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* Wifi / Mobile*
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Clearing Emergency Radio Waves |
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FCC Chairman Kevin Martin warns that he wants to see progress soon, or the FCC will dictate a remedy. Sprint Nextel concedes it is taking longer than anticipated to solve the problem and attributes the delay to its efforts to do it as economically as possible.
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http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118644768507989972.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
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T6 Comment: You know the stuttery beeping you get on your computer speakers just before you Cell phone rings? Yeah this is what the Nextel’s are doing – except it is to the pubic safety systems. Not a good situation for the Sprint folks who are envisioning a marriage of Nextel infrastructure to the WiMax systems. Sprint is looking to be the core technology for 4G phone | Multimedia services. Poor Sprint, firing customers, getting told Wimax just is a starting off place for 4G standards discussions and now causing trouble for our finest and bravest. Alas poor Yorick ?
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Microsoft to dispute FCC on Internet over TV airwaves: report |
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In a document that it plans to file with the Federal Communications Commission, Microsoft Corp. disputes the agency's findings that prototype devices, designed to connect consumers to high-speed Internet over unused television airwaves, either interfered with TV signals or could not detect them to avoid interference.
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T6 Commentary: Oddly enough this move by Microsoft actually supports the arguments of Google against the same FCC ruling. So great are the potential profits and innovation offered by the frequency sale that such strange bedfellows are made. Google and Microsoft only have half a leg to stand on. The FCC, at first, was willing to rely upon unproven ‘self-discovery’ channel avoidance technology, which has yet to be proven in real world settings. The Audio Visual staging industry is extremely concerned about how this will affect them. The fear of a massive RF interference that would come from an explosion of unlicensed devices (UD) is so great that a collection of manufactures formed ‘White Spaces’ industry committee to fight-(successfully it appears) the allowance of UD’s to operate without further testing. See T6 Issue 14 Volume 3, (Working Knowledge –‘Frequency frustrations’ for more commentary on the story at http://www.rentalandstaging.com/articles/publish/article_743.shtml.
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* Development*
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‘Long Tail’ author claims theory could transform design |
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Anderson explained the fundamental principle of the long tail and the impact it is having on software and hardware design. The long tail principle states that the falling cost of production, distribution and storage of products is allowing producers and retailers to cater to narrower market niches. This in turn increases the aggregate value of those niches and that that value will soon equal the aggregate value of mainstream products
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http://www.eetimes.com/news/design/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=201500039&printable=true
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T6 Commentary: I love this book and continue to refer to it and mention it here. (The only other ‘technical’ book I speak so highly of is John Huntington’s ‘Control Systems for Live Entertainment’). As the above quote states, the book explores the idea of utilizing modern production services to feed an every growing Niche market clientele. In direct opposition to the anecdotal Henry Ford story –(They can have any color Model T they want, so long as it is black), the author sets to show how companies can grow by providing niche products and services. Obvious examples are sites like YouTube that on the face provides generalized Video streaming, but in reality serve hundreds of niche interests groups. HD radio carries the same model, not just to the end viewer\listener but advertisers as well.
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* Format Wars*
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Playstation 3 kills HD DVD |
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According to a study commissioned by Sony in June, 72% of Playstation 3 owners have purchased a Blu-ray disc movie, and 87% said they intend to buy one in the next 12 months. Of those who said they watch BD movies on their PS3 frequently, 82% said Blu-ray is their preferred movie format.
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http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/33444/128/
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T6 Commentary: An interesting article that points to some actual statistical data to show a relationship between sales of a particular game console and actual sales numbers for a specific HD disc format. Despite the oft stated and generally recognized superiority of HD-DVD features, Blu-Ray is establishing a set hold on the market.
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There is still the struggle to educate the average end-user on just what they are purchasing, as the article states –“…NPD released a study this week that found that 40% of next-gen gamers didn't even know the PS3 had a Blu-ray player”. I thought the gamer geeks poured over every feature of their $300-$500 box. My question is what I always ask with these reports- ‘just how small a minority is the HD base who clamor for more and better? It is blatantly clear that the Majority (especially the cable\direct TV subscribers) can only one wit about this.
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Paramount picks HD DVD over Blu-ray
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Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. will offer next-generation DVDs in the HD DVD format and drop support for Blu-ray, further complicating the race between the competing technologies
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http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20360863/
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T6 Comment: Just when you see a story that you are sure will show you the final outcome of this silly protracted war, one like this comes along. Despite a long list of supporters for Blu-Ray and some evident statistics giving Blu-Ray a clear edge, Paramount make this announcement. Every time this happens I think of the line from the movie Duck Soup:
Rufus T. Firefly: Oh, I'm sick of messages from the front. Don't we ever get a message from the side? - What is it?
Bob Roland: General Smith reports a gas attack. He wants to know what to do.
Rufus T. Firefly: Tell him to take a teaspoonful of bicarbonate of soda and a half a glass of water
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* New Media *
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Microsoft: IPTV is entry to operator business |
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While Internet companies like Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft's own MSN operate "hugely scaled" networks based on servers, telecommunications operators have traditionally relied on special-purpose hardware, she noted. "This is hopefully a new era" during which operators will begin using lower cost, off-the-shelf hardware components, she said
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http://www.infoworld.com/article/07/08/07/Microsoft-says-IPTV-is-entry-to-operator-business_1.html
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T6 Commentary: Microsoft –(quite like the recent history at SONY)- has been accused of being slow to recognize trends, losing market share –(real or perceived) as a result. Once MS finally recognizes and releases a competing entry to the market they are accused of using brute force to establishes and solidify a presence, if not dominance. In the case of IPTV it would appear that MS would use its bully pulpit early and with an eye to being THE provider. Bill Gates has gone clearly on record to state that the end of traditional broadcast is nigh, now he aims to fulfill the prophecy. There are issues, as the article well states, but Microsoft’s early lead (and just as importantly, an obvious growth plan) in developing IPTV providers’ set the way for real movement.
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Universal plans DRM-free downloads, without Apple
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In an experiment, Vivendi's market-leading Universal Music plans to sell MP3 music downloads for 99c without copy protection -- and they won't be available from Apple's iTunes store.
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Although independent labels have been doing this for many years, it's a novel step for the world's biggest music publishing conglomerate, which has artists such as U2, Amy Winehouse, Sting, Stevie Wonder, 50 Cent and Black Eyed Peas.
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T6 Commentary: I have spoken often on my support for protection on downloaded music, so much so it appears, that I have been accused of being a shill for the labels and “..old man who still thinks music needs to be made in an official building..” Well I cannot say I am college freshman age but I do still feel that artists and their distribution managers –(be that major label, Indie startup or owner-operator music site) need some way to protect their upfront investments. To my detractors, let me be perfectly clear – the labels, both major and indie, can be scorned and even hated for the treatment of its artists. Still, when a band chooses to sign on to a label for the chance at greater exposure you lose some rights by spending another’s money to make your art. This being said, for the music labels to sic their attack dogs-(RIAA & ASCAP) on the providers of technology, centralized sites AND Joe average downloader; all in an attempt to put the genie back in the bottle is well just desperate. Now the record companies claim to be David to Apple’s iTunes Goliath wanting to scare their single best legal download conduit into coughing up better percentages. The major label dreams of drawing fans to their site will eventually be far overshadowed by the all in one sites who offer variety and low cost.
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ISPs to BBC: We will throttle iPlayer unless you pay up
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The Internet was not set up with a view to distributing video. We have been improving our capacity, but the bandwidth we have is not infinite. If the iPlayer really takes off, consumers accessing the Internet will get very slow service and call their ISPs to complain."
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http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070813-isps-to-bbc-we-throttle-iplayer-unless-you-pay-up.html
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T6 Commentary: The Net-will-not-be-neutral war has begun in earnest and it is the big guns facing off first. While one would be expected to consider the main fighting points to center around the ISP’s concerns over bandwidth hogging or clogging of the ‘tubes’, this set of fisticuffs centers around just how the BBC plans to distribute content. Rather then provide a direct download scheme the BBC has opted to go with using peer-to-peer systems to offset the heavy loads the service will create. The ISP’s are frothing about this as using local ‘volunteer’ computers makes it difficult for the ISP’s to measure or enforce bandwidth use. The bigger concern of ISP’s is just how this method robs them of getting a finger in the profits pot by charging for bandwidth rights. Have the ghosts of Bit-Torrent come back to claim post mortem victory?
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The BBC’s iPlayer –( hm, why has apple not already sent a screaming horde of lawyers over the big pond to cry foul ?) may just be the push ISP’s need to start a new tier of pricing for those IPTV users who want cable-TV comparable performance.
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* Working Knowledge *
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What Every Consumer Should Know About Intellectual Property
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Intellectual property” is a broad term for ideas or artistic creations for which the creator owns the license. In essence, whenever a product of the mind or intellect is created, the creator reserves the right to benefit from his or her creation. The law steps in to protect this right.
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T6 Comment: The quoted article is interesting not just for its treatment of fair use as concerning MP3’s, ripping DVD content to hard drive servers and now e-books; this also has applications in the home automation market. Often an installer or the homeowner will assume that the code that runs on a control processor is under their ownership. This is not always true. For the most part the programmer who writes the code has intellectual ownership and can refuse to provide it unless compensated. What actually happens here is a transfer of the run-time license that permits the end user to run the complied code but not alter or edit it. For the most part a programmer who is a staff employee –(who gets a regular salary, benefits, etc) – waives this right, but an Independent programmer may retain the intellectual property rights to the base code. The devil, of course, is in the contractual details.
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An argument based on the quoted part of the article is ostensibly at the heart of the conflict between the manufacture Kaleidescape and the DVD Copy Control Association (DVD CCA). (See T6 issue 9 Volume 3). To you and me the DVD CCA attempts to stop the sale and installation of DVD servers seems counter intuitive to what we know our clientele-( and the public in general)- demand. A ruling in favor of the DVD CCA would adversely affect the mass market VOD (Video On Demand), Neflix downloads (from Tivo too!) and Blockbuster online. If not for a loophole in the DVD CCA regulations the party would already be over.
As with the K-scape vs. DVD CCA and the independent programmer vs. dealer resolution only comes about with meeting in the middle to insure mutual success and continued business.
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* Obit *
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Remembering Lee Hazelwood – with link to artilce audio and sample music!
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The 78-year-old music-industry veteran spent most of his career writing or producing hits for others, while his own records lampooned the business. In fact, Hazlewood became legendary for his independence and for his disdain for the industry — an attitude that earned him the adoration of a later generation of rock musicians that includes Nick Cave and Sonic Youth.
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http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=12537578
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T6 Commentary: Lee Hazelwood is one of those music industry originals like Raymond Scott and Joe Meek. Men who only found success after being told their ideas would never make any impression. In the end they changed how things were done from then on.
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Lee Hazelwood also found that rejection allowed him to retain the rights to all his songs, making him self-sufficient, a trait which made him a hero to the alternative community of independent record labels and non-mainstream musicians. Hazelwood’s hits are so familiar that even the causal music fan knows them. ‘These Boots are made for walking’ in particular has become part of the cultural vernacular. All that fifties garage band rockabilly tamed and orchestrated, his advise to Nancy Sinatra to “… sing it like a fourteen year old who hangs out with truckers” is the perfect way to add back a growl. Take a listen to some of the solo work include as links in the above quoted article. My very first association was to the ‘Spock Sings’ and the infamous William Shatner cover of ‘Rocket Man’. There is an absolutely ridiculous Shatner cover of Rocket Man, which he performed live at the televised 1978 Sci-Fi Awards –(Introduced by Bernie Taupin, no less). I had seen the footage only once at a friend’s house during the early morning hours of a long beer soaked gathering. A few years later I lost touch with this individual never to see the tape –(or some of the truly strange, even frightening tapes he owned) again. Of course – You Tube has it. Enjoy!
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Check out T6’s ‘Culture Corner’ with links to bands you should know and Inspired technical links from those who inspire me.
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Does anyone actually read the liner notes? Let me know, the comments section of T6 is now open. At the end of every issue find the Comments link.
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All quoted material is the copyright of the respective sites and \ or authors- except were noted or comments are clearly mine.
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All T6 commentary opinions expressed are mine alone and are not necessarily those of Crestron Electronics, its employees, associates or even their families. Just my big mouth
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