Thursday, December 5, 2002

Slashdot: Sony Introduces Passage

What is Sony Passage? Sony's Passage Technology is a simple, elegant solution that allows equipment from multiple vendors to peacefully co-exist on legacy digital CATV networks. Passage Technology is based on a fundamental understanding of MPEG encoding, and years of Sony experience developing digital video products. Passage facilitates choice in equipment and services. With Passage, operators can introduce alternative conditional access systems, innovative set-top boxes and head end equipment from multiple manufacturers, and advanced subscriber services. Not only does Passage Technology enable choice, it also drives competition. Passage is efficient. With Passage Technology the customer experiences no degradation of existing services. A typical Passage system requires between 2-10% additional bandwidth* to deliver the same content and services including the new, secondary CA system. This means that Passage can be introduced in a system without changes to the existing channel line-up.

Ugh! Just shoveled tons of snow. I telecommuted today, which was smart.

Tech titans launch Wi-Fi company: Intel, IBM and AT&T announce a new company that combines technologies from the trio to provide wireless broadband Internet access nationwide.

We're getting a serious white dumping in New Jersey.

RealNetworks, Starz to Offer Online Film: The new service, to be launched in spring 2003, will give subscribers with high-speed Internet connections access to more than 100 movies a month at the same time they are available on Starz' cable channels.

Hughes will not extend expiry date of EchoStar bid: That's that.

Motorola and Magis to Demonstrate Wireless Cable Home Network: This concept network is one illustration of Motorola Broadband's "connected home" vision, where broadband-enabled devices in the home connect together seamlessly.

Wi-Fi app alerts IT managers to intruders: Newbury Networks says its WiFi Watchdog helps IT managers sniff out 802.11b network intruders and cut off their access.

Nextel's BlackBerry ripe for picking: Research In Motion launches a BlackBerry device that runs on the wireless carrier's network and acts as a "walkie-talkie" for subscribers.

Microsoft vows more cash for Xbox: This is one of the reason I got my Xbox. I knew Microsoft would continue to pour billions into hopefully producing a better product. It is, but still has less games than playstation. If Microsoft concedes to Sony, it will be huge defeat. Probably the worst in corporate history.

Wi-Fi: As big as Budweiser? There's a bold prediction.

Homeland security waiting for Wi-Fi. Security must be a priority for users and makers of wireless networking equipment in order to prevent attacks on federal and corporate systems, experts say.

Java community to nail mobile phone spec. It's called JSR 185, for all you Java cellphone aficionados.

DVD + VCR: A Merger That Yields Dividends. Often gadgets that merge functions are destined for failure, but at least one hybrid may work: the DVD player and videocassette recorder.

Price Is Limiting Demand for Broadband. Only about 15 percent of American households currently subscribe to broadband service despite the fact that 70 percent of households have the technical option of doing so.

Video Editing at Your Computer. Where do you go to turn your home video into a slick, professional-looking production on a DVD or a video CD?

Slashdot: Build Your Own Linux PVR