Most FM receivers nowadays rely on creating a signal of a specific frequency that interferes with the desired on-dial frequency, this is called an intermediate frequency. Then the actual audio signal is analogous to the changes on that IF.
This technique is known as superheterodyne, and Technology Connections has a wonderful video explaining it better than I can.
I have a genuine question, what's to gain from this? I could half-understand it if they were going to re-allocate the 88-108 MHz block, but that doesn't seem to be the case.
I could also understand why such an action would be taken if that meant that they could pack more stations in the same spectrum, but considering that Switzerland is a relatively small country, so is there really a market? Even if considering multiple languages per niche.
I guess a case could be made for power savings by virtue of (assuming local topography allows) lower power transmitters or by multiplexing various stations on the same transmitter.
On a personal level, I'm not entirely sure how I feel about all forms of analog broadcasting being slowly phased out. The tinkerer in me likes the idea of being capable of constructing an information receiving device in an almost "survivalist" manner, but if this trend continues and analog FM really goes the way of the dodo, then I surmise that DAB (or whichever local flavor is chosen) will become easily and cheaply available, which makes my gut feeling a moot point anyway.
I don't know, I just don't like the idea of needing a processor to receive broadcast audio, and I can't quite put my finger on why.
Well don't get me wrong, this is Hacker News, you'd be hard pressed to find people who don't love tech here. I agree with your main idea, but the lack of informed consent just bothers me. The mere fact that most people don't realize their cars could (not saying that is the norm, at least not just yet), track their every move by default, sending their data to an unknown server to do unknown things and you have to opt out of that is just frightening. GM can't even do a simple entertainment center that doesn't lag out like a $20 tablet, so what are they making with my live location and how well are they taking care of it?
Frank's transition from script doctor to top screenwriter mirrors a classic dev story: a shift from fixing bugs to building entire systems. His journey underscores the universal truth in creative fields: mastering the basics leads to groundbreaking work.
Kids are prone to learning languages and fast, so try to keep them surrounded with content of a foreign language that you deem interesting for their future.
In my opinion, thermal pads are better suited for components that need just that little extra bit of heat dissipation to perform adequately, i.e components that are < 10° C from being able to be passively cooled. Voltage regulators come to mind.
So in that instance, if the thermal pads are reasonably well installed, the components should be just fine, since we're working with much looser tolerances.
When you need active cooling, the manufacturing complexity increases to the point where the convenience doesn't really make sense, since you have to get it right, so thermal paste is the way to go.