Archive for October, 2006
Embedding to the max
Along with this web2 gadget trend I’ve been thoroughly talking about, it’s interesting to see that more and more applications are being ported to the embedded world. For instance, Engadget reports that Bittorrent client, the leading P2P file sharing software, has been ported to NASes (ethernet-connected hard drives) thus enabling them to autonomously connect to bittorent and download files. Once again the PC isn’t the preferred access method to Internet anymore, many upcoming devices are changing the usual Internet into an Internet of Things.
Neuros OSD
I’m receiving tomorrow my Neuros OSD bought last week on ThinkGeek. I know what you’re going to say : Alex stop it with all those gadgets! But the fact is that day after day new web2 gadgets keep emerging, and just like web2 sites they leverage on a communitiy of developpers and early adopters to create new contents and applications by providing a nice hardware and a set of comprehensive resources (SDK, API…).
Those new devices will be one of the new ways for monetizing the usual web2 services, and it’s so exiting to see communities focus on them and develop new services.
Connected photo-frame
Just to continue on the “connected devices” hype, here is another one : the WiFi Photo Frame. I personnally don’t like at all this version as it is way too expensive : over 300$ for a web 2.0 gadget is insane ! Moreover, the only interesting thig about this frame which is the live service associated is subscription based … I’m not sure they can get enough pre-orders to roll this out.
Anyway it’s allways nice to see new ideas & designs for these connected gadgets.
Ambiant google calendar clock
A new connected device concept si appearing (maybe?) : when you mix a clock and a WiFi connection you get a google-calendar enabled clock that can show you the time along with you availability. Check on ambiantclock to see a demo of the product, I’d love to have one on my desk ! It’s called a “Google personnalized homepage gadget”.
I really think this kind of devices are on the move as more and more projects are starting to emerge. Unfortunatelym when you start talking about consumer electronics, volumes and pricing are the key to market success… and those gadgets are still too expensive to make when created in small voolumes. WaveStorm faced this issue 6 months ago and found the key to it : leverage on a mass market application to cut prices and serve the market with higly integrated low-cost embedded platforms !
Snowbord photo-jacket
Textually reports that Moodnial crated a connected Snowboard jacket with a digital photo frame embedded:
The concept is a smart snowboarding jacket that allows the user to upload images for display on the jacket.
Digital pictures from a camera phone or PDA can be transmitted directly, or downloaded wirelessly from the internet, to a display embedded in the jacket.
I’m not that sure that there is a mass market for that, as the total cost of components for the wifi/bt part must be around 50$ at least, and don’t forget that an lcd screen is the easiest thing to break, at least when you’re snowboarding and you’re wearing one 
Videoconferencing, reloaded
Cisco just released its newes videoconferencing products calles “TelePresence”. It’s awfully expensinve but very promising. Indeed the most expensive version (299,000$) lets you create a virtual conference room with half of the seats filled with flat screens. Only one weak point, it’s not wireless the installation of all these equipments must really be a pain !
Technorati Tags: conference, Cisco, VoIP
Broadcom low-power WiFi chip
Broadcom has just announced today an ultra-low-power chip BCM4326 (b/g) and BCM4328 (b/g/a) that would consume only 270mW in active power mode. to get an ideam it usually is around 500 & 1500mW It’s still 10 times as much as Bluetooth, and over 30 times as much as 802.15.4… but still it opening up new possible applications for WiFi.
Technorati Tags: chip, consumption, wifi
Yet another home multimedia system
I just found on Engadget a review of the Logitech’s wireless DJ music system and its sexy remote control working on an unprecised 2.4GHz range (802.15.4 ?). Anyway I still find those kind of products too complicated for my grandma, thus non mass-market, but still as a geek I cannot but highlight the neat design of the remote control which is definetly appealing!
Technorati Tags: home, multimedia, wifi
WiFi under Vista
For the mighty ones who have been risking their system integrity by trying the latest Windows Vista RC, you might have noticed that WiFi management subsystem just doesn’t look like anything you’ve seen before. The Microsoft guys seem to have taken a special pleasure in hiding the option and complicating the user interaction to connect to a WiFi network… and although I’m considering mysellf as a WiFi power user (I master 802.1x authentication & various related networks tricks) I was kind of lost in front of this new UI and function tree. So thanks Thomas (the author of the famous canardwifi blog)for publishing a full overview of the Vista WiFi subsystem… I’ll lose less time looking for the function I need (How do I set up certificate-based 802.1x authentication again ? ). The ebook is available since today for 3.5€.
Technorati Tags: canardwifi, vista, wifi
My xmas present
I just saw on Engadget my xmas present : a WiFi spy robot ! It does it all : WiFi camera to peak on the girl’s hot springs on a pair of commanded wheels.
Anyway if you are not convinced about the new Bandai’s toy at least you should agree that it’s a smart move from a brand whose latest incursion in high tech was the tamagochi … But at 421$ it’s more expensive than a mobile phone!
