According to Fermilab, researchers from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory and Stanford Linear Accelerator Center recently joined an international team in shattering the world network speed record. To capture first place in the SC|05 Bandwidth Challenge, the team of high energy physicists, computer scientists and network engineers led by the California Institute of Technology transferred physics data at a rate of over 150 gigabits per second--equivalent to downloading over 130 DVD movies in one minute. Poor MPAA (& RIAA)... Wont be long now before we can download the entire Hollywood library of thousands of movies in just minutes. I'm hearing a 
Homer Simpson, "Woohoo!" in my head.
Ludicrous speed ahead!
Recently in Technology and Science Category
According to TMCnet, Intel Corporation today announced development of a new, ultra-fast, yet very low power prototype transistor using new materials "that could form the basis of its microprocessors and other logic products beginning in the second half of the next decade."
Intel and QinetiQ researchers have jointly demonstrated an enhancement-mode transistor using indium antimonide (chemical symbol: InSb) to conduct electrical current. Transistors control the flow of information/electrical current inside a chip. The prototype transistor is much faster and consumes less power than previously announced transistors. Intel anticipates using this new material to complement silicon, further extending Moore's Law.
The transistor is expected to have less heat as well. Boy, if only Intel invented this technology 6 months ago before Microsoft decided to ditch Intel chips in favor of IBM's PowerPC chips then maybe all the XBox 360 overheating issues wouldn't exist.
With the ongoing nasty war between the Blue-Ray and HD-DVD camps, it looks like their is a new entrant entering the ring and joining the fight.
In the Blue-Ray corner we have Blue-Ray founders, Sony Corporation and Royal Philips Electronics along with corner-men 20th Century Fox, Apple,
Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Dell, Electronic Arts, MGM Studios, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment, The Walt Disney Company, Vivendi Universal Games, and Warner Bros. Sony aims to make Blue-ray the standard of choice by including a Blue-ray disc drive in their forthcoming Playstation 3.
And entering into the HD-DVD corner we have founders Toshiba and Hitachi with corner-men Buena Vista Home Entertainment, New Line Cinema, NEC, Microsoft, Paramount Pictures, Sanyo, The Walt Disney Company, Universal Studios, and Warner Bros (in both corners).
And now entering the ring making this a battle royale of Andre the Giant WWE proportions, we have InPhase Technologies, a Lucent spinoff with a 300GB DVD standard that is able to read and write data at 10 times the speed of a normal DVD. It utilizes so-called Tapestry holographic memory technology to store data by interference of light. InPhase's corner-men include Hitachi and Maxell which will manufacture the discs.
InPhase body slams Sony's Blue-Ray technology before it even gets out of the gate. Ut oh, Microsoft, a HD-DVD proponent attacks InPhase from behind knocking InPhase to the ground. Microsoft applies a sleeper hold on InPhase. It looks like it's all over folks.
But wait! A huge crowd of consumers is chanting "We want large DVD storage! We want large DVD storage!" It's working! InPhase is "Hulking up". InPhase knocks Microsoft to the ground, and then throws them out of the ring. InPhase closelines Sony out of the ring and then picks up the rest of the battle royale stragglers and throws them over the top rope. InPhase is the last DVD standard standing. Well, at least I hope so!
I heard on WABC talk radio this morning that the FCC wants cable companies to offer TV channels "a la carte" to give consumers more choice. Considering how harsh I was on the FCC's e911 requirements this morning, I have to commend the FCC on this one. I planned on blogging my thoughts on the FCC helping to bring more choice to the consumer, but Rich Tehrani beat me to it. Go check out Rich's blog post on TV channel ala carte. I'll just say I'm sick and tired of paying $55/month for cable TV and getting less channels than satellite and paying for channels I could care less about. According to the radio show, the FCC order is "non-binding" - it's more of a suggestion to the cable companies and even if the FCC makes it binding, the cable companies will fight this tooth and nail.
I've been pricing out satellite solutions for the past few days to switch over. The only reason I've been stalling this long is that I also have cable broadband (at a ridiculously expensive $39.99/month for 3Mbps) and didn't want to have to switch to DSL. Pain in the butt to change both your broadband provider and your TV provider at the same time. But the time has come. Cable companies have been robbing me blind for years and I'm not going to take it any more! Satellite & DSL here I come!
Wow, Maxell and InPhase Technologies have developed holographic optical media that features uncompressed storage capacities achieving 1.6 TeraBytes per disk and data rates as high as 120 MBPs. Optical media also is advantageous due to its long archival (50+ year) life.
The media is expected to have the lowest cost per gigabyte of any commercial quality removable storage. Of course, I've been hearing about large storage technology, including holograms for over 10 years it seems, so I hope this product isn't simply vaporware. When I can get my hands on it from CDW or Amazon I'll believe it.
"Holographic media makes it possible for millions of pages of information and high definition images to be held on one small, relatively inexpensive disc," said Steven Pofcher, senior marketing manager at Maxell. "Imagine having a person's entire medical history, complete with MRI images, or storing a broadcast network's entire HD Library on a single disc. These are both possible with holographic technology, which has such large capacity that approximately a half million 300-page books can be stored on a single disc."
Holographic recording technology utilizes intersecting signal and reference laser beams to store data in a number of 3D hologram images capable of saving hundreds of data pages in a single location. One 5¼ inch-diameter optical disc can store up to 150 million pages - more than 63 times the capacity of DVD. Also, with holographic recording, a multiple of form factors, such as discs, cards, etc., and laser wavelengths (red, green, and blue) can be used.
"Combining high storage densities and fast transfer rates with durable, reliable, low cost media, Holographic technology is poised to become a compelling choice for next-generation storage and content distribution needs," said Liz Murphy, vice president of marketing for InPhase Technologies. "Unlike other technologies that record one data bit at a time, holography allows a million bits of data to be written and read in parallel with a single flash of light. This enables transfer rates significantly higher than current optical storage devices."
The first generation of holographic media with 300 GB of storage capacity and a 20 MBPs Transfer Rate is scheduled for release in late 2006.
America Online announces the launch of AOL Pictures, a comprehensive digital photo solution for consumers who want an easy way to view, share, store, print and protect all of their favorite images. The free photo sharing website offers consumers unlimited online digital photo storage in original resolution, tools that make it easier to create photo albums, and much more. According to a new AOL survey, Americans expect to take more than 137,000 photos in their lifetime with three-quarters sending photos to friends and family over the holidays. So as a special holiday promotion, AOL Pictures is offering consumers 100, FREE 4x6 glossy or matte prints.
Wow, free photos? I'm there! This is a great promo by AOL to offer 100 free prints on AOL Pictures for the holiday season. Sorry Webshots, sorry Snapfish, sorry ShutterFly, and sorry Flickr, but free is free..
I don't hear too much from RealNetworks these days, so I was surprised to read that RealNetworks today unveiled its next generation enterprise solution, the Helix Server Unlimited, for wired and now wireless devices. This latest version of the Helix server provides Real's enterprise customers the ability to deliver 3GPP content to a wide variety of multi-media enabled mobile handsets. According to RealNetworks, "Mobile content on the handset have traditionally been focused on entertainment, but for the enterprise market such as corporations, higher education institutions and local governments it is also a valuable informational and educational tool."
I give it 6 months before Microsoft comes out with a similar solution. Perhaps Windows Media Services 10 Series? Currently Microsoft is on version Windows Media Services 9 Series.
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RealNetworks Rolls Out Next Generation Mobile Enterprise Solution
Helix Server Unlimited is the first multi-format, cross-platform enterprise streaming server for both wired and wireless devices
Customers include higher education institutions and municipalities
RealNetworks®, Inc. (Nasdaq: RNWK), the leading creator of digital media services and software, today unveiled its next generation Helix™ Server for mobile enterprises. The Helix Server Unlimited is Real's enterprise solution for delivering a cost effective, flexible, high quality streaming experience to wired, and now, wireless devices. The new version supports 3GPP technology, enabling enterprise customers to stream mobile content to a wide variety of handsets and other wireless devices.
"Real has built a strong foundation of delivering innovative mobile technology and services, and we're very excited to be extending our advanced mobile capability to our enterprise customers," said John Giamatteo, Executive Vice President of Worldwide Business Products and International Operations for RealNetworks. "The latest version of the Helix server delivers a high quality, rich mobile streaming experience for our partners to stay on the cutting edge of the converging multimedia market."
The Helix Server Unlimited is the only multi-format, cross platform enterprise streaming server on the market to deliver RealAudio®, RealVideo®, Windows Media, QuickTime, Mpeg-4 and 3GPP from a single server infrastructure. The server fits within existing operating system environments and supports Windows, Solaris, Linux and Unix-based operating systems for streaming. New features include support for SNMP v3 and next generation protocols such as IP v6, as well as improved firewall support and Helix Rate Adaptation for better utilization of network resources.
MOBILE STREAMING CUSTOMERS
The mobile application is currently being implemented by several of Real's enterprise customers, including the City of Seattle and Virginia Tech. The City of Seattle has been streaming its television programming to the desktop for over 8 years and is now expanding it to the handset.
"The mobile component is another great value-add service for our residents," said Nate Eckstine, City of Seattle Department of Information Technology. "Our citizens used to have to catch our council meetings, arts and public affairs programming on TV or order a tape before we made it available on demand on the PC, but now with the enhancements to Real's server they can watch from their local coffee house or anywhere else."
Virginia Tech plans to stream a variety of content to student's multimedia handsets that can be used in formal and informal learning experiences.
"Real is providing a valuable and convenient tool, and we're very excited about the possibilities of a mobile offering to our faculty and students," said Glenda Scales, Associate Dean of Distance Learning and Computing, Virginia Tech. "Delivering video and audio to wireless devices will give our students increased flexibility with accessing learning or informational materials anywhere, anytime."
Enterprise customers seeking more information about Real's Helix Server Unlimited should call a Real representative at 1-800-444-8011 or visit www.realnetworks.com/products/media_delivery.html.
About RealNetworks, Inc.
RealNetworks, Inc. is the leading creator of digital media services and software including Rhapsody®, RealPlayer® 10, and casual PC and mobile games RealNetworks has more than two million subscribers to its premium content subscription services. Consumers can access and experience audio/video programming and download RealNetworks' consumer software at http://www.real.com. Broadcasters, network operators, media companies and enterprises use RealNetworks' products and services to create and deliver digital media to PCs, mobile phones and consumer electronics devices. RealNetworks' corporate information is located at http://www.realnetworks.com/company.
© 2005 RealNetworks, Inc. RealNetworks, Helix, Rhapsody, RealAudio, RealVideo and RealPlayer are trademarks or registered trademarks of RealNetworks, Inc.
The highly anticipate battle between the U.S. and the U.N. was over before the bell even rung. The U.N. threw in the towel and the U.S. retains control over ICANN (the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers). Negotiators from over 100 countries agreed late Tuesday to leave the United States in charge of the Internet's addressing system, which averted a U.S. & EU showdown at this week's U.N. technology summit. (You know how I feel about the U.N. taking over ICANN.)
U.S. officials said today that instead of transferring management of the system to an international body such as the United Nations, an international forum would be created to address concerns. The forum, however, would have no binding authority. In other words, U.S. just hit a bottom of the ninth grand slam walk-off homerun.
In addition to FCC requirements for e911 for supposedly "protecting the consumer", the FCC today also moved to amend the Emergency Alert System (EAS) rules to include Digital Media Technologies and seeks further comments on EAS System. You know the drill - "<tone><tone>This is test... This is only a test. If this were a real emergency you would..."
Essentially, with digital IPTV, satellite radio, satellite TV, etc. the ability for the Emergency Alert System to notify residents of emergency weather conditions (tornado, freezing rain, etc.), terrorist attack, etc. is being tested by these new technologies. Below is an excerpt from the FCC's website discussing EAS. My only question is will the FCC require IPTV service providers - including their pals over at SBC which offers IPTV - to fully comply with EAS within 120 days like they've done with VoIP e911 rules? Hmmm?
One of the most fundamental and significant statutory mandates of the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) is the promotion of safety of life and property through the use of wire and radio communication. For over forty years, the Commission has sought to satisfy this mandate in large part by requiring that the American public be provided with an effective and robust national alert and warning system.Since 1994, this function has been performed by the Emergency Alert System (EAS), which is jointly administered by the Commission, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), one of the component agencies of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the Department of Commerce and its component, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service (NWS). Today, we take steps to advance our important public safety mission by adopting rules that expand the reach of EAS, as currently constituted, to cover digital communications technologies that are increasingly being used by the American public to receive news and entertainment -- digital television and radio, digital cable,and satellite television and radio.
Consumers have increasingly begun to adopt new digital technologies as replacements for the analog broadcast and cable systems that are currently required to implement EAS.Accordingly, an increasingly large percentage of television viewers and radio listeners receive their programming from systems that may have no independent duty to provide EAS, or any other alert and warning system, to their customers.For example, as of 2005, almost 25% of TV households subscribed to Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) services,yet such satellite services are under no obligation to participate in EAS.More than 23% of TV households subscribe to digital cable television services which are not specifically addressed in the Commission's EAS rules. Further, the number of subscribers in the Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service (SDARS) -- also known as "satellite radio" -- increased from approximately 140,000 to more than 6 million between June 2002 and June 2005. SDARS licensees are not currently required to participate in EAS.Finally, digital audio broadcasters using in-band, on-channel (IBOC) technology and digital television (DTV) broadcasters also reach increasingly large portions of the American public,but currently have no EAS obligations.Clearly, some level of EAS participation must be established for these new digital services to ensure that large portions of the American public are able to receive national and/or regional public alerts and warnings.
In the Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, we seek further comment on how to amend the EAS rules to ensure that EAS messages more effectively reach individuals with hearing and vision disabilities.The Commission is committed to ensuring that persons with disabilities have equal access to public warnings.We also seek additional comment on what actions the Commission, along with our Federal, State and industry partners, should take to help expedite the development of a robust, state-of-the-art, digitally-based public alert and warning system.
Terayon Communication Systems, Inc. a provider of digital video networking applications and home access solutions, today announced what they claim is the industry's first 'telco-optimized' solution that allows telecommunication service providers to create new advertising revenue streams to support their ambitious rollout of IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) services.
At its booth at the TelcoTV Conference & Expo, Terayon demonstrated how its new DM 6400-IPTV Network CherryPicker enables telecommunication carriers to seamlessly insert local advertisements into MPEG-4/AVC encoded digital video, the format most carriers have selected for their digital video service offerings. U.S. cable operators alone earned more than $4.3 billion in local advertising revenues in 2004 according to Kagan Associates.
In addition to advertising, telco carriers can also use the DM 6400-IPTV for other important digital video applications. These include the aggregation of programming content from multiple sources, grooming customized channel line-ups by 'cherry picking' programs from multiple programming sources, supporting payload-aware program redundancy and emergency alert system (EAS) messaging.
Yes, but more importantly can I TiVo past these commercials?