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Linux-based Convergence Boxes From Rogers Cable
nilstar writes: "Rogers Cable wants to dump (slow) WebTV and move to linux based boxes to connect all the major appliances in your home: stereo, tv, computer, etc. via broadband using rogers@home in a service called "triple play". Will this really happen after MS invested C$600 in Rogers? Here is the press release. As the article here on the star says: 'Rogers Cable Inc. will begin testing a new service next month that turns all the communications, computing and entertainment devices in a home into a high-speed smorgasbord of interactive experiences."' Why do I bet these would only be useful with one company's cable service?
I can say that they are one company that does not suck.
Their internet cable access rocks! Granted, I've had my share of problems in the past. I was I think the second or third customer in my area, and as more people signed up, things got slooow. But now, about 2 almost 3 years later, it's fast. They upgraded their cables since then. And their reliability wrt to the tv and internet access is really good. And it's been this way for most part. The worst experience was a 3 day down-time due to some idiot cutting the cable while digging in front of his house.
Not to mention the fact that they support static IPs. They don't bother you about IP masquarading, so I can run my four boxes off the same IP (it would be an extra CA$10/month for each additional IP) I know of other providers cough-Sympatico DSL-cough who won't let you do that. They even let you use Linux w/o a problem and I believe that they have tech support for it too.
And they're really cheap. It costs about CA$50/month for the internet (which includes the modem rental) plus CA$30/month for the TV. Which is about US$50. I know people are paying more than that for DSL alone in the US.
The point I'm trying to make, a Linux box replacing the WebTV is great news. And even if it isn't compatible with other providers, it's still ok. I couldn't care less.
600 Canadian Dollar = 457.995 Euro
600 Canadian Dollar = 391.139 US Dollar
After an insult like that, no wonder they're going with Linux.
Convergence is one of those things that just doesn't work out in the ways people predict. Stuffing all the functionality of your TV, VCR, DVD, stereo into one easy-to-use package may sound like a great idea, but things like this never pan out.
Convergence in other areas does, though. Witness:
The Pepper Ball with built-in salt shaker. Now you don't have to have a separate salt and pepper shaker!
The pencil now comes equipped with a handy-dandy eraser located conveniently at the opposite end. Make a mistake, don't go looking for that Art Gum, just flip the pencil and rub!
It comes down to pairing things that are similar enough into one easy to use item. A TV-VCR combo is a good idea. A TV-Stereo combo is a very bad idea.
Dancin Santa
yes! And now there will be no excuse for gramma and grampa to have the continuous flashing 12:00 on their VCR! All they would have to do is know the following:
/bin/sh
/bin/sh
/usr/bin/vcrrecord 3
/usr/bin/vcrstoprecord 3
$ telnet jvc_vcr
$ date -s "Wed Jun 20 13:20:41 PDT 2001"
And then if they wanted to auto record a tv show tonight at 9:00 pm, instead of all the confusing menus, all they have to do is:
$ telnet jvc_vcr
$ at 21:00
at> set channel=9
at> set mode=record
warning: commands will be executed using
job 8 at 2001-06-20 21:00
$ at 22:00
at> set mode=stop
warning: commands will be executed using
job 9 at 2001-06-20 22:00
AND, if they wanted to record their faourite show every week they could very easily do:
$ crontab -e
0 21 * * 3 viewer
0 22 * * 3 viewer
Hey, I think I'm on to something! (crack maybe?)
--jeff
ipv6 is my vpn