Digital Dad

Surviving CES 2006

Las Vegas has a way of being "neat" for a day or so and then devolving into a real slog. That pretty much describes how I felt this year. However, this year I was there as part of the Micorosft team, and my team specifcially was there to launch the new generation of Portable Media Centers.

I kept a Toshiba Gigabeat in my pocket the whole time and that little device became quite a buzz at the show, even winning Engadet's Best of CES. We had two devices in Bill Gates' keynote as well as recognition of another deal from our team, the new Vongo service by Starz. We also launched a new mobile media portal for Microsoft, something I wish they had long before I joined them (even has an RSS feed!).

So it was a slog, but it was fun. Some of that "big impact" stuff was creeping in. In addition to the Toshiba device (better than the iPod, in my humble opinion), LG introduced a widecsreen device and Tatung introduced a mid-sized model. Sharp showed off a protoype using our software (very slick) and the Dreameo unit was there as well. Nice round up! I did my schtick three mornings at the Microsoft booth, which went smoothly, which was all I was hoping for.

There are too many CES roundups out there to read, but in general the screens were getting bigger and better (103" plasma?), sound systems getting louder (or am I getting older?), XM is starting to look interesting with an upcoming Bob Dylan show, and there quite a few new ways to move media around your home (still kind of a mess).

Good to be back.

Getting ready for CES 2006

I've been completely under water at work preparing for CES. This year, my team actually has some real hands-on stuff to show off. Plus, we're part of the whole Microsoft "show", which is interesting. Rather than the usual one-day deal when I worked at smaller companies, I will be there a full five days - plenty of time to soak in the "Digital Dadness."

I had a chance to take a peek at the new Media Center user interface for Vista today - holy crap. I'm am very much looking forward to upgrading my "old" Media Center PC. This was running on a 3Ghz, 512Mb system and it was visually rockin'. The hi-def recordings (using cable card!) were pristine. So little time, so many upgrades!

I want a password

My six year-old son greeted me as I came home from work the other day by asking me if he could have a password.

"What do you need a password for?", I asked, thinking a few steps ahead in this conversation.

"I just need one," he said, thinking a few steps farther, apparently.

This went back and forth for a while and in the end he ended up signing up at Amazon, creating his very own account and password.

Which he promptly forgot.

"A man who doesn't spend time with his family can never be a real man."

I checked out a new DVD called the GoodFather. This disc is a resource for new Dads on a variety of topics and also includes a birth announcement card maker and a baby name reference.

It's comes in a decent sized plastic jewel-box type container and you just pop it in your DVD drive. It has some well done FLASH animation that introduces the "GoodFather" and the three key areas.

The reference sections seemed to be the most valuable. All sorts of definitions and how-to's. There were a few things in there that I didn't know and I have three kids! Easy to find information with some funny writing.

The card maker is OK - pretty basic artwork and layout capabilities. I think it could use a much wider range of artwork and also add the ability to pop in the baby's photo. It might also be good to add some sort of email function - busy Dads typically do the announcements through a rich email bulked out to a family list. All in all though, a big time saver for cranking out the announcements

The baby namer was decent. My only suggestion would be to add more definition and background for each name - what it means, where it came from, etc. That being said it will definitely get  you thinking of names. 

I've heard of this phenomenon where Dads always come up with the goofiest name ideas for their babies (Spike), yet Moms think this is not funny at all. Seems to be pretty universal.

If you know of a Dad to be then this would make a very good gift. Knowledge is power!

Make me

There's a new magazine coming out called Make. It looks like an interesting read - all sorts of technology projects for the home. Here's the promo blurb:

"Make brings the do-it-yourself mindset to all the technology in your life. Make is loaded with exciting projects that help you make the most of your technology at home and away from home. This is a magazine that celebrates your right to tweak, hack, and bend any technology to your own will."

You can sign up for their Make newsletter and there is a PDF sample as well.

When you start to say "make" over and over again it reminds me of playground taunts. That might be a long term issue for these folks. In any event, more material for the throne room.

Digital Dad's "day off" shirt

Not sure if my kids would pay attention to the shirt, but Jeff sent in this good one:

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Getting the Mini fixed and getting online

My 2002 Mini is in for a smog control related recall. Fortunately the dealership has an internet hookup here so I can be reasonably functional until I drive into work. Actually, given the lack of interuption here, you could argue that I am more functional here. And the coffee is good.

They have a Wifi signal here (I could detect it using my new keychain gadget), but it requires a password. However, they have wired termninals so I just unplugged on and plugged the wire into my notebook. Ta da.

Speaking of connecting anywhere, I've been keeping my eye on WiMAX. This is essentially broadband WiFi that is available over a great distance, like a city metro area.

Not only would you get broadband access through your WiFi enabled device in places other than Starbucks and your Mini dealership, but it could replace your DSL/cable modem at home as well.

Less wires, higher speeds, greater access. Nice.

Google and J2EE

This has little impact on Digital Dads but I thought the following tidbit was interesting. There is a group of companies called the Java Community Process (JCP) Executive Commitee that help "govern" the definition of Java - what is does, etc.

Every year they have elections to the group and this year, interestingly enough, Google in on the ballot.

A very non-Microsoft thing to do. Should be interesting.

Scccrrratched DVDs

Any of us with small children are aware of a few truisms - they love movies, they love watching the same movies over and over again and they love holding and playing with DVDs.

That's where the stress comes in. When it cost $29 to get the latest Disney "Platinum Extended Collector Edition" (although less at Costco), the last thing I want to see is that DVD being pawed, thrown, sat on and otherwise abused. DVDs scratch more easily than CDs and becasue of the higher density of data, DVD players are less forgiving on even small scratches.

In the eary days of CDs you could always break out a little bit of toothpaste and gently buff out a gouge. However, you need a more sophisctaed approach when it comes to DVDs. Basically I see a few paths:

• Keep DVDs out of the hands of your kids - high shelf, tightly guarded; low tech but it works
• Buy a Disc Doctor or similar to "buff out" scratches; won't solve significant scratch issues
• Rip DVDs and then play them off your WiFi enabled Video On Demand system; wha??
• Make copies of your DVDs using your PC and DVD burner; not bad, but what a hassle
• Resign yourself to spending hundreds of extra $$$ to replace key DVDs
• Use D-skins

Actually I am putting together that Video On Demand system anyway, but in addition to that I am into the D-Skins. D-Skins are these clear plastic discs that snap onto the DVD, providing a protective "skin" to the DVD.

After gettng some of these my main concern was compatibility - how would these play? I tried them on several players - my Fujitsu laptop, my Quest DVD player and my crotchety old Toshiba player. On all three systems the D-Skinned DVDs played fine.

Since most of us have a a half-dozen of DVDs in heavy rotation, it makes sense to use D-Skins on these and then swap them out a new DVDs come in - otherwise I think the cost, at $1 per skin, to cover 50 DVDs would be a bit prohibitive.

Check them out at Best Buy and other retailers. Good idea.

Holy nut job!

Well, I'm not sure about this one but it certainly caught my eye since it is Dad-related..

LONDON - A protester dressed in a Batman costume scaled the front wall of Buckingham Palace on Monday and perched for more than five hours on a ledge near the balcony where the royal family appears on ceremonial occasions.

The protester is a member of the Fathers 4 Justice group, which is campaigning for greater custody rights for divorced or separated fathers and has staged a number of prominent stunts to promote their cause.

Full story here.