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Sony plans to release new toy: Airboard
valmont: "The folks at cnet have this article about Sony's latest toy: The Airboard. It seems to merge all kinds of wild stuff in a pad hooked to a base station with TV Antenna and wireless modem: simultaneous TV and Internet/web browsing, remote-controlling of home appliances. Looks pretty nifty ..." And considering that Sony is hep to Transmeta, I wonder what chip and OS will power this thing.
If they're going to make a device that dials up their provider, I don't even want to know. However, if they're going to build something that has a base station component, so I can attach it to my local LAN, and have wireless internet anywhere in my house without the cost of a laptop, cool.
Applications like
I had a couple of other ideas, but they went away. Think: anything you could do with a slim, A4 size PDA screen?
... and today's pet project has
there's also a link at the register that's pretty interesting.
it talks about how the airbord is supposed to bridge the digital divide for those who don't have computer access. ironic being that it costs more than one.
FluX
After 16 years, MTV has finally completed its deevolution into the shiny things network
"It is seldom that liberty of any kind is lost all at once." -David Hume
Vaporware all the way. Why's that you ask? Well for starters there's no specs. Anywhere. Next: can you possibly imagine how much it costs to build such a thing? The touchscreen itself will cost you an arm and a leg. If it's lucky enough to get through the design stage; this thing will die on the market. There's no way Joe User will buy this thing: "5000 BUCKS FOR A FREAKIN' COMPUTER!? SCREW THIS I'M BUYING AN EMACHINE!" This thing is supposed to appeal to the people caught on the wrong end of the "Digital Divide", just like the Web TV. Guess how well the Web TV is selling. In fact the only demographic that would ever buy this thing are the geeks. Last time I checked there's not exactly a nerd on every block.
A shame though... it would have made such a good toy.
Who is going to firewall Napster on our very PC's? Sony.
Who is a member of both the MPAA and RIAA? Sony.
Sorry if I care very little for Sony and anything related.
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I'd install FreeBSD before I'd install Linux.
Kewl, now we will be able to hack Slashdot while watching TV in the tub.
Burn Hollywood Burn
Just a reminder:
*PART* of Sony is hep to Transmeta. Another part is hep to the RIAA.
This is a big company. This thing could come with Carnivore Lite. =)
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I bet i end up sitting in front of my computer holding this amazing remote device. I won't have to EVER get up. Only if they could have a mountain dew drip, i'd never have to leave my desk.
oh yea, and get some depends man-diapers and i'd be set.
Now, I know this is proper News for Nerds, and some Nerds don't care squat about the Napster thing, but anyone remember:
Aug 23, 2000: Sony VP on Stopping Napster
"The [music] industry will take whatever steps it needs to protect itself and protect its revenue streams. It will not lose that revenue stream, no matter what... Sony is going to take aggressive steps to stop this... We will develop technology that transcends the individual user. We will firewall Napster at source -- we will block it at your cable company, we will block it at your phone company, we will block it at your [Internet-service provider]. We will firewall it at your PC."
Whether you give squat about Napster, you do need to remember that this is a corporation who apparently wants to sell you on products which will be the gatekeepers to your access to the internet. Not for your convenience, but to protect their REVENUE STREAMS. (Read: not artists, not property, not people, but HOW MUCH MONEY THEY CAN GET FROM YOU )
Granted, that's what most companies are after, but many seem to do it more tactfully than this. I've canceled my future purchases of Sony hardware and products (although I admit the PS2 is tempting) because of this stance. Not advocating an organized boycott, but I figured I might be yet another one of those people who won't let this down.
I mean they're counting on you to be a goldfish:
"Not in MY PC, not in MY CABLE MODEM!
Not in MY-- ooh... shiny, purple.. buttons... VaaaaIIIIIooo.."
9:45am - wake up and roll over.
9:50am - devour tube of scrambled eggs w/ french toast.
10:00am - Reach over and switch on "Airboard".
10:05am - Begin day of telecommuting, teleconferencing and all kinds of telecrap!
6:45pm - you feel sleepy, use "Airboard" to switch on TV across the room.
7:20pm - Nothing on TV, you switch everything off and roll your lard ass over and go back to sleep. You've had a busy day you little buckaroo! Get some rest, you deserve it.
No thanks, I like actually doing physical work and exercising.
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Vote Homer Simpson for President!
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