The reason Verizon and other Telecom companies have been hesitant to build FTTx (where x=Node at AT&T, and x=Premise for Verizon, etc) in the past 10 years is due to the Telecom Act of 1996, which dictates that Verizon and others must provide equal access to their network for CLECs, with pricing plans below their own costs. Fiber to the Curb (referenced in the article) was deployed to bring "fiber to the node", but unfortunately, the technology provider (Raynet, I think) went out of business. The ILECs found that fiber to the curb had bottlenecks, and couldn't even provide special circuits as needed. Thus, it was abandoned. As FTTH is deployed, Verizon & AT&T are encountering the real modern day monopolies- Cable Companies, which are protected by the rules governing how Franchises are handed out. One could argue that cable franchises are the only means for income for many local governments (which is correct), but Cable Companies are able to price without oversight, provide service as they please, etcetera, without fear of real competition (Satellite companies notwithstanding, as they have only begun to recently provide local programming). So the Phone Companies, as big and bad as they are, are the only way we are going to get any decent pricing on TV or high speed (not shared like CATV does) internet.
That 40' pole in front of your house is built on the "highway"- that is not your property. Now, should you be saying that the pole is in fact on your property, then Verizon (or any other company) must provide proof of Right of Way, easement, or license for that pole.
Is this pole set in grass in front of your house, perhaps separated from your grass by sidewalk? That's not technically your domain, although you are required to mow it.......
I've used that exact method (ratings playlists) when moving from JRiver Media Center to Itunes on a windows machine, but it's still quite annoying to move everything over and lose your playcounts, as well as when the song was last played. That info can be used in smartlists- I have a playlist that grabs song rated 4 or higher that I haven't heard in three months, for example. I think I'm going to try and edit the XML file- but where is it located on the mac? (I know where is it on my windows box).
I'm going through similar 'growing pains' as I've added a powerbook recently. I've been plotting on how to move over the Itunes library, but maintain the playcounts and ratings. At this point, after scouring the usual Ipod/Itunes sites (ipodlounge, ipoding, etc), I've resigned myself to manually updating the filename paths in the Itunes Library XML file. Some things I've found along the way include these links that may be helpful: Moving a nonstandard Itunes library
Like most/all Verizon Central Offices, security is via a keycard. If your keycard does not automatically grant you entry to the C.O., you must be manually allowed in by a guard. Each "guest" must sign in. 38th Street C.O. is just about the highest trafficked C.O. in the world, in terms of Frame Terminations and the like. Being in Central Manhattan, near one of the major CoLoc Hotels nearby, only increases the data throughput on all the eqpt therein. Vandalism is most likely, performed by another company's techs. Also- when they say it's not considered a "major" failure, it's b/c Verizon is strictly governed by the PSC's guidelines as to what constitutes "major". These guidelines provide the framework that determines how Verizon (and others) are/can be fined each year with respect to how many/long outages.
While it's not explicitly "wearable computing", the Scott eVest line of jackets is an interesting solution to our existing gadget carrying hell.
It's not easy to carry a PDA, Ipod & cell without resorting to cargo pants every day. Plus, while those Docker mobile pants have a lot of pockets, it really gets heavy.
I lust for one of those jackets, but I won't buy one until I see it in person- they are much too expensive to be buying over the net, sight unseen.
The low cost answer is a program called Media Center. It offers multi zone playback, among other things. You can use this to control/maintain your mp3, video and photo collections, and send out different streams to different zones. If your computer has the components, it will also act as a Tivo. I use this along with an Audiotron & an Ipod, and find it works great.
Media Center feature list.
One of the main reasons for Verizon having the best wireless network is b/c they own the landline network in the area you mention (within 500 feet of the Atlantic). As the dominant landline carrier, it allows VZwireless to set up more cell sites than any other carrier. VZW pays less for the feed to their sites, and can build many of their cell sites on existing Verizon properties (Central Offices and other Verizon bldgs). For example, Sprint/AT&T/etc wants to build a new cell site. They need to order a T1 (or T3, which AT&T is now ordering to support their higher speed service) to serve their cell site. The first company to open a cell site at a location pays a high (it's a mandated fee, something like $25K) price, while other companies looking to attach to that tower pay $1 each. Each company that attaches needs to order their own T1/T3 from Verizon for the data line to bring the cell traffic back to their equipment. Other spots where you say VZW's service is more spotty is b/c other incumbent Bells rule the landlines- there, VZW is just another company buying up data lines to carry their cell voice traffic......
Buying a WinPod (or getting a MacPod and using the WinniePod Updater to make it a WinPod) allows you to use it on both Mac's and Wintel machines. It's well documented at Ipoding, IpodHacks, IpodLounge, and the EphPod Forums that a Mac can read a WinPod. Thus, it works on both, and utilities are available to get your calendars and contacts on. The only thing you give up with this arrangement is the ability to use "smart playlists"- at this time, the EphPod folks are trying to figure out why a FAT32 Ipod doesn't seem to write back how many times you played a specific song.
Last month, Wired ran an article about the new construction at the South Pole. It makes no mention of this fiber. As an Engineer for one of the Telephone Companies, I can tell you that fiber is stronger than you think. I had a pole get hit, knocking the cables the ground- a few 18 wheelers drove over the cables, partially crushing a copper cable. But, the two fiber cables were uninjured (part of their sheathing was shorn away, though). Still, running fiber to the South Pole is idiotic- think of how long (and how costly) the FLAG project was!
Your argument would be valid if it even came close to the size and breadth of the VZ network at 140 West Street. Besides the facilities that existed in the Towers themselves, West Street was our sole serving facility for most of downtown. You can't compare 30 C.O.s in Cincy to one at West Street just because the NY Times article compared 140 West to Cincinnati in terms of data travelling through it. You can't make a direct comparison from an analogy like that. It's not as if West Street is the only C.O. in Manhattan- it's just the one that was damaged when a major catastrophe occurred next door.
The biggest problem at West Street is not necessarily the damage, or the flooding in our basements- it's the fact that West Street does not have reliable records. Their switching facilities and relay racks were not mapped reliably, and as a result, they are expending just as much manpower to figure out what was going where as to run new cables out from the 4th floor.
As for why there is so much damage to begin with, we were told that either a huge internal beam or the antenna on top the north tower pierced 140 West Street, causing most of the damage. The side of the building that faced the Towers was the side that most of the switching equipment was kept on. Combine that with the fact that the basement was flooded with water and diesel fuel, and you have a building that can't really support any kind of telephone service, at least immediately after the attacks.
Besides the huge amount of data lines that are served out of West Street, most other low speed data lines were routed through there. So, if the little bodega near your apartment in the Bronx or Brooklyn stopped selling Lotto Tickets right after the attacks, that's why.
The TI home computer you speak of (TI-994a, specifically) used cartridges for programs and games. One such program was "TI LOGO", which is mentioned in the Business 2.0 article.
LOGO came with a huge instructions binder- it was fun to try out- more powerful (and more complicated) than BASIC. And of course, you could save things to your 5 1/4" double density floppy w/ the holepunch in it....
I had a Palm Vx, and recently upgraded to an Ipaq (the color screen makes a huge difference, and looks much better than the Palm m505).
Palm OS has a lot of great software, though, and there were applications that I missed (such as Vindigo).
Solution- they are now working on a Palm Emulator that will run on your Ipaq- so even if you like the Palm datebk, address book, etcetera more, you can run them on your Ipaq. Palm Emulator Brighthand Discussion
(One sad thing about the project is that many WinCE users will be running around yelling "can your Palm do that???")
hmm, where to start? I work for Verizon, in engineering no less.
PairGain is a company that makes several products, all of which seek to expand existing copper facilities. Their most commonly used piece is called a Digital AML, which allows you to take one copper line and provide another line. This is predominantly used in areas that are not "feed rich", and in urban areas are the default used when a customer orders a second line.
The ADSL problem w/ fiber is simple- DSL technology (as has been previously posted) is meant to utilize the unused bandwith that copper wires can carry, in a higher frequency than the human ear can hear.
Finally, the fiber/ copper problem you were fed over the phone. Chances are, when you are quoted such a thing, Verizon went and installed a fiber remote hut, which is used to extend feed out from the CO. Fiber is brought out of the CO (usually in two different paths, for loop redundancy) to a hut or ManHole, and then copper is run from that hut for feed. When this is done, it is to provide more feed pairs in a certain route (which is how Verizon tracks fill rates and such, by distribution areas and routes that they determine). The most common technology used w/ the fiber huts is LiteSpan, and LiteSpan is not a DSLAM. Newer LiteSpan shelves can provide DSL facilities, but it would be impossible to find out the specifics of a LiteSpan unit unless you knew your local Outside Plant Engineer.
Before you despair, there is one caveat to the fiber hut- there's copper run from the CO to the hut as well. We are REQUIRED to run copper, b/c there are special circuits that we can't provide over fiber facilities- the best example is the alarm circuits in the hut, which must be on fiber.
OK, last thing- customer service, and how to get what you want. When you call, you receive an associate. Ask to speak w/ their supervisor, they have to put you through. From there, be prepared to complain loudly, insist that you know there are copper facilities there- you may cite lotto circuits and security circuits. Tell them you are prepared to call the PSC (Public Service Commission) or call the Verizon President's Hotline (which really escalates things). Ask them if they can give you your local Engineering office phone number.
They may tell you the copper feed portion at the hut already has circuits that preclude yours from receiving DSL- it is true that we can only provide one DSL circuit in every 25 pair of complement of copper wires, which is due to DSL's inherent limitations.
I think that answers all the questions- hopefully, seeing the post a day late, some will still check this and understand!
Ipaq's are available at handheldcanada.com!
on
The Guts Of An iPAQ
·
· Score: 1
I just got mine last night, and it actually costs less than in the US. It costs $481 american. HandHeldCanada
Plus, if you get the "expedited delivery", that takes care of some broker fee that would otherwise apply on items shipping from Canada to the US.
Just be aware, that you may get a call from your credit card company, b/c they originally denied this charge (due to the fact that I was an american charging to a company based in Canada). In spite of that, I ordered my Ipaq Sunday night and received it on Thursday!
I happen to know someone that works for compaq/ digital, and I have been told a few things: The original OS that was to be the sequel to VMS was written by a Digital programmer, who was told that they really didn't need an updated version of VMS. He went somewhere else, and it's said that the initials of that system are "one better" than VMS- namely, Windows NT. Second, as the leading (lately second) seller of PC's, Compaq is tied to M$. In spite of this, the development of Alpha's continues, seemingly against Compaq's own visions and goals. Why? Linux, of course- while their proprietary OS reigns on them right now, that may change in the near future.... Just what I heard.
Slashdot Mirror
The reason Verizon and other Telecom companies have been hesitant to build FTTx (where x=Node at AT&T, and x=Premise for Verizon, etc) in the past 10 years is due to the Telecom Act of 1996, which dictates that Verizon and others must provide equal access to their network for CLECs, with pricing plans below their own costs. Fiber to the Curb (referenced in the article) was deployed to bring "fiber to the node", but unfortunately, the technology provider (Raynet, I think) went out of business. The ILECs found that fiber to the curb had bottlenecks, and couldn't even provide special circuits as needed. Thus, it was abandoned.
As FTTH is deployed, Verizon & AT&T are encountering the real modern day monopolies- Cable Companies, which are protected by the rules governing how Franchises are handed out. One could argue that cable franchises are the only means for income for many local governments (which is correct), but Cable Companies are able to price without oversight, provide service as they please, etcetera, without fear of real competition (Satellite companies notwithstanding, as they have only begun to recently provide local programming). So the Phone Companies, as big and bad as they are, are the only way we are going to get any decent pricing on TV or high speed (not shared like CATV does) internet.
That 40' pole in front of your house is built on the "highway"- that is not your property.
Now, should you be saying that the pole is in fact on your property, then Verizon (or any other company) must provide proof of Right of Way, easement, or license for that pole.
Is this pole set in grass in front of your house, perhaps separated from your grass by sidewalk? That's not technically your domain, although you are required to mow it.......
I've used that exact method (ratings playlists) when moving from JRiver Media Center to Itunes on a windows machine, but it's still quite annoying to move everything over and lose your playcounts, as well as when the song was last played.
That info can be used in smartlists- I have a playlist that grabs song rated 4 or higher that I haven't heard in three months, for example.
I think I'm going to try and edit the XML file- but where is it located on the mac? (I know where is it on my windows box).
I'm going through similar 'growing pains' as I've added a powerbook recently. I've been plotting on how to move over the Itunes library, but maintain the playcounts and ratings.
At this point, after scouring the usual Ipod/Itunes sites (ipodlounge, ipoding, etc), I've resigned myself to manually updating the filename paths in the Itunes Library XML file.
Some things I've found along the way include these links that may be helpful:
Moving a nonstandard Itunes library
Moving a mac library to a new machine-this got me thinking about changing the filename paths
If you are going to link to a Pitchfork Parody site, at least link to the best (and original) one, over at SubPop.
Like most/all Verizon Central Offices, security is via a keycard. If your keycard does not automatically grant you entry to the C.O., you must be manually allowed in by a guard. Each "guest" must sign in.
38th Street C.O. is just about the highest trafficked C.O. in the world, in terms of Frame Terminations and the like. Being in Central Manhattan, near one of the major CoLoc Hotels nearby, only increases the data throughput on all the eqpt therein.
Vandalism is most likely, performed by another company's techs.
Also- when they say it's not considered a "major" failure, it's b/c Verizon is strictly governed by the PSC's guidelines as to what constitutes "major". These guidelines provide the framework that determines how Verizon (and others) are/can be fined each year with respect to how many/long outages.
While it's not explicitly "wearable computing", the Scott eVest line of jackets is an interesting solution to our existing gadget carrying hell.
It's not easy to carry a PDA, Ipod & cell without resorting to cargo pants every day. Plus, while those Docker mobile pants have a lot of pockets, it really gets heavy.
I lust for one of those jackets, but I won't buy one until I see it in person- they are much too expensive to be buying over the net, sight unseen.
RTA- wrong Dvorak.
The Dvorak (Joseph) in the article works for Motorola, while the Dvorak you are referencing (John Dvorak) writes for a PC mag.
The low cost answer is a program called Media Center. It offers multi zone playback, among other things. You can use this to control/maintain your mp3, video and photo collections, and send out different streams to different zones. If your computer has the components, it will also act as a Tivo. I use this along with an Audiotron & an Ipod, and find it works great.
Media Center feature list.
One of the main reasons for Verizon having the best wireless network is b/c they own the landline network in the area you mention (within 500 feet of the Atlantic). As the dominant landline carrier, it allows VZwireless to set up more cell sites than any other carrier. VZW pays less for the feed to their sites, and can build many of their cell sites on existing Verizon properties (Central Offices and other Verizon bldgs).
For example, Sprint/AT&T/etc wants to build a new cell site. They need to order a T1 (or T3, which AT&T is now ordering to support their higher speed service) to serve their cell site. The first company to open a cell site at a location pays a high (it's a mandated fee, something like $25K) price, while other companies looking to attach to that tower pay $1 each. Each company that attaches needs to order their own T1/T3 from Verizon for the data line to bring the cell traffic back to their equipment.
Other spots where you say VZW's service is more spotty is b/c other incumbent Bells rule the landlines- there, VZW is just another company buying up data lines to carry their cell voice traffic......
Buying a WinPod (or getting a MacPod and using the WinniePod Updater to make it a WinPod) allows you to use it on both Mac's and Wintel machines.
It's well documented at Ipoding, IpodHacks, IpodLounge, and the EphPod Forums that a Mac can read a WinPod. Thus, it works on both, and utilities are available to get your calendars and contacts on.
The only thing you give up with this arrangement is the ability to use "smart playlists"- at this time, the EphPod folks are trying to figure out why a FAT32 Ipod doesn't seem to write back how many times you played a specific song.
Last month, Wired ran an article about the new construction at the South Pole. It makes no mention of this fiber.
As an Engineer for one of the Telephone Companies, I can tell you that fiber is stronger than you think. I had a pole get hit, knocking the cables the ground- a few 18 wheelers drove over the cables, partially crushing a copper cable. But, the two fiber cables were uninjured (part of their sheathing was shorn away, though).
Still, running fiber to the South Pole is idiotic- think of how long (and how costly) the FLAG project was!
WinPoding forum at Ipoding.com
Apple Ipod Forums
Ipodhacks
IpodLounge forumss at IpodLounge.com
Everything Ipod-accessories
Your argument would be valid if it even came close to the size and breadth of the VZ network at 140 West Street. Besides the facilities that existed in the Towers themselves, West Street was our sole serving facility for most of downtown. You can't compare 30 C.O.s in Cincy to one at West Street just because the NY Times article compared 140 West to Cincinnati in terms of data travelling through it. You can't make a direct comparison from an analogy like that. It's not as if West Street is the only C.O. in Manhattan- it's just the one that was damaged when a major catastrophe occurred next door.
The biggest problem at West Street is not necessarily the damage, or the flooding in our basements- it's the fact that West Street does not have reliable records. Their switching facilities and relay racks were not mapped reliably, and as a result, they are expending just as much manpower to figure out what was going where as to run new cables out from the 4th floor.
As for why there is so much damage to begin with, we were told that either a huge internal beam or the antenna on top the north tower pierced 140 West Street, causing most of the damage. The side of the building that faced the Towers was the side that most of the switching equipment was kept on. Combine that with the fact that the basement was flooded with water and diesel fuel, and you have a building that can't really support any kind of telephone service, at least immediately after the attacks.
Besides the huge amount of data lines that are served out of West Street, most other low speed data lines were routed through there. So, if the little bodega near your apartment in the Bronx or Brooklyn stopped selling Lotto Tickets right after the attacks, that's why.
Hhope ths helps.
The TI home computer you speak of (TI-994a, specifically) used cartridges for programs and games. One such program was "TI LOGO", which is mentioned in the Business 2.0 article.
LOGO came with a huge instructions binder- it was fun to try out- more powerful (and more complicated) than BASIC. And of course, you could save things to your 5 1/4" double density floppy w/ the holepunch in it....
related link- 99er.net
I had a Palm Vx, and recently upgraded to an Ipaq (the color screen makes a huge difference, and looks much better than the Palm m505).
Palm OS has a lot of great software, though, and there were applications that I missed (such as Vindigo).
Solution- they are now working on a Palm Emulator that will run on your Ipaq- so even if you like the Palm datebk, address book, etcetera more, you can run them on your Ipaq.
Palm Emulator Brighthand Discussion
(One sad thing about the project is that many WinCE users will be running around yelling "can your Palm do that???")
hmm, where to start? I work for Verizon, in engineering no less.
PairGain is a company that makes several products, all of which seek to expand existing copper facilities. Their most commonly used piece is called a Digital AML, which allows you to take one copper line and provide another line. This is predominantly used in areas that are not "feed rich", and in urban areas are the default used when a customer orders a second line.
The ADSL problem w/ fiber is simple- DSL technology (as has been previously posted) is meant to utilize the unused bandwith that copper wires can carry, in a higher frequency than the human ear can hear.
Finally, the fiber/ copper problem you were fed over the phone. Chances are, when you are quoted such a thing, Verizon went and installed a fiber remote hut, which is used to extend feed out from the CO. Fiber is brought out of the CO (usually in two different paths, for loop redundancy) to a hut or ManHole, and then copper is run from that hut for feed. When this is done, it is to provide more feed pairs in a certain route (which is how Verizon tracks fill rates and such, by distribution areas and routes that they determine). The most common technology used w/ the fiber huts is LiteSpan, and LiteSpan is not a DSLAM. Newer LiteSpan shelves can provide DSL facilities, but it would be impossible to find out the specifics of a LiteSpan unit unless you knew your local Outside Plant Engineer.
Before you despair, there is one caveat to the fiber hut- there's copper run from the CO to the hut as well. We are REQUIRED to run copper, b/c there are special circuits that we can't provide over fiber facilities- the best example is the alarm circuits in the hut, which must be on fiber.
OK, last thing- customer service, and how to get what you want. When you call, you receive an associate. Ask to speak w/ their supervisor, they have to put you through. From there, be prepared to complain loudly, insist that you know there are copper facilities there- you may cite lotto circuits and security circuits. Tell them you are prepared to call the PSC (Public Service Commission) or call the Verizon President's Hotline (which really escalates things). Ask them if they can give you your local Engineering office phone number.
They may tell you the copper feed portion at the hut already has circuits that preclude yours from receiving DSL- it is true that we can only provide one DSL circuit in every 25 pair of complement of copper wires, which is due to DSL's inherent limitations.
I think that answers all the questions- hopefully, seeing the post a day late, some will still check this and understand!
I just got mine last night, and it actually costs less than in the US. It costs $481 american.
HandHeldCanada
Plus, if you get the "expedited delivery", that takes care of some broker fee that would otherwise apply on items shipping from Canada to the US.
Just be aware, that you may get a call from your credit card company, b/c they originally denied this charge (due to the fact that I was an american charging to a company based in Canada). In spite of that, I ordered my Ipaq Sunday night and received it on Thursday!
I happen to know someone that works for compaq/ digital, and I have been told a few things: The original OS that was to be the sequel to VMS was written by a Digital programmer, who was told that they really didn't need an updated version of VMS. He went somewhere else, and it's said that the initials of that system are "one better" than VMS- namely, Windows NT. Second, as the leading (lately second) seller of PC's, Compaq is tied to M$. In spite of this, the development of Alpha's continues, seemingly against Compaq's own visions and goals. Why? Linux, of course- while their proprietary OS reigns on them right now, that may change in the near future.... Just what I heard.