Category: Platforms

Jupiter Find Media Becoming More Digital at Home

mirra personal serverBy 2009, consumers will require at least a 57Mbit/s Internet connection speed – up from today’s 3Mbit/s – to meet the demands of an ever-growing collection of always-on home media devices, according to research carried out by Jupiter Research. For tech-savvy consumers, the bandwidth requirement will likely be even higher, as much as 84Mbit/s.

Fuelled by the uptake of home wireless networks, the report, “A Portrait of the Wireless Home in 2009,” tackles a number of key issues; what the average and tech-savvy digital home will look like in 2009; comparing wireless bandwidth requirement of the average home today with 2009. It also poses questions such as with the implementation of compression standards such as H.264, will consumers need 100Mbit/s or 802.11n at home?

The report comes following the four complete and 30 partial proposals that were submitted to the IEEE for consideration for the 802.11n standard in August 2004, which will increase wireless throughput to 100Mbit/s. The 802.11n standard should be ratified in 2006, although pre-standard products are already out on the market.

The study finds a growing reliance on digital media. Home media servers, such as Mirra’s Personal Server (from $399), are growing in popularity because they allow you to access files stored on their hard disk from any Web browser, allowing you to playback video and audio files to a laptop or Wi-Fi enabled TV in your living room, or access family photos at your desk at work.

With the increasing uptake of both on-demand video and audio playback, it’s looking more likely that consumers will access media files stored on a central server in their backroom from multiple-connected devices – especially as the number of consumer electronics devices using a wireless network in the home will explode over the next five years, as people move away from traditionally separate devices, such as PCs and stereos.

802.11g has a theoretical maximum speed of 54Mbit/s, you only tend to get on average about half of that. Although this is still over twice as fast as 802.11b, the original WiFi, home media networks which transmit TV shows and music as well as Internet connectivity to multiple devices will require far more speed and bandwidth than standard Wi-Fi can provide. Standards like 802.11n and Ultra Wide Band (UWB) move closer in the right direction.

Jupiter Research Mirra’s Personal Server

East Fork: Media Chipset for Home PC’s from Intel

A chip set focused on providing home users with the ability to capture, manipulate and distribute digital audio and video content around a home network wirelessly is running through the rumour mill. It has been long anticipated.

Intel recently dropped the launch of the 4GHz version of their P4 processor. Many commentators had been wondering what people were going to use all of that processing power for after chip speeds have spiralled upwards in the last few years. In discussion that we’ve had with senior Intel people, it has been clear that they don’t really know what to do with all of that power.

Their new approach is to develop ranges of “platforms” – Centrino, the chipset designed for laptops being a good example. It has low-power use and WiFi built in.

Reuters are reporting on project name “East Fork” will focus the power of the chips on providing and distributing and manipulating Audio and Video (AV) content around peoples home. Playing back AV content doesn’t take a huge amount of processing power, but capturing video and real-time encoding it, to distributed around the household does. The problem Intel faces with that is the media companies don’t want their content digitised, but they are addressing this with content protecting schemes.

The Korean DigiTimes has information that the complete setup will be called “DH EF PCs”. Not too catchy, and we assume an internal name only, that stands for Digital Home East Fork PC.

Skype & Siemens Bring Wireless VoIP

Siemens Gigaset M34 USB Adaptor SkypeSiemens have announced the availability of a range of handsets that work with VoIP (Voice over IP) software, Skype. Simply by plugging the USB adapter into a computer running an updated version of Skype, home and business users will be able to make calls using a cordless handset. Calls to other Skype users will be free and calls to International landlines can be made at very low cost using SkypeOut.

For those of you who like model numbers – the Siemens Gigaset M34 USB PC adapter works with the recently launched Gigaset C340/345 and Gigaset CX340/345isdn, Gigaset S440/445 and Gigaset SX440/445isdn, Gigaset S645 and Gigaset SL440.

The handset range is, in itself, pretty impressive featuring some with built-in cameras capable of sending MMS and others able to do Instant Messanging (IM). Remember, these are not cellular phones, but are for home or office use.

When we spoke to Siemens they told us that you can walk into a shop in Germany and buy many of these handsets today. There are ongoing discussions with UK retailers and it’s likely that the M34 USB adaptor will be bundled with handsets – guide price £100 for the Gigaset C340/M34 bundle, with availability probably post-xmas.

The real strength of this deal is that normal, average home users will be able to use VoIP, using a hand-set that is familiar to them. They won’t have to go to their computer to make a Skype call and dig deep into software.

The deal was first announced in March at CeBIT 2004 and was originally slated for release in September. Reasons for the delay are currently unclear.

We imagine that Skype must be pretty pleased with this deal. Not only do they enable people to use their service on a phone but it gives Skype a mainstream legitimacy that was previously lacking.

What is slightly unexpected about this is that Siemens, a provider of POTS (Plain Old Telephone System), is voluntarily moving to VoIP. It is another clear sign of the acceptance from ‘old school’ telephony companies that VoIP is the way forward. Marketing-wise it’s a great way for them to shake off this old image and appear ‘down with the new tech kids’.

We’ve been experimenting at the Digital Lifestyles studio with using a Bluetooth Jabra BT250v headset and a Belkin Bluetooth Adaptor to make Skype calls. On the whole it works, but the setup is definitely not consumer friendly as yet.

Siemens Mobile – Gigaset M34 USB
Skype

Vaio U: Sony’s Tiny Tablet Media PC, US Launch

Sony VGN-U750P1The latest addition to Sony’s VAIO range of personal computers is really, really different. The VAIO VGN-U750P (around US$2,000) is a palmtop computer that also goes under the more firendly name of the Vaio U and weighs considerably less than the average laptop (167x108x26mm, 550g), yet boasts a fully fledged Intel-based environment running Windows XP Professional SP2 as opposed to the specialised platforms powering other handhelds, such as Palm OS, Windows Mobile or even Windows XP Tablet PC Edition.

Empowering you to actually work and view photos and video on the move – rather than simply manage e-mails and calendars – the diminutive system boasts a 1.10GHz Intel Pentium M processor, 512MB of system RAM, an accommodating 20GB hard disk drive (4,200rpm), as well as an Intel 855GM graphics card with 64MB of shared video RAM. In addition, it has a touch-sensitive, 5in. colour display with XBrite LCD technology that has a relatively high native resolution of 800×600 pixels (16-bit colour depth) and can output to an external VGA display, courtesy of an add-on port replicator. Of course, similar to any handheld worth its money it’s heaviliy connected, there’s also built-in 100Mbit/s Ethernet and 802.11b/g connectivity, as well as single FireWire and Memory Stick ports, four USB 2.0 ports and a CompactFlash Type II card slot for importing files or digital photos from a variety of digital cameras.

Sony has thought about productivity, too. Utilising proprietary software, the VAIO VGN-U750P supports handwriting recognition and other features similar to those found in Tablet PCs, such as a virtual keyboard and a multi-point navigational stick to control the system. There are also a few dedicated buttons to perform frequently-used commands, and thumb controls let you change the display orientation on the fly, from landscape to portrait mode and back. You can also connect the supplied foldable keyboard for ‘rapid’ text input on the move, or hook up the bundled headphones with remote control capabilities for audio and video playback.

It’s encouraging that Sony is actually releasing this after the many rumours that it had been shelved.

www.sony.com

DVR Wireless Kit for Police from Avalon RF

Avalon Rugged Police Tablet PCDesigned for law enforcement, perimeter security and long-range video links, AValon RF’s new wireless range includes receivers, transmitters, remote display units (RDUs) and a variety of specialised antennas. The company’s technology provides broadcast quality, interference-free video links over the frequency spectrum of 56MHz to 2.5GHz, allowing security personnel to use a rugged PDA and Tablet PC to wirelessly view video from remote cameras while driving in a patrol vehicle.

For instance, the AValon ICV04 is a four-channel video recorder that lets you record streaming audio and video on an internal hard disk drive at 30fps. It is designed to fit under a vehicle seat and receive commands through a remote control, a computer, or a remote smart display. Recording is triggered manually or automatically by an external signal, such as a siren, flashing light activation, or code 1-2-3 in a police patrol vehicle. The recorded streaming video can be read via a USB port or archived on a standard CD-RW media.

Other features of the neat device include four video/audio inputs for a wireless LC618M lapel camera (or MX416 microphone), windshield camera, back seat camera and a trunk camera, VITC time/date stamping on all recorded video, support for up to 1 hour of recording on a 400MB Dataplay CD, and a USB 2.0 interface-to-vehicle computer/gateway. It utilises standard 12-volt powering and comes in ruggedised enclosure.

AValon RF

Vonage & Linksys Connect on VoIP WiFi Router

Vonage Voip Linksys WRT54GP2Linksys’ consumer and small-business oriented Wireless-G Broadband Router is unusual in the way that it offers four devices in one box: a Wireless-G access point, built-in 3-port switch to connect wired Ethernet devices, router so that multiple users can securely share a single cable or DSL Internet connection, and two standard telephone jacks (each operating independently) for carrying Voice-over-IP (VoIP) calls. It also comes with Vonage’s Internet telephony service, so you can start making high-quality low-cost phone calls over a broadband connection out of the box – even when you’re browsing the Internet.

With the added Vonage service, US-based users should get low domestic and international phone rates, Caller ID, Call Waiting, Voicemail, Call Forwarding, Distinctive Ring, and lots of other available special phone features. You can also choose any free local dialling US area code, regardless of where you live, add a virtual phone number in any area code, or even a US-wide toll-free number. Vonage offers price plans ranging from $15 to $50 a month, depending whether you want primarily local or long distance calls, how many inclusive minutes you want, and whether you are a consumer or business buyer.

“Recognising the need for residents and small businesses to have myriad of options when setting up their networks, Vonage is excited to partner with Linksys to continue to lead the way in transforming how people communicate,” stated Jeffrey A Citron, chairman and CEO of Vonage Holdings Corp. “More importantly, the Wireless-G Router bundled with Vonage’s service is the next step in modernising an archaic telecommunications network. No longer will people be stuck in the past and tied down to communications systems that fail to offer true mobility.”

“By providing customers with both the hardware and service they need to make high-quality phone calls over their broadband connection, customers get a better overall value and user experience,” said Mike Wagner, Linksys director of worldwide marketing. “Marketing the product and service together enables us to educate more customers about the benefits and cost savings VoIP can provide.”

Other key features of the Wireless-G Broadband Router (54 Mbps), with the oh-so-catch name of Linksys WRT54GP2, include support for Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), along with a range of voice compression algorithms with echo cancellation, DTMF tone detection and generation. It can also handle FSK and DTMF caller ID, and FSK voicemail. There’s also 256-bit encryption and support for both Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) and Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA), and the router can serve as a DHCP server, has a built-in SPI firewall to protect your PCs against intruders and most known Internet attacks, supports VPN pass-through, and can be configured to filter internal users’ access to the Internet.

US buyers will also get a $50 rebate slip that they can use against the Vonage service after their initial 90 days of service.

:SP: Vonage are pushing hard to expand their VoIP offering. They are spending large amount of money on advertising in the US (rumoured to be around $88m), and now, with this tie-up with Linksys, taking it directly to consumers who are buying broadband equipment. The support for both WiFi and SIP leaves the door wide open for expanding in to wire-free calling too.

Vonage Linksys WRT54GP2

Comcast turns on Microsoft’s TV software

Microsoft’s new TV software, which includes an interactive programme guide (IPG), will support advanced digital cable services, including the launch of dual-tuner digital video recorders to 1 million customers. The move is expected to further attract consumers to video-on-demand (VOD) services.

The announcement is the first major US deployment of Microsoft’s Foundation Edition software. With the launch of dual-tuner DVRs supported by Foundation Edition, Comcast customers will be able to record their favourite programmes digitally using an on-screen interface that Microsoft says is easier to use and navigate compared to the TV Guide Interactive software which dominates the US cable market. Viewers also can pause and rewind live television broadcasts, build a customised list of recordings by using the DVR’s repeat-recording capability to record multiple episodes of favourite shows, as well as record high-definition television (HDTV) broadcasts.

As part of the change, for an extra monthly premium, Comcast will start offering set-top cable boxes with built-in digital recording capabilities and hard disks for storing recorded television – effectively giving the cable box the same functions as stand-alone devices such as TiVo. The price for existing digital-cable customers will be an additional $9.95 per month on top of their current bill. For current high-definition subscribers, the price to upgrade to the digital recording box will be $4.95 per month.

Microsoft TV Foundation Edition software will be available immediately on new advanced digital set-top boxes with dual-tuner DVR technology. The software will be automatically downloaded in phases to all other set-top boxes in Washington state over Comcast’s digital network in the next few months.

“Comcast is a leader in providing new products on our unparalleled two-way digital platform, and we are always looking at new ways to bring our customers more value, choice and control,” said Len Rozek, senior vice president of Comcast’s Washington market. “The Microsoft software will help our customers get an amazing cable television experience. As Comcast continues to roll out advanced video products – such as VOD, HDTV and DVRs – it’s crucial to deliver a user experience that allows customers to easily navigate the many choices they have to find what they want, when they want it.”

Foundation Edition 1.7 helps cable companies maximise revenues by providing a better, more integrated customer experience and better merchandising opportunities for premium TV offerings and managed content services. It gives multiple service operators the opportunity to up-sell new and existing services, whilst striving to improve consumer satisfaction and retention. It also provides consumers with easy access to interactive games and information portals such as local weather, sports and news.

Enhancements to the software include a ‘smart’ progress bar that appears during playback and shows how much of the programme remains and how much buffer space is left, a channel mapping feature that lets you record a series even when it moves from one channel to another, and smart series options that let you record a specific number of episodes, skip rebroadcast episodes and reruns, set priorities for programs in case episodes conflict, and input the start and end times of programs. In addition, buffering lets viewers record the entire show they’re watching even if they don’t start recording until halfway through the program. Knowing Microsoft, there’s also the opportunity somewhere down the road for Media Center PCs to connect to Comcast video services, as well. And if the company manages to strike a deal with other digital TV providers, such as BSkyB, most of us will have Microsoft software in our living rooms as well as our workplaces.

Nokia Pleases Operators with Midrange Handsets

According to a story published today on tech Web site The Register, Nokia is in the middle of an 18-24 month transition to offer customised mobile phone designs and software that will make it easier for network operators to differentiate their offerings. In a move that looks like submission for the world’s largest mobile phone manufacturer, almost 90 per cent of the company’s 2005 phone line-up will support software customisation and 25 per cent will have exclusive operator designs.

Nokia has also indicated that handset margins would stay under pressure, forecasting a 17-18 per cent operating margin in two to three years’ time – well down from 25 per cent in its heyday a few years ago and reflecting tougher competition from the likes of Samsung Electronics. Whilst going through a turbulent year, plugging gaping holes in its product portfolio and fighting off competition by cutting prices, Nokia’s turnaround has already helped it to deliver results, driving forth its goal of eventually grabbing 40 per cent market share – up from a current share of around 30 per cent (Source: IDC).

Since April, Nokia has launched a number of new phones, including clamshells, and said half of its handset sales would come from new and foldaway designs by the fourth quarter of next year, up from some 19 per cent expected late this year and virtually zero at the beginning of 2004 when all designs had the shape of a candybar, according to Yahoo! India. Of the 40 new handsets Nokia plans to launch in 2005, more than half will be clamshell, slider or other factors, compared to just three at the start of this year.

We can expect to see more high-end multimedia devices and enterprise solutions, as well as Nokia driving the software standards agenda with platforms such as Series 60 and the new content framework, Preminet. High-end phones will offer full Internet browsers, integrated stereo music players, video playback and recording features, FM radio, and megapixel digital cameras. In 2006, the company will announce its first mobile phone with a built-in television receiver, which is being tested in the UK and Finland now.

Bizmondo: Gizmondo For Business Users

Tiger Telematics, the US-based manufacturer of the recently-released Gizmondo handheld games console, has already announced plans to grow its business by moving into the corporate handset business. Set to take on the likes of Nokia, PalmOne and Research in Motion (RIM), the Bizmondo (code name) handheld will be an enterprise-focused version of the Gizmondo, offering the same level of mobile connectivity (GPS, GSM/GPRS and Bluetooth) and multimedia features (MP3 audio and MPEG-4 video playback features).

The company has been active in other areas, too. On 19 October, it announced that games developer Warthog had signed an agreement to provide Gizmondo with ‘top class’ game content. Warthog’s first product for the Gizmondo will be Richard Burns Rally, a rally simulation game that promises to offer the most realistic and exhilarating rally experience on a handheld to date. Other games companies are also backing the platform, including SCi Entertainment Group Plc, who will develop and publish twelve products for the new Gizmondo platform.

Tiger Telematics also acquired UK-headquartered Integra SP on 29 October, bringing its real-time front-end product AltioLive onboard. With the integration of AltioLive software, Bizmondo will be pitched as a mobile trading tool and access point for business users. The deal brings together two organisations that will work on real-time functionality for deploying enterprise applications in a browser and next-generation services. Mike Carrender, CEO Tiger Telematics said, “This acquisition and creation of the Bizmondo device using the Altio platform is further evidence of our technology leadership position. With Integra SP’s rapidly expanding sales and customers that include Deutsche Bank, HSBC, The NASDAQ Stock Market and Deutsche Borse, we are adding a strong, established business entity in its own right, to the Tiger Group.”

Gizmondo is also getting its own high-profile retail spot in London’s chic Carnaby Street, a move which the company hopes will align its relatively expensive new device to Apple Computer’s trendy outlets. Carnaby Street will be the firm’s flagship store, as it attempts to push the handheld into an increasingly competitive market. The store is planned to open soon for the run-up to Christmas and will act as a showcase for the device itself, software and accessories. “We don’t see this flagship store as competition to other retailers. The store’s primary function will be to promote the device and the brand as a whole, which in turn, will drive more traffic to every retailer stocking Gizmondo,” commented Carl Freer, European Managing Director, Gizmondo Europe.

Intel Move in to STB Chips

Intel is preparing a family of consumer electronics processors based on the company’s IA-32 architecture, the design underlying the vast majority of Intel’s desktop, laptop and server processors. The new chips are designed for running digital video and audio content while providing a robust, fast and transparent method for transmitting and receiving digital content between a variety of products including PCs, high-definition televisions, set-top boxes, digital VCRs and DVD players.

The benefit of faster processors that consume less power is that they offer new ways to view high-quality digital pictures and sound. Streaming content from mobile devices is also a major component in the digital transmission proposals that the entertainment industry is reviewing, regarding delivery of video and audio content.

It’s almost certain that the Intel chips will run at slower clock speeds compared to their desktop counterparts, as the processing power of consumer boxes is not as critical as desktop computers, laptops and servers – frankly for the replay of video, photo and audio, you don’t need that much power. The chips will also likely have a slower bus and smaller cache, as this is an easy way to reduce power consumption and costs. Slower processors leads to less power consumption, less heat generated, therefore less need for noisy cooling fans. Silent or near silent machines are vital in the lounge setting.

Set Top Boxes (STB’s) have until now been built to a low price, so they have been pitifully under-powered. This has lead directly to the interactive TV (iTV) applications that they can run frankly not looking that much better than an Atari 2600. New mass-produced powerful chips  are the first step towards changing this.

Intel already produces processors designed for low-power consumption and high performance processing for a wide range of wireless and networking applications and rich services. Based on a new core devised by England-based ARM, the XScale chips are currently used in both smartphones and PDAs, but it’s looking to offer faster processing power with the new IA-32-based parts.

It’s quite clear that Intel is a chip company focused solidly on its core business, regardless of where it takes it. The company is building up support for its new chips among consumer electronics manufacturers by developing reference designs, or blueprints, for various products. The next step will be establish well-known, robust public and symmetric key cryptographic technique that will provide manufacturers with a simple and inexpensive implementation, while allowing protect digital content in transit quickly and easily – something that Hollywood is very keen on, to say the least.

Intel