martiniturbide

viernes, 12 de julio de 2013

Google TV – YouTube Live – The Missing potential.

I recovered this from the archive, too bad I lost the pictures.

Warnings:

This article represents my point of view. You may think whatever you want.
My native language it is not English.
Wrote on 2012-Jun

After some months testing Google TV, I started to think why devices like Google TV, Apple TV and Samsung Smart TV still do not hit hard on the market. The devices are be solid, interesting and contains a lot of apps, but I came to think why people does not need them as a “Must-Have”.
First we need to think that this device has competition against traditional TV. On the air programming and cable services had been available for years and people are used to it. When the Smart TV devices shows up, they try to open up a different alternative “On Demand Programming”, instead of trying to compete with other services “Local Live TV” and “Cable Subscription Live Programming”.
Hipsters may say that “On Demand TV” will make every other service obsolete, and believing this (at 100%) may not be the optimal thing. I think that there are still things for what “Local Live TV” and “Cable Subscription Live programming” are good for, and are not going to turn obsolete. These two services will change with time, but I think that people still want it.
Don’t get me wrong, “On Demand TV” is very good, and it is something that is going to grow. Services like Netflix are very interesting and usefull (and in sometimes displaced a home TV). But I’m against the idea of that “On Demand” is all that we need, and all that should exist.
I still see joy (believe it or not) on swapping channels and look a little bit of anything around to see if I can get hook up with the programming using the “Cable Subscription Live programming” service. In the mourning a like to watch the local news channel to see politicians and lawyers fighting each others and rushing who is going to be the first to make the world a better place to live ;P
I think that all TV platforms (Apple TV, Google TV, Samsung SmartTV) are still weak on this two services:

Local Live TV
Cable Subscription Live programming

It seems that this platforms only want to compete on the “On Demand programming” and having cool apps and games for the users. But they had to take the leap to take over the last two mentioned services.

The power is on the catalog, not in the platform or the apps.
I’m a believer that to succeed on this “Smart TV” market the manufacturer has to put its chips on the “Catalog of Contents”. It is needed a catalog that contains “On Demand”, “Local Live TV” and “Cable Subscription live Programming”.

Local Live TV Service

Let see some examples of “Local Live TV” service on the internet:

TVUPlayer by TVUNetworks (Windows app / Web Live/) - UPDATE.- Discontinued.
- Based on Flash
- Allow users to create their own TV channel and stream it to their Catalog. (for non-commercial, personal use)
- Broadcast: Has a Windows and Linux client to help broadcaster.
- Clients for Windows / Android / Browser
- http://www.tvunetworks.com/ (

JustIn TV
- Based on Flash
- User can broadcast from Browser (Flash), iPhone, Android, Windows Desktop and Wirecast
- Used a lot to stream video games playing.
- http://www.justin.tv/

Let’s see other examples, but only for viewing Live TV. Not broadcast. (There are a lot on the internet).

TV for Google Chrome

Uses Windows Media Player
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/lambangeielkjcnmioccboaphdfcffib?utm_source=chrome-ntp-icon

Other “TV for Google Chrome”.

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/licccgnfdlgmmmgaddmbcepikfadcmpe?utm_source=chrome-ntp-icon

Google’s Missing Potential

The Live TV content catalog has too much fragmentation on the Internet. There is not solid single catalog where users can watch Live TV. Sometimes the broadcaster put their Live Channel on their websites, and sometime they register to other catalog.

Google opportunity here is to create a catalog of Live TV embedded to YouTube.

What about YouTube Live?

Currently:

There is no categories on the Live Content
There is no way for the user to broadcast Live Content yet. ( I just can’t find any information no how to do this).

YouTube Live is missing an opportunity to be the “King”, “Owner”, “Master” of the online Live TV catalog on the web. It seems that the “YouTube Live” project is getting delay.

What Google has to do, is offer everyone (individuals, TV Networks) the opportunity to be attached to this “Live Catalog” and it has to be done now, before someone else (with money) does it first.

Google can also offer the user/TV network a set of tools (maybe based on open source) to stream, set the TV programming chart and create their own TV channel on the YouTube Live Catalog.

The next step on YouTube Live (also very logical) is on charging money for special Live Channels that offers more exclusive content. Not only on demand events, but full live cable channels (Cartoon Network, Disney Channel, etc). (or is this Google Play area?)

Where does it fit Google TV?

Google TV may become the client by excellence of the “YouTube Live” service. Right now Google TV has a YouTube app, but it does not support YouTube Live yet.

By making available live content on YouTube Live and Google TV, the “Local Live TV” service breach/issue may be overcome. Local TV Networks may have the alternative stream their video on the internet and attach it to the “YouTube Live Catalog” to raise their potential viewer’s base.

Cable Subscription Live programming Service

Uhm… Cable TV may be going forward to the transformation. When you have the providers of TV series providing content on demand (Like Netflix), and Local Live TV Networks streaming their content to the internet, what can they offer?

Well, maybe they will have to compete with YouTube Live (if YouTube Live worked as I like to) and Netflix.

The Cable TV provider will evolve to show their content over the internet (that’s obvious). Possible they will have to create their own Android/iOS TV app that shows their catalog of Live Content and on demand TV series, instead of bringing the cable and providing the cable box for your TV.

Maybe the entire cable company street infrastructure (taking about TV) can be replaced with a Web/Android/iOS app and a UserID and password.

On this case will have to compete with NetFlix and try to give more value added to the content/price they provide. They will try to bring together everything, Local Live TV, Cable Network Live Channels and On Demand contents.

TV Networks are now Global

There is an important issue here. Local TV Networks was not thought to be global from the beginning. When they buy a content to show it on the air, it is very possible that this content has regional restrictions. But the Internet does not have regional restrictions.

This may be a problem for local TV Networks that want to stream their content on the internet. And the Hollywood industries are having a hard time trying to evolve about this.

Just let me show it like this. Is it legal for “ECTV” (http://www.ecuadortv.ec ), a local government Ecuadorian TV Network, to stream live “Mickey Mouse Fun House” or “Iron Man” on their web site?

I don’t have the details of the TV content negotiation of know if it legal or not. But I wanted to set the doubt as an example.

Conclusion

There is potential on YouTube Live, Google TV to finally give what is missing to the SmartTV Devices. “Live TV” and “Cable TV”.

Before buying an Android device....

If are a geek or technical guy before buying and Android device you have solve this question.

Is the bootloader unlocked?

If the bootloader is not unlocked you may have this problems:

Once the manufacturer drop the support of the device you will not be able to install custom ROMs under you own risk
The product may have a software brick and you will not be able to recover it.

So, always asks for a unlocked bootloader.

miércoles, 10 de julio de 2013

Hardware: Genius G-Note 7100

I found it on sale, new, so I wanted to take a try.

First, notice that this "digital note taking" (tablet?) tool works this way:

It digitize the things you write paper, using the included pens, and stores it inside the tablet's storage.
If it is plugged to your computer it is recognized as a "Mouse Pen" and as storage device. You can use the pen hovering over the tablet to move the mouse and when you press down it clicks.
The device has 32MB of internal storage (FAT).

The stuff that gets digitized on the tablet gets stored as .DNT image file. This file can be opened with "Digital Organizer" software.

The Pen

The pen has a battery inside and the G-Note 7100 comes with one in black color and other in red color.
The black color is recognized on the tablet as #1. You can see that on the tablet's little display.

The red one is recognized as #3

Which one is #2?

Replacement Pen:

What if I broke or lose the pen? I will need to find out which Pens works with this tablet.

Pen Battery

The pens seems to use a battery of 1.4V. I went to the electronic store to find a replacement and seems that the GP PR48 (AC13 and DA13 are other codes on the package)

Pen Replacement ink:

It wasn't that bad at the end. My local store (SuperPaco) did have that replacement ink and worked fine on the Genius Pen. But it cost me USD $4 for one replacement when I can see something similar in the Internet for $5 the 10 replacements.

Some that I have seen that may work are:

The one I got working says "LAMY M21 - 112 - ISO 12757-2 DM DOC GERMANY"
I bought also the "Logitech IO Digital Pen Ink Refills Model: 672262-0500" and it also works.
The "RR-AIPTEK DIGITAL PEN REFILL" also looks that it can fit.

Hardware

Hardware ID: HID\VID_5543&PID_6003

Drivers

Notice that the installer included on the CDROM will not run in newer version of Windows (Win7 and Win8).

Included Software

MyScript Notes for U 2.0.0.21 Trial (Included on the CD).

I can no longer find information about this software. It seems to be discontinued and replaced by "MyScript Studio Notes Edition".

Digital Organizer version 1.01.2006.0621

It is old and the installer does not run on Windows 8. But the binaries stills runs directly.

eComStation 2.x and OS/2

I also tried this device on eComStation 2.1. The device get recognized as an storage device and allows you to copy the files stored in the tablet.

Using the WACOM driver for OS/2-eCS I noticed that when you plug the tablet to the computer, the mouse clicks with the pen, but does not move the pointer when hovering it over the tablet.

Windows 8.1 - 64bits

Windows 8.1 recognize this device by default. It works ok with the default installed driver from Windows, it does need any extra drivers.

Windows 8 - 64bits

Windows 8 recognize this device by default.

All are the generic Windows 8 drivers from 21/06/2006.

The internal storage and the "Mouse Pen" works without problems on Windows 8 64bits.

Windows 7 - 64bits

Windows 7 - 64 bits also recognize the device with the default Microsoft drivers. Also the internal storage and the "Mouse Pen" works without problems.

Other Software

There are some other software that I found interesting to be used with this device:

MyScript Studio Notes Edition by VisionObjects (Windows):

http://www.visionobjects.com/en/webstore/myscript-studio/description/
This Windows software allows you to convert the handwriting text images to recognized text. It can open .dnt files.

MyScript Stylus by VisionObjects (Windows):

http://www.visionobjects.com/en/webstore/myscript-stylus/description/

This software shows a little icon on Windows texts areas, when you can click and it open a window pad where you can draw the letters you want to be recognized. When it get recognized you can put the words inside the text area.

This software is a very good idea to interact with your OS with handwritten text. Not sure how useful it can be, but it is very interesting.

GNoteDigitalOrganizer.

This is an open source software (discontinued) that can open .DNT files and change its format.

URL: https://code.google.com/p/gnotedigitalorganizer/

Manuals

Extra notes for the G-Note (How to replace the batteries and the ink)
Spanish Manual.

Extra Pics

martes, 9 de julio de 2013

Quito: Escape de los colegios y la revisión vehicular

En el Norte de Quito hay un sector en donde se han concentrado demasiados colegios, casas y algunas instituciones.

En este sector hay una serie de colegios, Martin Cerere , Isaac Newton, Letort, Colegio Internacional SEK, Tomas Moro entre otros, y también algunos jardines de infantes. Sin contar con algunas intituciones como la Embajada Americana, la ~~nefasta~~ revisión Vehicular, MegaKywy, un edificio de la policía nacional y la variedad de casas y urbanizaciones en este sector.

Este sector en el Google Maps se lo puede ver como "San Miguel de Amagasi"

El problema que presenta este cuadrante es que en parte la geografía de Quito no ayuda a la movilidad. A la parte este hay una depresión (caída) que llega hasta al Simón bolivar.

Y por la parte sur esta otra caída hacia la calle "De las Palmeras"

Por lo tanto es difícil salir de un lugar tan congestionado.

Cuando uno quiere salir de este sector a las horas más concurridas, ej: 7:55 a.m., aparece el problema de un pesado transito vehicular.

En la zona donde se concentran los colegios solo se tiene de escape hacia el sur de Quito de las siguientes maneras:

Bajar a la 6 de diciembre (1) y (2)
Dar un giro a la izquierda por el Eloy Alfaro (3)
Salir por "De los Nogales" y bajar a San Isidro del Inca para de ahí conectarse a la 6 de Diciembre.

Cabe recalcar que el giro hacia la izquierda por la Eloy Alfaro (6) es muy difícil ya que los semáforos no están habilitados para ese giro. La gente hace giros ilegales en la calle De los Alamos para tomar la Eloy Alfaro.

Las dos únicas avenidas para ir de norte a sur son la Eloy Alfaro o la 6 de Diciembre.

Otro escape esta muy aislado por al quebrada al sur donde está la calle "De las Palmeras" y hacia el este la "Simón Bolivar". Pero nunca he pasado por esos sitios y desconozco en que estado estarán esos pasos y si efectivamente puede salir hacia la Simón Bolívar.

domingo, 7 de julio de 2013

Belkin Media Pilot Keyboard and Mouse

I recommend that the keyboard base is a complete stable surface, otherwise you may have a hard time charging the removable keyboard.

Hardware

Hardware ID: USB\VID_050D&PID_0834

Belkin MediaPilot Keyboard - Model: F8E838-KBD
Belkin MediaPilot Keyboard (Base) - Model F8E838-REX

Drivers:

Windows 8 - 64 Bits

When you plug it on Win8-64bits it gets recognized as the standard keyboard and mouse.

The MediaPilot Control Center "AV Programmer" seems to work. The MediaPilot Control Center "AV Programmer" works to program the remote (infrared) functions of the device, so you can control the TV, DVD, CD, VCR, etc.

The MediaPilot Control Center "PC Programmer",to configure a different behavior on the buttons for Windows , does not work.

Windows 7 - 64 Bits

Working Driver: Generic MS Driver on Windows and Belkin Media Pilot Driver.

On Windows 7 - 64 bits the keyboard get recognized with the generic Windows Drivers. It works ok. Some buttons like "Search", "Desktop", "Print", "My Music" do not work. The other (My PC, Volume, Mute...) works.

The MediaPilot Control Center "AV Programmer" works to program the remote (infrared) functions of the device, so you can control the TV, DVD, CD, VCR, etc. On Windows 7 seems to be running fine.

The MediaPilot Control Center "PC Progammer" to configure a different behavior on the buttons for Windows ...uhm... is not working.

Web Links:

http://www.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=199661
Manual: http://www.belkin.com/support/dl/p74669_f8e838_man.pdf
http://reviews.cnet.com/keyboards/belkin-mediapilot/4505-3134_7-31263679.html
Archive Belkin Page Driver - http://web.archive.org/web/20051217070214/http://web.belkin.com/support/download/downloaddetails.asp?file_id=2167

sábado, 6 de julio de 2013

Hardware: Genius MaxFighter F-31U Vibration Joystick

Hardware:

Hardware ID: 0458:3019
Win Hardware ID: HID\VID_0458&PID_3019

Stuff on the back:

Model: MaxFighter F-31U Vibration
Number: 12040086100-A
Made in China

Drivers:

Windows 10 - 64 Bits

The device get recognized by Windows and install the following drivers:

Windows 8 - 64 Bits

I tried it on Windows 8 64 bits. It installs by default a 10-Button USB Joystick. Which seems to work ok.

Checking "Devices and Printers" you can see it and access to the properties.

The buttons works and the slider, z rotation, point of view hat, and joysticks works fine. A "Calibration" may be required on the "Settings" tab.

Windows recognize it as a "HID-complaint game controller" and "USB input device". The driver recognized by default is the Microsoft one.

The Specific Driver.

After installing it on Windows 8, I noticed that the Genius website has a Windows 7 driver dated from (2010-11-29). So I tried it.

The properties page was update. It also worked fine.

The vibration test gave me problems, It will knock down the properties application.

This driver is from Padix Taiwan:

It has the following:

dyncal64.sys - Padix Co. Ltd. 6.0.6000.0518
rfclsvr64.dll - Padix Co. Ltd. 6.1.0.1228
rfvibra264.dll - Padix Co. Ltd. 6.0.6000.0518
rfvibra64.dll - Padix Co. Ltd. 6.0.6000.0518

After installing Rockfire Vibrate Gamepad Driver4.0 for Windows 8 -x32 and x64 (2013-02-01) the vibration started to work without problems.

Windows 7 - 64 Bits.

On Windows 7 - 64bits it is the same procedure. It also get recognized by Windows and you can also install the Genius driver.

Vibration

I need to try some of the vibration supported games:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_games_supporting_force_feedback