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Compaq Signs License with Be for Net Appliance
breadmold was the first to send us the press release from Be. Compaq has licensed Stinger, Be's software platform for Internet appliances, which Be describes as "Be's software solution designed for
the creation of appliances that deliver
information and entertainment over the web.
Based on BeOS, Stinger is fully customizable,
offers a complete browser and supports
popular streaming audio and video standards." Note that the license says Compaq *can* pre-install and distribute it. It doesn't say what Compaq is actually planning on, but does hint that the two companies are planning work together.
Perhaps I'm just a little mistaken on the concept, but why would you need Internet ready Appliances? I believe that network ready appliances would be wonderful. The ability to monitor everything as it goes would up productivity greatly, at least for me. Having my TV be able to tell me that the oven has reached the desired temperature, or even a central panel that indicates great temperature changes in the refrigerator. This would be really cool for me, but the Internet? It's not necessary for Maytag to monitor these things from a remote office.
I guess what I want is a more intelligent X10, and not multiple gateways into my life for the manufacturers whose products I have purchased. If you've seen it, the commercial where the repairman shows up at a house and tells the owner that the refigerator is "about to have a problem" freaks me out.
"Internet Appliance." Makes it sound like a retainer for your PC, or some kind of bizarre horror-movie add-on (of course, this is because they're not called "colostomy bags" anymore, they're now "ostomy appliances." Ewwww).
On the upside, combining one of these with an AIBO and one of those sub-dermal GPS chips leads to the ultimate in slack computing:
USER: "Beer me."
AIBO: "What kind of beer?"
USER: Sam Adams / Guinness / Coors / whatever
AIBO digitally checks the fridge, makes sure you're stocked (if you're out, it will purchase some online from your pre-defined list of vendors), trundles to the fridge, and brings it to you, homing in on your GPS signal.
Just think, attach a port-a-potty to AIBO and you'd never have to stand up again!
Rafe
V^^^^V
Rafe
Opinions expressed by the author may not actually exist in the wild.
There is precious little technical info available about Stinger (except that it's based on BeOS). But here is a screen shot of Stinger running on the iPad at Comdex.
"Stinger" is a codename for a slimmed-down version of BeOS, basically, that uses a customized version of Opera for its UI. There's information about Stinger in other press releases on Be's web site, and it was introduced in prototype at Comdex running on National Semiconductor's WebPAD device.
Stinger (and the next major release of BeOS, as far as I know) will support RealAudio, RealVideo and Macromedia Flash for streaming media. It'll probably also support streaming MP3 and streaming QuickTime, but that's just hazarding a guess.
a browser, email, newsgroup, IM, etc. device that's as easy to use as plugging in a toaster or, more realistically, programming a VCR or any other household appliance, or an Internet vehicle as easy to use as a car w/little or no techie knowledge required.
Boojum
try { do() || do_not(); } catch (JediException err) { yoda(err); }
Let's see here, Compaq is already pushing...
Windows (98/NT)
Digital UNIX / Tru64 UNIX or whatever its called this week
Open VMS
Linux to a certain (small extent)
Yes, this is what Compaq needs to shoot them back to profitability, another damn operating system to support.
DrLunch.com The site that tells you what's for lunch!
There's a lot of good reasons to network together appliances. And not just remote administration. Perhaps you want that bowl of soup to be warm when the toast is done. So the microwave can check the toaster and keep the microwave on "warm" until the toast is done. *Then* it can pop up a message letting you know your meal is ready.
Hop on your computer wait for it to boot up and then program the silly microwave to cook for 2 minutes on high?If you'd be using BeOS you wouldn't need to wait 2 minutes for it to boot :) Of course, it is more likely that the appliances will have a administration panel on the front that you will use.
Appliances need networking like I need another hole in my head.Nope, we *need* networked appliances. We also need networked heating/cooling, lighting, security, cars.
-BrentAs you might expect, www.be.com has some information. Basically, Stinger is the BeOS trimmed down for internet appliances. They've demoed it on NatSemi's webpads using Opera at a couple shows.
Take it easy. This is just some lame attempt at humor. Chuckle and move on. Thanks...
-BrentYep, silly words, they are. These are, I guess, appliances that allow content to be delievered from remote servers to you.
-BrentI wouldn't mind information like recall notices (your toaster automatically checks w/the manufacturer to see if it needs to be recalled), firmware updates, manufacturing info. (like suggestion e-mail and or phone/snail mail address) perhaps recipes you can use with the equipment, maybe shopping for accessories - everything having to do with that piece of equipment, all immediately available FROM that piece of equipment.
(Of course, it hae better not be a lot more expensive than the normal appliance...)
Of course, then you have to decide whether you want to put up with the marketing monitors & spam which would show up on your appliance (if a singing, dancing spam shows up on my toaster, I'm taking it out for target practice).
I know, but since the poster decided to attack the concept of kitchen appliances, I decided to balance his view.
Naturally, those won't be marketed by Compaq and won't use Be.
-BrentWait until Microsoft tries to port WindowsCE to your microwave. Then you'll really see the paperclip in action!
Paperclip: Greetings, please choose your food type.
*push 'potatoe'*
Paperclip: *teewang* Please choose how you would like your potatoe done.
*smash*
-Brenthttp://www.be.com/products/beappliance/ http://www.be.com/press/pressreleases/99-11-16_sem i.html
Well, I would think of this another way: It's a breakthrough for Be to get any kind of relationship with a major OEM.
I'm impressed.
D
----
Who needs momentum to make a good OS? You have to put some thought into things, Be uses a microkernel so the whole thing doesn't need to be recompiled on an upgrade or a preference change. I would argue on a stability standpoint that Be is at the very least as stable as Linux. Being deisnged for a task and just sort of being able to do it are two different things. Be makes old PPC boxes fly and can also do some ass kicking on an x86 for even high powered graphics. X is getting a bit dated and probably isn't the best GUI for content creation, not as good as Be's in my opinion. All Be needs is some support from the big graphics guys like Adobe and Metacreations.
I'm a loner Dottie, a Rebel.
it's a good thing that Be is partnering with Compaq on this. Why? Mainly because Be's architecture is more suited fo an appliance market than Linux is. Linux's kernel is great but would have some problems in the web appliance arena. The Linux kernel is a single monolithic kernel and for any component to be patched or changed you need the source of the kernel and the patch and then you need to recompile it. This may be fine for me sitting on my PC with my 10gb hard drive but it's not practical for a web appliance with 16mb of flash memory. Be like WinCE uses a microkernel which makes all the different parts modular. If there is a patch it can be downloaded and installed in the time it takes to download the patch and reload the kernel. Besides the kernel, who would want a multi-user web pad. I highly doubt I would buy a portable web pad to log into it through telnet. The multi-user sense of a web appliance should be just difference Ui preferences.
I'm a loner Dottie, a Rebel.
Paul.
You are lost in a twisty maze of little standards, all different.