Home Networking Standard, G.hn, Continues Worldwide Growth; HomeGrid Forum Adds New Members

February 24, 2010 8:02 PM in HomeGrid Forum  | 0 comments  | 0 TrackBack

HomeGrid Forum has just announced four new members to the global, non-profit trade group promoting the United Nations’ International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU-T) G.hn standardization efforts. 

HomeGrid Forum’s new members include: Polaris Networks, Taiwan-based IC Plus Corp, the Institute for Information Industry (III) and Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI). 

By joining HomeGrid Forum, these companies are recognizing the importance of G.hn as the single unified standard for wired home networking in the global marketplace as the technology draws closer to silicon shipment in 2010. 

 “Each of these companies is taking a leadership role in commercializing products based on G.hn. Polaris Networks will provide tools to aid in the development of G.hn devices. IC Plus, III and KERI are helping to promote and educate companies in the Asia-Pacific region on the advantages of G.hn for home networking,” said Matthew Theall, president of the HomeGrid Forum. “With silicon expected this year, the addition of these organizations both individually and as a whole, marks a significant step in the broad, worldwide development of new products based on G.hn as we move into the most prolific stage in development.” 

The members of the ITU-T’s G.hn Rappatour Group have created a specification for a single MAC/PHY technology which can run over coaxial cable, phone lines, or power lines. 

Through one worldwide standard, G.hn will unify the networking of content and devices over any of these wires. With it, service providers will be able to deploy new offerings including IPTV more cost effectively. Consumer electronics manufacturers will be able to provide powerful devices for connecting all types of entertainment, home automation, and security products throughout the house. 

G.hn participants include service providers, consumer electronics and information technology manufacturers, and component and intellectual property providers from around the world.

"Telecompetitor" Reports on the FCC's Initiative for 100 Mbps Broadband to 100 Million Homes

February 22, 2010 1:02 PM  | 0 comments  | 0 TrackBack

Telecompetitor has a news story highlighting FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski announcement of his ‘100 squared’ initiative at a speech delivered to the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC). 

The ‘100 squared’ concept aims to deliver broadband capable of 100 Mbps to 100 million homes by 2020. 

According to Telecompetitor, the goal may become a formal one, as the FCC is due to deliver a national broadband plan by mid March. Genachowski says 100 squared will “unleash American ingenuity and ensure that businesses, large and small, are created here, move here, and stay here.”

Where can G.hn play a role in this initiative?  Leave a comment and give me your take.

New Sony Video Highlights 3D-TV from the CES 2010 Show | G.hn

February 20, 2010 5:02 AM in 3D TV  | 0 comments  | 0 TrackBack

Sony has just released this video which are highlights from the CES 2010 Show in Las Vegas.  An overriding theme was 3D-TV and this video clearly illustrates this.  Technologies like 3D-TV are going require ever increasing bandwidth - ideal for the wired home network and the industry standard, G.hn.

If available today, would you buy a 3D-TV - and if so, what would price would you be willing to pay?  Leave a comment and let the community know.

Looking Beyond the Wired Home Network, and the Impact of G.hn

February 16, 2010 4:02 PM in G.hn , Home Networking , Wired Home Networking  | 0 comments  | 0 TrackBack

I'm starting to look at companies that go beyond the stating of the obvious in the wired home network.

I am looking to cover and write about companies that could connect the G.hn home to the Grid.  If you are out there and want to contribute a post about your vision on how you could connect the wired home network to the grid, please email me: alan at weinkrantz dot com, or leave a comment.

If you have children or college age students, give them a homework assignment and have them contribute to this blog- I am looking for vision, ideas, and ways that we have not thought of yet.  

Next week, I am going to be in Austin at the Texas / Israel Chamber of Commerce's Cleanovation Conference.  While the focus of the event is on "green," there are several companies that have compelling technologies that I think belong in the mix of the wired home network.  For example, Greenlet Technologies, has a highly integrated system for the Smart Grid market, using Internet, IT and power electronics.  Or check out C.E.S. - Computerized Electricity Systems, that has, on its web site a diagram that shows how it can connect the home to the grid.  

This is just a start.  

I know some of this may be far away, but beyond reporting on news, I am trying to take this blog to a higher level.  

Connect with me.  Tell me your story.  And your voice will be heard.

Google's #ProjectOverview Should Start with The Wired Home Network #Ghn

February 10, 2010 4:02 PM in Project Overview  | 0 comments  | 0 TrackBack

I've taken the text from today's announcement on Project Overview from the Google Blog and pasted it below.  What they are proposing is not only ambitious, but a compelling idea.  Even if you don't take part in the RFI , I'd love to hear your visions, your comments on how such a plan, if brought to fruition would change, alter and of course make our lives better.  How could the wired home network impact not only your life, but how could your home be more efficient when attached to the grid?

Leave a comment, or email me: alan at weinkrantz dot com

Leave a comment, or email me: alan at weinkrantz dot com

What is Google doing and what does it seek to achieve?

Key Dates:

Issuance of RFI:

February 10, 2010

Response Deadline:

March 26, 2010

Google reserves the right to modify any of these dates. Any changes will be published on this website.

Imagine sitting in a rural health clinic, streaming three-dimensional medical imaging over the web, and discussing a unique condition with a specialist in New York. Or downloading a high-definition, full-length feature film in less than five minutes. Or collaborating with classmates around the world while watching live 3D video of a university lecture. Universal, ultra high-speed Internet access will make all this, and more possible. We've urged the FCC to look at new, and creative ways to get there in its National Broadband Plan – and now we're announcing an experiment of our own.

Google is planning to build, and test ultra-high speed broadband networks in a small number of trial locations across the country. We'll deliver Internet speeds more than 100 times faster than what most Americans have access to today with 1 gigabit per second, fiber-to-the-home connections. We'll offer service at a competitive price to at least 50,000, and potentially up to 500,000 people.

As a first step, we're putting out a Request for Information (RFI) to help identify interested communities. We welcome responses from local government, as well as members of the public.

Our goal is to experiment with new ways to help make Internet access better, and faster for everyone. Here are some specific things that we have in mind:

• Next generation apps: We want to see what developers and users can do with ultra high-speeds, whether it's creating new bandwidth-intensive "killer apps" and services, or other uses we can't yet imagine.
• New deployment techniques: We'll test new ways to build fiber networks; to help inform, and support deployments elsewhere, we'll share key lessons learned with the world.
• Openness and choice: We'll operate an "open access" network, giving users the choice of multiple service providers. And consistent with our past advocacy, we'll manage our network in an open, non-discriminatory, and transparent way.

Like our WiFi network in Mountain View, the purpose of this project is to experiment and learn. Network providers are making real progress to expand and improve high-speed Internet access, but there's still more to be done. We don't think we have all the answers – but through our trial, we hope to make a meaningful contribution to the shared goal of delivering faster and better Internet for everyone.

Pipe Dreams....

February 09, 2010 8:02 PM  | 1 comments  | 0 TrackBack

EETimes recently reported that  DirectTV is exploring versions of WiFi and is planning to test wired links based on G.hn. 

With all the wonders of WiFi, there are simple laws of physics prevent any flavor of 802.11 delivering stable HD video, let alone services the provider needs to have access to in order to resolve technical issues. 

Given from what I saw at the recent CES 2010 show, content is only going to get bigger, thicker, wider and deeper – especially with 3D coming.  That means we are going to demand more information through wired pipes. 

Read the article in its entirety and note the quote from DirectTV’s  Henry Derovanessian, vice president of set top engineering  "…nothing I have seen so far shows we are at a point of wireless maturity for carrying premium satellite TV over a home network….”

To me wireless is great, but according to the experts at DirectTV, when it comes to what is coming down the pipe, visions of true wireless HD remains at best, a pipe dream.

 

 

Coming Soon - Slingmedia's 700U Multiroom device

February 04, 2010 1:02 PM  | 0 comments  | 0 TrackBack

Coming soon - the Slingbox 700U. Think multiroom DVR meets the Slingbox.  Plug it into your IP enable set top box, and you can send your content around the house, via your wired home network.

Mediaroom 2.0 from Microsoft Expands New Service and Viewing Options

February 01, 2010 6:02 PM  | 0 comments  | 0 TrackBack

Here's a preview of what's to come with Mediaroom 2.0 from Microsoft's ConnectedTV group.  

In its next revision of Microsoft's IPTV middleware platform, it is now designed to enable service operators with more options with interfaces to X-Box and advanced remote controls.

Take a tour here...

While the original version of Mediaroom enabled services to be viewed on TV set-top boxes and on Xbox 360 game consoles, Mediaroom 2.0 alleviates the need for operators to deploy redundant systems, allowing them to expand the reach of their television service to include Windows 7-based PCs via Windows Media Center, Web browsers on both Macs and Windows-based PCs and, in the future, compatible smartphones. Mediaroom 2.0 also gives TV service operators the ability to reach beyond their managed IPTV networks, extending their television services to their unmanaged broadband networks. As a result, operators have the ability to offer content from a vast number of television and Internet sources, and deliver it to more viewers in more places than ever before.

iWavit From Thinkoptics Turns Your iPhone Into a Customizable / Programmable Remote

January 31, 2010 7:01 PM  | 0 comments  | 0 TrackBack

The more and more hardwired devices we get, the more remotes come with our new gadgets. During the CES 2010 show, I met up with a Thinkoptics that has a very cool solution - a build your own / design your remote that will work with all IR-based devices and control it with your iPhone.

With the latest addition to the Wavit product family, the iWavit™, you will be able to turn your iPhone or iPod Touch™ into almost any virtual Remote Control.  Watch the demo here....

 

Not only can you remotely control TVs and DVDs using the built-in universal IR remote control feature, but you can also control PCs or Macs by directly pointing your Wavit Remote at the TV screen. Where you point is where the cursor will go! Direct pointing makes navigating PC applications or the Internet very easy.

 

In addition to being a 3D "air" mouse, the iWavit / iPhone can also act as a full RF keyboard, PowerPoint presentation device, Universal IR Learning Remote, PC Media Center Remote, and Apple Mac Front-Row controller. Moreover, with the help of a built-in RF microphone, the iWavit can be used to talk directly to a PC allowing remote voice control or instant VoIP calls. Imagine saying “Open Internet Explorer”, or “Start Skype”. 

 

 

 

Internet-based Content Right To Your TV via New Set Top Box From Nuumedia

January 30, 2010 6:01 PM  | 0 comments  | 0 TrackBack

Nuumedia has an interesting approach to getting Internet-based content right on your big screen:  they have a dedicated set top box that integrates with technology from Boxee and plugs right into your TV.

The company's Nuu player is based on the Intel Atom and comes with a 160-gigabyte hard disk, and supports, supports Bluetooth. Available in March, expected retail should be about $300 and comes with  Boxee and Skype installed.

More options for watching Internet-based content like these on your big screen mean increased demand - and the need for the wired home networks.