April 2004 Archives

Shhh, don't tell my boss, but I've always wanted the ability to stream live TV on my work desktop PC. You know for those times when the Yankees are playing the Red Sox in a day game on a work day, or there's a daytime NCAA game going on? Using ESPN's GameCast feature just isn't the same.

There are some sites that stream live TV for free,but you're limited to the channel that they stream. I want the ability to stream my home digital cable network which has 200+ channels!

There are tons of sites out there that explain how you can turn your PC into a Perdonsl Video Recorder (PVR) (ala Tivo or ReplayTV) but there are very few sites that explain how to stream live TV with the ability to remotely change channels.

I want the ability to hook-up a cable connection to my home TV and then access any of the channels remotely, i.e. with a web interface I should be able to remotely switch channels. And of course the channel I select is "streamed" to my PC.

Better yet, why not stream the TV video to a PocketPC? It's much more portable and therefore I can stream video wherever I can find an IP connection -whether it's WiFi, 3G, or 1xRTT.

Here's a cool HOW-TO Guide that demonstrates how to stream TV video (both live and recorded) to a PocketPC. Pocket PC Passion - Watching TV on your PPC in Style

Here's a screenshot for changing the TV channel:

I may just have to upgrade my home PC to handle the encoding. very cool stuff!

i saw two releases from TI regarding broadband growth as well some interesting integration of VoIP onto DSL chipsets.

Check out this story on broadand growth:
Texas Instruments Predicts Continued Momentum for Broadband Business in 2004

Here is an excerpt from the second news release:
Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) today introduced two new DSL residential gateway reference designs that add Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and wireless home networking functionality. The new designs are based upon TI's AR7 DSL router- on-a-chip and combines key technologies of TI's broadband portfolio. These DSL, VoIP and WLAN technologies were designed to allow future system-level integration with platforms containing common hardware and software architectures. This design strategy made it possible to integrate the AR7 with TI's 802.11b/g platform and voice DSP with Telogy Software(R) into a single system that provides consumers with cost-effective VoIP and WLAN for their homes.
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So basically what this means is that TI will be offering a VoIP gateway device (DSL-based) similar to an ATA (analog telephony adaptor) but it will be built into future DSLAMs, DSL modems, etc.

What's ironic is that the phone companies are the ones who offer DSL service. So by bundling a DSL modem with built-in VoIP capabilities the phone companies are enabling DSL users to "jump ship" from traditional (more expensive) PSTN voice to (less expensive) Voice over IP. Of course, I'm sure the phone companies will figure out a good business/pricing model so they don't cannibalize their revenue.

You can check out the full release here: TI Brings VoIP to DSL

Zipdash - Mobile Map and Traffic App

In a recent blog entry, I talked about my desire to "integrate" GPS with tracking technology to be able to determine traffic speeds and re-route accordingly.

Well, who knew that just a few days later I would be watching TechTV and they would demonstrate a product that is very close to what I was looking for!

A company called ZipDash works with NexTel phones (with GPS option) and displays a map on the Nextel phone with color coded arrows to indicate the traffic speed (green, yellow, red). (I believe it's a Java app on the phone)

I mentioned in my blog that my "theoretical idea" of a P2P GPS traffic monitoring model would require users to have to "opt in" in order to receive traffic reports. Sure enough, ZipDash works on that principal. If you "opt in" to receiving ZipDash's traffic data, you must also let ZipDash track your cell phone location. Of course it is anonymous according to this quote from their website:

"Rest assured, the information we gather is completely anonymous. Nextel doesn't even allow us access to information such as your phone number. We don't ask you for personal information and we make protecting your privacy a top priority. "

It's only in California unfortunately. But this gives me hope that one day the New York/Connecticut Metro area will have it some day.

Here's the link to the TechTV show I saw:
TechTV - ZipDash - GPS & Cell Phone

Have you ever been frustrated by plugging and unplugging USB devices from your measly 2 USB ports (typically most PCs only come with 2 ports) I know I have constantly had to plug/unplug a USB printer, Canon PowerShot G3 digital camera, iPaq sync cradle, Plantronics USB headset, Intel videocamera, and more from my PC. I thought about buying a USB hub to add more ports, but I guess I'm just too damn cheap.

Actually I just couldn't justify spending the money on USB hub just due to the "laziness factor" of having to plug/unplug USB devices.

I did wish I could "share" my USB peripheral devices on the network so that my network of PCs (home & work) could share the USB devices without having to move them.

Well, my wish has come true with Keyspan's USB Server! This is cool stuff!

Check out the news release I received:
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Below find news from Keyspan as it ships its new USB Server which represents an entirely new product category that supports USB devices as a class rather than just USB printers.

Richmond, CA-- April 12, 2004 -- Keyspan, America's #1 brand of USB connectivity products*, announces it is now shipping its revolutionary USB Server that connects USB devices to a Mac or PC via a wired or wireless Ethernet-based LAN.

The Keyspan USB Server has an MSRP of $129 and is available to resellers from Ingram Micro, Wynit and D&H; and to consumers at CompUSA, CDW, and other leading computer products resellers.

Much like a USB print server, the USB Server enables attached USB devices to be used and shared by client PCs on a LAN. In addition to printers, the USB Server supports other USB devices such as scanners and multi-function printers.

The USB Server provides 4 ports for connecting to USB devices at Full Speed USB (12 Mbps). It connects to 10/100 Ethernet networks via an RJ45 connector and supports static IP, DHCP, and Apple's Rendezvous address assignment. Client PCs must be running Windows 2000, Windows XP, or Mac OSX 10.2.8 or higher.

"The Keyspan USB Server makes it possible to share USB printers and USB scanners across a LAN in a home office, small office or classroom," stated Mike Ridenhour, president of Keyspan. "Client PCs can be wired or wireless - providing a great way to print from a Wi-Fi-based laptop."

Morpheus used to be the leading P2P client and formerly one of my favorite P2P applications - that is before they were sued by the RIAA, then "revamped" their client and started bundling spyware. In any event, they've cleaned up their act a little and offer a decent P2P client app, that can access multiple P2P networks at once (i.e. Kazaa, eDonkey, iMesh, Overnet, Grokster, Gnutella, LimeWire, etc.). I haven't checked it out yet, as I am still partial to eMule Plus.

In any event, Morpheus has partnered with i2Telecom to launch a new VoIP service.

Here's the news release:
i2Telecom and StreamCast's Morpheus Global VoIP Solution Now Available

Some keypoints:
1) You have to buy Morpheus' VoiceBox for $49.95. oy! Another VoIP gateway box? I hope it's at least standards-based (i.e. SIP or H.323)
2) Their news release says "Unlimited free calling to other Morpheus Voicebox(TM) customers anywhere in the world"
3) If it's "free" Then what's this? "Unlimited Global Community calling plan for $6.95/month." Is it free or is it $6.95/month? Make up your minds!
3) Calls to all U.S. and Canadian telephones cost only 3.9 cents per minute.
4) They offer a "Vonage-like"service by offering "North America Unlimited Plan - additional $18.95/month."

Of course Vonage has both inbound & outbound phone number capabilities, i.e. they give you a real phone number. As far as I can tell te Morpheus/i2Telecom service is outbound only to telephony numbers. The only inbound service is via fellow Morpheus/i2Telecom users. Not very useful if you want grandma to call you!

And I should point out that P2P Kazaa founders Niklas Zennstrom and Kazaa co-creator Janus Friis announced a similar venture with Skype

In fact Skype is fast becoming a very popular VoIP client since:
a) it's free to call fellow Skype users and it doesn't require a hardware box like Morpheus
b) it works through NAT firewalls
c) the voice is encrypted.

Still, the Morpheus news bodes well for the Internet telephony industry.

I hate traffic. No, let me rephrase that. I HATE traffic! Connecticut's I-95 corridor from Bridgeport to Greenwich is ranked as having traffic in the nation. I know for a fact that commuting on I-95 has knocked off at least 5 years of my lifetime - not to mention the years I have sat idling in standstill traffic, wasting gallons of fossil fuel, polluting the environment, and the increased blood pressure incurred by cursing that guy who just cut me off just to advance 3 car spaces in 5 mph traffic

You know what I hate even worse? Those damn radio traffic reports! They're absolutely useless! Just when I thought I found a good radio station to give me a heads-up on traffic delays, I am always sorely disappointed. Here's a typical traffic report: "Thing are a little bit heavy by exit 30. There will be slight breaks in the traffic until you reach exit 25 with a slight slowdown caused by a fender bender over on the right shoulder. I-95 is pretty smooth sailing with a touch of the brakes by exit 40."

Basically, this traffic report tells me nothing. It's all generalities with no real indication if I should take an alternate route. In fact, this last comment "just a touch of the brakes" comment happened this morning on the way to work. It wasn't a "touch of the brakes" - try "just a touch of the gas pedal every 30 seconds!" since traffic was crawling. Had the traffic report given me an "estimated speed" or some sort of "traffic jam factor" I could have taken back roads or an alternate highway. But alas, the only time traffic reports really help me is if there is a major accident.

Here's my solution. Why not use GPS technology combined with vehicle tracking? Already on the road there are millions of GPS units installed on cars and trucks. While most GPS units are one-way (no vehicle tracking), many do have vehicle tracking, such as OnStar which is installed on probably thousands of vehicles that could be used to calculate the average speed on any given road.

Now, I know privacy advocates would probably scream bloody murder at the idea of letting someone "track" their vehicle, but there are ways around the privacy issue. What if the owners of GPS-enabled cars "opted in" to allowing a third-party traffic monitoring company track their vehicle anonymously to determine traffic patterns real-time? As an incentive, the GPS service provider (OnStar) could offer a discount if you opt-in to letting them track the speed/location of your vehicle. Service providers can "sell" the traffic data to radio stations for accurate traffic reports, or even back to the people they have "opted in".

Of course, "speeders" may be wary of letting someone track their speed, but I'm sure there is way of "anonymizing" the data and only keeping "realtime" data for 1-3 seconds (just enough to calculate average speed) before deleting it - this way law enforcement can't subpoena driving information. Actually, since each GPS waypoint is "anonymous", it won't matter.

Unfortunately, the pricetag is $679. I assume of the reasons is that this product has a built-in cellular antenna that uses the nationwide Cellemetry network. I'm not sure if you have to "subscribe" to Cellemetry and pay a monthly fee as well.

As much as I love gadgets, and as cool as vehicle tracking would be, I'm too cheap to spend $679 for it. Call me cheap I guess. Alas, I will wait for the day for ubiquitous WiFi coverage. Then I can use my existing GPS receiver and existing PocketPC w/ GPS software for real-time vehicle tracking and monitoring over the Internet.

I’m a huge fan of GPS. I’ve got a Compaq iPaq PocketPC mounted to my windshield using a suction cub device connected to a Destinator GPS antenna (http://www.destinator1.com) and running Destinator 3.0 GPS software/maps. They license the same maps used by Mapquest from a company called NavTech. So whether you’ve cursed Mapquest for improper directions or thanked the Almighty for the convenience of Mapquest, will determine how accurate you think Destinator’s maps are. Actually, in my opinion, the Destinator maps are quite good and they include POIs (Points of Interest) categories that include gas, restaurants, casinos, shopping, airports, and more. You can check out my review of their older 2.0 version here: http://www.planetpdamag.com/content/062602tk.htm I'm actually running Destinator 3.0 (much improved) now. I should probably do another review, shouldn't I? Ok, maybe in a week or so I will.