Practical Technology

for practical people.

March 18, 2010
by sjvn01
1 Comment

Google and Linux are coming to your TV

In what may have been Google’s worst kept secret in years, the word is out. Google, along with its partners, Intel, Logitech, and Sony is on its way to delivering the Web to your television . And, what will they be using to do this? Why, they’ll be using Google’s Android Linux of course.

Android is an embedded Linux that Google has already been deploying in phones like its own Nexus One and Motorola’s Devour and Droid. Android was always more than just a smartphone operating system though. It’s also been used in netbooks and other devices. So, taking it to a TV set-box was an easy move for Google and its hardware friends.

In fact, Linux has long been a part of the TV set-box scene. TiVo, one of the first and some would argue still the best DVR (digital video recorder) uses Linux. Many other DVRs and TV set-top boxes use it as well.

The way it looks like this going to play out with Google TV is that Google will be supplying Android as well as Web content from both its own video sources, such as YouTube, and outside video sources. Here, we don’t know what’s Google is up to. But, let me just say that I would be a very, very happy guy if they’d let me get to Hulu, Netflix, and Revision 3 on my television.

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March 16, 2010
by sjvn01
1 Comment

Will Internet Explorer 9 be any safer?

You can download the next generation of Internet Explorer 9, but I really don’t recommend it unless you’re an expert at both Windows and Web browsers. I qualify on both those grounds — What? You think I only work on Linux? — So I took a quick peek at this so not-ready for prime time Web browser.

I can tell you that it works on Windows 7 and Vista and that it does an OK job at rendering Web pages. But, as far as the rest goes, I really can’t say much. As Dean Hachamovich, Microsoft’s IE team’s general manager indicated the IE 9 Platform Preview isn’t even finished, never-mind polished.

But, we also know what Microsoft intends for IE 9 and that tells us something. Unfortunately, it doesn’t say a lot for any Internet Explorer security improvements. First, Microsoft says that IE 9 will not be available on Windows XP. That’s because, to quote a Microsoft public relations representative, “Internet Explorer 9 requires the modern graphics and security underpinnings that have come since 2001, and is intended to be run on a modern operating system in order to build on the latest hardware and operating system innovations.”

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March 16, 2010
by sjvn01
5 Comments

Linux on the Cloud: IBM, Novell & Red Hat

Today, March 16th, has been filled with Linux and cloud news. Which is great, I guess, if you’re ready to trust your data to the cloud.

In case you don’t follow Linux as closely as I do, here’s the round-up. Red Hat and Novell have joined up with IBM to provide a new open cloud environment that goes by the unwieldy name Smart Business Development and Test on the IBM Cloud.

Besides running Linux, this new cloud service comes ready for work with more software partners then you can shake a stick at. The bottom line is that I don’t care what capability you want from your server farm, chances are you’ll find it already ready to go on IBM’s new Linux-powered cloud from either IBM itself, which is offering its full Lotus and WebSphere lines, or from one of its ISV (independent software vendor) partners. These services are scheduled to be made available in the second quarter of 2010 in The United States and Canada, and to roll out globally by year’s end.

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March 15, 2010
by sjvn01
0 comments

A Quick IE Fix

Last week, Microsoft got yet another security black eye when a new, ready-to-be exploited IE security hole was revealed. This week, Microsoft is trying to redeem itself with a pair of quick fixes for the problem.

The IE 6 and 7 security hole is a serious one and it’s already being exploited so you should head over to Microsoft support for one of the two fixes for this IE problem. No, you read that right. There are two separate fixes. Unfortunately, no matter which one you pick, they come with potential problems.

The first one disables the peer factory class in the Windows registry. ‘Peer factory’ is used by the iepeers.dll binary program in IE 6 and 7 on Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 to call some kinds of Windows functionality from within IE. The most common way it’s used is to print from IE. The downside of this fix, as you might guess, is that it will stop IE’s print functionality from working.

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March 15, 2010
by sjvn01
1 Comment

An iPad on your belt?

If the reaction to my Linux alternatives to the Apple iPad story is any indicator there are a lot of people who want an iPad. People also have some concerns about the iPad, such as how easy, or not, will it be to use this large hardbound sized tablet. I don’t see that as a big potential problem, but it looks to me like Apple is working on an answer for it anyway: the wearable iPad.

You see, Apple just hired a senior engineer to work on wearable computers. I can easily see people buying into a wearable iPad. You’d hook the computer on your belt, use an iPad Touch sized device for its interface and a Bluetooth-enabled eye and ear piece for sound and video. Ta-da. Instant Mac Borg!

Actually, I’m quite serious. The iPad is primarily an entertainment device requiring relatively little interaction from its user, so why not put it on your belt and use a wired or wireless connection to hook up an eye-piece and earphones to watch a movie as you go for a run?

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March 15, 2010
by sjvn01
0 comments

Getting the most from 802.11n

Given a choice between fast, 802.11b; faster, 802.11g; and fastest, 802.11n, most people will pick the fastest every time. But, while the IEEE 802.11n Wi-Fi standard, with its up to 300Mbps burst speeds, is easily the fastest wireless networking protocol, until recently it’s never been a standard. Thus, a Wi-Fi access point (AP) using a draft 802.11n protocol from one vendor was unlikely to deliver its full potential speed to a laptop with an 802.11n chipset from another maker.

It wasn’t supposed to be that way. But, for years, the Wi-Fi hardware OEMs puppies fought over the 802.11n protocol like it was a chew toy. The result was that we’ve had to wait for over five-years before 802.11n finally became a real standard on September 11, 2009. The delay was never over the technology. The technical tricks that give 802.11n its 100Mbps to 140Mbps steady connection speeds have been well-known for years. The reason why is it’s only recently that we’re able to use 802.11n at its full potential.

So, you’re ready to go with just buying a new 802.11n AP right? Not so fast tiger. While it’s true that 802.11n can leave 802.11g at the starting line and even leave some older Ethernet routers eating its dust, it’s still all too possible to set it up so that you can’t get all the speed out of 802.11n you paid for.

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