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Sony and Sun Form Net Appliance Pact
grayhame writes "It seems that Sony and Sun have decided to team up to co-develop digital consumer electronic appliances with access to the internet. " Sun seems to be moving towards consumer space. Sun and Specialized are doing a co-branding thing where Specialized uses Sun workstations to design their bikes, and in return, there will be Sun-purple co-branded bikes.
The thing I think will get the most use will be being able to bring up the UI of whatever is Jini enabled onto something else. Forget to set the temp down in your house on your vacation? Sit down on the computer and switch it from wherever you are..... oh, oops. no computer? No problem. Bring up the interface on your cell phone. Oops, no cell phone? Bring it up on the TV in the hotel you're staying at.
No doubt about it, Jini's a great thing. I haven't messed with it in about five months now. This thread and announcement makes me want to pick it back up again....in fact, I will.
Man, I love /.
> If my kid rode a Sun purple mountain bike he would get beat up.
You're kid already gets beaten up on a daily basis (ask him) because he's an annoying spaz (compounded with the fact that his dad never taught him how to fight). The hypothetical bike has nothing to do with it.
Yet another internet appliance. Why would someone want to connect their coffeemaker to the Internet? For some reason... I would want to. And I'm not sure why.
A few folks - including myself - are currently looking at developing a home server... basically a little "black box" that sits in a corner and acts as the brain/manager/conductor of smart appliances. You can get the preliminary details at PointClark Networks
We will likely develop the product on Linux - no surprise there. We want the product to be reliable, secure, simple, and smart. My Mom has to be able to use it (read: it must be pretty easy to use!).
We will be keeping track of the "home server" aka "residential gateway" aka "internet appliance" market. If you want the latest news on this nascent market, you should check the website regularly.
Regards,
Peter
peterb@pointclark.net
If you like Asheron's Call, give Everquest a shot too. Great game
Aren't the new AmigaObjects and AmigaOE that Gateway and Amiga, Inc. are allegedly developing supposed to integrate and work with Java and Jini? I just thought I'd annoy everyone by mentioning these factoids. I've been very naughty and I am going away now.
Looks different than all the other bikes. Has so many fun toys attached that you never really get to ride it...
Blogging because I can...
better encode those mp3s at 256kbps otherwise they will sound like crap. I can't even listen to cds that originated from mp3 files with headphones. you especially notice it with symbols.
you do know about AskJeeves ads on apples ( the fruit ) don't you?
Actually reference counting doesnt work since circular references cause memory leaks (i.e. A points to B, B points to A). Instead periodically the program is stopped, and the program follows the links from some root object, and marks everything accessible from that. Anything not marked when the sweep is complete is then reclaimed.
Sun Bike: Slick looking, weighs 200 kg. Not a fast bike but you can jump off cliffs with it. Up to 64 wheels.
Linux Bike: Comes in pieces, or pre-assembled. Fastest bike around, weighs 10 kg., but nobody takes it seriously yet.
FreeBSD Bike: Think Harley-Davidson.
OpenBSD Bike: Think Harley-Davidson, with the Terminator on it.
Be Bike: Best looking bike around. Easy to juggle on.
Windows 98(TM) Bike Comes pre-assembled in the box. Falls apart when you try and ride it.
Windows NT(TM) Bike Slick looking, goes one block and then explodes.
Don't hate me because I'm beautiful, hate me cause of my lousy posts.
-Nick
Have GNU . . . Will Travel
What makes you think that fully grown geeks don't eat Lucky Charms?
--
Why can't I moderate something "Wrong" or at least "Grossly Misinformed"?
Some of it is closer than you think...
PC + Linux + xmms + multiple soundcards = DJ's dream. Toss in the scratching software from TerminatorX.
One box (celeron, 256 Ram), with direct output to the amp (SB PCI128), and a second output so you can cue/mix/listen to other tracks (old reliable ISA soundblaster 16).
One of these days I'll release the software I wrote for all this. I'm waiting until I get a rock solid optimized version with all the fixens first.
To bad the movers "lost" the cd collection I recorded all my mp3's from...
"You want to kiss the sky? Better learn how to kneel." - U2
"It was like trying to herd cats..." - Robert A. Heinlein
Sig:
Barbeque is a noun. Not a verb.
It's mostly software now. The only hardware I'm aware of that you can play around with is a Jini interface with X-10 hardware, called Jade. You can find it at jini.org, I think.
But it would be better than the MS bike which crashed at least once a day.
Another thing that he's developed is a nice little VB application that lets people at the part search through his tracks for an artist and then add it to the playlist in a similar way to a jukebox in a bar.
Net radio is already there. Just try here (You have to start the stream first, of course). I've seen a couple of these "program as you go" bitcasters, and I like 'em. Hats off to ya Nazz.
+&x
NOBODY will buy a device thats going to throw spam at you. Not a single soul in the world would be that stupid.
The intentions of Sun for Jini is not marketing, its functionality. So far, marketing is not an issue with Jini devices. They're not intended to be used as globally networked devices as much as they are locally networked. In other words, you'll have control over the routing, not the manufacturers.
Besides, Congress throws a hissy when they see what Cookies are intended for (hence this banner ad sh1t), and they're about to motion to regulate it. You're never, EVER going to be spammed in your own home unless you're being entertained. I just can't see it happening!!
Amiga Bike: Great looking when it came out, some people still like it...but BOY, the NEXT one, that one's going to be GREAT.
To me, this whole notion of "everything-internet" is like Microsoft's stupid idea about having a web-browser in every application. If I want to peruse the Internet, I'll use a web browser and when I want to type up a document, I'll [maybe] use a word processor [more likely I'll use Emacs]...
And while I do see some benefit to being able to program my VCR from a computer at work, I don't think the average consumer would ever do that since the only people I know that can consistantly program any VCR without a "For Dummies" book (note to IDG: please don't sue Slashdot for having this reference) are geeks, programmers, computer literates, etc...
Don't get me wrong, some non-Net appliances can be connected in a cool way (though even pop machines on the net are nothing so great anymore) but I think most net-based appliance features would lose their appeal after a few weeks (after that all your friends will grow tired of hering you talk about "how cool" this is)...
So DJ'ing with Mp3's is something that I do, and write code to support. I have also spun in the "old school" fashion using a 4+ channel mixer with 2 cd players and 2 technics turntables...
Here are my thoughts on the problem with "professional" dj'ing using mp3's:
1) vinyl does sound better. Really. The crowd doesn't usually notice though.
2) Beat matching:
2a) According to an old TA of mine (who could teach signals and systems to a brick... which I was.) true software beat tracking is rough. It's one of those things which is simplistic in analog, but comparably a pain in the ass to do digitially.
2b) pitch control. professional dj equipment allows you to adjust the speed of the track by +/- 10%. This way you can seamlessly fade directly from one song into another, or overlay a track over a background track. Once the first track is faded out, you are free to readjust the playback speed. To the best of my knowledge, the software to do this requires fast interpolation/decimation code and some really funky polyphase low pass filters. I've done it with Matlab/Mathematica but not in real time. According to my calcualtions it is really memory intensive... (I'm still learning about the math side of all this, so if i'm wrong please enlighten me)
3) User interface. Ever use a mixer? a real one with sliders and a crossfader? It is *so* much easier to use the old reliable sliding controlers instaed of a mouse and keyboard. Your multitasking (pardon the lingo...) is only limited by the dexterity of the 10 digits on your hands. With one hand you can control the volume on 2 or 3 channels, run the crossfader with your thumb, and adjust the equalizer with the other hand. Current "free" mp3 UI's are based around a single input source.
"You want to kiss the sky? Better learn how to kneel." - U2
"It was like trying to herd cats..." - Robert A. Heinlein
Sig:
Barbeque is a noun. Not a verb.
Why would I want Sun-purple bikes? I mean, geek kids are that big of a market? C'mon...
"You can never have too many elephants on your team."
Wow, I'd be the coolest geek on the block! How much are they and where can I find one!
-Lokar "Saddle me up and ride me into the future"
...insert joke about it being slower than a regular bike... :)
Save the whales. Feed the hungry. Free the mallocs.
I like the radio with direct access to the internet, although it'll be kinda wierd "tuning in" to www.radiostation.net
What I want to know is when can I get this in my car?
-Al-
this agreement could have far-reaching implications for ALL appliances! bread makers, rice cookers, toaters, Coffeemakers!
No longer locked in their proprietary little non-network-centric worlds, appliances the world over would be happy, upgradable, and JAVA based!
IP's for everyone!
"Tension is the great integrity" -- R. Buckminster Fuller
...For example, it could have been purple cobranded Barbie cellphones, or everyones favorite Purple Dinosaur.
How about a purple breakfast cereal (Jini Puffs)?
--
The real Webmaven is user ID 27463. I don't rate an imposter, because my ID is such a lame-ass high number.
Sun's incentive in this collaboration is to get the ball rollin on it's JINI technology. What better place to go than the King of appliances? Sony is probably ticked at MS' overtures into the gaming market that Sony all but owns and sees this as a way to smack MS down a bit. Once again, MS steps on the toes of potential corporate partners in its all-consuming quest to be everything to everyone.
Hates people who have stupid little sigs
OK, lets start small. How about we have this wireless access from all Laptops, then move to having access from EVERYTHING. Personally I can't wait for the day when I can set up a HUGE file server at my house, full of Mp3s, and be playing them from my car, or better yet from a RIO sized Mp3 player. I could go running with a .5oz device (Most of the weight being buttons) and still have access to my entire 73 day music collection! I hope this is how it ends up working out. I could be be truely wired and connected 24/7, this is a doog thing :) Imagine a DJ showing up to your house to have a party/dance (I know you guys are slashdot geeks, but you can imagine can't you? J/K) he shows up with nothing but speakers and his little Rio sized mp3 decoder, or maybe he brings a laptop so he can play games or read Slashdot while at the party :) Now a days, DJ's bring 500 lbs of CD's. This would be made much easier if music was all kept on a central server to be accessed remotely (Presonally, if I was a DJ I would have a nice computer with 40+ gigs of HD space, I would then bring my computer and stero equipment to the party. Thus no need for all the other work of bringing CD's. I have yet to see this. But this would change what the DJ had to do imensely. Imagine, what song you want? Typing it in and playing it, vs trying to find it in a stack of 500 CD's.) ((Boy, I sure got side tracked))
Of couse their aer other uses for being able to be connected to the internet with other "appliences". Bikes for instance. You could have a GPS built into your childs bike. Then, if he was to go out riding and it was getting dark, or he got lost, you could just bring up your computer and get the GPS cordinates, bring up a map, and know exactly where they are at. This would also work in case the bike was stolen, it would be kind of like a security system.
Overall, I love this idea. I can't wait till the day this happens. What are your predictions on when it is wide spread? I would say not for quite a while, in fact, it may be a long way off. But then, a while ago I would have told you that 200 mhz computers were a long way off to!!
"I couldn't give him (Bill Gates) advice in business and he couldn't give me advice in technology." Linus Torvalds
It's only a matter of time before we can get an Aibo that'll shit on your carpet then email you to tell you about it.
When will these companies say hey do we really need to make stereos that hook up to the interent? I mean what the heck people are going to need like 15 different phone lines if they don't have broadband access. Let's see do I have one for the TV one for the Stereo oh need one for the computer and hey I better have one in case somebody calls me.
.... S-mart's top of the line" --Ash, Army of Darkness
I guess I like the idea that I can only watch programs at a certain time(I know I have a vcr I could tape them if I really wanted too) it gives me a chance to actually go out in the world and do things other than staring mindlessly at the TV choosing whichever show I want to watch at whatever time.
I guess I really can't say much I just purchased Asheron's Call last night so I probably will be staring mindlessly at my computer screen for awhile.
I suppose that the proliferation of this technology also allows people who would never access the net unless they had something like this the ability to actually go on the net and do whatever they need to do.
just my long and not necessarily on-topic 2 cents
"This is my Boomstick
How about these marketing strategies: Co-branding with Starbucks for Sun Java drinks. with the Weather Channel-- partly Sunny(TM), Sunny(TM), etc. with Lucky Charms-- adding purple Suns to the mix, for the really young geeks.
This is more than stupid, but if Sun and Sony ever spin off a joint company or division, someone should name it "Sunny".
The eBike runs on multiple platforms using Sun's own Java technology. Currently, virtual machines exists for both concrete and pavement, with a port for dirt in the works.
-----------
"You can't shake the Devil's hand and say you're only kidding."
Jini is probably the best thing since sliced bread. The fact that Sony is going to implement it means that this world will be far cooler and much sooner.
I've been waiting forever for this technology to be released. This is truely what Java was intended for: multiple architectures, even those that are extremely simple.
I'd say 3-4 years from now we'll all be buying coffee makers that are configurable from your PC, or a Java program.
Okay. Net enabled appliances are no new thing. Fridges, mircowaves and toasters have all been showcased with internet connectivity but as we were discussing the other day...is this really a good thing?
Sure, the internet is great but it does have it's place as far as I'm concerned and it's not in a bike!
Bringing internet capabilities to items such as games consoles (the Dreamcast) and television makes sense...putting access onto bikes does not.
Wireless communications have come a long way recently and with the arrival of IPv6 just around the corner I think we are going to see more and more of these products hitting the stores in the comming months. Just one request - please don't give my kettle connectivity, I would hate to wake up one morning and find that some kid has hacked it!
Legacy free? C'mon. With Windoze being the biggest legacy, the term "Legacy-free Windows device" is a contradiction in itself.
...I can't find anything on Specialized's or Sun's websites that mention a word about Sun-purple bikes. Very disapointing. They had a picture of McNealy being presented with a custom-made bike that was sun purple. But, according to the press release, the co-branding ACTUALLY involves putting a logo saying 'Desgined on Sun' on all the bikes and helmets. Oh well. Too good to be true, I guess.
Is it such a mental leap from Yahoo's TV listings with a "Add this show to My Calendar" button to a "Program my VCR to record this" button? Think forward.
Microsoft bike:
microsoft bikes look kind of pretty at first sight
and there are a lot of trails for this bike.
The downside with microsoft bikes are that you
tend to crash a lot with them and that if you need
to adjust something like your brake pads you'll
have to go home and do it in the garage.
Also to make it easier on new riders the bike has
three wheels, which makes the bike really heavy and difficult to use in the long run.
I stole my Microsoft bike and I also dont pay entrance to the different trails which kind of
makes me feel like a bad person. Therefore I very
seldomly ride my Microsoft bike these days.
The Mac bike:
Pretty similar to microsoft the one. Differences are that with the mac bike there are very few
trails. Thats ok for most mac-bikers because their
bike is kind of made out of this blue-transparent
material and is really cute.
There is rumors of a X-bike from the mac
bike-makers which is suposed to be really cool.
My theory is that by the time macBike-X really
comes out it will already be made obsolete by
newer cooler bikes, some of them for free.
Beos bike:
Really cool bike.
Beos bike users brag about how they can get their
bike out ot the garage and on to the trail in just
four seconds. The sad thing is that there is not
many places you can go with this bike.
Other than that there is not much bad to say
about this bike. The beos bike is probably great
to play with but I wouldn't ride to work with it.
The Unix bike:
Comes in many variants, some of them for free.
Mostly a very reliable and fast bike.
Ppl used to three wheled bikes have problems with
these bikes when they first start using them but
if they persist they can learn cool tricks not
really possible whith some of the more easy to use
bikes.
Also there have been complaints about the ugliness
of the unix trails but that is rapidly changing
as new trails are opening up all the time (some
hard core unix bikers argues that when go you
riding pretty scenery doesn't help you get places
but I like taking brakes sometimes to have a look
around).
We can't forget Sun's potential co-branding with everyone favorite drink, Sun(tm)ny Delight. If my kid rode a Sun purple mountain bike he would get beat up.
how about the damn toaster burning logos into to your toast every day?
but it could be a good thing, you could share your toast making applet with your friends: Damn John, that's a great butter applicator applet. Also sending your shower temperature preferences to where you are going to stay. Or if your alarm clock doesn't wake you up, it could enlist the help of the rest of the electric appliances in your bedroom. Or cooking dinner from work, or doing laundry. Of course I will only buy programmable devices where an individual could implement their own secuirity and apps.
Sounds like a lot of fun to me!
$var = <STDIN>
$var =~ s/\\$//;
this is slashchomp
1. Licensing. Will I have to upgrade it every year to get good quality coffee at home while I'm at the office?
2. Y2K. Will the Y2k bug fry the embedded processor?
3. Viruses. Will some evil hacker be able to turn it into a tea machine by an email bomb? Suppose someone mails it a chain letter, will it make my washing machine puke?
4. Adverts/tie-ins. Would it refuse to process non Sun/Sony coffee?
5. Programing. Would the auto-run be able to override my favorite methods?
6. Jabber. What if my Emotion Engine just can't get along with all the other appliances? Will Sun produce a virtual Opra talk show while I'm at work?
7. Cross-talk. Could Mario Brothers convince my coffee machine to jump off the counter? Could the washing machine convince the coffee maker to eat soap?
8. UPS. What happens if the battery dies, or lightening strikes?
9. Security/Privacy. Could this thing record my bank info and then spend all my money on a lifetime supply of coffee out of Y2k fears? Would it report my coffee drinking habits to Sun?
10. Slashdot. Would I have to fire the coffee machine because it got addicted to Slashdot and refused to make coffee?
Friends don't help friends install M$ junk.
Sony has the most popular set top box on the market today. Wait 'till every teenager with a playstation is also hooked up with AOL on the playstation.
Honestly, why would anyone want a toaster with we access?
Distributed Virtual Reality with Jini? Realtime updates of 3D state? Good graphics over Java 3D? I don't think so.
- Yet another way for marketoids to abuse Internet-Advertising besides the obvious vectors such as TV and radio. Can you imagine your toaster recommending you try a delishious Eggo(tm) waffle every morning?
- IPv6 outdated before implementation. Okey, maybe not. Still, do we need yet more systems sucking bandwidth right now?
- Product Support Hell. For all you Bobs and X-Bobs, I'm sure you know what I mean. "Help, I can't seem to get rid of all this spam from my microwave!"
Okey, I'm just being silly. Gimmie a break.===
This is my sig. There are others like it, but this is mine.
Also from the thinner is better department, COMPAQ is announcing the release of the "iPaq" Internet PC for businesses. "iPaq is the industry's first "Legacy-Free" Windows 2000 device, using USB ports in place of ISA/PCI expansion slots or legacy ports. Available in January 2000 via the Web and phone, it will be aggressively priced, starting at $499 (U.S. price with Internet keyboard, without monitor)."
"The silver and black device, which weighs just over 10 pounds and is only 40 percent as large as the conventional beige box PC, is designed as a desk-side computer and runs Intel Corp.'s latest Pentium III chips."
A P-III for $499 sounds like a good deal, even if you can't put linux on it. I also can't figure out how you can get a P-III AND a copy of Windows2000 and keep the price under $500?
Regarding the name, even if they don't get sued by Apple, I expect this French Company will have some issues with it.
This is exactly what I am talking about.. You are set. But I don't think the music industry as a whole uses this kind of technology. In other words, it is NOT wide spread as of yet. I don't know why. It may be considered too "High tech" (although I don't consider mp3s high tech). But it is somthing that is begging to be exploited and used, both for it's ease of use, and it's ability to do the job on par, or better than current technologies.
"I couldn't give him (Bill Gates) advice in business and he couldn't give me advice in technology." Linus Torvalds
They should get a product endorsement from King Sunny Ade.
-jpg
-jpeg
But a web-enabled psx2 will be smooth. However, i don't think i'm really waiting for the day when i can set how brown i want my toast via my personal website....
1. Licensing. Will I have to upgrade it every year to get good quality coffee at home while I'm at the office?
2. Y2K. Will the Y2k bug fry the embedded Processor? What about the embeded Perculator?
3. Viruses. Will some evil hacker be able to turn it into a tea machine by an email bomb? Suppose someone mails it a chain letter, will it make my washing machine puke?
4. Adverts/tie-ins. Would it refuse to process non Sun/Sony coffee?
5. Programing not Free. Would the auto-run be able to override my favorite methods?
6. Jabber. What if my Emotion Engine just can't get along with all the other appliances? Will Sun produce a virtual Opra talk show while I'm at work?
7. Cross-talk. Could Mario Brothers convince my coffee machine to jump off the counter? Could the washing machine convince the coffee maker to eat soap?
8. UPS. What happens if the battery dies, or lightening strikes?
9. Security/Privacy. Could this thing record my bank info and then spend all my money on a lifetime supply of coffee out of Y2k fears? Would it report my coffee drinking habits to Sun?
10. Slashdot. Would I have to fire the coffee machine because it got addicted to Slashdot and refused to make coffee?
Oh, my God! It's a pile of sticks, were all going to die! -Blair Witch Project
Friends don't help friends install M$ junk.
You want to set the time on your VCR, and you want to set it to record at 9:30 pm on Channel 7. What do you do? You load a java app or applet that Sony has created to interface with the simple device. The App has a gui, and you can select different things on VCR. The best thing about it is that you can do it from your PC.
For the coffee maker, lets say you need to wake up at variable times in the morning. Do need to reset the time on your coffee maker pusihg buttons and shit? Absolutely not, you just run a program on your PC which sets the time for you. Hell if you know any java you could write your own program to do all this stuff.
The thing I'd love to see is a Jini compatible dog feeder. Just set the time(s) you want your pup fed, and voila, all you need to do is dump the entire bag of dogfood in there.
As for Jini itself, routing will not be as much an issue as you think. For one, its intended to be primarily wireless, although they have discussed using electrical wiring to transfer information (which would be difficult due to interference). Hell... screw X10, I'd rather install Jini light sockets to operate everything.
The only thing that is remotely scarey about it is the security issue of a wireless setup. I'm pretty sure there are ways of solving that though.
Wow...have you ever used Java 3D or Jini? You just don't know what you're talking about. Heck, at least two of the Siggraph papers (and the tutorial tape) used Java 3D for their advanced work.
"I went to my first computer conference at the New York Hilton about 20 years ago. When somebody there predicted the market for microprocessors
would eventually be in the millions, someone else said, "Where are they all going to go? It's not like you need a computer in every doorknob!"
Years later, I went back to the same hotel. I noticed the room keys had been replaced by electronic cards you slide into slots in the doors.
There was a computer in every doorknob."
-- Danny Hillis
- Rei
I dare you running down a hill on one of those :)
Both Specialized and Sun make kind of klunky
expensive stuff so I guess it's a great match.
I guess I'll wait for the (Insert any company with
a nicely coloured logo here)-Spot bike with built
in beer-bottle opener, mmmm steel, singlespeed and
beer.