Paul's Blog

I'm always looking for that cheap fileserver that I can build. I mean, any good geek has a whole bunch of dinosaur PC carcasses in their home just taking up space. While they're collecting dust, our spouses and significant others are telling us to get rid of them because they just don't see the value in keeping old junk around. Ordinarilly, I would have generally agreed with them -even though I'm one of those geeks that can't get rid of anything. Geek + Packrat = Old-Hardware-Central!

Well, the sharp folks at Server Elements have a solution for those old pieces of iron: put them back in business. That's right, pick up everything from your oldest 486DX box, and a mere 32MB of RAM, and you can turn that thing into a 500GB fileserver for about $500 and some change.

The key is their NASLite software that is its own self-contained operating system and file-server environment. It serves up FTP, HTTP, SMB, and NFS while it totally ignores that old BIOS by working directly with the drive hardware: so you don't even have to worry about the BIOS handling the larger drive sizes.

I think it's pretty safe to say that Radio, as my generation knows it, is probably on its way out. I've been considering this post for quite a while, but Adam Curry's most recent PodCast brought it up, so I thought I would say something, too. As you might know, if you read my blog, I don't just post stuff that everyone else has; that's boring. I'm not out for the yawn-worthy news that everyone else has decided to deliver. So, let's get to the point...

Here's why *I* think radio doesn't have a chance: Digital Delivery of Everything. I think that kids today (and, boy, it hurts to use that phrase!) don't seek the radio for listening to music. They're not interested in hearing the news this way, and they don't have interest in the news-paper, or TV without time-shifting, either. With the proliferation of the web, has come a new media franchise that's obliterated the competition. The speed at which information can be delivered is now almost instant. Many people criticize the web for this very thing, and you'll hear people complain about everything not being "true." But, when War of the Worlds was done on the radio, it wasn't true either, and y'all believed it! So, the criticism is pointless. Sure, there are many things people can get more easily than before - which may not be suitable for youngsters - but, we got them back then, too.

I think that the direction of radio needs to take on the internet (and the ones that have embraced this, more power to you). Podcasts, internet radio, and other streaming of news, sports, weather, and music are the way to get this new generation to listen. They don't want it when you tell them they can have it; they want it when THEY want it. So, let them download your show from an enclosure in an RSS feed, and let them carry their news via their iPods, PDAs, or cellphones. Let me say that again: Deliver the way they want. Besides... you can save a tree or two, as well. Maybe improve the landscape by removing all of those ugly radio towers. ... the Cell towers still leave something to be desired, though... (I seriously don't think many people think those things actually look like real trees). Let the kids blog (and the adults, too). People want to be heard; let them. Let them watch TV when THEY have the time for it. And let them download it, so they can choose what they want to see. Making your own evening of TV is a great idea. No-one has allegiance to any particular TV network, so let them mash-up their line-up. The companies can still advertise (and let's try to make the ads appropriate for the show, huh?! I'm tired of Cialis ads showing up in the middle of some Disney cartoon).

More programming to the people!

Maybe I'm stating the obvious, but I think it's time for the people to control their own stuff.

At the DEMO@15 conference, Mediabolic is letting people get an early look at a reference design of their new Network Media Player. Photos and detailed information gathered for the detailed story on LinuxDevices shows a healthy competitor for products like Microsoft's Media Center Edition PCs, as well as stand-alone devices like Roku's PhotoBridge HD. Doesn't this thing look remarkably similar to Cisco/LinkSys's Media Center Extender?

With all of the products touting application add-on capabilities, this may just be another bit of competition to stir up the pot. But, with more brains than some other content extender devices, this might be a winner. Especially with its ability to allow developers to create applications using third-party programming tools such as Flash, JavaScript, HTML, and Active-X.

• Video Output supportingHD and SD television via DVI, HDMI, component and standard composite


• Media playback from a networked PC and access to premium content services


• 10-foot TV interface


• Linux-based


• Complies with DLNA/UPnP/Intel NMPR and support for emerging DRM technologies


• Supported file formats - DivX 5, MPEG 1,2 and 4, WMA, WMV, MP3 and ASF video

BorderWare has unveiled a new application-level firewall, SIPassure, which it claims is the first firewall to protect against Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) security exploits.

With VoIP on the rise, it only makes sense that someone get themselves positioned to handle the bad guys who would prey upon the unsuspecting masses taking to the spoils of a tax-free phone call.

BorderWare made the announcement of their product at the annual DEMO conference. They allege that SIP-based technology is designed to protect VoIP communications from hackers, spoofers, phishers and other malicious threats.

"With SIP, your firewall is like a Swiss cheese," says Jean-Louis Previdi, senior vice president and research director, EMEA Meta Group. "For SIP to work effectively, you have to open all ports of the firewall, so the protocol can browse and choose a port to initiate a session, which compromises security."

"As the VoIP revolution unfolds, users need to be aware of the many exploits that could compromise their next Internet call," says Chris Shipley, DEMO executive producer.

BorderWare claims to protect users against Denial-of-Service (DoS) and Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks that can eat up large amounts of bandwidth in a VoIP network.

There's also security against eavesdropping and "man-in-the-middle" attacks that allows hackers to become part of a VoIP call without the communicating parties knowing someone is listening.

The software also offers protection from Call Redirection, which enables a hacker to automatically call-forward a connection to their system as well as providing protection against Malicious Calling, VBombing and VoIP Spam, which are attacks that flood the receiver with hundreds of false voice mails within seconds.

Finally, SIPassure also claims to keep users safe Fake Caller ID, in which a hacker can masquerade as a trusted person making legitimate voice calls to an unsuspecting patron.

Via: [DigitalLifestyles]

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp. will release a new version of Internet Explorer, the world's most popular Internet browsing software, with new, built-in security features, Chairman Bill Gates said on Tuesday. eWEEK.com Special Report: Browser Security

In a speech at a major security conference here, Gates said Internet Explorer 7.0, with new anti-spyware features, will be released for preliminary testing this summer.

The move comes three years after Microsoft, the world's biggest software company, launched a major initiative to improve the reliability and security of its software, which runs on about 90 percent of all personal computers.

Via: [ Reuters]
Copyright Reuters 2005. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by caching, framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world.

Some seriously smart musicians (you mean they're NOT all smart? - Hey, I'm a musician, I can say that!) are working on some software to enable the mixing of music and beats on some new breads of cell phones. The hope is to turn the ordinary cellphones in to a kind of musical instrument and make instruments like drums and guitars obsolete (which is probably never going to happen - 'cause musicians love to play their instruments - take that how ever you want). ... and they'll be able to do unlimited nights and weekends plans on their phones. ;)


Via:[The Raw Feed ] Through an article on The Contra Costa Times

If you haven't gone to GeekNews Central by way of an article or two from here, you should go there now! It's a fantastic site done by a great guy with an awesome sense of humor and a great sense of tech.

I'm hoping that he decides to play my band's song on his show! ... at least, mention the short bio in the show notes and linky-link me! ;)

Check out: Geek News Central!

EDIT: I forgot to mention, and I should have, my good Friend Kevin, turned me on to Todd's show. You should read his awesome blog of Tech and listen to his weekly Commute-cast!

According to a brief article on Physics.org, world scientists have plans to barcode all of the known species of life on the planet before they're all gone.

But the animals can all rest easy, well - sort of, the plans doesn't involve actually branding the animals with a barcode – it involves briefly invading their privacy by taking a small sample of DNA from all the known species on Earth and linking them to photographs, descriptions and scientific information.

The project is expected to be completed in 2010, where plants and animals will be able to be identified using the latest technology, which will no-doubt be less expensive to operate at that time.

Via: [Physics.org]

If you want to see a truly technologically fancinating digital camera, or at least the photographs from said camera, you really need to visit GigaPixl.ORG. You can do a little people watching (or Pixel-watching, if you prefer), where four-gigapixel images are a reality: but no reality you'll be able to buy soon, or would want to.

Physicist Graham Flint has been working on an ultra-high-resolution portrait of America, creating a series of truly enormous gigapixel images taken with a camera made up of decommissioned Cold War hardware. Pieces of salvaged parts of spy planes and nuclear reactors have combined to create a camera capable of capturing an astonishing 4 gigapixels of detail.

Physics Professor Ronald L. Mallett, at the University of Connecticut, has created the blueprints for a true "time machine". The machine, which uses circulating beams of light, is currently being built.

You truly have to read the report to get a good understanding of what he's talking about (and by "understanding" I mean be completely confused or at least question his sanity - kidding!), but I think the most important thing to remember is that people who want to do this are completely nuts! ;) No, seriously, it's intriging but complicated and currently a bit difficult to phathom the requirements for what we've seen in the movies - let alone the science of understanding of what's actually going on with time.

My suggestion is that you also check out the comments people have had on digg.com's site. It's more interesting, to me, to hear what directions people go with their opinions. Obviously there are people, like me, that enjoy hearing themselves talk... so, feel amused!

But, if I could go back... I wouldn't have eaten that burrito for lunch... ;)

Via: [Digg]

That's easy for YOU to say! ...

Scosche Industries, a leader in mobile electronics aftermarket accessories, announced today that it is developing a Bluetooth interface for iPods. Unlike other wired adaptors, this interface will connect directly to the headphone connector of the iPod and will transmit to a Bluetooth receiver connected to the aux input of a head unit. The company said the new product is designed for third and fourth generation iPods and iPod minis, and will work with both OEM and aftermarket head units. The Bluetooth interface will be available in "spring/summer of this year" at specialty retailers. No pricing was announced.

This sounds like a really promising technology, and I hope that more devices are made available that can do similar things. They don't have to be Bluetooth, but some better ability to transmit information, rather than "sound" (where there's NO error correction), would be fantastic!

I just wanted to congratulate my buddy Kevin of KCT's Digital World. You can find the link in my "Links" navigation section in my blog ALWAYS, as I always check out what he has to say, and you should too!

Kevin has been profiled on a couple of Podcasts as of late, most noteably Adam Curry's Daily Source Code and Lance's Digital Experience Podcast. These guys have great 'casts and so does Kevin. He recently came up with this great idea called the "Commute-cast." Which, he'll be quick to tell you, that he's already registered the domain - so, don't even try it squatters!

The idea of the Commute Cast is to listen to Kev every Friday morning where he'll have his 'cast ready to go. He'll be using his Thursday morning commute to work to explain what's going on with Tech, Science, and the traffic of the greater Philadelphia area! He'll also be taking questions, which he'll burn to a CD and play back during the ride, to give his 'cast a sort of "live" interview-based feel.

This, of course, comes on top of his article in PocketPC mag on Podcasts. Which, incidently, managed to get circulate to over 150,000 copies at CES, let alone the standard readership.

Great stuff, Kev, and Good luck with everything!