Ray Casey’s Blog

Best Buy and Monster cable are really, really screwing customers HARD on price gouging on HDMI cables.  And I am actually HAPPY ABOUT THIS as it is finally proof in the pudding about the BULLSHIT that A/V “experts” have been spewing for years about custom electronics, cables, speakers, connectors, amp’s and the like. 

So thank you BEST BUY and MONSTER for screwing us over so badly with margins that are in the triple digits.  You are helping an industry DIE that ought to (High end custom A/V and custom installations) and you are exposing the frauds perpetrated by Audio/videophiles in the “High End’, Custom installation arena (like Cedia).

So here is an article that you should all read about the BULLSHIT, quaky “engineering” and out right lies that retailers, audio consultants, video consults and CEDIA (Custom Home system installers) have been using to SCREW consumers for years (and still do today).   Read this and see what conclusions you come to Engineering review that concludes that we are all getting lied to and ripped of re HDMI cables

My advice is get on line and buy a cheap 3 Meter HDMI cable for $10.00 US.  And more importantly, do NOT believe another high end A/V consultant about ANYTHING, especially as it relates to DIGITIAL ENTERTAINMENT and AUTOMATION, or GOD FORBID a computer.   They are sleazy, ignorant, price gouging frauds.   They are purposefully, intentionally and knowingly deceiving consumers and are also spreading FUD and ms information about digital entertainment and the ability of PC’s to do everything BETTER, FASTER and CHEAPER than “high end” A/V stuff and big, fat and useless cables!    And I am being kind :).   Listen to your 8 year old or 16 year old nephew who know more about PC’s. digital media and quality/value ladened computer based electronics (like PSP and Xbox360, plus gaming PC’s) then they do.   And for heaven’s sake DO NOT BUY A/V equipment or CABLES from either of these vendors OR the “so called” experts in A/V.   Turn toward the computer companies and the game console manufacturers.  Talk to PC/IT specific people and at all costs AVIOD custom installers, opting instead for CMOPUTER INTEGRATORS that come from the digital world of Ethernet and wireless digital networking.   Finally, also be very skeptical of wire pullers or companies that sell connectors, low voltage alarms, CCTV or anything that requires more cable.  Look instead for vendors that cell SOLUTIONS and AD VALUE, not black boxes, cables and connectors.

Hey… Look at it this way.  If Hubble can send AMAZING images to us through space, atmosphere and air, without MONSTER CABLES, then who is selling us the line of shit here?  Best Buy and Monster cable and the A/V experts!  Oh, and by the way, rest assured there are PC’s taking and sending those images to us!  

Peace and Prosper!  The Digital revolution has begun.  A/V dinosaurs are about get wiped out..  PC based Entertainment technologies will take over and these losers will finally be sweeping floors at night where they belong :)  And with respect to Best Buy and Monster, take this to heart re the intentions and collusion of these vendors, that know exactly what they are doing and they are MINDFULLY screwing you!  That folks is NOT the basis of a healthy or functional consumer relationship…  So where do you think it stops… with Cables?  Think again…  

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July 01, 2008–Chicago, IL

Arestar (R*), LLC is setting up shop in Chicago and is focused on Commercial Automation while still maintaining its presence in South Florida where we are basing our Home and Assistive Technology businesses

Arestar (R*), LLC opened a Chicago office that will focus on high end and customized PC based automation for high rises, both commercial and residential.   Ray Casey Owner of Arestar, LLC announced today that they will begin a “go to market” campaign featuring Exceptional Innovation’s Life|ware and Microsoft’s Communications Server as the platform for a turn key, PC centric presentation system that ties together, Environment, Lighting, Presentation, Communications, Automation, Application Sharing, Collaboration and Video Conferencing tightly integrated into an Windows Vista Ultimate/Windows Server 2008 client/server solution bundle. 

“This will revolutionize the way business people and their clients interact with, within and amongst their board and conference rooms. For much too long businesses have called their strategic conference rooms a War Room, yet the technology in these rooms is archaic and mostly inoperable or hard to understand. That is hardly what one expects when we think of a technically state of the art War Room, and we are about to change that radically…”, states Ray Casey, founder of Arestar (R*), LLC. He purports that the synthesis of automation control, media editing and playback and audio/video communications (VoIP and IPTV) into a Window Vista Ultimate Media Center control consol is the “Killer FUNCTIONAL application” that will finally transform the corporate board room and/or Master meeting room. 

At the heart of this revolution is Life|ware, an automation control software with a very robust scripting tool, from Exceptional Innovations, is a “plug in” for Microsoft Vista Media Center (32 and 64 bit version).  Life|ware uses a Media Center PC as a hub for controlling, managing, displaying and automating lighting, cameras, HVAC controls, and various other appliances (like screens/projectors/touch panels/etc). Life|ware also completes the coupling between Microsoft Vista Media Center, Windows Home Server and Xbox 360 based media extenders by integrating control, feedback and presentation of content and services offered by all three product sets. In its commercial incarnation, the Life|ware software will perform as the same HUB but this time connecting Commercial Automation components and completing the client server connection between Vista Media Center and industrial strength media and application/collaboration services such as those available on Microsoft Communications Server.

“When you bundle a Microsoft Vista Media Center (client) solution with a standard remote control, Microsoft’s Communications Server (server)  and the Exceptional Innovations, Life|ware automation software (software) you have a platform that makes as much sense as chocolate combined with peanut butter… Two applications (hardware/software) that work great together but up until now they have been separate, and we plan to change that.”  The R* vision for complete control of a board room is to bundle a virtual remote control that can run on a Windows PC, PDA or smart phone that will allow you to easily manage all aspects of the automation, presentation and communications solution.  Additionally the system will be coupled with a real time Assistive communications options that will allow a technician to act as a conference/meeting concierge/operator always on standby before, during and after a meeting/event. 

Arestar (R*) professionals synthesize, integrate and manage: audio/visual, Computer, Internet, security, automation, entertainment and educational media and applications across your primary residence, vehicle, boat and business all via your PDA/cell phone.  Information and control at your fingertips.

For more information about Arestar (R*), LLC contact Ray Casey at ray.casey@arestar.com or call him at 561 596 1505.

Welcome to series on how Windows Media Center will radically change the landscape of how PC Centric systems will be used aboard planes, trains and automobiles within the CABIN space (OK, maybe not the "train" but I had to use that line).. I have to specify the “cabin” as this is a hot topic if you are talking about instrumentation and critical control and navigation systems in the cockpit or canopy.

We will NOT be talking about Windows Media Center in the "Canopy" as I will be opening myself to all kinds of attacks from the “black box”, ASIC “Application-Specific Integrated Circuit” engineers out there that will school me on how Windows is not an appropriate for that job. (Though that may include future conversations about Windows Embedded ;)  Also please note, my blog on "FUD About Media Center and PC Centric A/V Entertainment and Automation" as the same noise is being generated about PC technologies in Marine.  That is BULL CRAP, as World Cup racers (Even on Oracle’s boats) have been using Windows systems and Tools to plot and WIN world class, global races FOR YEARS!  And that is just a sampling and an example of ANTI FUD about PC’s in the Marine environment. Also see my post about "Media Center, Bluetooth and Microsoft Smart Phones" and that addresses a POC, or "Proof of Concept" about how these systems could be used in a Marine Cabin, Stateroom or even, dare I say the canopy for A/V entertainment and communications…

Over the course of the next several months I will be presenting a 6 part series on the current state of Marine Automation and then will counter with what I think should be the future state.  Accompanying each release of an article about the "Future State" of an Automation system, I will write and publish a "Usage Scenario" as to how that solution will be used in the day of a life of a user.  In that posting I will enumerate the requirements, assumptions, outline a bill of material for the components and then briefly discuss the overall proposed solution architecture (the "prescriptive solution”).  I will then walk you through the day of the life of a user role or two to demonstrate how the solution meets the requirements and how to actually use the proposed solutions.

This series of blogs is aimed at educating integrators, engineers, developers and solutions architects (yes people that do Home/Marine/Aviation deployments are "solution architects") about the "Art of the possible" when using Microsoft Media Center in all different types of Marine Automation scenarios - from cabin entertainment all they way to ship to shore video communications and PC based systems monitoring and near real time diagnostics.

This approach is based upon IT best practices and in addition to educating readers on the "Art of the Possible" and "Future State potential" of Microsoft Media Center in marine automation, this Blog also is goaled to educate Media Center integrators on the best practices and methodologies used to deploy Microsoft technologies at and in some of the largest corporations in the corporate world.  This ain’t your grandfather’s world of A/V anymore people, so pay attention as we will teach ya all how to sell, design, develop, deploy and maintain systems like the BEST OF BREED of consultants in the world of enterprise consulting aka Microsoft Consulting Services or Avanade Consulting Services.

This effort is modeled on the concept Organizational Change Management (OCM - People Processes).  In addition to debunking the FUD - "Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt" in the industry I will focus on the Change Management processes of aligning the features and requirements of an A/V Entertainment system, Automation Systems and Maintenance/Logistics systems with the design, development implementation and adoption of the proposed solutions.  This is a HOT BUTTON as most often times "solutions" are implemented as systems that are NOT properly ALIGNED  with requirements, goals, budgets, training needs or everyday usage scenarios and thus adoption and usage is low or nil.  That my friends is a serious gothca that product vendors and service providers fail at over, and over and over again.  With the consumer/user being the big loser from an ROI and TCO or more importantly a value added perspective.

Here is the outline of stories for this series on Microsoft Media Center in Marine Automation

• Part 1 - An unsophisticated media system for a very sophisticated boat
• Part 2 - The Art of the possible for a Marine based media center
• Part 3 - The closed networking (satellite, IP, other) on an inter-coastal cruiser
• Part 4 - The art of the possible for inter-coastal networking (entertainment, data and IPTV)
• Part 5 - Real-time weather, tracking and communications via Media Center
• Part 6 - The marriage of canopy and cabin monitoring/communications through media center.

Stay tuned in and feel free to fire off and questions or comments about the topic that I plan to discuss and/or plans for the release of each topic. 

Ray Casey - President Arestar (R*), LLC

About 6 months ago I purchased a simple little USB Bluetooth FOB from Kensington for $29.99 and it is the coolest value packed add-on that I have ever used on a computer!  

Make sure you are using the latest update for the driver and follow the prescribed installation process.   Here is the driver on the Broadcom site

Let’s start with an enumerated list of  the Bluetooth communications gateway features added to my Window Media Center device and what makes it a MUST have on all Media Center PC’s:

1. Synch gateway for my Pocket PC phone.  
2. A2DP profile for my Bluetooth stereo head phones
3. A2DP profile to connect to my Sony Bluetooth speakers (but more on that later as this is an annoying part about default sound devices in Vista control panel)
4. Headset profile for my Motorola headset (lots more on that later re using it as a pickup microphone as you wander through your home)
5. Synch Photos and videos from my phone to the Media Center PC
6. Backup broadband Internet modem via my PocketPC phone on the Verizon EVDO Network

So there is the short list but there is MORE that it can do though I will not talk to all the usage scenarios for the Bluetooth gateway features and will leave that for another time.  

Note that there are a lot of grumbling’s on the Internet about how this device "does not work", but I did not have a problem at all.  I actually used it on both a Windows Media Center 2005 box (XP) and on a Vista Ultimate (32-bit) box.   I had trouble with it on a machine where I did an inplace upgrade of XP to Vista, but it worked fine on the clean install of Vista, provided I follow a specific procedure for the driver install. 

I have found that not many people really know how to configure and use the Bluetooth connection software and profiles.  Much of that is due to poorly implemented provisioning software, much in the way that it was a real headache to pair with WiFi infrastructure routers 10 years ago.   It is a shame that Bluetooth provisioning is not more widely adopted as there is SO MUCH that you can do with Bluetooth.   Bluetooth usage on PC’s will really start to take off for 3 reasons in the near future and this is why:

1. Microsoft SYNC -  Bluetooth is not just for pairing a headset with your cell phone.  More and more it is for synch’n your contacts and STATE (data, files, metadata such as play lists, ratings or Microsoft OneNote mobile) with your PC so as to have a seamless integration of data between different form factors (AutoPC, Cell Phone, Marine PC, etc…) and locations (In your car, while on your phone or on your boat)
2. Universal Remote Controls - The RicaVision VAV00 is the "wave of the future" in Universal remote controls.  It uses Bluetooth, RF technology to pair with a Windows Vista Media Center PC.  It also is able to double as an IR enabled Universal, but if you are all PC centric, who cares.  It’s only use then is to turn on the useless Motorola set top box that Comcast cables forces upon you if you do not have a Cable Card enable MCE PC.  The coolest thing about this Ricavision VAV00 is that it is Vista SideShow enabled.  See the link for more on what that does for your MCE PC.
3. Microsoft Windows Mobile Device Center - This is the replacement for ActiveSynch and is a godsend when used on a MCE PC to attach a Windows Mobile Smart Phone to maintain state across devices.  With a whole plethora of Windows Smart Phone and Sideshow devices coming out, look for a big increase in uptake re the use of Bluetooth wireless, beyond simple Motorola mono headsets.

I will say Vista handles Bluetooth pairing and integration pretty well, but  the vendor supplied software for the adapter under XP worked much better than the "native" support for Bluetooth under Vista. 

As it is in most cases, familiarity with the XP configuration software did not translate well into the Vista implementation, and the installation and configuration under Vista takes a bit of re learning, but once I was familiar with the Vista implementation things moved along swimmingly well…

So now to the usage scenarios but first some background on my home configuration.   I have a 2 Bdr/2 bath vacation condo in Florida with a loft den where I have a unit couch for watching my Plasma TV, or soon to come a Panasonic projection screen home Theater and screen linked to the MCE PC.   I also have a couple of leather ottomans that flank the plasma TV and a fancy Hermann Miller chair that I use when want to use the TV/MCE unit as a Productivity PC as I am using a specialized desk/credenza as a TV stand and can belly right up to the TV to use it as a monitor when I need to get work done.   This way I can use the device both as a TV and a computer. 

Using this configuration is ideal for a one or two bedroom high rise condo as you  can turn your living room into a workspace.  This is the perfect "bachelor pad"  or "Vacation condo configuration".  Taking that one step further, if you write off computer equipment on your income taxes for work, then you can include your new fancy large screen LCD/Plasma and Media Center PC as a business expense, or at least a portion of it

When I want to collaborate around the Media Center PC with guests, they just scoot up the ottomans next to me and we work together in front of the wide screen TV.  A for instance there would be if you want to load, synch and then publish photos or videos that you have taken with your phone, or if you connect an HD Camcorder to the PC to upload video from a family vacation.   Vista Media Center comes with Microsoft Movie Maker pre loaded, so capturing and editing the Video is a breeze and your can easily share it with others to complete the video editing/mixing without having to worry about incompatible file formats or sharing software licenses.   When you are not using the Media Center PC as  workstation,  the den or living room is primarily used for Audio/video Entertainment.  Like watching live and/or recorded TV, or listening to music  and running a slide show of your favorite high resolution pictures in the full screen mode on the wide screen TV

Here are the components that make up the system "Ultimate Bachelor Pad Media system" or "vacation Condo Entertainment System":

• Media Center Edition (MCE) PC  mounted below a  glass top desk/credenza which doubles as my TV stand, dual purpose TV stand/workstation and component rack.
• 42′ Dell Plasma TV that is connected to the MCE via a DVI cable
• Sony DreamDVD 5:1 Amp and wireless surround speakers connected to the optical input (MCE to Sony)
• Microsoft MCE Wireless Keyboard and Wireless Mouse
• Microsoft MCE remote control
• HTC Apache PocketPC mobile (Verizon EVDO Network)
• 802.11G wireless access to my Windows 2003 server and Internet Gateway
• Fusion OTA HDTV tuner
• Dual Hauppauge NTSC tuners
• Dual layer RW-DVD
• Multi slot memory card reader
• Microsoft LIfeCam VX-6000

Usage Scenarios for the Media Center Bluetooth Gateway

1. Wirelessly synch Outlook and MCE content with my HTC Pocket PC cell phone

Since the MCE serves a dual purpose as DVR/PC I have loaded Microsoft Outlook on it and can access my email.   This is key for me as the system can pair with my PocketPC phone via a Bluetooth connection and can actively synch my  Contacts, Email, Notes, Calendar and Files.   This ROCKS as it is wireless.  Since I have an open loft on the second floor I can keep my phone synched with the MCE/Outlook anywhere in the condo with NO WIRES!  The phone sports Wifi and EVDO (Verizon), but I find the Bluetooth link to be the most useful as I can stay in Synch AND can access the Internet from my phone, like when I am reading mobile.nytimes.com (New York Times) while doing my business in the  bathroom in the AM.  I can even run Skype VoIP from the phone via the connection which in turn runs through my broadband Internet with Comcast.    To make it even slicker, I can synch content from the MCE PC (or better yet Media Player) to the phone so I can use my phone as a video iPod when I am mobile or in my car (Bluetooth again!).   This works fine with music files(WMA or MP3) and even recorded TV (with some gothchas like recorded HDTV transcoding to PocketPC or Zune).  On the flip side, I can easily synch photos and videos on my phone back to my MCE device which I can then watch on a TV connected to a Media Center Extender like an Xbox 360 in the living room, bedroom and kitchen. 

The coolest thing about this is all the Music, Podcast and Recorded TV that I have is right on my Cell phone.  If I have to move BIG files, like a recording of a movie, like "Blade Runner" , I just plug my SD card into the MCE PC and the synch happens automatically and faster. I can bring down all this content without having to PAY  APPLE and the content providers which is the case when I have to  connect to I-Tunes. ($$$$ Apple is just shifting the Cable company monopoly to their CLOSED SYSTEM of content distribution).   Shame on you Apple have you not learned your lesson from the NuPro metheus League - Karma baby!  Use content not just closed hardware/software to enlighten the masses vs. taint our livers with your Cyclopean vision of empowerment!  There is a reason why we have two eyes to see and the cognitive ability to choose

2. Listen to Music or TV/videos/DVDs on my Bluetooth Stereo Headphones

The Bluetooth profile supports A2DP, in layman terms, that means that I can pair my MCE PC with my Stereo head phones and stream audio to my wireless headphones.   This comes in handy if I want to listen to music on my patio while reading and/or while I watch TV late at night and do not want to disturb house guests, which is a frequent occurrence when I spend the cold Chicago winters here in Florida vs. in higher latitudes :)  And since I have a villa with neighbors on both sides of me, I can crank my music while sitting outside on my patio.

Another perk about synching my MCE with my PocketPC  phone is that I can also use the Bluetooth headphones with the phone and thus can listen to music or watch recorded TV when I am on a plane or train or just sitting at the pool/beach working on my tan

3. Play music or Podcasts in my Bathroom or Outside on my Patio

With A2DP support I can pair my MCE PC with my Sony Bluetooth portable Active Speakers that I use in my bathroom while I bath or outdoors on my patio while I entertain friends for one of my ritual sunset barbeques.  But there are limitations to using the wireless speakers, at least with my system, and that is that I cannot stream audio to the Bluetooth device and my Sony 5:1 surround around system at the same time.  I believe that is just a software/configuration constraint.

Again, as with the headphones, I can go mobile with these self powered/amplified speakers and pair them with my phone to play music at the beach when when I go mobile on the road with my Weber Q 200 Grill and my trusty Volvo XC Wagon.  

4. Use my Motorola headset as Hands Free Microphone for Skype Voice Calls

Skype rules!  Take a look at my rant on Skype if you are not familiar with the application/service.  Skype is a wildly popular and capable implementation of GLOBAL VoIP.  Skype integrates with the Bluetooth headset profile which I use to pair my Motorola  headset with the MCE PC.   Since I have Outlook on the MCE and synch it with my phone, all of my contacts are available via Skype.  So I can simply click and dial a Skype call to say my acquaintances in the UK, like the esteemed and most honorable IAN DIXON, the brainchild and work horse behind the "greatest show on earth" about  Windows Vista Media Center.   Since Ian is almost always connected on Skype it will go through as a FREE Internet call and since I am now un tethered via the Bluetooth head set, I can wander at will through my home while chatting with Ian in the UK and learning about all the real cool things our European brethren are doing with PC’s and Media Center.   If Ian is not online, no problem, Skype will dial him on his cell or landline and simply use their vast network of VoIP to Telco gateways to connect us.  Rates from the US to a Mobile or landline in the UK is currently $0.021 cents per minute.  Yes  that is correct!  I can rant to Ian Dixon and give him my "0.021 Cents" in 60 seconds and not be charged a full minute if I pontificate for that extra $0.001 cent to long. Who says 1/10 of a penny is not worth something.  Try that with any other International phone service via the US Network carriers.   And I can do it all from my MCE PC while walking through my place watering my orchids

Again, the  Motorola headset can be paired with my  HTC Apache mobile phone for hands free calls.  What I would really like to see is a headset that can be used  to execute voice commands on my MCE PC. - More on that topic  in a later post

5. Synch Photos and videos from my phone to the Media Center PC

Another advantage of the Bluetooth synch between PocketPC Phones and your MCE PC is that that you can instantly synch photos and videos from  your Phone to your MCE PC.   Often times when I come back from a kayaking trip I like to mark my journey with GPS breadcrumbs on Google Earth.  Google Earth has a great feature that will let you mark positions on the map and then load photos.  My Windows Mobile phone has both GPS and the ability to take photos/videos.  Once I get home my phone immediately synchs with the MCE PC which I then sit down at, fire up Google Earth (Which mind you is being displayed on my 42" Dell Plasma TV) and I take the GPS breadcrumbs and then use that to mark the "earth" with pushpins and upload photos that are linked to the pushpins.  People that want to visit the same spots simply visit my shared push pins on Google Earth, and Viola, they can see where I have been and can in turn take the coordinates and then visit the exact same spots. 

Again, this is the power and value of the tight coupling of MCE PC, Bluetooth and your Windows Mobile phone .   "Information at your fingertips" in multiple form factors that not only can be displayed on your phone, TV, XBox 360 and the network, but since that information is all captured on your Windows Mobile Phone, it is mobile AND can be used in your car and boat.   I jump in my car and instantly I can use the information to navigate via GPS to where I want to go, I can listen to music  playing from my phone to my car stereo and can answer or make a call using voice commands - ALL ON MY Windows Mobile phone  and through my on board, factory installed sound system.  Once at the marina or boat launch, the information continues to service me when I leave my car and then venture out onto the water in whatever vessel I happen to be in that day (mostly a sail boat or kayak).  Again, I have all that I need NAVIGATION, ENTERTAINMENT, INFORMATION and SYSTEM OF RECORD (logs, pictures and other digital instrumentation like star maps, marine maps, gps breadcrumbs, live weather, stupidvideos.com, etc…).   THIS IS INCREDIBLE!  It is like the digital equivalent of a Swiss Army knife…

Try that with your IPhone and Apple TV  - NOT POSSIBLE!  Not to mention that the IPod it is a frail and pretty system with no swapable battery and the life span of an IPod (1-2 years and then replacement time - think about it.  How many IPod’s have you already owned?  1, 2 or 4?)  An IPod is like a fussy super model that does not want to break a nail!  All show NO GO on the adventure trips as it cannot get wet or dirty  without making a fuss or just not showing up as the conditions are not right or it is not the right "scene" ;).

6. Use my Verizon PocketPC Phone (EVDO) as a Backup Broadband connection to the Internet

Florida frequently experiences power outages during hurricane season, as such cable (Wire - YUCK!) and wire grid based power is frequently interrupted.  In addition to my Media Center PC I also have a MCE PC equipped laptop from HP running Vista Ultimate (that is my road warrior, work PC).   I have the Bluetooth on my laptop paired with my PocketPC phone from Verizon.  So if we loose power on the grid, and loose connectivity to my wireless router and Internet via Comcast, I always can just rely on battery power (Note, I have a solar power kit which can charge BOTH my cell phone and laptop - there is not shortage of sun in Florida so as long as I have extra batteries, I am good to go:).  When I loose power, I simply use my PocketPC phone to connect to the Verizon wireless EVDO broadband network and VIOLA! I am back on the Internet as if nothing happen while my neighbors read old copies of the Farmer’s almanac by candle light.  LOL!

I have an external NTSC and HDTV USB, both of which can pick up OTA television programming.  So even if I loose cable, which happens often, I am still picking up channels for the air waves.  And deriving power from the SUN.  As long as the Verizon wireless network is online, which it most likely is as they run the towers on generators and PEM’s , then I can connect to the Internet.  As is the case with all other call outs here, I can do the same while I am on the road, or better yet on the Intracoastal Water Way or within 5 miles of the shoreline in a boat (Preferable a Cat

So that is that for now… My next post will be about why I am happy the Luxury market is at risk re the economy, why I am really pissed that the Blockbuster and Circuit City deal may not go through and finally my introduction to a series on Assistive Domotics and www.assistivedomotics.com 

ain

FUD, or "Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt" is something that opponents of Microsoft have been perpetuating for years.   I recall back in the mid 90’s when I worked for Microsoft Consulting Services in the Financial Services practice based in New York, there where numerous instances when SUN, IBM and RICH (Now part of Reuters) POOH POOH’d the use of Windows NT as a viable platform to replace a "A Trader’s workstation Information Distribution & Display System"  Essentially this was a big, ugly and expensive Video Switch ala what A/V integrators are pushing on customers TODAY in 2008 to distribute Audio Visual throughout a home.   Here is a clip of a news report from 1995 where such a A/V video switch system was installed at Bankers Trust:

1995-05-08
Vol 10 No 16
DATA CONSUMERS

Bankers Improves Video Switch For IDB Prices

In an effort to provide some 200 traders with better access to interdealer-broker price screens, Bankers Trust Co. has opted to beef up its 12-year-old video switch in New York. The bank made the decision to keep its switch not only because some IDB data is unavailable in digital format, but also because the bank is unwilling, or unable, to develop digital feedhandlers for certain IDBs whose services are digitally delivered.

Here is the full link Bankers Improves Video Switch For IDB Prices 

They are referring to a "technology" that was "12 Years old" in 1995.  That means it was implemented (not designed) in 1983!  So why are A/V pundits pushing A/V "solutions" on consumers  that is OVER 20 years old?

The irony here is that today’s current "Subject Matter Experts" or SME’s for Home A/V and automation are using the same ANTIQUATED technology and approach for home Audio/Video Entertainment and Technology that other’s pushed in the market over 20 years ago.  Furthermore they are creating FUD (Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt) about the ability of the Window’s platform (Vista Ultimate, Windows Home Server and XBoX 360) to handle these tasks.  

THAT IS RUBBISH and also a FALLACY  or better yet an out right Non Sequitur  (Jim Colton, my high school Latin teacher, god rest his soul would be proud of me)

To get technical in syllogistic logic that is a "Fallacy ad Hominem" or an attack against the credibility of Vista vs. an argument that addresses the facts, e.g. Vista is a fine platform for this effort.

Long story short, sans the "Mr Spock" logic argument, the storyline used by A/V vendors and service providers is ILLOGICAL and that is something that us technology people do not take kindly to!

To bring this whole argument around, If you are fortunate enough to get a tour of  the trading floor for Goldman Sachs, or Lehman Brothers or Smith Barney, the fact is that YOU WILL RARELY or NEVER see a dumb video terminal running off  a video switch to provide market data feeds or core systems to traders.  What you WILL SEE is Windows XP workstations running multiple screens that display access to these systems.   I know this to be fact as I was there at the creation back in 1995 when insightful IT managers knew the best way to do this was NOT with A/V switches, black boxes and miles and miles of EXPENSIVE, ANNOYING and UGLY cables managed by Union cable pullers and Telcom people ("Cable Monkeys" as us application guys like to label them, rightfully so !).  So ask yourself…

"So why would you want to take this A/V approach for your high end home automation/entertainment system?"

The answer here is that YOU DO NOT WANT TO DO THIS.  So do not buy into the FUD and start asking then the questions that A/V and Non Microsoft based home Automation vendors CANNOT answer.   If Windows is good enough to run on ATM machines at CitiBank ATM booting into Windows XP and also to run a traders personal workstation (Ala most day traders and almost all the major brokerage houses) then why shouldn’t it be positioned to run Home Entertainment and Home Automation systems for you home, yacht and plane?  There is no answer other than the truth would contradict their bullcrap and FUD and would undermine their current business model that is based upon expensive, closed, proprietary systems connected by miles of useless cable and connectors that consumers are paying for out of the nose (like a nose bleed :).  Don’t even get me started with the "programming" that these vendors do as it is a joke also.  That is a subject that I will talk about more in another post…

So back on point.   WHY THE FUD about Media Center?  Today’s ultimate Home Entertainment/Home Automation system is very similar architecturally to how all the most tech savvy Brokerage houses are deploying trading system today.   They have a centralized Window’s based system that distributes applications, content (like market data feeds) and Video/Audio (Streaming media and Audio) all over a network, either wirelessly or hardwired to PC’s and handheld PDA’s.   At the desktop these traders are using Windows XP so that they can use systems and applications they are familiar with (Like Office Apps, inter alia) and so that they can integrate that with their PocketPC phones and/or Blackberry.   This is identical to what we can do today at home with Windows Media Center/Home Server (The centralized host) and Media Center Extenders (connected to our TV’s and LCD panels) and PocketPC and/or Windows Mobile Phones.   If that is the case, then again, ask yourself…

"If it is good enough for a Wall Street broker at work who is trading billions of dollars in securities, or ATM machines that are dispensing billions of dollars of cash, why is it not good enough for me at home?"

And again, the answer is FUD.  This FUD is being perpetuated by all the A/V product vendors,  Home Automation products vendors and service providers that sell and maintain these products.  They have a vested interest in protecting their turf and by keeping consumers in the dark.  They are also trying to protect closed systems, expensive cables (Who doesn’t hate cable?) and arcane, cryptic programming.  They are perpetuating this by claiming that PC’s cannot do this job and the Microsoft products are not stable or robust enough to do the job.  And that is BULL CRAP!   And truth is that these A/V vendors are SCARED FOR THEIR livelihood and are taking desperate measures to discredit the PC centric approach, much in the way that SUN, RICH, Oracle and IBM tried to do the same to Microsoft in the 90’s.   This pisses me off and I am on a personal campaign to STOP THE FUD!  The first part of the FUD I am looking to dispel is that "MEDIA CENTER IS DEAD!"

In the meantime take a look at this link which gives a simple BOM (Bill of Materials) for a PC centric system that I installed 4 years ago (Yes 4 years ago!).  The technology for a new system is EVEN BETTER.

Legacy: Best Hardware Set for Windows Media Center and Home Automation

Legacy: Best Features/Application Set for Windows Media Center and Home Automation

Legacy: Best Operational Processes and Procedures for Windows Media Center and Home Automation

I will write more on this over the next few weeks, with emphasis on the "Best CURRENT state Home Automation System", but for now I just wanted to get this thread started and to call out LEGACY systems based upon Windows XP, Media Center and off the shelf home automation products.   Stay tuned in for more as I will personally dispel this myth and others about Microsoft Media Center and the Microsoft Home Automation abilities over the next few weeks by pointing out not only what you can do with these products at home, but also contrast that with what Microsoft has done with its products in the ENTERPRISE to demonstrate that the platform is MORE THAN ROBUST to deal with Audio/Video streaming, Home Entertainment and most importantly, HOME AUTOMATION.   With emphasis on NOT having to buy expensive, proprietary, single use BLACK BOX equipment that requires highly specialized service/support and miles of useless CABLES, SWITCHES, CONNECTORS, ad nauseam…

Since the mid 90’s when I got my first IR enabled Cell phone while working for Microsoft, it has baffled me why a cell phone is NOT the ultimate universal remote.   Here are the talking points that support that concept…

1. We almost always know where our cell phones are.  If we lose them then we can call them.  Try that with you remote that is buried in the couch cushions
2. Most new cell phones have touch screens that are programmable, so you can actually use a virtual remote panel (screen changes to represent physical remote)
3. Most cell phones have an IR interface, but better yet most have Bluetooth now.  Bluetooth is the basis of  the Ricavision Universal Remote Control , which ironically is based upon the Microsoft Smart Phone OS (Windows CE)  So I guess that means ALL Windows based phones are really universal remote controls waiting for a COMPUTER APPLIANCE that does everything, like TV, Music, Videos, Home Automation, etc… (more on this in the conclusion)
4. A cell phone as a universal remote control can be used to download the CODES and CONFIGURATION settings for a  remote  control.
5. A cell phone as a universal remote control can be used to remind you when a program is on or to change the channel, or to start the recording process
6. A cell phone as a universal remote control can be used to drive people crazy at a Best Buy (How fun would that be? )

So there is a short list.   So again, this has baffled me since 1996 and of course I have not done ANYTHING about it to change it LOL…  So here is where this is all going.   If you are using a Media Center and extenders as your CONSUMER ELECTRONICS hub (Oh yes people… u better catch on as the CE industry is under assault by MSFT and MSFT WILL WIN), then you can use your Windows Mobile based cell phone as the ultimate universal remote.   The big CAVEAT is "Use you Windows Media Center as your CE hub". 

In the mean time you will have to look at other options besides no one really knows how to use their Bluetooth yet for anything other than a headpiece for making calls.  I will write more about that this month.   In the meantime here is what the NYT thinks about universal remotes

Will a universal remote let you chuck all the other remotes cluttering up your house? Perhaps.

But Hank Hagquist, a garden equipment repairman in Kalamazoo, Mich., still keeps all his old remotes in a box by his chair.

"I keep them there in case I have to do something weird," he said. "I could create all the custom commands I need, but I just haven’t gotten around to it."

The full article is at Circuits | Tired of Juggling Remotes? Take Control With a Universal  The ultimate irony is that with the Microsoft Smart Phone  as the universal remote and Microsoft Vista Media Center as your TV and REPLACEMENT for all  you consumer electronics (CE crap) you can do the following:

• Have a graphical based universal remote that controls all your Media/Entertainment/Audio and Home Automation needs
• Have a phone/remote that has alarms and a calendar built in
• Be able to locate you remote when it is lost
• Be able to backup your remote to your PC
• Synch content from your Microsoft Vista Media Center to  you phone (Videos, Music, Podcast, etc…)
• Play content on your phone via your Microsoft Vista Media Center 
• Play content on your Microsoft Vista Media Center  via your phone
• Synch and check your email,  txt messages, etc, etc and etc…

So there ya go… The list goes on and on… And I will continue to write more about it again and again… So get with it folks.   Learn the "WOW" of  "Discover what you can do" and realize "WOW - did not know I could do that with Microsoft Vista Media Center  and Microsoft Smart Phone "

In the coming months I will be working on deploying private portals for customers that want to create a brand for their home/family - much in the way that a family crest was created in the past.  Within 5 years we will all have a family portal to call our own and if things pan out as I envision them the content/services that go into making up the "FAMILY BRAND" will all be hosted on a home based "COMPUTER APPLIANCE".   Sites like MySpace and Facebook will start to take a hosting back seat to COMPUTER APPLIANCES which will become as common place in our homes as Central Air, Dishwashers and washing machines .   Branding will start and be hosted at home and will syndicate out to the portals, not visa/versa as it is done now…

The idea looking forward is that each home will have a COMPUTER APPLIANCE with Internet Access.  This COMPUTER APPLIANCE will NOT be our personal computer as its role will NOT involve personal productivity tasks, nor will it host private/protected information.  This appliance will provide the following features/functions.  :

• Internet Firewall, www site and network gateway
  1. WiFI
  2. Remote Access
  3. Bluetooth gateway
  4. VoIP Gateway
  5. WWW Site
• Home server
  1. Shared Audio/Video/Pictures
  2. Home Automation hub (Talks to Lights, HVAC, Security Cameras, etc…)
  3. Hosts data for online WWW site, blog, sharing space, etc..
• Home/Family Portal
  1. All Family/Home branding content - WWW Site, Multimedia Gallery, Public Information, etc..
  2. All Family publications (Films, Pictures, Shared Docs, etc)
  3. Family/Home collaboration - Schedules, Events, Information, Family name space (Same as facebook friends, but name space is maintained at home server

The COMPUTER APPLIANCE is inevitable folks.  Think about it… How many people had secure wireless routers/gateways 10 years ago!

Essentially this device will take over all things related to technology and control in our home AND it will serve as your Home and/or Family brand, ala the FAMILY CREST.   Going forward sites like Facebook will only serve up APPLICATIONS that we can consume and MAY serve as a master name space for registering your home appliance, in addition to supporting people that have not already deployed the COMPUTER APPLIANCE.   Long story short is that what we see now as centralized hosting of content and services will soon be distributed to a home based COMPUTER APPLIANCE.  

Thin of the COMPUTER APPLIANCE as Centralize Air.  Again, 30 years ago Central Air was a luxury, now everyone has it.  A whole product/services industry will sprout up around the COMPUTER APPLIANCE much in the way that one exists for centralized air (at least here in Fl

But before you see the transition to the home COMPUTER APPLIANCE, you will first start to see the segmentation of portals into specialized meeting places (distributed special interest groups), which will in turn lead to private portals/networks.   An example of that is the following…

Photos and videos showing blue-chip athletes like Mr. Parker, LeBron James, Derek Jeter and Peyton Manning will be part of a new venture that C.A.A. and Pequot along with the Internet arm of Major League Baseball are expected to announce today.

The venture, WePlay.com, a social networking site for youth sports - something like Facebook for young athletes - is expected to start in mid-April. The site caters to youth athletes, parents and coaches - a vast audience. About 52 million children a year participate in organized sports leagues, according to the National Council of Youth Sports.

This was taken from an article last week in New York Times - Mobile addition and here is the full article "Social Sites - New friends are Athletes" that talks about how amateur and professional athletes are using the Internet and PORTAL functionality to promote their BRAND and activities.   So again, thank God for Facebook as it has help to educate people about the features/functions available via portals and that is good for me and one step closer to where this is leading…

So my conclusion today are the following:

1. Special use portals will start popping up all over the place to support specific content and content providers
2. That people will start to realize that WANT to brand themselves and their home/boat/car or whatever
3. That PORTAL like services will start to show up on PC’s, specifically a HOME APPLIANCE PC
4. That the HOME APPLIANCE PC will become the HUB of the home and will also serve as the Home/Family branding platform, ala Facebook minus the name space
5. That sites like Facebook and MySpace will simply become a NAME SPACE and APPLICATION servers for these home based portals

So there ya go… My 2 cents for today…

Yes I am addicted…  Here is a short list of the features that I have and love based upon a Microsoft Media Center and X10 Home Automation that I bought and installed while I lived in a Chicago High Rise in 2005.   I now live in FLA in a 2 Bdr/2 Bath Villa and everything ported over to the home from the Chicago apartment very nicely.   Please note some of  the features listed where not used in Chicago, and where added here in Fla.  The call out there is outdoor lighting and fountains.   Here are the features/benefits as a list:

1. Controls all lighting and creates a "Lifestyle" lighting and mood scenarios
2. Controls security Cameras and Motion detectors (front and back door.   captures still shots and video)
3. Controls all environment and atmosphere appliances.  (Such as Fans, Air filters, fountains, Walkway lighting and Decorative Lighting)
4. Controls HVAC mostly Air Conditioning and dehumidifier. 
5. Acts a  DVR (Digital Video Recorder) for OTA (Over the Air) HDTV Programming and Cable Programming (Can watch and record at the same time)
6. Acts as Media Server for Audio (Music, Podcasts, etc…), Videos (From phone or Cam), Pictures, DVD’s and download content
7. Acts as Media Extender to playback all the above content on an XBox attached to a TV (Can have multiple Xbox’s.  I have 2.  One in the bedroom and one in the Den)
8. Gives every TV access to the Internet, Weather and Home Automation Controls
9. Browse and review Camera Archives from any XBOX/PC

So there is the the "short list".  It goes on but I do not want to overwhelm people.   I will follow up tomorrow with why I am addicted and DEPENDANT upon this as I will describe 3 usage scenarios.   I will also talk about how this is all LEGACY technology (Windows XP and original Xbox) as Microsoft has updated to Vista Ultimate and XBox 360.  The most startling thing about the next few posts is that we have gone through an entire generation (Microsoft Generation) of REALLY COOL technology that MOST PEOPLE MISSED!   What I am talking about here was deployed in 2005.   Very, very few people even knew you could do this stuff!  With the new stuff it is EVEN BETTER and I hope to turn ya all on to what you can do with this and HOW AFFORDABLE this is.  Home Automation and really sophisticated home theater/media management is NOT only a rich man’s game.  Stay tuned and I will show you what I mean.

Last night I walked around my apartment with my laptop, built in Web cam and Skype.  My girl friend, who lives about 15 miles away, did the same…  It was surreal.  We went about our business, me struggling with a computer glitch, then taking a shower and then resting in bed.  We were connected the whole time.  Video running/Audio running. 

Skype is great.   It is nothing new, and most the features in Skype are in MSN messenger plus other chat tools.   But the best thing about Skype is that it shows your credits in Euro’s and has delightfully oh so very English accents on all the audio messages, like when you leave voice mail.   But the "superlative" of Skype is that it is a soft VoIP client and I run it on every PC/Pocket PC I have.  I literally have turned the POcketPC I have hanging around into VoIP Cell phone with NO ROAMING,  NO DEAD SPOTS in my home and with NO RESTRICTIONS at all on calls..  New York, London, Tokyo and Monaco.   From any PC/Pocket PC, from anywhere that has Internet. 

I have to say I am addicted to it and I most also say Cheerio that it is English.  The greatest nation of communicators are bringing us all closer together via the Internet.  Great!  Its cheap, it works and it is everywhere..    That’s all I have do say about that for now ;)  Try it..   Send me email or post a comment if you have questions or need help.