It appears the guys at DivX have unveiled their rumored hardware, the new DivX GejBox -  a reference/test set-top entering an already questionable field.  No, I'm not adding that wink for giggles, it's really in the product name, which Engadget refuses to include on principle.  DivX has been trying for nearly a decade to build some street credibility as a video format, originally popularized by movie traders on the internets. You kind of have to hand it to them, they have staying power.  A few asian manufacturers support their offbeat MPEG-4 profiles (which have been beaten by XviD in every codec shootout since 2003). Let's forget the company was named the same as a failed (and despised) timebombed rental disc program Digital Video Express, but to build a box, and then name it after the hacker handle used by a co-founder doesn't smack of responsible marketing.  At least it has HDMI and wireless though I doubt many consumers will be picking this up over an Apple TV or Xbox 360 (for Extender). 

The meme is all gaga over an MIT project demonstrating the ability to power a 60W light bulb up to 6.5ft away from a wireless power coil using magnetic waves. Funny thing is this isn't news - the announcement was made last November. Two other companies, Powercast and eCoupled are doing similar things. If it proves out, this is a very cool development but the real question I haven't seen asked is: how efficient is it?  Does it take 90W of power to support a 60W bulb? Can it scale to support multiple devices like a wireless power strip?

Wireless charging of your cell phone may be just the break the iPhone and other multi-function devices will need to avoid the Russian Roulette game of managing your power consumption between music, video, email, and voice calls so you're not caught with a dead phone.  Will it replace all your cables in your home?  I'm highly skeptical.

In 2006, CBS introduced a new series, "Jericho", about a small midwestern town banding together to survive after a series of coordinated nuclear attacks across the US.  Part "Red Dawn", part "The Day After" I'll admit I got hooked on the show.  CBS cancelled the show a few weeks back, prompting outrage among some viewers.  A bit of hilarity ensued when nuts of all sorts started to show up via mail at CBS, sent by fans of the show.  In a tip of the hat to the show's reference of WWII's General McAuliffe's one-word response to a German surrender ultimatum ("Nuts!"), online groups started to mobilize.  In all, a reported 20 TONS of nuts were delivered to CBS Entertainment in CA and NYC.  The result is of course, CBS has reversed its decision to cancel the show (which was slated against American Idol). It will return as a mid-season replacement with at least 7 episodes.

I first heard about this two weeks ago when I stumbled on NutsOnline's "Save Jericho" campaign.  This is a great example of a small business identifying an opportunity and connecting with a smart marketing and social networking component. 

And how did CBS make the announcement?  On the JerichoWiki @ CBS.com of course.  My favorite line:

"P.S. Please stop sending us nuts :)"

Speaking of the nuts, from what I've learned, CBS is donating them all to our troops overseas.  A smart move.

(The first of a three part series)

I'll admit it.  I tried to break my Drobo on Day 1.  No, I didn't drop it or mangle it.  I just did everything backwards.

1. I plugged it in before installing the dashboard app.  It showed up as a "Protected USB device". Oookay...

2.  I downloaded installed the software and installed it... via Remote Desktop.

3.  I put four of the five drives in- starting with a piddly 42GB drive, a 160GB, a  320GB and a 500GB'er. Did I forget to mention I put the last two drives in backwards?

4.  Did I forget to mention that I put all the drives in before powering it up, and then proceeded to format the two drives?

5.  Then I put the bottom 320GB and 500GB drives in correctly. Drobo Dashboard found and automatically formatted the drives.

6.  Next I started a big copy - 23GB.  Started off great, though a  little slow.

7.  Then I got impatient about 10GB in and pulled the 42GB main drive OUT and dropped a 400GB in.

8.  Transfer went fine.  Then I took 300GB and let it run overnight.  Logging back in in the morning- all my data was there.

So what happened? Not a hiccup. The Drobo protested with blinking yellow lights that I wouldn't be protected against a single HDD failure.  But I didn't have to re-format, everything just worked as expected.  You have to get over the confusing fact that the drives will always report 2TB to Windows (or greater) but the actual storage is much smaller.  A large portion of the available space is also taken up for buffer so even after formatting I had on the order of 100GB unavailable. I suspect this is buffer space. The Drobo Dashboard gives you a true view of space on the drive (psst- where's the Drobo Dashboard Gadget?)

As with most USB transfers however, it felt a bit slow.  Here's to hoping for an eSATA version in the future or if someone can figure out how to "channel bond" two USB ports for faster throughput (send my patent check in the mail please). :)

(Next up: Serving HD video off the Drobo- Media Center Style)

The site says, "On June 5th, Data Robotics will change the way you think about storage forever".  RAID-style expandable storage at any point?  It sounds too good to be true!  As one who just filled my 500GB RAID1 setup (largely with recorded MCE TV programs) this product sounds like an ideal solution- automatic backup, mix and match HDD sizes, makes and models, and it will work with my Mac or PC. If this works as advertised, I may be sitting in a pool of storage soon. 

The question is simple: "What are the best Web apps?"  Silverlight hasn't shipped 1.0 yet but is already named a finalist in the publishing category.  Feel free to vote for your favorite here.

After a marathon memorial day weekend of edging, hauling, de-weeding, flower planting, and laying out nearly 8 cubic yards of mulch (thanks Larry), we're almost ready for summer.  I must have dumped nearly 500 lbs of 3in deep grass & refuse in the back half of yard (hidden from picture), away to compost.  The french drain that runs through our back yard was so overrun that we had to dig out all the old mulch down to the black matting.  I really should have done a before and after picture. 

Then, our 5 year-old Samsung HLN-507W starts screaming like a banshee.  The darn color wheel has burned out multiple bearings.  After doing some research, I learn that the replacement is no small feat - a simple $100 part, much more in labor.  For that price, I might as well get a new TV then attempt to fix the Samsung myself, moving it upstairs or reselling.

So I've gone throug the obligatory RPTV vs. Plasma vs. LCD debate.  The Samsung was bought for our old house and I discovered for our viewing distance, I need a larger TV (darn). With the budget I had, a Sony Wega 60" 1080p SXRD was the way to go. I had a coupon for BBY that brought the price down to $2000.  After setting up the TV, I have to say it's phenomenal.  I hooked up my TiVo Series3 and a Toshiba HD-A1 HD-DVD player via HDMI and even at 1080i, once calibrated (through my meager efforts) it looks vibrant, much brighter than my 5 yo set before, and no more rainbow effect when playing Halo 3.  My only complaint is video garbage when the TiVo is switching between menu and native mode TV playback (I could set the TiVo to manage but want a pure signal). 

As for gaming, even over component, there's so much more detail in Halo 3 than I saw before, part of it due to better color reproduction, upsampling and contrast.  (Any ISF-certified techs who want to be showcased in a video on your calibration services, please let me know. )

Now I just have to find a way to try out an Xbox 360 Elite to see 1080p in its glory.

Speaking of calibration, my father is really getting into digital photography and needs a good calibration solution for his monitor/printer.  I've heard good things about the ColorVision Spyder2express - any thoughts out there?

I've been doing a lot less Twittering and spending a lot more time in Facebook.  Given they're adding over 100,000 users a day and the fastest growing demographic is inthe 25 and over crowd, I guess it isn't surprising- they're nimble, offer a whole host of social networking features and a lot of my friends and coworkers are now over there.

And yesterday things got a lot more interesting.  Microsoft and Facebook announced a  new partnership.  Microsoft already powers the ad engine on Facebook, and now is working together to bring Silverlight and Popfly en-masse to the Facebook community. 

The Microsoft and Facebook partnership means Facebook are now empowered to customize their Facebook pages in richly interactive ways. Even if they have no development experience, Facebook users will have tools that let them create pages that reflect their personality with Popfly and Silverlight delivering cross-platform, cross-browser goodness.

Also announced:

• Distribution of the Facebook Developer Toolkit.  The FDT was developed by Microsoft to wrap the Facebook API into a managed component.  Through this component, developers now will be able to drag ‘n drop a Facebook component onto the component tray in Visual C# Express , Visual Basic Express and Visual Web Developer (for both Whidbey and Orcas).  Users will be provided all the source code, sample applications including a WPF app and detail documentation. 

• Co-branded Landing Page on the Facebook developer website.  At this site, visitors will be able to see Microsoft Visual Studio Express and Microsoft Popfly links.  Additionally, a series of new pages were developed called Showcase on the Visual Studio Express site.

And of course now I'm playing with applications on Facebook such as the Flickr Importer and iLike (the name the song game is addictive).  Fun times and diversions for the holiday weekend.