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That was Fast!

These guys will be considered "slow" one day

They are faster, and they are better, and they are stronger, etc. than all previous milers. They are *amazing* - but as all men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall...

Hulu.com looks pretty amazing

Next!

Cable operators and Telco TV providers should be concerned and so should their STB suppliers...

The Community is the Computer - a Super Computer. Go Zig!

R&B

Update: send us an email if you cannot see the Hulu video in your country. Thanks!

Opportunity Found

Using the [video-fingerprinting] technology, YouTube said it would create a database containing a unique digital identification, or "fingerprint", of each piece of copyrighted video. All videos being uploaded to YouTube could then be compared to these official versions to identify infringing material.

This text was taken from a Financial Times article published last week. The same article was carried on by a number of news sources. Google (Public, NASDAQ:GOOG) also discussed the topic on Analyst Day, which was held last week. Not surprisingly, you can watch the Google presentations (from 25 October) on YouTube.

1. Search is only as good as the content.

2. Search results are a good indication of quality.

Back to video-fingerprinting -- the hope is that this will decrease piracy. Copyrighted content supplied by the source would be compared to illegally unloaded content. Presumably, the true content of the ultimate quality would then arrive as the premier search result (particularly as the database would be free of any false material). Ultimately, this search recognition now validated could then yield a transaction. If it works, Google could move from ads related to search to the sale of content. Sales can be more financially rewarding. Go Google!

The Compoogle UI as we envisioned it two years ago

It seems interesting to mention that mobile phones (sorry to repeat ourselves) are much more suited to this transaction oriented approach. There are many more mobile phones (3 billion) than there are Internet users (1.2 billion). Of course, some of those Internet users have multiple devices and some of those may be mobile. There are also 489 million servers. All these numbers will continue to grow. These numbers are discussed in the Google Analyst Day YouTube coverage (think about that last sentence for a minute...).

Mobile devices are going to provide more performance before universal access will be universally available. Efficiency will become increasingly important because people want whatever they have now wherever they go. Mobility is the key. Making browsers better is a step, but making progressively mobile devices is the key. We think the browser-centric model is incredible, but the device-centric model that meets these needs can be just as big and quite disruptive. The screen, touch or keyboard and many other issues involved in system integration (known and unknown) will all come to bear. This however is certain: the device will define the way the user interacts with the "cloud."

Akinori Tsuji's Solar "ecoFIKA" Photovoltaic Open Client

As we look to the opportunity, it has never been bigger. Here is some more to think about (again thanks to Google). There are 459.5 million Internet users in Asia. This represents 12.4% of the population. In North America, there are 234.8 million Internet users. This represents 70% of the population. Europe sits roughly in between in size and use. Then there is everywhere else. Computing as today's users know it, is unknown to many, many more. The opportunity is mind boggling, particularly at the rate of change we experience today. We will continue to do our best to adapt. Darwin was right.

The Community is the Computer - a Super Computer. Go Zig!

R&B

Want Ad for em-PowerArchitecture-ment

Proficient and diligent companies, developers and users (a community) seek progressive National level leadership to endorse and support community internet-based media development by mobilizing and training youth and youth organizations.

The Internet is a powerful communication tool, offering strategic advantages for transmitting cultural values, mobilizing public opinion, reinforcing transparency and accountability and enabling social mobilization.

By way of example, we have covered the « As-Swat Shabab » CyberMedia Project in a few previous posts.

13 February 2007: Get The Word Out!

15 May 2007: Not Waiting for the World to Change II

27 June 2007: CAC Salé - Some Progress Indeed!

In this context, it is important to emphasize that youth are the primary Internet users in Morocco. The websites visited and consulted however, are usually produced outside of Morocco: 95% of the Moroccan traffic is directed towards international sources, in other words, to sites which might not reflect Moroccan culture and values. The Internet is still a tool that is both underutilized and under-explored in the training and informing of youth about issues related to local culture, citizenship, social development and economic productivity. In addition, almost no one is harnessing the potential of youth and their evident interest in the Internet and new technologies to enable them to become producers of local content. Young Moroccans could quickly move from the status of simple consumers of foreign media to the more enviable position of producers of local content and multimedia, thereby enabling them to express their points of view and share their own experiences actively engaging them in the life of their community.

The project action plan contained the following activities:

- Creation of communication materials about the project in French and Arabic (including the development of a web presence)

- Organization of round table discussions for the launching of the project at the CAC in Salé and Témara

- Organization of round table discussions on the role of community media

- Organization of round table discussions on open source technologies

- Creation of an online survey for youth on internet usage and their interest in the project

- Organization of two training sessions on podcasting with 41 youth in Salé and Témara

The Project took place between April and August 2007. We learned many valuable lessons and we would like to do it again. If you are interested in the Project and its results, please send us an email. We would be pleased to share the details with you.

The Community is the Computer - a Super Computer. Go Zig!

R&B

Remarkable Devices

8" screen and EFIKA Open Client -- nice work Thibaut!

Some interesting things have been revealed in the last few days. Let's look into the Apple's announcements (Public, NASDAQ:AAPL). Apple sold 2.164 million computers, 10.2 million iPods and 1.119 million iPhones. iPods just started a new product cycle, the iPhone costs less/is coming to Europe and Leopard will ship this week -- things are looking good for Apple. CPU Revenue in Q3 accounted for 46.8% of the total and "Other music related products (with AppleTV)" still scored $608 million in Q3. 2007 revenue could top $25 billion. It seems there is a business in solid end-user devices.

Free IMAP is being launched for Gmail (Public, NASDAQ:GOOG). Sync your inbox across devices instantly and automatically -- keyword: devices (get more than one!).

Even things for Microsoft (Public, NASDAQ:MSFT) are looking good. Certainly, Halo 3 has been a hit (3.2 million copies were sold the first 12 days following its 30 September launch) and this has pushed sales of the Xbox (Xbox360 beat out the Wii for the month as the #1 Game Console), but it is strong global PC sales that is driving Microsoft revenue which is anticipated to be $12.5 billion for Q3 (nearly $2 billion more than 12 months ago for the same period -- WHOA! -- update: make that $13.8 billion and way above the estimates. Wow!).

It might be surprising for some that we would applaud this surge for the Xbox, but thinking a bit deeper, Microsoft actually holds one of the best hopes for the future of the Power Architecture technology and not the PS3 (of course, the Freescale/Genesi 5121efika being another, as well as the Wii which will probably ship 17.5 million units in 2007). The Xbox has a 970-related core, whereas, the PS3 and CELL is more designed/optimized for multi-threading and not suited for a desktop environment. In other words, if CELL has non-conflicting and non-overlapping threads it is great, but launch a spreadsheet program and you will find a G4 does better. It would be a smart move from the XBox folks if they sorted this out with IBM (Public, NYSE:IBM) and made that happen. It would be another remarkable device...

The Community is the Computer - a Super Computer. Go Zig!

R&B

P.S. We should also mention that Apple's market cap is now bigger than IBM's - 153.66B vs. 162.15B at yesterday's close - it is remarkable what a solid end-user device strategy can do!

Something Different

What does it say about us? They all dress the same.

Hey! There is that same suit and tie again.
At least, he is not another Kaczynski...
Congratulations to Poland - you voted!

Participation is a great thing.

The Community is the Computer - a Super Computer. Go Zig!

R&B

Progress: More Efika

The first units are on the way

You will note the stash of AMD Personal Internet Communicators. We will be doing some benchmarking. Also, that 5W PSU is a great thing - small and light (and all the international electrical adapters are included). Time for some really cool computing...

The Community is the Computer - a Super Computer. Go Zig!

R&B

5121Efika Advanced Development System

Please update your EFIKA Project pages. The 5121Efika ships to selected Developers next week.

The SoC

We will be doing some interesting things with the PowerVR MBX sources and Chip ID. The AXE capabilities also bring some welcomed advantages.

The board

In the meanwhile, we have licensed the current EFIKA design based on the 5200B to THTF (THTF-Genesi). THTF is Tsinghua Tongfang. THTF is the #3 PC brand, #5 CE brand, and #4 OEM/ODM manufacturing firm in China, majority owned by China's leading research university, Tsinghua University, Beijing, and the China government. You will start seeing products based on the original EFIKA in the THTF Booth at CES in January 2008.

The Community is the Computer - a Super Computer. Go Zig!

R&B

5121Efika Ships

Please update your EFIKA Project pages. The 5121Efika ships to selected Developers next week.

In the meanwhile, go ahead and Break the efika!

We have mention Feng + EFIKA before. Feng is a very lean streaming server using rtsp/rtp protocols to deliver multimedia content. Feng is open source and builds properly. Give it a try.

Thanks Luca!
There is a 5121Efika headed your way!

The Community is the Computer - a Super Computer. Go Zig!

R&B

Eframe - Efika Project #100

Opportunity Framed

EFIKA Project #100

EFIKA-Frame Hero, Ulrich Beckers, in Action

A nice picture of San Marino

Did you know that San Marino claims to be the oldest constitutional republic in the world: it was founded on 3 September 301 by Marinus of Rab, a Christian stonemason fleeing the religious persecution of Roman Emperor Diocletian. San Marino has the smallest population of all the members of the Council of Europe.

Good work Ulrich! Thanks!

The Community is the Computer - a Super Computer. Go Zig!

R&B

300 Million and Counting...

Fortunately, we have found a partner in China that agrees.

The Community is the Computer - a Super Computer. Go Zig!

R&B

Tales of Computers and Cell Phones

Once upon a time these two kingdoms of kingdoms lived across a vast sea of differences, but with time and technological advances the distance between the two grew less and less. Computers came first and became quite powerful, but Cell Phones though less capable were more mobile and grew faster. Lesser kingdoms in both domains flourished, some even established outposts deep inside the territory of the other. As the sea diminished, each grew accordingly until there came a day when there was no place left to grow. Then, Cell Phones started to become like Computers too. The most beautiful feature set, though weak, but quite provoking, was stolen away.

The attractive feature set is abducted

The Cell Phones were more organized. Plans were made, citizens were accountable, taxes were levied and paid. First and foremost, all Cell Phones were Cell Phones. The Cell Phones became an awesome force and prospered.

The Computers too made plans (actually playing a game here)

The Computers, though more powerful, were not as organized. They split into groups and broke down further still into different divisions so much so that rarely could a lesser kingdom be self-sufficient. Nevertheless, some Computer kingdoms grew tremendously by focusing on only certain abilities while they traded for what they needed to be complete. Some built big walls around their constituents. Others fractured, split into many parts and managed their constituents remotely. Accountability was an afterthought and was poorly managed. Yet, one day as the Cell Phones grew more and more powerful, the Computers began to act.

Forces assembled and the siege began

So the war over the most attractive feature set began. Mobility was the key, but the Cell Phones soon found themselves trapped inside their own walls and weaknesses. There was no escape; the Computers surrounded them. The battle raged for years. Not surprisingly, the Computers argued and fought between themselves. There were heroes that lived or died on both sides, but the Cell Phones held their ground, were able to unite with new allies and even expanded their influence. The situation looked quite bleak for the Computers until finally a new idea was born.

Disguised the Computers entered into the inner sanctuary of the Cell Phones

And so the destruction of the Cell Phone Kingdom began. Fortunately, the attractive feature set was spared, the only thing to be led back to the Computer Kingdom with honor. Alas, there were still many trials ahead for our hero, but we will save those stories for another day.

The Community is the Computer - a Super Computer. Go Zig!

R&B

openSUSE 10.3 EFIKA

openSUSE 10.3 was released this past week.

This is the first version adding full support for the EFIKA

The reports are coming in and things look good. What is most impressive is this information: while download statistics showed 1-3% of PowerPC downloads for 10.2 and 10.3 alpha/beta releases, for openSUSE 10.3 RC1 and the release, PowerPC downloads accounted for 8-10% of downloads. Any guesses where that increased activity is coming from? Go EFIKA! And, a big word of thanks to Peter Czanik the EFIKA-lead for openSUSE and the whole SuSE PowerPC Team.

Thanks!

The Community is the Computer - a Super Computer. Go Zig!

R&B

La Manquita

That is the Manquita

You will find this Cathedral in Malaga, Spain

That is the Pegasos III

It had dual 7448 Processors

It actually could have been (and still could be) dual 7447 or 7447A processors, but it was a "one armed lady" too. But, why?! Because it takes much more than a tower to make a Church, and much more than a board to make a computer.

Friends, it takes even more to build a Community, but we will get there.

The Community is the Computer - a Super Computer. Go Zig!

R&B