Local TV coming soon to a phone near you
Just in case you needed something else to do with your wireless device–soon you can watch real-time local TV.
According to the NY Times a group called the Open Mobile Video Coalition is working on a standard that will let TV stations use some of the new frequencies given for high-definition broadcasts to be used for wireless devices. Called Mobile DTV, the service will be available for devices such as in-car screens, portable DVD players and mobile phones
Five Washington-area station participated in a demonstration and will be conducting a trial for the services over the next few months. Programming choices will also include live emergency alerts, local news and sports and other interactive services still in development.
Currently a similar technology is available in Asia, but not yet in America. Your current phone won’t work with this technology, but a whole new generation of devices is being developed.
Musical Screen
Sonos (the home music system) just got even better.
I’ve already written about how I love the system at my house, but as time goes by you begin to notice the little problems and hiccups that come along with any good thing. Well, the Sonos wireless controller is less than convenient all the time. The click wheel is simple, but not always very fast. So to keep me, and everyone else happy, Sonos has developed a new touch screen controller.
There’s no price yet, so hopefully those who already have systems can still afford to upgrade. But, despite price, there’s no way anyone can say a new controller is a bad idea.
Home, Safe Home
I, like many others, was a latch-key kid. I remember the key over the window waiting for me and later knowing that if I bumped the door just right it would open without the key because it wasn’t actually locked (scary, I know!).
Today’s parents and children have new security options such as keypad door locks and even remote access lock features. Schlage offers a full line of electronic security options in their LINK products.
One of the starter kits includes a Wireless Keypad Deadbolt, a Wireless Bridge, a Light Module, one internet cable, and batteries. With this kit you can secure your door access with 128 bit AES encryption and set up one light in your home to come on automatically depending on codes entered in the keypad at entry.
You can even program the Schlage LINK system to email you and give you status updates and let you know who is home.
I think it is a great answer for today’s latch-key kids.
Store Better than Before
So we know I love the flash drive, so it’s no surprise I’m intrigued by Leyio’s new personal file sharing device.
It’s a flash drive taken to the next level. It stores files, can take files off of other flash drives (it has its own USB port built right in) . It’s secured with a finger print scanner and it can wirelessly transfer data to your computer or another Leyios.
It comes with a digital screen, but doesn’t use wi fi. Wireless connections come through ultrawide-band radio, which means to wirelessly transfer to a computer you’ll need to buy a little extra. It’s due out this month 
Paint with a Purpose
At school we all share the same wireless network. Our internet can be accessed in dorms and in class (if you have a password that is). What about the average wi fi user? How do you protect your investment?
Japan has released wi fi paint, it basically blocks hangers on from accessing the internet you are paying for. Convenient for honest apartment dwellers who do pay for their own wireless. It’s an unfortunate development for poor city interns and the like, but it is pretty ingenious. In this economy I’d hope we could all learn to just share, but I can understand not wanting to. If only city wide wireless was available for real.
Wireless Collaboration
We all love convenience, and what’s more convenient than a printer, scanner, copier, and fax machine in one? Did I mention it’s wireless?
That’s right, the Lexmark X6675 can do everything from print pictures directly from a memory card to scan pictures back to your computer over its Wi Fi connection. It claims to print 25 pages a minute in black and white. Four machines in one, and not one extra wire. How much better does it get? How much space does that save?
For just over $100 it’s almost steal. (If you’ve got over $100.)
Getting Fit Just Got More High Tech
It doesn’t actually come out for a few months, but this device looks like something I might have to get. It’s called Fitbit and its like a 21st century pedometer that might actually help you lose weight and get healthier.
The device itself looks really small and supposedly can be worn easily on clothing (even your bra) or in your pocket to monitor your activity throughout the day. Like a traditional pedometer, it measure your distance traveled through the day, but even better, it measures:
”the intensity and duration of your physical activities, calories burned, steps taken, distance traveled, how long it took you to fall asleep, the number of times you woke up throughout the night and how long you were actually asleep vs just lying in bed.”
In addition, the device transmits data wirelessly to its base and your computer and can be evaluated through the company’s website. You can track your progress and even work on goals with family, friends or co-workers.
I think it sounds like a great idea, if it actually works. At only $99, it could be a easy way to get a clear picture of how what you do affects your health. It comes out around Christmas. It may make my wishlist.
A Wireless World
Could there ever actually be a real and complete wireless world? Well it looks like Intel has at least started to shepherd us down that very path.
The idea is that by placing any electronic device on a specially designed surface (desk, table, lab station) the device would get power. The company demonstrated said technology last Thursday by powering a light bulb at the Intel Developers Forum without the bulb being connected to any cords.
What a difference this tech could make with the knot of wires now concealed behind the desk in my dorm room. If only I could see the technology being available before I graduate.
My View of Vista (or Why I May Need a Mac)
You may recall when I took Windows to task for treating me like an idiot. Welll, I just bought a new laptop that came pre-loaded with Vista and suddenly Windows XP seems like a lean. efficient OS that treats me like I’m a PhD.
I could rant about how Vista now asks you a third time before allowing you to do any task more complex than opening an application, but it’s a minor annoyance compared to some of the lovely new quirks to discovered.
I still use Microsoft Office for XP. It continues to serve me well and they haven’t added anything significant enough to justify me spending a thousand dollars on an upgrade. (One of the few things I miss about working for a big company - they paid to upgrade your software!). Part of that Office suite is Outlook 2002. I successfully installed Office on the new Vista machine and cloned my email account info, of course telling it to save my passwords. And it all worked fine until I closed Outlook. When I started it up again, it had purged my passwords and thus failed to retrieve my email until I used the account management tool to re-enter the passwords. A Google search on the problem confirmed that it was common to Outlook 2002 and that Microsoft had no intention of fixing it. “Please send us $1000 for newer versions of software you didn’t want to replace”.
But wait! It gets worse. I had no trouble detecting and logging into my home wireless network - except that it came up “Local Only”, meaning no Internet connectivity. After frustrating attempts to figure out all the new “user friendly” nomenclature for networking I gave up and decided to use good old DOS brute force. Finding out how to open a command line window was a chore and when I finally did and tried the old faithful “ipconfig /release” command, it told me that it required “elevation”. Huh? I live at sea level in a one story home. Did I need to hit the roof? My account was set as “Administrator” but apparently that wasn’t good enough.
In a classic Catch-22, I wanted to check the web for updated drivers, but that required web access that Vista wasn’t giving me. I tried plugging in a cable direct to the router and all of a sudden all the connections worked! Sweet! Or not…
I go to a client’s office where I’ve always successfully connected to their wireless network, but I get the dreaded “Local Only”. After seeking help (and I HATE to do that) from their network admins, I was ready to give up and plug into a network jack. Presto! Once I did that, wireless kicked in. See a pattern emerging?
I was on the road last weekend. Tried to connect in the airport. Yep - Local Only. When I got to my destination, I used someone else’s computer to research the issue. It’s common. I tried to follow some of the proposed solutions. But the only one that ever worked was “plug it into a router”. That’s kind of hard in an airport.
Microsoft is mum on the issue. The net community hasn’t been able to overcome it. And my smug, welf-satisfied Mac friends are all saying “I told you so…”
Father’s Day Gift Guide
I know it is last-minute, but Father’s Day has really snuck up on me this year. I’m always looking for something clever and tech-y for my dad who is an original computer geek and software designer. This year I have found some very cool prospects I thought I would share. Of course you may have to pay extra shipping to get them by Sunday!
For the Stargazer-Meade Mysky $349
This “point-and-shoot” sky guide lets users point at an object in the night sky and get an instant 411. It easily locates nebula, planets, stars and more than 30,000 celestial objects. Has a full-color LCD screen and easy-to-use interface.
For the Adoring Grandpa-Digital Brag Book $120
This super-sleek aluminum case digital brag book holds 2000 images and features a 3.5″ LCD screen. Perfect for the dad or grandad who likes showing off his brood.
For the Scale-Model Afficianado-Lego Mindstorms NXT $250
Not your kids’ Lego set! These ultra-high tech robots, errrrr . . . models, are full of digital features. They contain built-in rotation sensors to align speed for precise control and can react to sound commands, patterns and tones. With more than 500 pieces, these are not for the faint-of-heart, but if you have your own programmable robot at the end of it, who cares?! (via WIRED)
For the Sports Fan-Ambient Wireless Baseball Scorecast $130
Great for the on-the-go sports fan. This hand-held or desktop device receives info from any MLB team via a free network. The 3×5 screen displays score, standing, and schedule information with the press of a button. Other models exist for additional sports.
For the Beer Lover-USB Beverage Chiller $40
OK, so it’s not just for beer lovers, but you can keep your cans, bottles and glasses a cool 45 degrees just by plugging in the USB cord to your computer.
For the Chef-Wireless Talking BBQ & Oven Thermometer $60
This thermometer will keep dear old dad from charring his favorite steaks or burning the burgers. The thermometer features five languages, eight entrée programs, four doneness levels, and four verbal and audio alert options—”almost ready,” “ready,” “overcooked” and “out-of-range.”
For the Boy Scout–Swiss Army Memory Tool $85
He’ll be at the ready with this super-cool Swiss Army knife and USB flash drive. The tool features a blade, a screwdriver, scissors, key ring, LCD light and ballpoint pen. It comes in a 1GB and 2GB model ($120).
