http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20061222-8484.html
Perhaps more than any other component in media history -- save the PC itself -- the DVD has finally eclipsed the VCR as the modern media device of choice. Huzzahs to the DVD player!!!
Of course, as our broadband connections get bigger and better, there's a looming replacement for the DVD on the horizon: DVF. Direct Video Feed is becoming a back-channel term among the technocrats and digerati who predict that our fiber and twisted-pair copper will soon be delivering video on demand, from a gargantuan library.
So, celebrate your day in the sun, DVD... But, don't invest too heavily in the DVD collection. Someday soon, you may order your movies just like your music from Napster or iTunes.
DVF -- coming soon to a home near you!!!
http://www.techtree.com/India/News/BBC_Offering_Programs_on_Internet/551-78053-643.html
The BBC seems to understand the power of the 'Net by releasing many of its "on-air" programs "on-line" through a DRM-protected video web-client. As Winston Churchill once said, "It is better to jaw-jaw than to war-war." Many "on-air" folk are now deferring to a growing, if not swelling, Internet -- ready to embrace quality content.
http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/software/soa..81,00.htm
Make no mistake about it. This is a major coup for Google, a loss for Novell, and a zero-sum gain for Microsoft. 4-5 years from now, when the open-source movement really catches traction in the popular sector, Google will likely be behind the no-cost or low-cost effort.
If you are new to the open-source game, all you need to know is this: Smart programmers have either (a) made enough money not to care about corporate capitalism anymore, (b) are mad at their former parent companies for one reason or another, or (c) have simply gone Socialist. These bright programming minds are developing software FOR FREE, and giving it away in hopes that it will catch on.
Want to see a very effective use of the open-source community in an application? Go to OPEN OFFICE and download their very competitive Office Suite -- for nothing. Try it out. See how it compares with the Microsoft and Corel versions...
With Google getting into the open-source game, who knows where the bottle will stop spinning? Big news. Major. Important. Timely. All of the neat adjectives.
http://www.itwire.com.au/content/view/8264/1090/
Another interesting story that will surely have some impact on the open-source community, and probably RED HAT, in particular. Seems that a deal between Novell and Microsoft is receiving some open-source community criticism. I'll be sure to follow this story into the new year, and see *exactly* what RED HAT (Linux) does in the wake of Novell's moves.
Story here.
Seems as if the Duo Core QUAD wars are on between Intel and AMD. Most of these QUADs were meant for server technology, but people are snapping them up for their home and gaming systems. Personally, I'm running a Duo Core in the house, and cannot imagine the need for a QUAD. Not saying that I wouldn't appreciate the nanosecond of clock-time saved on an application, mind you. I'm just not certain that it is absolutely worth it, just yet, until prices fall and technology diffuses a bit more.
Story here.
AMD plans to have a lab opening in the Pacific NW, which will focus on 5-year-out planning and development for chips. I'm sure they are looking into Spintronics, since IBM is pouring a lot of R&D $ into the area. Wonder which minds will get tapped.
Good news for AMD, especially since they just bought ATI which makes some of the leading graphics cards on the market.
http://www.kesq.com/Global/story.asp?S=5837749&nav=9qrx
Interesting story out today on Google's efforts to digitize the world's knowledge. Not much else to write about today, given the holidays coming up.
Peace to all,
ty
http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9595_22-6144775.html
Interesting article on ZDNet tells us that Venture Capitalists are not, yet, done with the Internet. Seems that energy, the Internet, and Asia are very hot markets for international play in 2007. Has the Web 2.0 movement and dot-com boom-and-bust created a vacuum into which new capital will seek out profit in these areas?
http://science.monstersandcritics.com/news/article_1234610.php/UI_licenses_flex_electronics_technology
For those of you who do not know, I am writing a book on nanotechnology right now called "Communication Shock: The Acceleration of Everything." One of the major arguments in that book is that nanotechnology is going to develop rapidly within the next decade, bringing some innovative equipment to our doorsteps, provided that industry can "ramp up" to mass production for the consumer class.
The Monsters and Critics article is especially interesting, because it essentially outlines a major point of the new plank, moving design from research to development. Imagine a world where circuitry can be printed on glass or paper... Pretty exciting stuff, from an engineering and information science perspective.
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/dec2006/tc20061218_465203.htm?chan=top+news_top+news+index_businessweek+exclusives
I have been using Skype for a while now. I really like it as a chat client, and think that the program's VOIP qualities are simply superb. One of the toys I bought for my mother in law, who calls overseas quite a bit, is the USB US Robotics phone for Skype. It works great...lots of interactivity between Internet-ready phones and land/cell-lines.
However, these new iPhones (not an Apple moniker), are supposed to be really freaking cool. They will use Skype features, but will also rely upon WIFI hotspots to catch a signal, and then do VOIP over the particular LAN. Very cool stuff, and very cool thinking...
http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9584_22-6144279.html?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=zdnn
Seems like Dell is not reporting all of its information to the SEC. Wonder what this could possibly be about? Maybe the laptop battery recall has affected the no. 2 computer maker too adversely to report?
http://www.theveniceproject.com/
Please see the above link. I think you'll find it interesting. Seems that the people who brought us the Skype chat and VOIP client that redefined the way Big Telecom sees its own business models are venturing out into television. The plan, as I see it, is to bring television itself through the Internet, and directly challenge the cable industry by using the broadband infrastructure to funnel content to viewers/users.
What could the possible implications be to the mass communications industry?
ACA,
As soon as I write this, I will likely be out of date with my information (again!). Seems to me that it was just yesterday when I was drooling over my recent purchase of an Intel DUO-Core processor Dell XPS machine. I am very familiar with the concept of trying to stall buying to get the best in technology purchasing, but, the release of the DUO-Core machines, followed by the seemingly hyperquick release of the QUAD-Core machines has me puzzled.
I'd like to hear some of the reactions by the ACA crowd out there, as to whether or not their DUO or QUAD-Core machines are performing to their expecations. I'm just now burning in my XPS 410, and can honestly say that it is serving ALL of my computing needs at this point. I'm running 4mb of RAM on Dual monitors, and just as happy as I can possibly be.
Any AMD users out there with similar results on the QUADRAS? I know AMD has announced a line of OCTO-Cores coming out in Aprin of 2007. Just very interesting...
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