"Now, if you've got other applications in mind, where you can stand less-than-perfect video and reliability, you're absolutely right - using this PDA and a DV cam is great"
Well I was initially thinking web cams, where this would actually be an improvement in quality over many of the terrible cams out there. But who cares about web cams?
But, I was also thinking of live broadcasts of basketball games for over the internet broadcasts. I live in North Dakota, and we take quite well to minor league basketball. This past season I was hoping to rig up a few cameras to setup that would give fans a great way to watch the games (perhaps broadcast at 300 - 500Kbps), and this solution struck me as perfect. As you pointed out, quality doesn't really matter here, so it'd be perfect.
Also, I'd like to point out that though MPEG-1 has sufficed for the commercials, we've recently switched over to MPEG-2 (as well as a new digital system. We were sending tapes to the markets, but are now using broadband connections and digital transfers.)
Granted, it does have a PCI card that handles most of the work, and a sizeable hard drive. However, why couldn't this be done on a PocketPC? I'm guessing it would only take some software.
Well of course, a typical camera goes at about 10MBytes a second, right? (though those video editing machines require upwards of 30) But.... that's overkill.
I'm in the cable advertising business. My father started the business two decades ago, and I've been working for him. The cable spots that he runs in most of his markets are MPEG-1, taking 30 seconds of commercial footage into a 10MB file. That's 2.6Mbits a second, much less than you've said above. Plus, the quality is more than acceptable.
Well, when the specs of PDAs aren't "creeping up and up" but rather increasing exponentially, it takes time for the prices to settle. The fact that nearly all the chips are coming from Intel can't help lower prices any.
This, and a lack of demand in the handheld market has kept prices high. Everybody already has a Palm--a IIIxe or older--and most everyone feels that they have enough.
It works with JVC cameras and boasts WiFi, which means that small television stations can now act like the pros. Doing live broadcasts that require many angles--like sporting events--requires cameras with expensive antennas, etc. Now, these small stations simply add this $500 device and they're good to go.
Except that they will, except that it's called MW Create, instead of MWNY. However, Apple will still be there in force, likely with a presentation by Rubinstein or other Mac croney to showcase the technical aspects of the latest Mac hardware in a not-so-exciting-for-Average-Joe-but-cool-in-the-mi nds-of-serious-buyers matter.
"As for a June announcement, see the Osborne computer company"
Will people please stop using this company as an example? It's pointless. No company would ever do what they did, because something called "pre-orders" exist. Apple could simply stop ordering PowerMac and PowerBook production, discount existing inventory, and begin pre-selling the PowerMac G5. Sure, no PowerMacs would actually land in consumers hands, but it'd be ridiculous to expect Apple to announce that the PowerMac will be updated, and try to sell its existing inventory at the same prices.
But how does a company attempt to reverse its brand name and build a new one? Apple has a name for itself, but so do G3 and G4. G5 allows Apple to continue it's run with brand recognition.
Granted, I realize that the software was free, but what about maintenance and updates..... it is still a costly measure. I, for example, do not expect a virus-protection program to keep intruders out (I'd have to be naive), and this program certainly can't be foul-proof.
Take a long time to look things over and ask: is the piracy worth the risk? If a few individuals use the service illegally, but you have a solid base of paying users, isn't that better than not entering the market at all and missing out on an opportunity or implementing a costly security feature that could mitigate any profit?
"I think a better use for it would be a Govt. subsidized, public wireless network that can be used by all. Internet for everyone sounds better than 312 Spice channels. Dontcha think?"
Well, what do you think about 312 Spice channels?
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"Now, if you've got other applications in mind, where you can stand less-than-perfect video and reliability, you're absolutely right - using this PDA and a DV cam is great"
Well I was initially thinking web cams, where this would actually be an improvement in quality over many of the terrible cams out there. But who cares about web cams?
But, I was also thinking of live broadcasts of basketball games for over the internet broadcasts. I live in North Dakota, and we take quite well to minor league basketball. This past season I was hoping to rig up a few cameras to setup that would give fans a great way to watch the games (perhaps broadcast at 300 - 500Kbps), and this solution struck me as perfect. As you pointed out, quality doesn't really matter here, so it'd be perfect.
Also, I'd like to point out that though MPEG-1 has sufficed for the commercials, we've recently switched over to MPEG-2 (as well as a new digital system. We were sending tapes to the markets, but are now using broadband connections and digital transfers.)
We have a machine that does the conversion, yes.
It's an old 233MHz machine, and it's done at 1:1.
Granted, it does have a PCI card that handles most of the work, and a sizeable hard drive. However, why couldn't this be done on a PocketPC? I'm guessing it would only take some software.
Well of course, a typical camera goes at about 10MBytes a second, right? (though those video editing machines require upwards of 30) But.... that's overkill.
I'm in the cable advertising business. My father started the business two decades ago, and I've been working for him. The cable spots that he runs in most of his markets are MPEG-1, taking 30 seconds of commercial footage into a 10MB file. That's 2.6Mbits a second, much less than you've said above. Plus, the quality is more than acceptable.
Just blame the current state of deflation (ummm.... yeah) and tell the Fed to screw off.
Well, when the specs of PDAs aren't "creeping up and up" but rather increasing exponentially, it takes time for the prices to settle. The fact that nearly all the chips are coming from Intel can't help lower prices any.
This, and a lack of demand in the handheld market has kept prices high. Everybody already has a Palm--a IIIxe or older--and most everyone feels that they have enough.
It works with JVC cameras and boasts WiFi, which means that small television stations can now act like the pros. Doing live broadcasts that require many angles--like sporting events--requires cameras with expensive antennas, etc. Now, these small stations simply add this $500 device and they're good to go.
I just registered www.me-gusta-ver.la
Except that they will, except that it's called MW Create, instead of MWNY. However, Apple will still be there in force, likely with a presentation by Rubinstein or other Mac croney to showcase the technical aspects of the latest Mac hardware in a not-so-exciting-for-Average-Joe-but-cool-in-the-mi nds-of-serious-buyers matter.
"As for a June announcement, see the Osborne computer company"
Will people please stop using this company as an example? It's pointless. No company would ever do what they did, because something called "pre-orders" exist. Apple could simply stop ordering PowerMac and PowerBook production, discount existing inventory, and begin pre-selling the PowerMac G5. Sure, no PowerMacs would actually land in consumers hands, but it'd be ridiculous to expect Apple to announce that the PowerMac will be updated, and try to sell its existing inventory at the same prices.
To me, it sounds like he built this thing for pleasure.
"Seems easy to build and runs about $40 in parts."
And another $10,000 in hospital bills.
"You don't buy a car on speed alone. There are styling and comfort factors"
I don't know about you, but I don't usually buy a computer because it's comfortable.
w00t, I managed to sneak in. But wow, is it ever crawling....
Now if only I had one of those catchy phrases to use when a site gets /.ed.
But how does a company attempt to reverse its brand name and build a new one? Apple has a name for itself, but so do G3 and G4. G5 allows Apple to continue it's run with brand recognition.
But the RPM analogy doesn't really apply here. In the computer world, there is no speed limit.
Granted, I realize that the software was free, but what about maintenance and updates..... it is still a costly measure. I, for example, do not expect a virus-protection program to keep intruders out (I'd have to be naive), and this program certainly can't be foul-proof.
Take a long time to look things over and ask: is the piracy worth the risk? If a few individuals use the service illegally, but you have a solid base of paying users, isn't that better than not entering the market at all and missing out on an opportunity or implementing a costly security feature that could mitigate any profit?
I got an insightful rating for that post? Somebody takes masturbation waaay to seriously.
But wouldn't everyone be happier with 312 Spice channels?
"I think a better use for it would be a Govt. subsidized, public wireless network that can be used by all. Internet for everyone sounds better than 312 Spice channels. Dontcha think?" Well, what do you think about 312 Spice channels?
Seriously, though, with such a move to cable and satellite over the years, the excess bandwidth has added up. It's time to make good use of it.
All that extra bandwidth can finally go to good use.... like pr0n.
This guy still spends less time at a computer than most SlashDot users.
This is cool--don't get me wrong. But I fail to see anything here except that this guy will likely land dozens of job offers.