Technology meets people.

August 2009 Blog Posts (14)

OTT Video Adventures Part 3: Over the Air Channels

(Also read Part 1, and Part 2 of this series)

As one of the final steps before my family embraces new over the top video (OTT) services and cuts the cord on our Comcast Cable TV service, I wanted to verify what over the air (OTA) channels I could get in my area. The more I… Continue

Added by Brian Mahony on August 31, 2009 at 8:00am — 1 Comment

Are Medical Devices the Best Bridge to Wide-Scale Consumer Robotics?

In my ongoing research, one of the challenges that stands out for consumer robotics is the cost/benefit of any new robotics device or application. Robotics is one of extremes. On one hand very expensive industrial and military robots enjoy success, while smaller scale consumer robots get squeezed by cost issues into toys.

http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/43729/181/

Medical robots may be a way… Continue

Added by Brian Mahony on August 26, 2009 at 7:00am — No Comments

Cutting the Pay TV Cord Part 2: OTT Video Device Options

Last week my wife Kirsten and I announced our plan to “cut the cord” from our Comcast cable TV service. We gave several reasons for this decision including the desire to have a more deliberate TV and movie watching experience that would better fit into our family’s lifestyle. But we also hope to save a few dollars on a TV service which has for a long time now been overkill for our… Continue

Added by Brian Mahony on August 24, 2009 at 8:00am — No Comments

Now posting from my new mac computer.

Okay okay so maybe its not brand new... It actually just turned one year old just this month but the point is it still runs like new. I bought my apple laptop this time last year in preparation for school. At that time I was strictly a PC user. I had owned a dell and gateway but after doing my research and asking apple owners about their computers, I decided to splurge and purchase an apple laptop. Yes they are a bit more money and there is a learning curve to using them but I have never been… Continue

Added by Brian on August 19, 2009 at 5:35pm — No Comments

Eating My Own OTT Video Dog Food-- Cutting the Pay TV Cord

The time has come to eat my own dog food. I've been writing about and researching OTT video for some time, and now it is time to save money where my mouth is. My wife Kirsten and I have been thinking about this for some time, so we are not making this decision lightly or as a gimmick. But we have finally made the decision to "cut the cord" from our Comcast cable TV service. At least as a trial to see how it works out. Over the coming weeks and months we will be sharing with you our adventure in… Continue

Added by Brian Mahony on August 19, 2009 at 1:00am — 2 Comments

Move over, Android is moving in to your home

What’s an Android? Android™ is an operating system for home automation, developed by Google, a complete set of software for mobile devices, middleware and key mobile applications that will be on the shelf by year end.. Look for wireless web-connected devices operating on your home network that will to act as a home control center for locking the doors, turn on the lights, lifting the shades and control the temperature. New remotes devices will work on… Continue

Added by Ellen Veden on August 17, 2009 at 8:00am — No Comments

Tivo Podast: From Pay TV Threat to Teacher’s Pet— Lessons for OTT Video

It was shortly into my conversation with TiVo that it occurred to me that this pioneer of DVR has a lot to teach the burgeoning over-the-top video (OTT) industry.

Once upon a time, TiVo was feared as a Pay TV trouble-maker for not only allowing subscribers to pause and record live TV but also to (gasp!) skip television commercials altogether by forwarding through them. Now both subscribers… Continue

Added by Brian Mahony on August 13, 2009 at 8:00am — No Comments

Broadband Network Systems Podcast: IPTV Integrator Moving Into T-Commerce Apps

In the latest edition of our IPTV/OTT podcast series, we talk to Anke Gill, Vice President of Marketing with Broadband Network Systems (BNS).

Click here for the full podcast player or use the mini-player on the right sidebar of this page.

Founded in 2003, BNS is an Asia-based IPTV integrator with… Continue

Added by Brian Mahony on August 12, 2009 at 12:00am — No Comments

Product Review: Video “Milling” with Vidtel

When I was growing up in a large family, the highest form of communication in our house was “milling around” or just “milling.” Milling was a completely informal, relaxing way to chat with friends and family. You would sit on the couch in the living room and just talk. Some people would share funny stories about past adventures, and others would lead the conversation in highly vocal debates about sports, politics or religion. Some would take the floor… Continue

Added by Brian Mahony on August 10, 2009 at 8:30am — No Comments

Cook with Mario Batali at you fingertips!!

With the trend in stainless steel appliances in the kitchen these days, Toshiba introduced at the House Beautiful showcase in Rockefeller Center, a 19-inch stainless-steel-style DVD/LCD TV combo set for the kitchen countertop. With a bult-in DVD player, the chef of the house can watch their favorite cooking shows right on the counter while cooking up a creative meal. With a 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio and connectivity, the picture quality is… Continue

Added by Ellen Veden on August 7, 2009 at 8:00am — No Comments

Marines Prevent Use of Social Networking Sites

It is well known that social networking sites have become another attack vector for criminals who exploit information for the purpose of identity theft, fraud, or other crimes. It is very likely that these sites could also being used to gather intelligence of a different kind - military. On August third the US Marine Corp officially banned access to Facebook, Twitter, and Myspace.

According to the… Continue

Added by Michael Whalen on August 6, 2009 at 7:36am — No Comments

HD on the road: Shoot from any angle

Nikon recently introduced their new version of DSLR HD video enabled camera, the D5000 with a swivel screen that rotates to get your best shot from any angle with a 18-55mm lens. Besides shooting the landscapes on the road, this quiet camera is perfect for museum visits, church interiors and local genre shots, unnoticed. This is a camera for the tech-savvy or the first time DSLR buy with lots of features not found on their previous versions, though… Continue

Added by Ellen Veden on August 5, 2009 at 8:00am — No Comments

OTT Ads “Over the Top”? How Much Advertising Can We Take?

One of the promises of over-the-top video is that, because it leverages the Internet as a delivery mechanism, it can serve up more interactive and personalized advertising easier than traditional Pay TV. The question is, how much more advertising can the average consumer handle, and what form will it take?

One of the things that hit me at the recent IPTV Forum event in New York is that there will be multiple, competing forms of advertising… Continue

Added by Brian Mahony on August 3, 2009 at 8:30am — No Comments

Grilling on the deck - with no wires for great sound!

Now you can grill on the deck with 8 hours of continuous music, without getting tangled in the speaker wires!

Devotec Industries has just announced their new product and a first! solar-powered wireless, Bluetooth speakers. The sound box is compact, portable with 2 speakers and connect wirelessly to a Bluetooth phone – Nokia, iPhone, and Blackberry or MP3 player. The speaker comes complete with a connector to link to other devices and a touch… Continue

Added by Ellen Veden on August 1, 2009 at 8:00am — 1 Comment