ROKU Digital Video Player

So, I've been thinking about my home theater setup for quite some time, now. And, I'll be perfectly honest, I was considering getting an Apple TV, but that idea never really sat well with me. Aside from the fact that I'll have at least one Mac mini assigned to music playback duties, I wasn't ever really sure that the Apple TV was as well rounded as I might want (read: able to grab content from sources other than iTunes). As I'm not really at the point of setting up a full home theater I've let the idea sit on the back burner, occasionally taking a look around at what's available, where the products are heading, etc.

Anyway, I recently took a look, again, at ROKU. I've known for years that they pioneered the Music-All-Over-Your-House category, but totally forgot that they make a video streaming device, as well. It's pretty slick, and small, and gets you content from Netflix, Amazon On Demand and now, Pandora (so, this is kind of an all-in-one device). While I like iTunes (the app) for managing my music, I feel somewhat constrained if I want to rent a movie by just utilizing the iTunes Store. Also, I know at some point I'll be picking up a Netflix subscription and totally bypassing the whole Blu-Ray thing (I'm not as picky with my movies as I am with music).

So, this is where the ROKU Digitial Video Player comes in. Right now, at ROKU's site, it's only $79.95 (the top-of-the-line with HDMI, optical audio out and Wireless-N is only $129) with free shipping, which is a pretty sweet deal (the Apple TV is $229). Now, I know the Apple TV has an internal harddrive, and is really slick, and integrates with iTunes. But, if all you're looking to do is rent some movies and you want the best selection possible, I say go with ROKU and skip being limited by what's available through iTunes. Click my affiliate link below to learn more, and to make me some scratch.

ROKU Digital Video Player

Canadian Insurance Company Pulls Benefits After Getting Private Facebook Pics

Story's over at Ars Technica. The short of it is a Canadian woman was diagnosed with major depression, left her job a year and a half ago, and was receiving sick leave benefits from Manulife, her insurance company. She was directed by her doctor to engage in social activities, one of which was a gathering for her birthday. She put up pics of said event on her locked down, private access only Facebook account. Somehow Manulife gained access to the pics, and dropped her coverage because she was shown having fun, for one day. Glad to know insurance companies have medical degrees and can make medical decisions based on a few pictures and no other data.

And, people here in the US think our medical system is just fine and dandy.

Ars Technica Talks "MinWin"

I've read a few things over the last couple of years regarding Microsoft's focus on developing "MinWin", as it's known. Essentially, a simpler, modular-based OS core that would do away with the interconnected DLL issues of the current Windows code base. Ars Technica gives some good history and detail, so if you're interested, go on and read.

I've been saying for years that what Microsoft really should do is follow Apple's lead. Go and either buy a *nix OS vendor/developer, or just take the Linux kernel and build from there. Create a layered and modular OS that completely shuns any attachment to its monolithic, legacy self, while providing a compatibility layer/environment (à la XP mode or Classic) to ease the pain.

Now, I know I'm one to rip on others for declaring what some company should do. But, I say this from a technology perspective, not a business model/competitive/must-do-or-die-in-the-market perspective. That kind of "analysis" usually comes from people who have no clue about business, even if they do write about it. In fact, a lot of them have no clue on what products people actually want, continuously confusing what a person has to have because of outside forces with what a person really wants deep down inside. I know, subtle difference.

Anyway, getting back to the technical arena. The reason I say that MS should go for Linux (the kernel) is that it's already proven, stable, and, even better, free and open source. Sure, that means that MS will have to give back to the Linux kernel development, but, just like Apple with Mach/XNU, the benefits would outweigh any perceived or real competitive and business disadvantages. "So," you ask, "what are the great and illustrious advantages you allude to, but don't really enumerate?"

Well, I'll spit them out, but I don't think I'll be numbering them.

The advantages for Microsoft are thus: They instantly move to a more secure kernel environment, making much of the current Windows malware ineffective. They gain the ability to tout a solid OS core with all of the stability, and as already mentioned, security benefits of the *nix platforms. To provide compatibility with legacy applications they can take the WINE project, flesh it out, and put it in as a Windows "Classic" environment. Or, they could buy CodeWeavers (although, I can hear the cries of millions of Linux-loving souls crying out in extreme anguish). They gain major street cred (which, let's be honest, they really, really need). They instantly move from "Windows is a piece of shit" to "Holy Shit! Windows might actually be stable, and more secure, and better at running on my one year old hardware!" Of course, this all depends on whether or not Microsoft fucks up a good thing. Which they usually do. Without fail.

Actually, it's pretty predictable at this point. I mean, Zune? The Microsoft Store? Paging Dr. Frank N. Furter, you're needed in another Microsoft Marketing meeting. Dr. Frank N. Furter to Microsoft Marketing.

The Return of AOL?

David Callaway opines for MarketWatch that counting out AOL is a bad bet, that with CEO Tim Armstrong 's re-focusing of the company to become a content producer, not just a redisplay avenue, the company might actually enjoy a resurgence. Maybe, but the company faces two big hurdles, one technological / social, one firmly based on perception. Neither will be easy to get over. Just look at Microsoft right now, and you'll know what I mean by perception. When it comes to technological, well, the Old Guard in the content delivery space (specifically in journalism) are hanging on to their hats as their ships sink fast without a clear, viable lifeboat to carry them to safety. And, for the social part of that equation, well, people are creatures of habit. It takes a long time to change your habits, especially when you're not forced or you don't constantly face an alternative that lowers your level of effort (see IE killing Netscape because IE came pre-loaded on all new PCs).

So, while I won't say David is right or wrong, it's going to take one helluva Marketing / Branding effort to first, reverse the severe negative perception of AOL, and second, build an entirely new brand for AOL, not as a dinky dial-up provider, but as a hot, powerful and pertinent news / entertainment / media portal.

From what I've seen of other company's attempts (Microsoft, I'm looking at you), good luck with that. I think I'll just take my money and invest in Apple. Or put it under my mattress.

PCWorld Declares the Mythical Apple Tablet Dead

Ian Paul, over at PCWorld, proclaims the Apple Tablet Dead in a blog post. Now, while I agree with him that these rumors and speculations regarding upcoming (real and imagined) Apple products are ridiculous, what I find ironic is that he calls the Apple Tablet "dead". Here's where I agree (well, from this point to the end of the post):

Apple tablet rumors started verging into the ridiculous Thursday morning with reports that Apple has pushed back the project's launch date yet again. Those same sources are saying Apple is developing a high-end tablet that could retail for as much as $2000, according to Digitimes.

Fine, Ian, I'll buy into that. I completely agree. The world of Apple Rumors has been in a tizzy for, what, a couple of years now about some mythical tablet device that will save the world from ecological disaster, feed all the hungry, give the poor good jobs and homes, all while keeping the U.S. the only World Power, but elevating everyone else into a comparable standard of living all the same.

While I'm all for the fun and games of Apple Product Speculation (I wonder if Milton Bradley has a version?) , what I find completely preposterous is how all the tech publications and journalists out there hop on the bandwagon and proclaim a Mythical Apple Product coming, going, never existed, existed but trashed by Steve Jobs himself, or, in this case, Dead. As though it were alive, with full certainty, but will now never see the light.

As you can see I'm completely on-board with Ian's post. It's not the post, though, that I find ironic. It's the title. Ian goes on for a good length, citing plenty of bullshit along the way, ending his post by calling the Mythical Apple Product nothing more than a mirage.

Let's face it: the Apple tablet is a mirage created by legions of fanboys and tech dreamers.

So, Ian, which is it, Dead or a Mirage?

Next time, try for a little honesty in your titles, not a Hit-Whore-Type Sensational Declaration.

Microsoft Provides Guidance on Windows 7 Zero-Day Exploit

Tom Bradley of PC World does the walkthrough, republished by The Washington Post.

So, Windows 7 is supposed to be the most secure version of Windows, ever? Really? So, can anyone please explain to me why Mac OS X doesn't have any of these issues, nor viruses? There's what, half a dozen trojans floating about for Mac OS X? And, really, I think they're mostly variants of two. And, you can't get infected unless you like your porn and believe you need an ActiveX component for your Mac and deliberately install the damned things. Or something like that.

David Pogue Rips Verizon and ATT Over Bogus $2 Data Fees*

The cellphone industry is kind of like the Wild West at this point. The market has really only been in full bloom for, oh, what, a decade or so? We're at the point now where the freedom of having a phone with you at all times (and, there are serious safety benefits, too) is a near universal want/need (more want, than need, in my book), and the number of people wanting access to information on the fly without having to lug around a laptop is exploding. So, the cellphone carriers get to set the rules and rates, because honestly, who's going to say "Ya' know what? You guys charge too much money and are just generally shitty companies who treat their customers like dirt, so, yeah, I'm going to stick to my landline."? Really, anyone?

Maybe there are some people, but companies rely on constant communication between employees, vendors and customers, at all times of the day and night (now you know why the
Blackberry
Crackberry is so damned popular), and they're not going to give up their cocaine … er … phone habits anytime soon. And when was the last time you were in a mall and saw more than a handful of kids (10 and up, sometimes even younger) without a cellphone? Growing up, it was the Walkman for me.

Anyway, so the reality is that individuals and corporations are not about to give up their growing cellphone habits with their "need" for on-the-go data connectivity (really, is getting your email to your phone after 5 pm really all that important?), and Verizon's and AT&T's ability to charge for accidental data connections won't go away without government intervention. Seriously, what are people going to do? Scream and holler en masse until the Big Bad Corporations Learn to be Good? Pfft. Like that'll ever happen. It's not like these guys actually care about their customers. The only thing they care about is revenue, customer happiness and good will be damned. After all, once you sign up you're locked in for 2 years, and the other guys' shitty service, along with inertia, takes care of the rest.