a few years back a co-worker and I decided we wanted the same thing so that our workgroup could all hook into the single ethernet wire that was available in most conference rooms. Of course, we could have just brought in a switch and power-supply, but the single-point connection to the network only was a very appealing idea.
I found a NetGear mini 5-port switch that Fry's was selling refurbished for abour $15. It had a small metal case and a wall wart 7.5V power supply. We opened it up and found that it was mostly empty space inside, so I found some 7.5V NiMH battery packs online and my coworker shoehorned that thing in there by resoldering the electrolytic capacitors so they lay down flat on the board. He also hooked up a flip switch so that you could have two modes: run on battery and run on AC+charge battery. The unit worked well and would last about an hour on a charge. Every time somebody from another group saw us using it in a meeting, they wanted one too. (50% of the point of these things, right?:)
in any case, nowdays people would just use wireless so the chances of this type of product happening commercially is just about zero.
i think you're wrong on Connectix. they started out as a hard-core utility developer for the Mac, specializing in doing the undoable.
I think their first product was "Virtual" which brought virtual memory to the classic Mac OS circa System 6 or so.
They later did utilities like CopyDoubler to speed up copies in the finder, RamDoubler to increase the effective RAM in your system through dynamic compression and probably some others that I'm forgetting.
They did do the QuickCam as one of the first tethered PC cameras and built it into a successful business but hardware peripherals didn't really fit their business model so they sold it to Logitech, where it made much more sense.
Virtual Game Station was sold to Sony as part of a settlement agreement since Sony was sueing them out of business (small company vs big company...it probably made sense to get out while they were still alive).
VirtualPC (which actually came before Virtual Game Station) was also a successful must-have software in the Mac world but then MS bought them out...not sure what their reasons were but money was probably the motivator here.
but, their long history of Mac development really doesn't indicate the original poster's thesis of them being a venture capital dev firm.
i like the hottub too except that it will not stand up when set down...it will roll over on its back. also, it must be on its back to access any contents. bad for travel because it you want to get your camera out, you have to take the backpack all the way off and put it down, unzip the back, unzip the mesh, get it out, close everything up, etc.
i second the recommendation on the swissgear maxxum. i got mine for $45 after rebate at staples during the back to school sales. they were clearancing them but you may still be able to find them at the office stores or as the original poster mentioned, at bestbuy for a bit more money.
the bag has pockets all over the place and would be ideal for travel. it has two large compartments. the one closest to you back is the laptop sleeve with padding and a few pockets for CDs and other stuff. You can fit more flat stuff in this compartment as well. The second large compartment is a deep bathtub that can take a bunch of books, clothes, etc. if this compartment had some velcro strips so you could add dividers for camera and other gear it would be ideal.
there is also a zippered back section with organizer pockets inside for business cards, key clip, and other stuff. Between the two large compartments is a small pouch for CD/MP3 player with earphone cord port. along the sides are two tall narrow zippered pockets that can fit cords, mice, chargers, small tripodds, etc.
on the sides are two generously sized mesh pockets that can hold water bottles or umbrellas or a rolled up newspaper or magazine. Finally, there is a open compartment held by straps on the very back that you can shove shoes or other weird shape stuff and pull the straps tight to hold it on. The bottom of the pack is flat and helps keep the bag standing up when you set it on the ground.
There are two convenient handles on the top: a nice big rubber grip one, and another one that is just a strap. The shoulder straps are very padded and use a elastic mount, which is comfortable, but i'd rather have solid straps rather than the bouncy feel of these suspension systems. The flat black is very thickly padded with airflow channels. I find this very comfortable, but the padding tends to rub against your back in a way that rides the back of your shirt upwards as you walk. There is also a waist strap which helps keep things stable. when you are running or walking. I wish it had a sternum strap though.
Overall, a great bag, although a bit large for everyday use. I got another smaller swiss gear bag for daily use going to class.
I took a look at Plone 2.0 and the feature set looks very good and mature. However, to deploy it requires the server to run the Zope app server, which is not currently available on my webhost and isn't commonly available on most webhosts. So this system is only useful if you can deploy a dedicated server or afford a Zope hosting account. When Zope is available, the hosting prices are much higher and don't include much disk space or many other features commonly found in other webhosts, like Mailman, Cpanel/Plesk, unlim mail/mysql, multiple domains, etc.
I do alot of work for non-profit orgs that need a solid content management system and they could really benefit from the users/groups management and permissions in Plone 2.0 since they generally have lots of people and volunteers working in many areas. However, they usually can't afford the high monthly fees for Zope hosting.
What are the real reasons why Zope isn't more widely deployed at webhosts? Where can low cost Plone-capable hosting be found?
"G5 Updates: An interesting submission by "Pinkus" is similar to several others we've received in recent days.
I am currently awaiting the announcement this weekend of the next line of g5s:
My wait began two weeks ago when I was contemplating the purchase of a refurbished Dual 2.0 G5 when my brother then informed me of the possibility of the new G5s (single 2.0s, dual 2.4s and 2.6s). I asked the guys in CA at the Apple on-line store to inform me when some refurbished G5s were available. Of course two weeks ago the Apple guys told me not to wait that "it is rare when the G5s pop-up as refurbished."
Then yesterday, I received a rather rushed and forceful voicemail message from Evan @ Apple informing me that "many refurbished G5s are now available, and we should really get this order through ASAP!"
I understand that Apple's refurbished products can be anything from a rebuilt product to a simple open-box item. I just find it odd that days before the possible announcement of the next generation line of G5s (single 2.0 G5s, Dual 2.4 G5s and Dual 2.6 G5s) that "many refurbished Dual 2.0 G5s" would pop up. Needless to say I am waiting till after the weekend to act.
Add this VT annoucement with the above rumor and perhaps we see where those good homes will be coming from?
an addition to this idea that I've had for quite some time but no capability to do anything about it, so I'll throw it out there and hope somebody else can.
If you couple the tracking data with time information, you can get average transit times along major traffic corridors. So, as you compile a database of this info, you can report things like, the average time to get from Exit X to the downtown at Y time of day was Z minutes (yesterday/this week/this day last week). Make sure to account for differences like weekend/weekday, etc.
If you couple this with route finding algorithm, it could account for probably traffic delays in its routing.
it's been tried, and turned into one of the biggest vaporware products ever:
http://www.siliconfilm.com/
Vaporware news:
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0109/01091702siliconf ilmvaporizes.asp
http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,57023,00. html
I want to make a similar connection between my OS X system and my WinXP system. I want each system to get their Internet independently from my router over the Ethernet, but also be able to talk to each other via IPoFW.
The purpose is to run Remote Desktop Connection or VNC to control the PC from the Mac environment at super high speed.
I've had the same problems with XP bridging the connections. Anybody have tips for how to get this done?
Others have suggested removing the Ethernet connection from the PC, and using the Mac to share internet over the FW, but ideally I'd like to be able to use the PC without the Mac being on if necessary.
It doesn't include a HDTV tuner. The tuner is a normal NTSC tuner. The only thing high definition about this is that it will take hi-def formats as INPUT.
http://www.viewsonic.com/products/video_box_next vi sionn6.htm#specs
If it were an actual HDTV tuner at this price it would be flying off the shelves.
BTW, another usage for this line of boxes from Viewsonic is simply to convert video sources into VGA format. At my church, I setup a video projector up front displaying input from a Belkin Cat5-to-VGA receiver. In the back, I setup the media computer and a DVD+VCR. The DVD+VCR video outputs go into a Viewsonic VB50 (an earlier version of the N6 box of this thread), which converters the video to VGA. The computer and Viewsonic output go to a VGA switch box, which goes to the Belkin VGA-to-Cat5 sender. The Cat5 sender allows all the sources to be concentrated in the back, with only a single long Cat5 cable running to the front to the projector. Obviously, it's easier and cheaper to get long Cat5 cables than long Video or S-Video cables, which would probably need amplification to make it through the long cable run.
I got the Newton 2000 right when it first came out. I did the research and compared it to everything else that was out there, including Palm, and decided it was the best tool. And it was, but after using it for a while, my take on why it wasn't well accepted was that while it was great within itself, in terms of the user interface, the applications, the handwriting recognition, etc, its main problem was that it didn't fit into people's paradigms of how they organized data and applications, and didn't fit into the other systems that they had to use, like enterprise calendaring applications, corporate email systems, etc. If you were the lone ranger out there, then it would be good. But try hooking up with Exchange server or Outlook calendar? Sorry.
Another feature/problem was the object oriented nature of the applications. One of the best things about NewtonOS was how you could extend the built in applications organically by downloading and installing a small extension object. For example, I remember a cool one that added linking between people in your address book. It added the feature right into the app, just like it was a built-in feature. Much better than the Palm, where if you want to improve on an app, you have to replace the whole thing with a completely different one. But the problem with this was that after a while you had a bunch of these add-ons installed, and couldn't tell what was built-in and what wasn't. Let's say something went wrong and you wanted to restore the system from scratch. Suddenly all these little features would be missing and you had no idea what program they came from. And since the syncing didn't work too well even for the built-in apps, it definitely didn't work for the add-ons, so mostly you were left without a backup for all the add-on data.
The other thing was the data soup concept. Again, it was one of the Newton's best features, in that other apps could access all the data available to make integration a reality. But since all the data was "in there somewhere" and not really conventionally separated like Palm's databases, it was hard to know what was backed up, synced or whatever. I'm sure this was part of the reason why generalized syncing software was hard to achieve for Apple.
I'm sure somebody will try to rebutt these arguments with a technical analysis of how you could do these things, but suffice it to say that it wasn't clear to me how to sort these things out and I'm a EE with hw and sw background. For sure, the average user wouldn't take the time to figure this all out.
Anyhow, besides the marketing and strategy blunders, there are some lessons to learn about making sure that revolutionary technology also has the capability to fit into existing technology and paradigms in order for it to succeed.
All the people commenting about how the games on phones concept sucks because people can't even drive and talk much less play games are off base because they don't know Japan.
In Japan, nobody drives, and you spend alot of time on trains and waiting for them. When you don't have to concentrate on driving, you have time to kill, and this idea fits right in.
In the big cities, pretty much *everybody* carries a phone and most of the teens carry MD players, too. I predict that MP3 will make it into the phones there next.
Slashdot Mirror
a few years back a co-worker and I decided we wanted the same thing so that our workgroup could all hook into the single ethernet wire that was available in most conference rooms. Of course, we could have just brought in a switch and power-supply, but the single-point connection to the network only was a very appealing idea.
:)
I found a NetGear mini 5-port switch that Fry's was selling refurbished for abour $15. It had a small metal case and a wall wart 7.5V power supply. We opened it up and found that it was mostly empty space inside, so I found some 7.5V NiMH battery packs online and my coworker shoehorned that thing in there by resoldering the electrolytic capacitors so they lay down flat on the board. He also hooked up a flip switch so that you could have two modes: run on battery and run on AC+charge battery. The unit worked well and would last about an hour on a charge. Every time somebody from another group saw us using it in a meeting, they wanted one too. (50% of the point of these things, right?
in any case, nowdays people would just use wireless so the chances of this type of product happening commercially is just about zero.
Linkified:
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/question587.htm
http://www.riaa.com/news/filings/aimster.asp
by Aimster?
t m
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/question587.h
http://www.riaa.com/news/filings/aimster.asp
i can't remember if Aimster actually lost or just ran out of money, but the end result was the same.
i think you're wrong on Connectix. they started out as a hard-core utility developer for the Mac, specializing in doing the undoable.
I think their first product was "Virtual" which brought virtual memory to the classic Mac OS circa System 6 or so.
They later did utilities like CopyDoubler to speed up copies in the finder, RamDoubler to increase the effective RAM in your system through dynamic compression and probably some others that I'm forgetting.
They did do the QuickCam as one of the first tethered PC cameras and built it into a successful business but hardware peripherals didn't really fit their business model so they sold it to Logitech, where it made much more sense.
Virtual Game Station was sold to Sony as part of a settlement agreement since Sony was sueing them out of business (small company vs big company...it probably made sense to get out while they were still alive).
VirtualPC (which actually came before Virtual Game Station) was also a successful must-have software in the Mac world but then MS bought them out...not sure what their reasons were but money was probably the motivator here.
but, their long history of Mac development really doesn't indicate the original poster's thesis of them being a venture capital dev firm.
i like the hottub too except that it will not stand up when set down...it will roll over on its back. also, it must be on its back to access any contents. bad for travel because it you want to get your camera out, you have to take the backpack all the way off and put it down, unzip the back, unzip the mesh, get it out, close everything up, etc.
its definitely not inconspicuous in operation.
i second the recommendation on the swissgear maxxum. i got mine for $45 after rebate at staples during the back to school sales. they were clearancing them but you may still be able to find them at the office stores or as the original poster mentioned, at bestbuy for a bit more money.
the bag has pockets all over the place and would be ideal for travel. it has two large compartments. the one closest to you back is the laptop sleeve with padding and a few pockets for CDs and other stuff. You can fit more flat stuff in this compartment as well. The second large compartment is a deep bathtub that can take a bunch of books, clothes, etc. if this compartment had some velcro strips so you could add dividers for camera and other gear it would be ideal.
there is also a zippered back section with organizer pockets inside for business cards, key clip, and other stuff. Between the two large compartments is a small pouch for CD/MP3 player with earphone cord port. along the sides are two tall narrow zippered pockets that can fit cords, mice, chargers, small tripodds, etc.
on the sides are two generously sized mesh pockets that can hold water bottles or umbrellas or a rolled up newspaper or magazine. Finally, there is a open compartment held by straps on the very back that you can shove shoes or other weird shape stuff and pull the straps tight to hold it on. The bottom of the pack is flat and helps keep the bag standing up when you set it on the ground.
There are two convenient handles on the top: a nice big rubber grip one, and another one that is just a strap. The shoulder straps are very padded and use a elastic mount, which is comfortable, but i'd rather have solid straps rather than the bouncy feel of these suspension systems. The flat black is very thickly padded with airflow channels. I find this very comfortable, but the padding tends to rub against your back in a way that rides the back of your shirt upwards as you walk. There is also a waist strap which helps keep things stable. when you are running or walking. I wish it had a sternum strap though.
Overall, a great bag, although a bit large for everyday use. I got another smaller swiss gear bag for daily use going to class.
I took a look at Plone 2.0 and the feature set looks very good and mature. However, to deploy it requires the server to run the Zope app server, which is not currently available on my webhost and isn't commonly available on most webhosts. So this system is only useful if you can deploy a dedicated server or afford a Zope hosting account. When Zope is available, the hosting prices are much higher and don't include much disk space or many other features commonly found in other webhosts, like Mailman, Cpanel/Plesk, unlim mail/mysql, multiple domains, etc.
I do alot of work for non-profit orgs that need a solid content management system and they could really benefit from the users/groups management and permissions in Plone 2.0 since they generally have lots of people and volunteers working in many areas. However, they usually can't afford the high monthly fees for Zope hosting.
What are the real reasons why Zope isn't more widely deployed at webhosts? Where can low cost Plone-capable hosting be found?
an addition to this idea that I've had for quite some time but no capability to do anything about it, so I'll throw it out there and hope somebody else can.
If you couple the tracking data with time information, you can get average transit times along major traffic corridors. So, as you compile a database of this info, you can report things like, the average time to get from Exit X to the downtown at Y time of day was Z minutes (yesterday/this week/this day last week). Make sure to account for differences like weekend/weekday, etc.
If you couple this with route finding algorithm, it could account for probably traffic delays in its routing.
There could be some money in this somewhere...
oops overestimated the intelligence of the slashdot system.
here are the htmlized links:
Silicon Film site (amazingly, still up)
Wired Vaporware 2002 list
Dpreview news roundup
it's been tried, and turned into one of the biggest vaporware products ever: http://www.siliconfilm.com/ Vaporware news: http://www.dpreview.com/news/0109/01091702siliconf ilmvaporizes.asp
http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,57023,00. html
I want to make a similar connection between my OS X system and my WinXP system. I want each system to get their Internet independently from my router over the Ethernet, but also be able to talk to each other via IPoFW.
The purpose is to run Remote Desktop Connection or VNC to control the PC from the Mac environment at super high speed.
I've had the same problems with XP bridging the connections. Anybody have tips for how to get this done?
Others have suggested removing the Ethernet connection from the PC, and using the Mac to share internet over the FW, but ideally I'd like to be able to use the PC without the Mac being on if necessary.
It doesn't include a HDTV tuner. The tuner is a normal NTSC tuner. The only thing high definition about this is that it will take hi-def formats as INPUT.
t vi sionn6.htm#specs
http://www.viewsonic.com/products/video_box_nex
If it were an actual HDTV tuner at this price it would be flying off the shelves.
BTW, another usage for this line of boxes from Viewsonic is simply to convert video sources into VGA format. At my church, I setup a video projector up front displaying input from a Belkin Cat5-to-VGA receiver. In the back, I setup the media computer and a DVD+VCR. The DVD+VCR video outputs go into a Viewsonic VB50 (an earlier version of the N6 box of this thread), which converters the video to VGA. The computer and Viewsonic output go to a VGA switch box, which goes to the Belkin VGA-to-Cat5 sender. The Cat5 sender allows all the sources to be concentrated in the back, with only a single long Cat5 cable running to the front to the projector. Obviously, it's easier and cheaper to get long Cat5 cables than long Video or S-Video cables, which would probably need amplification to make it through the long cable run.
I got the Newton 2000 right when it first came out. I did the research and compared it to everything else that was out there, including Palm, and decided it was the best tool. And it was, but after using it for a while, my take on why it wasn't well accepted was that while it was great within itself, in terms of the user interface, the applications, the handwriting recognition, etc, its main problem was that it didn't fit into people's paradigms of how they organized data and applications, and didn't fit into the other systems that they had to use, like enterprise calendaring applications, corporate email systems, etc. If you were the lone ranger out there, then it would be good. But try hooking up with Exchange server or Outlook calendar? Sorry.
Another feature/problem was the object oriented nature of the applications. One of the best things about NewtonOS was how you could extend the built in applications organically by downloading and installing a small extension object. For example, I remember a cool one that added linking between people in your address book. It added the feature right into the app, just like it was a built-in feature. Much better than the Palm, where if you want to improve on an app, you have to replace the whole thing with a completely different one. But the problem with this was that after a while you had a bunch of these add-ons installed, and couldn't tell what was built-in and what wasn't. Let's say something went wrong and you wanted to restore the system from scratch. Suddenly all these little features would be missing and you had no idea what program they came from. And since the syncing didn't work too well even for the built-in apps, it definitely didn't work for the add-ons, so mostly you were left without a backup for all the add-on data.
The other thing was the data soup concept. Again, it was one of the Newton's best features, in that other apps could access all the data available to make integration a reality. But since all the data was "in there somewhere" and not really conventionally separated like Palm's databases, it was hard to know what was backed up, synced or whatever. I'm sure this was part of the reason why generalized syncing software was hard to achieve for Apple.
I'm sure somebody will try to rebutt these arguments with a technical analysis of how you could do these things, but suffice it to say that it wasn't clear to me how to sort these things out and I'm a EE with hw and sw background. For sure, the average user wouldn't take the time to figure this all out.
Anyhow, besides the marketing and strategy blunders, there are some lessons to learn about making sure that revolutionary technology also has the capability to fit into existing technology and paradigms in order for it to succeed.
Umm, I think you meant Toshiba where you say Compaq.
All the people commenting about how the games on phones concept sucks because people can't even drive and talk much less play games are off base because they don't know Japan.
In Japan, nobody drives, and you spend alot of time on trains and waiting for them. When you don't have to concentrate on driving, you have time to kill, and this idea fits right in.
In the big cities, pretty much *everybody* carries a phone and most of the teens carry MD players, too. I predict that MP3 will make it into the phones there next.
Collin