Category: Uncategorized

I saw in the news today that Isuppli (a market research firm) estimates that global subscribers to digital video recording (DVR) services will rise dramtically between now and 2010. They projected the number of global subscribers to DVR services will at a CAGR of 45.3%, up from 12.9 million in 2005 to 83.4 million in 2010.

From EE Times:

The study also noted that DVR deployments are accelerating in Europe, where both satellite and new IPTV offerings are emerging. Meanwhile, in Japan, DVR has proven popular in DVD players/recorders, while networked DVRs are appearing elsewhere in Asia.

Total DVR equipment shipments will rise to 84 million units by 2010, while service revenue will reach $2 billion, iSuppli projects.

Should be an interesting couple of years.

As more computers (like the Windows Media Center), cable & sat set top boxes and consumer electronics include DVR capabilities as a feature, I can certainly see this as a reality. With more innovative distribution systems (like MovieBeam) and broadband subscription models evolve (such as CinemaNow), I can see more and more deals being made just as Netflix and TiVo announced a couple of years ago.

So, how long will it be until we see a Blockbuster or NetFlix-sponsored DVR? One where, as in the cable and satellite models, the box is free – you just pay for the servce.

Late last month, Reuters reported that TiVo was “considering giving away TiVo set-top boxes as part of plans to win subscribers.” (They targeted a $16.95 monthly fee which included the service and the box for a one year contract.) I haven’t seen anything come from the Netflix and TiVo deal, which would allow you to access Netflix’s library of movies via broadband.

Personally, I would sign up for a movie service that provided an extension of the current DVD-rental-by-mail we enjoy at home. Blockbuster provides bonus coupons for a couple of movies a month, which we use. With kids in the house, we request several movies: figure 6 or 7 a month for our weekend evening movie nites. If we had the ability to access them over our DVR or Media Center, we’d avoid the wait, Blockbuster would avoid the inventory and postage fees.

But then there is a possible new impact, as John C. Dvorak of PC Magazine wrote about this month…

If they were serving the public interest, the telcos and cable companies would simply provide a very fast connection, and services would flow over those connections in ways determined by the user—everything IP-driven. But these companies would like to use gangland tactics to get into every part of your business. You buy the 1.5-Mbps link, it costs a fixed amount. You actually want to use it, it costs more. How about putting a server on it? Nope, you have to pay extra. Can you make a VoIP Skype call? No way, costs more. So you’re not getting a real 1.5-Mbps line at all—you’re getting scammed, in fact.

More on that later.

From the news this week…

Dell Inc. said on Wednesday it agreed to buy gaming-computer maker Alienware Corp., part of a push into the lucrative computer gaming market that could help the No. 1 PC maker boost profit.

Terms of the transaction weren’t disclosed. Privately held Alienware, based in Miami, will operate as a separate unit and keep its product development, marketing, sales and technical support staff as well as its brand, Dell said in a statement.

A Dell spokesman said the acquisition was financially immaterial to Dell, which had revenue of $55.9 billion last year compared with Alienware’s $200 million.

So will this be good for consumers? I know that there have been reports of good and bad customer service from PC manufacturers. My personal experience with Dell’s customer service has been quite good. Alienware has great innovation, design and style. So this could be a good connection.

What’s so bad about having unprotected wireless? Apparently a majority of people are doing it.

In my week-long effort looking at protecting your computer, I wanted to end with something that has gained in popularity along with increasing in risk: wireless connectivity and protection. Just so happens that this was covered in a story today in the Washington Post. 

An unprotected wireless network may be open to more people than just your neighbours looking for a free wireless link to the web: it can be a risky thing, almost as inviting as an unlocked front door. From the Post:

Hackers searching for financial information, business records, or sensitive e-mail can enter into your open network as easily as if you left your personal and business files at the curbside.

No kidding. Many wireless routers come configured with Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) or Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA and WPA2) turned off, which is fine… unless the new owner never turns the protection on. In my neighbourhood, I took a look at just how much of a problem open wireless is (unsecured networks) I found no fewer than five available, unsecured wireless access points that I was able to access. And Geek.com reported that one survey found that just about 60% of Wi-Fi networks have “no security system at all.”

Consumers are striving to enhance their productivity in both their personal and professional lives. More and more they are turning to wireless technology for daily use in or outside of the home or office. Wireless devices provide mobility for wireless enabled devices such as laptops, smartphones, and PDAs. The GetNetWise Spotlight on Wireless Security will address issues surrounding mobile security, wireless home networking and public Wi-Fi use.

Connected Home magazine recently featured an article on “Five Steps to Home Wireless Security.” As noted at the top of the post, you lock up your house and protect your valuables, so think about your home network in a similar fashion.

• Step 1: Change the Router’s Default Administrator Password


• Step 2: Change the Default SSID and Disable SSID Broadcast


• Step 3: Change the IP Address Setting


• Step 4: Set Up Your Router to Use Encryption (WEP or WPA)


• Step 5: Use the MAC Address Filter

If you want to be neighbourly and share your network, you might decide to set up and share a WEP key or the stronger WPA (if your network devices support it) with your friends. ArsTechnica has a good overview on the Essentials of Home Wireless Security Practices. Also check out the Microsoft Home Security web site with more information on what you can do to enhance the security on your computer at home.

The industry also needs to continue the innovation and improvements to the customer experience that we’ve seen take place in the last few years, providing better and improved solutions. Not only is it simpler to set up a network at home than it was just a couple of years ago, it’s less expensive and more user friendly. As such, the way we protect our networks should be simpler too: one example is Linksys’ SecureEasySetup™ (their tm), providing a quick and easy way to connecting your computer or other wireless device to a Linksys wireless router with the feature. It automatically sets up a custom SSID and WPA. And you can secure your wireless home network with Windows XP, easily setting up other wireless connected Windows computers by using the Wireless Network Setup Wizard with a floppy or USB flash drive.

As Mike Nash recently said, we’re encouraging our partners and other companies to get involved and be active against the security threat that faces consumers every day: “the more companies that are active and involved, the better we will be as an industry at limiting vulnerabilities, solving issues that arise and building greater trust in the computing environment for all of our customers.”

• Four reasons you need Windows XP SP2: Ensure you have the latest service pack installed on your computer
  
• Barb Bowman’s article on how to secure your wireless home network with Windows XP
  
• Back up your computer so that you don’t lose important files
  
• Sign up for our security newsletter and receive monthly advice
  
• Get more online safety tips

Tags: Microsoft, wireless, home network, security, OneCare.

Check out this morning’s BusinessWeek article on increased Xbox 360 shipments…

As noted on the IE Blog today and across the web, the Internet Explorer Beta 2 Preview for Windows XP SP2 is available today. There are a number of new features – I’ve already made use of the phishing filter. In addition to RSS support and tabs, I’ve found that shrink to fit for printing is helpful as it automatically resizes the page, keeping all of the text in the printed page. I also like the ability to preview a page or multiple pages in a single window.

And for my kids, beta 2 is holding up to some demanding customers. The ability to quickly zoom into a page is super helpful: they jump from site to site on the family computer, visiting a number of kid-friendly web sites with game content that looks better when you zoom in. I look forward to when in parental control settings are available as part of Windows Vista: until then, we’ll see how hard the kids can thrash beta 2.

As with all beta software, it’s a good idea to create a restore point on your computer and back up any important documents.

You can take a quick tour quick tour of IE7 on the Microsoft website.