An important clarification: The USD 500,- is the intended target for some of our bundles, including services... The price for the "unencumbered" version will likely be somewhat higher (at least when released).
The DECT standard is a low level data transmission standard for wireless equipment. On top of that you have the GAP standard for handsets (telephones), and now the DMAP standard for most other types of data transmission (printing, TCP/IP, RS 232 serial forwarding, CATV, etc.)
It uses standard DECT, but I'm not sure if DECT has been approved for hospital use anywhere, and I sort of doubt it.
As for using several DECT basestations, that isn't a problem. We have three operational in our office, and the DECT standard is intended for high density networks with many base stations.
You choose a base station by "subscribing" to it. Purely a software process. Currently most base stations are only open for subscription for a short interval of time after they are turned on, or after pressing a button. More security are being added though (not by us, we only use the technology).
DECT is an industry standard, and DECT DMAP will be supported by lots of equipment. It hasn't really taken off in the US yet, though, because the frequency band used for DECT in Europe is allocated for something else in the US. But Siemens at least has marketed DECT products for the US market too.
A minor detail: It doesn't have to be eight FreePads. It can be up to eight of ANY type of DECT device, including desktop PC's (via ISA card, available today), laptops (via PCMCIA card available today), or DECT/GAP handsets (such as the Siemens Gigaset etc.), and of course FreePads. Regards, Vidar Hokstad
It won't run X, so you wouldn't be able to do export DISPLAY anyway. But there will be OEM versions available, as well as a developer SDK, so if someone wants to make X run on it, they'll have our blessing.
Btw., I gues I qualify as "the friendly developer":-)
On another note: One change from last time is that we'll be using USB for the optional external keyboard, and that it will be possible to use other USB units as well. And the new design for the plastic is a lot cooler:-)
Actually, while it isn't in production, Inventec (Taiwanese manufacturer that handle production for several multinationals, including some production for Compaq) is preparing production lines for it now. The tools for producing the plastic is ready (plastic prototypes of the new look is ready).
The software team is busy working on the software. A well known Linux company is doing the DECT drivers, and Opera is porting their web browser to Nano-X for us (screenshots should be available shortly).
As for the prototype pictures: The one on the main page is computer generated, but the others are pictures of the real-life prototype.
SAP ported R3 because they got requests from customers, so obviously the demand is there.
I know that if I were responsible for a SAP rollout, I'd certainly prefer having it on an OS I trusted.
Also remember that Siemens has been a strong Linux supporter for some time, and that Siemens have a VERY strong name in exactly the markets where SAP compete, and especially in Germany. If anyone are able to sell SAP on Linux, it would be Siemens.
There were THREE significant news stories on Redhat yesterday, that together skyrocketed the stock upwards: Gatway to ship Redhat, Redhat to open offices in Japan, and Redhat teaming with another company to build extranet solutions...
It's meant as a home system, and most people don't have 100Mb/s networks at home... Actually, most people don't even have a PC at home yet.
Yes, if you're used to 100Mb/s networks it will be slower than what you are used to from your stationary computers. But it's not replacing them. For the sophisticated users it's another tool to use to send mail from, surf the web, place phone calls (by touching the number in your address list, or in the white or yellow pages), or do your home banking, or electronic shopping on (it has a smart card slot that will be able to handle misc systems like Mondex etc.)
The first version will be "locked down",yes. It will be possible to replace apps., etc., but not simple. It's an appliance, not a laptop replacement.
You are partly right about the special servers. We'll be using only open standards. That is, the box will be able to work perfectly fine as a stand alone unit. However we are offering a turn key system for portal integration as well, that will allow for some additional features, and is meant for subsidized bundling deals.
The full price units won't be tied to any special servers in any way, though.
But that said, I want to play with them beyond the standard features myself, and if there's a market for it a version with access to the shell etc. is certainly a possible that I can convince people here to release a more flexible version.
As for the wireless technology you are mentioning, it is already available from Dosch & Amand, which is our main partner on the hardware side. They have base stations supporting DECT DMAP, as well as PCMCIA and ISA cards. Only Windows drivers so far though (but of course Linux drivers are in the works for the FreePad integration, and since it's basically a BIOS less x86 platform the same drivers should work on a standard PC).
I'm not sure about the prices, though, since the PC solutions contain a bit more than the FreePad will.
I guess I'll have to convince my boss about the need for a "geek edition":-) I will doubtlessly have some special hacks for my own use, so who knows...
I think the marketing guys wants it to be "free" as in free to move around wherever you want in your house and garden while you're still on the net....
11Mbps internally doesn't help you a lot if you're still connected to an ISDN line for your internet access.
DECT DMAP supports up to about 2Mbps, but this isn't a wireless LAN thingie that's intended for use to network several PC's with, but a solution intended to connect you wirelessly to your ISDN line, CATV or modem. So unless you have an ISDN PRI (30 B channels) to your home, DECT DMAP will likely be more than enough.
The goal is less than 500 USD (potentially a lot less... Don't want to give more than a rough estimate at this time), and release Q1 2000 - not that far away.
Actually, it has a smartcard slot that could be used for authentication. But you are right, this isn't our primary market. We want it to be as cheap as possible, and are making lots of deals to bundle it to get it subsidized by misc. service providers, to get it into the hands of people that either don't have PC's (and don't want them), perhaps because they don't want a complex PC just to access the net, as well as the geeks who want it as a simple web access device and advanced phone (look up a number in the white pages on screen, and touch the number to make it dial, etc.) in addition to a normal PC.
The base station is a RF tranceiver with an embedded system that speaks DECT DMAP. DMAP is a transport layer that let you encapsulate whatever protocols you want for wireless forwarding from local interfaces to a DECT DMAP card (PCMCIA or ISA), or the FreePad, or any other DECT DMAP device available (a wireless "webcam" is being developed for instance - not by us, though)
The current base stations from Dosh & Amand (who created DMAP, and who are our partner on the wireless technology and also other hardware issues), has an ISDN interface, a serial port and a parallel port. New versions are close to mass production with ethernet and CATV support too.
So the base station is completely stand alone, and acts as a "router" for incoming and outgoing telephony traffic, and as an arbiter for the local DECT units to know which ones are "trusted" (so that you don't get to hijack your neighbours calls, for instance:-)
Almost all major telephone manufacturers that deliver cordless phones in the European market have DECT products. One of the most popular DECT solutions is the Siemens "Gigaset" family.
All DECT handsets use the GAP protocol, and can speak to any DECT base station. So if you install a DECT DMAP capable base station, you can use it with both GAP handsets and for instance the FreePad. (not all base stations are DMAP capable yet, though)
I believe Siemens also recently started shipping Gigasets to the US, but the US systems works on another frequence (as usual with RF equipment, the bands allocated are different in the US and in Europe...), and it's our intention too to use DECT in the US market as well.
The standard model will be tied quite closely to the delivered software, but I'm sure we'd be open for OEM deals if someone would like a to sell a "geek version" of it:-)
If you're a programmer, and happens to live in Norway, and would like to work on the software for the FreePad, mail me at vidarh@screenmedia.no.:-) </SHAMELESS-PLUG>
Exactly. You have to replace the base station (unless you happen to have a base station that supports DECT DMAP, which is unlikely now, but more and more base stations with DMAP support are coming), but you can keep using any handsets you have.
It connects wirelessly to a DECT DMAP base station (the same base station can be used with ordinary DECT cordless phones), which can be connected to ISDN, CATV and soon ethernet.
I don't think we'd want to compete with the cellular based PDA's, so I doubt you'd see a GSM or CDMA version anytime soon.
It doesn't need a normal computer elsewhere in the house.
DECT DMAP is an extension to DECT - the dominant protocol for cordless phones in Europe (it's starting to appear in the US too) - that allow data transfer, including networking protocols and wireless printing. The FreePad uses a DECT DMAP controller to speak to a DECT DMAP base station.
The cool part is that the base station also supports the DECT GAP standard for voice communication, so it can be dropped in instead of any existing GAP base station and work seamlessly with both the FreePad and any other DECT equipment you might have, including handsets, portables with a DMAP PCMCIA card, and PC's with a DMAP ISA card.
Also, it will be fairly cheap. Standalone it will likely cost less than USD 500,-, but as part of misc. bundling deals it will be possible to get it a lot cheaper, and in some cases for free.
I remember being flamed over and over a few months back for claiming that this was possible:-)
Intel CPU's can't be fully virtualized. However, there's nothing stopping someone from virtualizing most of it, and "verify" code before you let it run natively. Most code would never do anything that would give you any problems, and could be executed directly. The small parts that would cause problems, can be modified to call a handler that emulate whatever the original code tried to do.
Of course this causes code to run slower, as you'd have to do a lot of work to ensure the integrity of the system, but it would still be a lot faster than a full emulater like Bochs.
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Vidar Hokstad
Vidar Hokstad
The DECT standard is a low level data transmission standard for wireless equipment. On top of that you have the GAP standard for handsets (telephones), and now the DMAP standard for most other types of data transmission (printing, TCP/IP, RS 232 serial forwarding, CATV, etc.)
As for using several DECT basestations, that isn't a problem. We have three operational in our office, and the DECT standard is intended for high density networks with many base stations.
You choose a base station by "subscribing" to it. Purely a software process. Currently most base stations are only open for subscription for a short interval of time after they are turned on, or after pressing a button. More security are being added though (not by us, we only use the technology).
DECT is an industry standard, and DECT DMAP will be supported by lots of equipment. It hasn't really taken off in the US yet, though, because the frequency band used for DECT in Europe is allocated for something else in the US. But Siemens at least has marketed DECT products for the US market too.
Vidar Hokstad
A minor detail: It doesn't have to be eight FreePads. It can be up to eight of ANY type of DECT device, including desktop PC's (via ISA card, available today), laptops (via PCMCIA card available today), or DECT/GAP handsets (such as the Siemens Gigaset etc.), and of course FreePads. Regards, Vidar Hokstad
Btw., I gues I qualify as "the friendly developer" :-)
On another note: One change from last time is that we'll be using USB for the optional external keyboard, and that it will be possible to use other USB units as well. And the new design for the plastic is a lot cooler :-)
Regards, Vidar Hokstad
The software team is busy working on the software. A well known Linux company is doing the DECT drivers, and Opera is porting their web browser to Nano-X for us (screenshots should be available shortly).
As for the prototype pictures: The one on the main page is computer generated, but the others are pictures of the real-life prototype.
Regards, Vidar Hokstad VP of R&D, Screen Media AS
I know that if I were responsible for a SAP rollout, I'd certainly prefer having it on an OS I trusted.
Also remember that Siemens has been a strong Linux supporter for some time, and that Siemens have a VERY strong name in exactly the markets where SAP compete, and especially in Germany. If anyone are able to sell SAP on Linux, it would be Siemens.
But the answer is of course 42 :-)
There were THREE significant news stories on Redhat yesterday, that together skyrocketed the stock upwards: Gatway to ship Redhat, Redhat to open offices in Japan, and Redhat teaming with another company to build extranet solutions...
Yes, if you're used to 100Mb/s networks it will be slower than what you are used to from your stationary computers. But it's not replacing them. For the sophisticated users it's another tool to use to send mail from, surf the web, place phone calls (by touching the number in your address list, or in the white or yellow pages), or do your home banking, or electronic shopping on (it has a smart card slot that will be able to handle misc systems like Mondex etc.)
It's not your new Quake machine :-)
Vidar Hokstad (who works for Screen Media)
You are partly right about the special servers. We'll be using only open standards. That is, the box will be able to work perfectly fine as a stand alone unit. However we are offering a turn key system for portal integration as well, that will allow for some additional features, and is meant for subsidized bundling deals.
The full price units won't be tied to any special servers in any way, though.
But that said, I want to play with them beyond the standard features myself, and if there's a market for it a version with access to the shell etc. is certainly a possible that I can convince people here to release a more flexible version.
As for the wireless technology you are mentioning, it is already available from Dosch & Amand, which is our main partner on the hardware side. They have base stations supporting DECT DMAP, as well as PCMCIA and ISA cards. Only Windows drivers so far though (but of course Linux drivers are in the works for the FreePad integration, and since it's basically a BIOS less x86 platform the same drivers should work on a standard PC).
I'm not sure about the prices, though, since the PC solutions contain a bit more than the FreePad will.
Vidar Hokstad
(works for Screen Media)
I guess I'll have to convince my boss about the need for a "geek edition" :-) I will doubtlessly have some special hacks for my own use, so who knows...
Vidar Hokstad (working for Screen Media)
DECT DMAP supports up to about 2Mbps, but this isn't a wireless LAN thingie that's intended for use to network several PC's with, but a solution intended to connect you wirelessly to your ISDN line, CATV or modem. So unless you have an ISDN PRI (30 B channels) to your home, DECT DMAP will likely be more than enough.
Vidar Hokstad
(who works for Screen Media)
The goal is less than 500 USD (potentially a lot less... Don't want to give more than a rough estimate at this time), and release Q1 2000 - not that far away.
Actually, it has a smartcard slot that could be used for authentication. But you are right, this isn't our primary market. We want it to be as cheap as possible, and are making lots of deals to bundle it to get it subsidized by misc. service providers, to get it into the hands of people that either don't have PC's (and don't want them), perhaps because they don't want a complex PC just to access the net, as well as the geeks who want it as a simple web access device and advanced phone (look up a number in the white pages on screen, and touch the number to make it dial, etc.) in addition to a normal PC.
The current base stations from Dosh & Amand (who created DMAP, and who are our partner on the wireless technology and also other hardware issues), has an ISDN interface, a serial port and a parallel port. New versions are close to mass production with ethernet and CATV support too.
So the base station is completely stand alone, and acts as a "router" for incoming and outgoing telephony traffic, and as an arbiter for the local DECT units to know which ones are "trusted" (so that you don't get to hijack your neighbours calls, for instance :-)
Almost all major telephone manufacturers that deliver cordless phones in the European market have DECT products. One of the most popular DECT solutions is the Siemens "Gigaset" family.
All DECT handsets use the GAP protocol, and can speak to any DECT base station. So if you install a DECT DMAP capable base station, you can use it with both GAP handsets and for instance the FreePad. (not all base stations are DMAP capable yet, though)
I believe Siemens also recently started shipping Gigasets to the US, but the US systems works on another frequence (as usual with RF equipment, the bands allocated are different in the US and in Europe...), and it's our intention too to use DECT in the US market as well.
Vidar Hokstad
(who works for Screen Media :)
Vidar Hokstad (who works for Screen Media)
If you're a programmer, and happens to live in Norway, and would like to work on the software for the FreePad, mail me at vidarh@screenmedia.no.
</SHAMELESS-PLUG>
Vidar Hokstad
(Yeah, I work for Screen Media)
Vidar Hokstad
Disclaimer: I work for Screen Media
Vidar Hokstad Disclaimer: I work for Screen Media
I don't think we'd want to compete with the cellular based PDA's, so I doubt you'd see a GSM or CDMA version anytime soon.
Vidar Hokstad Disclaimer: I work for Screen Media
It doesn't need a normal computer elsewhere in the house.
DECT DMAP is an extension to DECT - the dominant protocol for cordless phones in Europe (it's starting to appear in the US too) - that allow data transfer, including networking protocols and wireless printing. The FreePad uses a DECT DMAP controller to speak to a DECT DMAP base station.
The cool part is that the base station also supports the DECT GAP standard for voice communication, so it can be dropped in instead of any existing GAP base station and work seamlessly with both the FreePad and any other DECT equipment you might have, including handsets, portables with a DMAP PCMCIA card, and PC's with a DMAP ISA card.
Also, it will be fairly cheap. Standalone it will likely cost less than USD 500,-, but as part of misc. bundling deals it will be possible to get it a lot cheaper, and in some cases for free.
Vidar Hokstad
Intel CPU's can't be fully virtualized. However, there's nothing stopping someone from virtualizing most of it, and "verify" code before you let it run natively. Most code would never do anything that would give you any problems, and could be executed directly. The small parts that would cause problems, can be modified to call a handler that emulate whatever the original code tried to do.
Of course this causes code to run slower, as you'd have to do a lot of work to ensure the integrity of the system, but it would still be a lot faster than a full emulater like Bochs.