Wi-Fi in the Media Center. Toshiba's wireless network file server could be the hub of all data and entertainment communications in the home... the question is, who's going to buy it? [allNetDevices Wireless News]

Um, not me. The price point on this is far too high ($1440.00 US) for the basic unit, which, while it does have wireless access and 7 ethernet ports, also comes with only a 15 GB 4200 RPM hard drive. Personally, I'd rather convert one of my old boxes or build new rather than use this, just to learn how to do it.

11:19:31 AM    

Are we starting to see a Moore's law at work in power?

Business Week:  >>>Good news is ahead, however: Unlike the relatively mature internal combustion technologies, fuel cells are improving in efficiency by about 30% a year, according to McNeil. "It's moving so fast," says Joseph Cargnelli, the vice-president for technology at Toronto fuel-cell concern Hydrogenics. "that a fuel-cell engine that we developed a year ago is outdated today due to new materials, more power density, and more robust construction."<<<  Note that fuels cells represent a jump in substrate for personal power generation.  As a result, the price performance improvements may accumulate quickly.  Right now, it is on a 2.5 year doubling rate.  Further, by decentralizing power production (fuel cells that run in the basement for $2 k a pop), transmission loss is eliminated. [John Robb's Radio Weblog]

I particularly like the rack mount generator from Hpower. 500W maximimum output, and it'll fit in a standard 19" server rack. Put a couple of these in your basement, coupled with your home servers, and you'll never have to stop surfing when the power goes out.

Alternately, if you have greater needs, and don't like the thought of hydrogen in your home, you can go with this unit. 3 to 10 kW and it runs of propane.

Having reliable power is a key part of helping business and industry thrive in rural and developing areas/nations. If you have the infrastructure where you can get propane delivered, this makes local power generation a possibility. Also, harsh winters where the power lines can break due to ice formation are no longer as issue, as again, you can locally generate your electricity (and heat) with these modules.  

5:16:50 AM    

Trivia Post #2.

New on the Cable Dial: Interactive Games

"Susquehanna's 16,500 digital subscribers in York, Pa., are now able to tune to channel 998 on their cable boxes and play any one of six trivia games provided by Buzztime Entertainment, an interactive game provider that has until recently focused on restaurants and bars.

Viewers in York can compete against their neighbors in real time for prizes. Buzztime, a unit of NTN Communications, is seeking to add other cable operators to its trivia train, allowing viewers to race nationwide to their buzzers (which, in this case, are simply buttons on their remote controls). Playing the games is free with a digital cable subscription, but Buzztime hopes to offer other content for which it would charge." [New York Times, via Chris Van Buskirk's ITV Weblog]

This would give a whole new meaning to game night at our house! This is a smart move on the part of Susquehanna and Buzztime, because they obviously realize the built-in audience of librarians they're wrapping up.

[The Shifted Librarian]

I ahve a freind who lives in the York area and got to play with this breifly a few weeks ago, as he wasa a part of the testing gorup before this was rolled out, very cool, and similar to the trivia programs I've seen via satellite while vacationing in Europe. Cool tech! Let's hope it rolls out nationwide soon.

12:22:16 AM