March 2007 Archives

Are you a music, ringtone, or Internet video addict, but can't stand going to the gym to exercise? Well, why not use your music & video addiction to your advantage ? Sony Ericsson has a patent on a "rewards / punishment" system that will give you a free ringtone, mp3, or video file if you meet your exercise goals - say 10,000 steps per week, but it will also delete one of your precious files (ringtone, mp3 file, etc.) if you miss your goal. Ouch!

here's an excerpt of the patent:

A wireless communications device includes a motion-detecting device, such as a pedometer, that generates a signal upon detecting the user's motion. Quantified characteristics of the user motion are stored in memory of the wireless communications device. The quantified characteristics represent a predetermined objective that the user desires to achieve by performing the motion. A processor receives the signal from the motion-detecting device and uses the signal to monitor selected characteristics of the user's motion. The processor compares the selected characteristics and, when the comparison indicates that the user has achieved the predetermined objective, downloads reward data to the wireless communications device.

Further, you could have two people competing to help each other lose weight, that could compare users' exercise scores. The person who clocked the most steps then "steals" a reward from the loser’s device.

Of course, this incentive program only works if you don't keep backup copies of your music and ring tone collection on your PC. Otherwise, you'll be tempted to "cheat" simply by reloading the files. Though, you are still faced with the disgrace of losing to your competitor(s). Place your bets when the first lawsuit will ensue due to someone "pushing" themselves too hard to beat their friends and causing some sort of personal injury.

Verizon has partnered with OpenPeak to create a new all-in-one voice, data, and video center for the home riding on top of Verizon's FiOS (fiber) service along with Ethernet and WiFi capabilities. Dubbed the Verizon One, this all-in-one communications device will allow users to make VoIP phone calls, access email, search the web, view a calendar, stream music from the web, and even preview images from a digital camera. Here's a photo of the Verizon One:


Unfortunately, the Web browsing experience is tad limited, since you can only get specific Web content that Verizon has enabled. Some of the approved web content includes categories such as news, weather, and movie listings. But if you try and browse a site not listed, you're out of luck. I'm sure Verizon's thinking was to make the user-interface as user-friendly as possible and perhaps they specifically targetted certain websites that render well on the small screen. Or perhaps Verizon doesn't want people going to Yahoo! Yellow Pages and bypassing Verizon's 411 directory assistance at $1.75 a pop! (not sure exact figure). But I'm sure there plan is to find partners and advertisers for the Verizon One device. Still a neat little gadget even if they do "lock" down the browsing experience.




The Verizon One will handle regular phone calls, but it was designed for VoIP.  The cordless phone, which doesn't look nearly as "cool" as the rest of the device, will work with Verizon's upcoming VoiceWing VoIP service for FiOS. VoiceWing, Verizon's VoIP service, will become part of the FiOS services before the end of this year. Also, the latest Verizon One device runs Media Manager, the FiOS application that manages and routes all of your multmedia content - video, data, music, and photos to networked TVs, set-top boxes, and PCs. According to Verizon, the new device will accommodate both traditional and VoIP phone calls, while also feature streaming music from the Internet to be replayed over attached stereo speakers and previewing images or video from digital cameras or camcorders. It will also play movie trailers from the Internet, connect to a printer and support a total of up to five handsets throughout the home.

The next generation of services will be available through a combined, built-in WiFi and Ethernet connection to allow access to Internet-based content. Multiple USB ports will be added to accommodate the peripheral devices. Software developed by Verizon will seamlessly connect telephone and online functions to the new device, which can be located any place in the customer's home where there is access to a phone jack and an electrical outlet.



Too bad Verizon didn't integrate a home alarm system into the device, perhaps using the X10 home automation protocol, since it could send an email or SMS alert to your cell phone. Speaking of protocols, currently Verizon One doesn't support the popular TR-069 remote management standard, but they're working on it. All-in-all, the Verizon One device used in conjunction with Verizon FiOS is shaping up to be one very cool service. Now, I have only one thing to add - when the heck can I get this service in my area, damn it!

Some surprises just don't seem like surprises, do they?

If we are all waiting for the iPhone (well, maybe not all), then why shouldn't Microsoft follow Apple's lead and launch a ZunePhone?

And why shouldn't Microsoft take the same route as Apple again by denying that they are working on a product of the mobile phone type?

So, despite denials from Microsoft about the ZP existence, don't be too surprised if we see that product later this year -- and most likely after the iPhone (just in case there are any cool features that can be "added" to the ZunePhone).

According to this report, Microsoft has filed a whole bunch of patents -- speech enhancement/filtering, an on-screen keyboard, capacitance touch slider, contact display, health monitoring, clamshell form factor and remote control of playback on a remote device.

Anybody interested?

This morning I discovered several PCs running Windows Defender and the Alexa Toolbar were receiving messages that the Alexa Toolbar was classified as a trojan. The name classfication within Windows Defender was Win32/VB.BZ as seen here: (click for large view)



I then tested installing the Alexa toolbar onto a brand-spanking new Windows Vista PC. As the file was downloading, Windows Defender popped up with a warning and said the risk/Alert Level was "High".



I installed the file anyway and it once again classified the Alexa Toolbar as Win32/VB.BZ, a "trojan clicker", according to the results I see via a Google search on Win32/VB.BZ.

The files it found were C:\WINDOWS\system32\alxres.dll and C:\WINDOWS\AlxTB1.dll - legitimate Alexa files.

So does Microsoft have it in for Alexa? What gives? This is a valuable tool used by millions of users to track their own traffic and their competitors traffic. Yes, it is a "form" of spyware since it reports your web surfing habits, but it certainly isn't a "trojan clicker".  Clearly this is a mis-classification on Microsoft's part. Also, the risk level should be "Medium" at worst - not "High". I should add that most users that install the Alexa toolbar are aware that it reports which websites you visit .

I'm going to research this some more and post more here. Stay tuned!

Update:
One theory I have is that the actual Win32/VB.BZ "TrojanClicker" uses a very similar "signature" that Alexa does. Anti-virus and anti-spyware programs rely on signature fingerprints to identify threats. It's possible Win32/VB.BZ "TrojanClicker"  was developed with a similar signature as Alexa on purpose to try and masquerade itself as the Alexa toolbar. In the process of trying to look like Alexa's signature, Microsoft Defender is probably identifying the Alexa Toolbar incorrectly.

Adobe intends to offer a hosted version of its popular Photoshop image-editing program in the next three to six months.

According to reports, this hosted version of Photoshop is part of a bigger company strategy to introduce Internet-delivered services that complement its "shrink-wrapped applications" and head off likely competition from Google.

And that's good news for us folks who are used to buying the "shrink-wrapped" stuff or downloading it to get what we want.

Neat twist here with the online play is that this would turn into an ad-supported app (at least at some "lower" level/s) so we can play for free and then ante up some coin if we need to something more sophisticated.

Also interesting how Google has all kinds of companies watching their backs as the Big G heads -- or thinks about heading -- into other companies' backyards.

(Who would have thought micro payments would add up to so many recurring billions ...)

Click here for more from Cnet.

Now you're talking!

The Marriott Corp. said this week it will begin installing a new technology that will give its patrons the ability to connect various personal devices (let's just call them gadgets) to HD screens in its hotel rooms.

(About time!)

Current in-room sets reportedly are being replaced with 32-inch LCD HD units. (See what happens when prices drop so low?)

Customers will have access to what Marriott calls "digital connectivity panels" that will allow laptops, iPods, camcorders and some PDA devices to the hooked up.

(No word on connectivy charges -- but free would be nice.)

Marriott said most of its high-end hotels also will receive cable and satellite upgrades, and the number of available free channels (SD and HD) will nearly double to more than 60.

The Marriott, JW Marriott and Renaissance brands will receive the upgraded amenities first, with 25% of the rooms and suites designated to receive the upgrades having them by the end of 2007.

This news comes thanks to my friend at HD Notebook and TV Technology.

CompUSA will close more than half of its retail computer and electronics stores in the next two to three months. CompUSA said it would shutter 126 stores - it currently operates 225 in the U.S. and Puerto Rico - within 90 days as part of a massive restructuring. Wow, first Radio Shack closes 700 stores, and now this? What's happening to these major name-brand brick-n-mortar electronics and PC stores?

Meanwhile, Apple seems to be opening a new Apple Store every week - 174 and counting... Maybe it's part of Steve Jobs diabolical plan to give Bill Gates a 15 year head start on being the leading revenue generator for bring-n-mortar electronics/PCs/software stores. Something smells fishy in Cupertino!

AT&T won't be reaching 18 million homes this year with its "Lightspeed" U-Verse IPTV & VDSL broadband network, giving more credence to my AT&T U-Verse Doomed? article. The ironic thing is that AT&T just a few days go stated it was ready for an aggressive rollout of U-verse. They told the San Antonio Express News that it had ironed out technical glitches with the service and is readying a breakneck expansion that will take it to all major cities in its 22-state service area and 8 million households by year-end. "We're ready to take our foot off the brake and step on the accelerator," John Stankey, AT&T's group president for operations, said Tuesday. "By the end of the year, we will be up and running in every significantly sized market where we operate."

Nice marketing snowjob job, AT&T! Instead, AT&T will reach less than half the original target of 8 million. USA Today stated today, "AT&T unveiled its latest 2007 target in an unusually quiet manner: It was offered up to Wall Street analysts on an earnings call on Jan. 25. The 8 million figure later showed up in a few investor notes, where it did not attract much attention." Fletcher Cook, an AT&T spokesman says Microsoft's IPTV software isn't to blame: "We're building a brand new service from scratch, and we want to make sure we do it right the first time." Blaming Microsoft is almost as fashionable as blaming President Bush for everything & anything - from global warming to knowing about 9/11 beforehand. (See: Wiki - Bush Derangement Syndrome. So, I'm glad to hear AT&T isn't blaming Microsoft for failing to meet their goals.

Update (I had some other thoughts and feedback from users)
One person emailed me and wrote:

Read with great interest your comments about the possible doom of U-verse. Taking those concerns into account, would you recommend it to a consumer like me who is considering switching from Comcast to U-verse if and when it becomes available on the west side of Indianapolis? The cost and channel availability seem to have cable beat by a mile, but your technological concerns may trump other advantages.

I'd appreciate your assessment on whether consumers should proceed to "sign up" for this new service.

I responded:

Put to you this way. If I could get U-verse in my area, I'd do it. Yes, I knocked AT&T for not meeting their target goals, as did many media outlets. While I think AT&T & Microsoft were perhaps 1-2 years too early with their proprietary technology, it is still a good solution.I'm just not a fan of proprietary solutions. AT&T and Microsoft have had a bumpy road, but I think AT&T & Microsoft have worked out most of the kinks.

Also, I am the least fan of cable. They are overpriced on everything. When I looked into Cablevision's Optimum Voice I believe it was like $39/month. Their broadband was like $45/month. And to get the channels I wanted, it was like $55/month for a grand total of around $139 for the "Triple Play" package. On top of that, the number of HDTV (high-definition) channels was only like 4 and of course, that was an additional $15/month.

I personally switched to DirecTV satellite, which is better than cable, but isn't a perfect solution either - since I then had to also sign up for AT&T DSL + AT&T Unlimited Voice. So I have two separate providers - a Single Play (DirecTV) and a Double Play (AT&T), which no doubt isn't the most cost effective. I just can't get U-verse or even the competing Verizon FiOS (fiber) solution in my area. I'd take either one. Both AT&T and Verizon are building out their networks as fast as they can - but not fast enough for my tastes.

So if you can get Triple play - voice, video, data using AT&T U-verse, with more HDTV channels and super-fast Internet, I say go for it!

AT&T U-verse is in Stamford, CT, which is where my boss, Rich Tehrani lives. I told him they're offering U-verse in his area. Of course, if he gets this cool Triple Play package before I do, I'll be quite jealous and will be forced to bitch & whine how come AT&T isn't offering U-verse in my neighborhood area. Maybe I'll check to see if their competitor, Verizon FiOS (fiber to the home - FTTH) has availability in my neighborhood.