even less tomorrow. So what will you do when there is no one left to run a government, then who are you going to trust? Or perhaps a better question should be if you will still trust your government when it looks like the Pakistani government? Because it is certainly headed that way, but that is one direction in which a GPS, whether European or American, will not be able to help you.
Easy there, Dolemite. I trust my government to work for it's citizens - but I don't trust a foreign one. Is that so hard to understand? To each his own.
As for my country's low birthrates; it hardly matters. Each year thousands of Europeans move to my country. We offer high wages and loads of unfilled positions, not to mention free healthcare and schools. They are not born here but they end up being every bit as good Norwegians as the rest of us. Just last year (2007) over 40.000 people moved here and settled. That more than makes up for the difference.
And even if we did end up less than one million people so what? We have 700 million European neighbors. Or maybe I should hire some Americans to clean my house? I am sure we can arrange for guest worker status, hehe.
@Ian. No, the U.S army would neeeeever do something that could put non-U.S citizens in danger, right?
As a Norwegian, I will proudly say that I do not trust the Norwegian Government. In fact they have broken their promises to me and other Norwegians several times and I fear more about the results of Politically Correct talk and ignorant actions. It is amazing how Pakistanis can immigrate in mass while because I earned about 10000 NOK less than I should I couldn't allow my American BF to immigrate to the US whom I met while going to school there.
I'd rather support a country that is a bit over zeolous in their protections of their citizens than a country that blindly thinks it owes something to the rest of the world even to the expense of its own citizens.
However, back on subject I think better more targeted GPS is better for us all. Also to the original poster, yes there are features you can pay for but general service is free and that includes more accurate positioning.
Andrew, you have to be kidding me, right? 700 million Europeans? My friend, the survival of your culture is not something you can outsource to someone else. Even if you had, Europe is by far the worst choice possible, considering that they themselves rely on immigrant populations to keep their pension funds going.
How can you rely on Europe when the populations of Germany, Italy, Spain, Russia, Greece, and even France and others are all shrinking? The Norwegian population is literally dying out, and yet that it is in a better situation than the rest of Europe. So you sure as hell should not expect the Europeans to prop up your population.
As for the quality of the immigrants, you said "They are not born here but they end up being every bit as good Norwegians as the rest of us." Well, if only the world were as full of roses and teddy bears as you think it is. If the immigrants to Europe were as good as citizens then Europe would not be quickly becoming the mecca of honour killing outside of Saudi Barbaria and Pakistan. In fact, rape, especially gang rape, by immigrants would not be becoming as large a problem as it getting, including in Norway. In fact, if it were as you say it is, then Theo van Gogh would still be alive. Remember Theo van Gogh?
I suppose that I am willing to concede to you that it is not necessarily the immigrant population that is the problem, as the vast majority of immigrants tend to be extremely hard workers, and generally quite dedicated to their new countries. The problem however, is their progeny. Europe has the honour of making sure that the second and third generation immigrants to Europe are more radicalised then their parents and grandparents. The rioting Algerians in France, the exploding Pakistanis in Britain, and the honour-killing happy Turks in Germany are proof of that.
Whether you believe me or not, it does not matter, as this is not about me. But perhaps you will believe one of those Norwegian immigrants you are swooning over: Mullah Krekar
http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article1247400.ece
Krekar claims Islam will win - Aftenposten.no
Norway 1.78
Denmark 1.74
Finland 1.73
Sweden 1.67
Netherlands 1.66
United Kingdom 1.66
Belgium 1.65
Germany 1.41
Russia 1.40
@Argot:
Um, you realize that in the US that the military is under civilian control, right?
@Dolomite
I find it interesting that Americans are so interested in demographic trends in the EU. As a nation of immigrants, I guess that is understandable. However, why do you hang onto discredited right-wing nonsense from Mark Steyn to attack a new navigation system being constructed?
The chance of 'EUarabia' is very remote. The term was created as a way to discredit what free and democratic people thought of the illigeal invasion of Iraq.
As for the figures, the reality is that demographic change happens all the time. Birth rates are as much a factor of economic concerns as anything. In which case the birth rate in the US will be falling soon as your economy tanks. But its okay. While the Islamification of Europe has been show to be just right-wing rubbish, the Mexicfication of the US is a very real trend! I for one look forward to it. The latin types are far less uptight!
I am also a Norwegian, and I trust the Norwegian government a bit more than the US one. Not because our is so good but at least our government is mostly driven by our elected statesmen and not only by our larger cooperations.
But I will not pay for GPS service when the US system is free. I am not that found in paying for something i legally can have free.
Sasha S.: The American Government are not allowed to do that. USA isn't like the rulers of the world, and they do diffidently do not have control over a European GPS spinoff.
Anyway, sounds great, finally Galileo seems to come somewhere.
Getting back to the origional point...
A lot of people will be using the Galileo system. The US system is fine for you're $200 Sat-Nav systems but try landing a plane using it. Put simply you can't - it's simply not accurate enough.
The second point is that airlines, and other safety critical applications will not accept a system which is under the millitary control of a forign government. In the case of some kind of millitary emergency in the US (eg N.Korea leting off a few missles) that US gps system will be encrypted in the blink of an eye. A hugly unlikey situation but since it is still a posibility they can't take that risk.