AVCampos

What do you mean by "micro panels"? The "toilet papers" introduced this year?

Yes, also true, This is most noticeable with all LEGO crane booms, and one disadvantage of pneumatics over LAs.

This is common with the LEGO pneumatic system: even if all switches are closed, it slowly loses pressure over time.

I don't think so: my phone can be connected to my Chinese smartwatch (which, judging by its poor range, definitely isn't BLE) and my car at the same time.

I think it's conceivable that standard Python (if not MicroPython, even) has some BT HID library that allows it to communicate with a gamepad (or a keyboard or mouse, but right now I don't see much use for those in a LEGO model); would it be complicated to implement a method that returned a list of buttons/axes pressed in a paired controller, similarly to what is done with the LEGO PU controller? That would have the disadvantage of fragmenting Pybricks a bit more, in the sense that some functionality is available only on some hubs, but on the other hand we already have some of that with the number of ports and the gyro/accelerometer.

If TLG does that, people will be moaning that they already did the John Deere and they're lazy and we get the same thing over and over again, and other complaints.

I'm not concerned about that: for example, the RCX was discontinued before some people here were even born, yet it's still usable nowadays thanks to Bricx Command Center (and a USB-to-serial adapter, in most cases). What I'm concerned regarding long-term usability is proprietary rechargeable batteries, like those of the two SPIKE hubs. LEGO could implement support for standard Bluetooth HID devices, and then we could use our gamepad of choice. If TLG wants to keep everything LEGO-branded, they can slap a LEGO shell around an off-the-shelf gamepad PCB, like they did with that Logitech webcam. But assigning button X to function A would indeed still require a computer/phone for initial configuration, unless TLG did the extra step for each copy of a set and pre-configure the hub that comes with it for that specific set. "Luckily" there's even no need for B-model configurations.

That looks like a (non-volatile) RAM pool in whose addresses we read and write data. Considering the hubs were never made for such functionality (as far as I guess), that's really cool! May I suggest an addition? A method that takes generic data and returns the number of bytes it'll take in storage. That way, we'll be able to manage available space and calculate where to store multiple pieces of data. For example, get how many bytes a string will take to know the offset to store an adjacent second string.

Perhaps it was intended to use in an eventually cancelled set? [edit] or one that was launched but with a colour scheme changed from blue.

There's not just number of sets, but also number in each set. I have no idea if that changes the result of your calculations, though.

Would carbon fibre be up to the task of resisting twisting and bending (and - gulp - breaking), with that length and thickness?

Truck Trial is infamous for breaking U-joints and twisting/breaking axles.

Is it also easier to build, and does it also hold itself better?

If there's a CAD version of it made, you can try downloading and editing it to swap colours as you see fit before buying the parts.

I just didn't like its colour scheme. Not because of the colours themselves, but because of yet another colour with a limited quantity to MOC with.

2017 did also bring the first small RC set, which began the tradition of great electronics parts packs.

The proof TLG themselves have this mindset is at the top floor of the LEGO House, with the distinct System and Technic (and also Duplo) dinosaurs.

I have no idea, I never looked into that. I wouldn't be surprised if BT communication is inherently encrypted, so I guess an intermediary device would have to be set up to relay stuff between phone and hub, and listen to what passes through it. Again, I'm no expert in the matter, so I'm just spitballing here.

The most important for that would be to understand the protocol the MK hub uses. In the absence of publicly-available documentation (which I think it's extremely likely, given what we're dealing with), that'd require either reverse-engineering the app or sniffing the Bluetooth communications between app and hub.

Very interesting! To have more diversity in my LUG's Technic layouts, I've been using Belville women instead.

I'm still undecided whether I like neon yellow or not because, on one hand, yet another shade makes amassing enough parts in one colour to MOC with harder; on the other, fluorescence!

Ah, thanks, I didn't know that. Suing someone for using a patented part in a MOC is obviously ridiculous, but I can see the trouble with a competitor brand trying to copy it. Still, I find it weird that we don't see that drama for all parts...

Is there a drama with the wave selector?

Actually, the large angular motor appeared in MINDSTORMS but was adopted by Technic in the Volvo hauler and the Cat bulldozer (albeit in thankfully more neutral colours). I don't doubt that, at the very least, we'll see the smallest motor appear in some future Technic set. This! 👆