Digital-Lifestyles – Page 483 – We reported the effects of Technology on the Media and Communications between 2001 and 2009. We were featured on the BBC, described by the Guardian as 'Informative' and also cited in a myriad of tech publications.

ZigBee – The everywhere PAN

In the current flurry of new wireless networking, we have a new player on the block – ZigBee, the new PAN (Personal Area Network) protocol.

It’s been designed to be very low in power consumption and for most of the applications being targeted, its 2 AA batteries should have a life of 6 months to 2 years, but that does vary by application. One of its secrets is that the devices will only communicate when their application deems necessary.

With it’s maximum data rate is 250kbps, compared to 1 Mbps for Bluetooth but as we know, modems speeds are around a fifth of this, so it’s not painfully slow and many applications for devices don’t need loads of bandwidth.

Range is expected to be ~30 meters in a typical home, compared to ~10 meters for unamplified Bluetooth products.

ZigBee networking capabilities include 254 devices per network, compared to 8 for Bluetooth networks. There can also be up to 100 co-located networks.

With its small stack size (28Kbytes), which is about 10th of the Bluetooth – so the computing spec required to run it will be lower.

The entire bill of materials for a radio module is expected to initially be $6.00, coming quickly down to $2.00 to $3.00. Significantly lower than any other wireless network technology.

Products are expected to be available in middle of 2003 and it’s projected that over 400 million units will be produced per year by 2006.

Low cost wireless control within the home has a chance of becomes a reality.

Innovation … from BT?

I was more than surprised to see some ‘connected thinking’ (excuse the management speak) from BT today.

I’ve always said that one of the barriers to the general public taking up of broadband is that fact that they’ve never seen it, and why would you want something that you’ve never see. The same applied to the early days of Sky’s satellite delivered programming. Additionally the terms that are used to promote broadband, such as always-on are pretty meaningless to people with no experience or technology background.

BT payphones has decided, for a limited period, to give FREE broadband access at their new blue kiosks which are scattered around some sixty nine high streets around the UK.

Chinese broadband uptake to jump 500% this year

China currently has almost three times the number of UK broadband users but Strategy Analytics estimate they will have 37 million by 2008.

Sky and BT strengthen ADSL relationship

Sky and BT have had a strategic relationship for a long time. Initially it was because Sky needed a return path for their STB’s and back then the only realistic provider of this was a BT phone line. Things went a little frosty a while back when there were rumours that BT might use their network to become a broadcaster but it’s now all lovey-dovey again.

Back in February this year, BT made a know for a while that Sky has had a DSL connected STB/DVR, so clearly a wider take-up for broadband could benefit them in delivering content.

Sky customers who subscribe to cheaper packages but will see an advantage for upgrading to get the deal.

An unknown is the amount of money that Sky will be paid for each of their subscribers that sign up for the service hasn’t been disclosed.

I would also assume that BT has had to give legal assurances that it will not use the ADSL lines to provide content that will compete again Sky.

BT will get to strengthen their hold on UK broadband subscribers.

Quite a good deal to Sky then at first glance.

Vocera – Wireless-VoIP

While not strictly entertainment, it is broadband and your may well eventually have one at home. This signals the kind of wireless-VoIP product that I imagine has mobile telecom companies shaking in their boots, especially the 3G variety.

The Internet Home Alliance

A gathering of companies who are experimenting with their collective technology products projecting how a broadband-connected household could look.

MPEG-4 Advanced Video Coding

A new video encoding system is getting close to approval. H.264 or MPEG-4 Advanced Video Coding as it’s otherwise known, is thought to be able to reach DVD-quality broadcasts at slightly under 1Mbps. Some are sceptical about it being taken up for STB’s, as it will require about three to four times the computing horsepower needed for MPEG-2 – up to now pretty low power chips have been installed in STB’s. It is thought that the proposal should be ratified as part of the MPEG-4 (Moving Picture Experts Group) multimedia standard by year’s end.

The MS comment was that their proprietary CODEC was much more efficient – but in true MS style, the leader of the overseeing committee is an employee of Microsoft.

Sanity returns to audio webcasting

Sanity returns as audio webcasters and music rights holders have come to a mutually agreeable pricing structure for Internet-based music usage. Broadly, it’s going to be based on the profits they make (as commercial radio currently is in the US) as opposed to the previous ruling based on the number of tracks that are played and the number of people who listen to those tracks.

TiVo viewing habits

The release of TiVo’s viewing habits of their subscribers [PDF] is interesting reading. As I’ve found, TiVo owner don’t watch live TV very much when they have a PVR.

The point they rightly make is what will happen to the traditional prime time and how PVR ownership will reduce the impact of rival TV stations put competing shows on at prime time, forcing the viewer to make a choice.

Clearly most of what a PVR can do can be done with current VHS technology – the difference if how much more convenient it is with a PVR.

One thing that isn’t clear is what they view as time-shifted viewing. The obvious is a recorded show that is watched after the show has finished, the less obvious is what I would call Time-sliding. Time-sliding is when programme is on a advertising supported TV station, I’ll switch the TiVo to the programmes channel, then delay the start of my watching of the programme by watching previously recorded shows. Watching the show this way enables me to skip through the adverts during the programme. It could also be the pausing of live TV or rewinding and then watching it.

Side issue I was speaking to one of my fellow RTS organisers recently and he told me that in all of his viewing years, he had NEVER see a commercial on TV. He refuses to waste the 1/3 of every hour watching advert. If something is an advert-supported channel, friends will tape it for him – cutting out the ads. I was filled with admiration at his dedication and discipline.

Nokia Bluetooth-enabled STB

Nokia have announced their DVB-compliant Mediamaster 230 S to be released in Europe at the end of Q4 2002. Its major new feature is its ability to transfer photo’s from Bluetooth 1.1 capable cameras to store and view on the TV.

Sadly storage is limited to thirty images and apart from the high-end Sony camcorders and some camera-phones such as the Nokia 7650, there isn’t currently a huge choice of Bluetooth cameras around.

But generally a good move that will start to strengthen Bluetooth uptake – goodness knows it needs it.