technoblog: internet

Showing posts with label internet. Show all posts

2013/01/25

The Internet of Things: Hardware with a Side of Software

Nest The Nest thermostat connects to the Internet and can be programmed remotely.

Despite some people loathing CES, I actually happened to enjoy the show this year. I go to CES mostly to meet with our clients, gather data and market intelligence, and search for trends. CES always includes hidden gems; you simply have to know where to look.

Two things stood out to me as major themes at CES this year.

The Internet of Things on Display

We have talked about the concept of the Internet of Things for several years now. The Internet of Things is the idea that the vast majority of our electronics will be connected to the Internet and/or other nearby devices.

A refrigerator, for example, may have a touch screen on the door and be connected to the Internet, allowing you to remotely access information — things like inventory, temperature, whether or not you have what you need to make a certain recipe. Another example is the Nest thermostat, which is a connected thermostat that allows you to remotely manage your thermostat from your smartphone, tablet or PC. The high-level view of the Internet of Things is a world where nearly every electronic device we own will be connected to something.

In years past, this idea was just an idea — something we said was coming. This year, however, was the first year when I could actually say the Internet of Things was on display. I saw examples of nearly every type of electronics device — from coffee makers, ovens, fridges, cars, clocks, stereos, exercise equipment, and my personal favorite: an LED lightbulb with a wireless speaker built in. All of these devices were connected to the Internet and allowed you to interact with them, store data, access data and more. This was the first year I could see the Internet of Things becoming reality, and it is very exciting for us industry observers.

I’m half-joking but I can’t wait for the year when we see a connected toilet and companion app.

Hardware with Software Accessories

The reality of the Internet of Things coming to fruition brings with it perhaps one of the most interesting developments: the role of software. What become increasingly evident with all the connected devices I saw and played with at CES was that nearly all of them were made significantly more usable and valuable through the use of companion apps for smartphones or tablets.

Some I have spoken with position devices such as connected watches or even the Nest thermostat as accessories to your smartphone. The logic is that because your smartphone is the terminal that all these devices leverage to really make them smart, then the phone must have the more important role. This is true to some degree, because there is no point of having all these connected devices if the experiences are limited to the hardware itself. However, I would still position the hardware as the stand-alone device adding value, while the app on your smartphone is actually the accessory.

At CES, this hardware-software model was on full display in the area of smart health and personal sensors. I wrote a column on this subject last year, and I believe the smart health industry is about to launch into the stratosphere if this year’s CES was any indication. On the show floor, the pavilion for the smart/connected health area was the biggest I have ever seen it: Several dozen vendors were there showing off the latest in smart health. Every single smart health and body sensor product I got a demo of or gathered info on had a companion app that ran on a smartphone, making the hardware more than just hardware.

This is the world we are headed toward. Because of the unrivaled momentum and rapid worldwide adoption of devices like smartphones and tablets, we have smart devices with us at all times. They perfectly function as the platform to drive the interaction with the hardware around us.

All hardware will be made smarter through not just the use of connected chipsets and next-generation parts, but rather through the applications that add to their value.

Bajarin is a principal at Creative Strategies Inc., a technology industry analysis and market-intelligence firm in Silicon Valley. He contributes to the Big Picture opinion column that appears here every week.

2013/01/16

Aaron Swartz, Tech Prodigy and Internet Activist, Is Dead at 26

Flickr / Creative Commons

Aaron Swartz, the brilliant young software programmer and Internet activist who inspired awe and reverence from leading figures in the technology world, died in his Brooklyn apartment on Friday, his family said in a statement. New York City’s chief medical examiner ruled the death a suicide by hanging. Swartz was 26 years old.

A computer prodigy, Swartz co-authored an early version of the popular Internet tool RSS at age 14 and would later become an early leader of Reddit, the social website that has become a locus of Internet activism.

A passionate advocate for social justice, Swartz founded the group Demand Progress, which played a crucial role in persuading the U.S. Congress to back down from controversial antipiracy legislation last year.

“Aaron’s insatiable curiosity, creativity and brilliance; his reflexive empathy and capacity for selfless, boundless love; his refusal to accept injustice as inevitable — these gifts made the world, and our lives, far brighter,” his family said in a statement. “Aaron’s commitment to social justice was profound and defined his life. He used his prodigious skills as a programmer and technologist not to enrich himself but to make the Internet and the world a fairer, better place.”

Swartz believed deeply that information — particularly that which might benefit society — should be made available for free to the public. In 2011, Swartz was indicted on federal data-theft charges for breaking into the MIT computer system and allegedly downloading 4.8 million documents from the subscription-based academic research database JSTOR.

Swartz was facing up to 35 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million. He pleaded not guilty. His trial was set to begin this April.

(MORE: Reddit Co-Founder Aaron Swartz Indicted for Data Theft, Could Face 35 Years in Prison)

In 2008, Swartz wrote a program to download some 20 million pages of legal documents from PACER, the Public Access to Court Electronic Records system, which charges 10 cents per page for access. Working with other activists, Swartz sought to make the documents available to the public at no charge. The government cracked down on this effort but did not file charges.

Swartz’s efforts to “liberate” information from JSTOR and PACER made him a hero — indeed a legend — among Internet activists. Swartz was an early leader at Reddit, the giant online activist hub that has become a potent force in Internet politics. Reddit was sold to publishing giant Condé Nast in 2006. He later founded the group Demand Progress, which would play a key role in the epic 2011–12 battle between Internet activists and the entertainment industry over controversial antipiracy legislation. (TIME Warner, parent company of TIME, supported the legislation, which was ultimately defeated.)

Swartz, who studied at Stanford University for one year before dropping out, would later become a fellow at Harvard University’s Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics, where he worked with Lawrence Lessig, the renowned law professor and activist. Over the years, Swartz worked with Lessig on several major projects, including Creative Commons and Rootstrikers.

“He was brilliant and funny,” Lessig wrote in a blog post Saturday. “A kid genius. A soul, a conscience, the source of a question I have asked myself a million times: What would Aaron think?”

(MORE: SOPA Protests Gain Steam as Web Activists Flex Growing Clout)

Swartz wrote candidly and movingly about his struggles with depression and other illnesses. In a 2007 blog post, he described lying in bed for weeks at a time. “Go outside and get some fresh air or cuddle with a loved one and you don’t feel any better, only more upset at being unable to feel the joy that everyone else seems to feel,” Swartz wrote. “Everything gets colored by the sadness.”

In a statement, Swartz’s family criticized the way the federal government has handled the JSTOR case. “Aaron’s death is not simply a personal tragedy,” his family wrote. “It is the product of a criminal-justice system rife with intimidation and prosecutorial overreach. Decisions made by officials in the Massachusetts U.S. Attorney’s office and at MIT contributed to his death.”

News of Swartz’s passing prompted an outpouring of grief from those who knew him well, as well as from the broader technology and Internet community. “Aaron had an unbeatable combination of political insight, technical skill and intelligence about people and issues,” Cory Doctorow, co-founder of the technology site BoingBoing, wrote in a heartfelt tribute to Swartz. “I think he could have revolutionized American (and worldwide) politics. His legacy may still yet do so.”

Tim Berners-Lee, who is considered the founder of the World Wide Web, wrote on Twitter: “Aaron dead. World wanderers, we have lost a wise elder. Hackers for right, we are one down. Parents all, we have lost a child. Let us weep.”

Swartz’s family and friends have set up a memorial page here.

Sam Gustin is a reporter at TIME focused on business, technology, and public policy. A native of New York City, he graduated from Reed College and Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism.

Canadian Internet Provider Rogers Buys Mountain Cablevision, Wireless Spectrum Licenses From Shaw

Rogers Communications, one of Canada’s largest wireless and Internet provider, said it will buy Mountain Cablevision and some wireless spectrum licenses from Shaw Communication for about $710 million USD ($700 million in Canadian dollars), reports Reuters.

Shaw will buy the 33.3 percent stake in the TVtropolis General Partnership it does not already own for $59 million Canadian dollars. TVtropolis, a TV channel, is currently jointly owned by Rogers and Shaw.

Rogers said that the acquisition allows it to upgrade networks and uphold its share of the wireless market in Western Canada as data usage “explodes.” In a press release, president and CEO of Rogers Communication Nadir Mohamed said:

“We’re investing in spectrum to ensure our customers continue to enjoy the incredibly fast speeds and throughput they crave, while ensuring our continued network leadership. We’re also strengthening our Cable portfolio by acquiring a valuable cable business which complements our existing Ontario cable system allowing us to deliver even more value for our customers and shareholders.”

Rogers system upgrades and strategic initiatives may help it avoid snafus like September’s widespread service outage on both its cellular and cable home Internet data networks, which the company attributed to “wireline interruptions.”

Shaw Communications Inc., a diversified communications company, provides broadband cable television, Internet, digital phone, telecommunications, and satellite direct-to-home (DTH) services primarily in Canada and the United States. It offers cable television services, including analog and digital video services with access to HD channels, premium and VOD channels, music channels, and an interactive program guide. The company provides high speed Internet access services to residential and small business subscribers, as well as various Internet services for small and medium sized...

› Learn more jQuery(function() { jQuery("#tabs-crunchbase").tabs(); });

China adds 51 million internet users in one year, mobile numbers increase by 18.1 percent

China adds 51 million internet users in one year, mobile numbers increase by 18.1 percent data = {blogUrl: "www.engadget.com",v: 250};when = {jquery: lab.scriptBs("jquery"),plugins: lab.scriptBs("plugins"),eng: lab.scriptBs("eng")}; var s265prop9 = ('20429076' !== '') ? 'bsd:20429076' : ''; var postID = '20429076'; var modalMNo = '93319229', modalVideoMNo = '93320648', modalGalleryMNo = '93304207'; when.eng("eng.omni.init", {pfxID:"weg",pageName:document.title,server:"",channel:"us.engadget",pageType:"",linkInternalFilters:"javascript:,engadget.com,joystiq.com,massively.com,tuaw.com,switched.com,techcrunch.com",prop1:"Engadget",prop2:"",prop9:s265prop9,prop12:document.location,prop17:"",prop18:"",prop19:"",prop20:"",mmxgo: true,disablepipath:true,mmxtitle:"us.engadget" + " : "}); adSendTerms('1')adSetMOAT('1');adSetAdURL('/_uac/adpagem.html');lab._script("http://o.aolcdn.com/os/ads/adhesion/js/adhads-min.js").wait(function(){var floatingAd = new AdhesiveAd("10000057",{hideOnSwipe:true});}); EngadgetMenu CESReviewsEventsPodcasts Engadget ShowFeaturesVideosGalleriesStoreTopicsHD Mobile Alt Announcements Cameras Cellphones Desktops Displays Gaming GPS Handhelds Home Entertainment Household Internet Laptops Meta Misc Networking Peripherals Podcasts Robots Portable Audio/Video Science Software Storage Tablets Transportation Wearables Wireless Acer Amazon AMD Apple ASUS AT&T Canon Dell Facebook Google HP HTC Intel Lenovo LG Microsoft Nikon Nintendo Nokia NVIDIA RIM Samsung Sony Sprint T-Mobile Verizon About UsSubscribeLike Engadget@engadgettip uswhen.eng("eng.nav.init")when.eng("eng.tips.init") China adds 51 million internet users in one year, mobile numbers increase by 18.1 percentByMat SmithpostedJan 15th, 2013 at 2:51 AM 0

China's internet dealt with 564 million users during 2012, increasing its user base by 10 percent. Despite continued efforts to monitor residents and restrict access to subversive content, these substantial gains were apparently driven by mobile internet access, with the number of Chinese users tapping into the web from phones and tablets rising by 18.1 percent, now totaling 420 million. That's 75 percent of all internet users.

when.eng("eng.perm.init")

Source: Yahoo News (AP)

Tags: 2012, china, internet

when.eng("eng.share.init") when.eng("eng.livefyre.init", {articleId: 20429076,checksum: "c03d396fe386ce00b54ed379df612c4f",collectionMeta: "eyJ0eXAiOiJqd3QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ0aXRsZSI6IkNoaW5hIGFkZHMgNTEgbWlsbGlvbiBpbnRlcm5ldCB1c2VycyBpbiBvbmUgeWVhciwgbW9iaWxlIG51bWJlcnMgaW5jcmVhc2UgYnkgMTguMSBwZXJjZW50IiwidXJsIjoiaHR0cDpcL1wvd3d3LmVuZ2FkZ2V0LmNvbVwvMjAxM1wvMDFcLzE1XC9jaGluYS1hZGRzLTUxLW1pbGxpb24taW50ZXJuZXQtdXNlcnMtaW4tMjAxMlwvIiwidGFncyI6IiIsImNoZWNrc3VtIjoiYzAzZDM5NmZlMzg2Y2UwMGI1NGVkMzc5ZGY2MTJjNGYiLCJhcnRpY2xlSWQiOiIyMDQyOTA3NiJ9.9bX3ZviXUNjsiC8y0EwCDarPURxu1HJE_xi5iZ0reGA",domain: "engadget.fyre.co",siteId: "296092"}) onBreak({980: function () { adSetType("F");htmlAdWH("93310581", "RR", "RR"); adSetType("");}}); onBreak({980: function () {htmlAdWH("93218256", "160", "600","AJAX","ajaxskyscraper");}}); when.eng("eng.rail.init") Sites We LikeTechgdgtSlashdotMAKETechnology ReviewArs TechnicaTechMemePhone ScoopDesignFFFFOUND!Core77Popcorn ShowerMoCo LocoDesign*SpongeThe SartorialistNewsHuffPost PoliticsThe Daily BeastHuffington PostTaxesStock QuotesDJIALifestyleLifehackerHuffPost WomenStylelistAutomotiveGadlingEnvironmentalInhabitatGoodAutoblog GreenHuffpost GreenEntertainmentMassivelyThe Onioni09HuffPost CelebritySpinnerMoviefone About UsSubscribe via RSSLike Engadget on Facebook@engadget on TwitterEspanol???????????DeutschlandJoystiqMetal Gear Rising: Revengeance demo hits Jan. 22Swedish school has kids play Minecraft, turns out they like itVice President Joe Biden to games industry: 'You have not been singled out' on gun violenceTuawMaking your own Passbook store loyalty cards with PassKitFotor and Photo Effect Studio apps join forces for a free and powerful comboClamCase Pro released, latest iteration of iconic iPad keyboard caseTechCrunchBaidu-Kingsoft Alliance Rumors Gain Further Credence As Qihoo 360 CEO FumesCanadian Internet Provider Rogers Buys Mountain Cablevision, Wireless Spectrum Licenses From ShawMoontoast Raises $5M For Premium Social AdsHuffPost TechNONRA Releases New Shooting Game For Kids 1 Month After NewtownFacebook Is Unveiling A Mystery Product On TuesdayAOL Tech.

onBreak({980: function () { htmlAdWH("93319229",'LB','LB','AJAX','ajaxbanner');}}); lab.script("//zor.fyre.co/wjs/v1.0/javascripts/CommentCount.js");// iOS scaling fix(function(e){var c="addEventListener",b="gesturestart",g="querySelectorAll",f=[1,1],d=g in e?e[g]("meta[name=viewport]"):[];function a(){d.content="width=device-width,minimum-scale="+f[0]+",maximum-scale="+f[1];e.removeEventListener(b,a,true)}if((d=d[d.length-1])&&c in e){a();f=[0.25,1.6];e[c](b,a,true)}}(document));