Comments for dan.benyamin.org http://dan.benyamin.org Dan Benyamins thoughts on technology and society Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 Comment on Digital living and the DNA of companies by Dan http://dan.benyamin.org/2008/11/19/digital-living-and-the-dna-of-companies/#comment-1431 Dan Wed, 31 Dec 2008 05:55:26 +0000 http://dan.benyamin.org/?p=64#comment-1431 Yeah, I agree to an extent: the CarPC space is definitely one ripe for an innovative and easy to use solutions, but they definitely miss on getting a basic set of features into the hands of mass market. For example, one could argue that the iPhone's feature set was much more limited at launch than its competitors. Apple didn't really redefine the use case of a smartphone: phone, email, web. But they did make it perform these tasks very well, in an easy and sexy package. I remember when Apple got a lot of heat for not releasing an SDK at first. Well, now that they have it, you have tons of innovative and easily deployed apps. If the base functionality didn't hit home, however, all these apps wouldn't be useful beyond a niche audience -- kinda like what has happened to media centers and CarPC's... Yeah, I agree to an extent: the CarPC space is definitely one ripe for an innovative and easy to use solutions, but they definitely miss on getting a basic set of features into the hands of mass market.

For example, one could argue that the iPhone’s feature set was much more limited at launch than its competitors. Apple didn’t really redefine the use case of a smartphone: phone, email, web. But they did make it perform these tasks very well, in an easy and sexy package. I remember when Apple got a lot of heat for not releasing an SDK at first. Well, now that they have it, you have tons of innovative and easily deployed apps.

If the base functionality didn’t hit home, however, all these apps wouldn’t be useful beyond a niche audience — kinda like what has happened to media centers and CarPC’s…

]]> Comment on Digital living and the DNA of companies by VorTechS http://dan.benyamin.org/2008/11/19/digital-living-and-the-dna-of-companies/#comment-1419 VorTechS Mon, 22 Dec 2008 14:43:18 +0000 http://dan.benyamin.org/?p=64#comment-1419 The problem with standards bodies, as you inderectly point out is that they are there to govern and ensure that a specification is built to which everyone is to adhere to. We all know that Microsoft (and no doubt others) are not ones for particularly following the rules and often this is where they can get the jump on the competition, often retrofitting the 'standards' into their products to meet compliance agreements. What's needed in the digital world is extensibility. The guys who will make the money will be the ones that don't concentrate on features X, Y and Z but build a platform, or architect software that enables the integration of features X, Y, Z as well as A through W without having to write those features themselves. Take a look at the CarPC market, the same problem exists here... but here we are talking about mobility with all the features of the Digital LifeStyle and then some. Like Media Center and it's comparative products... the CarPC market has many 'front ends'. They are 'skinnable', and support plugin architecture but none go that extra mile to be truly extensible so that end users, or dedicated content providers can integrate a product seamlessly. Online mobility is increasingly becoming common place, and therein lies the answer. The product you need is right here in what I'm saying, I can see it. Like you say Dan, the winner could take all in this gap-filled market and it's there with horizontal market opportunities! What it needs is some dedicated people to get together and piece together this puzzle. The problem with standards bodies, as you inderectly point out is that they are there to govern and ensure that a specification is built to which everyone is to adhere to.

We all know that Microsoft (and no doubt others) are not ones for particularly following the rules and often this is where they can get the jump on the competition, often retrofitting the ’standards’ into their products to meet compliance agreements.

What’s needed in the digital world is extensibility.

The guys who will make the money will be the ones that don’t concentrate on features X, Y and Z but build a platform, or architect software that enables the integration of features X, Y, Z as well as A through W without having to write those features themselves.

Take a look at the CarPC market, the same problem exists here… but here we are talking about mobility with all the features of the Digital LifeStyle and then some. Like Media Center and it’s comparative products… the CarPC market has many ‘front ends’. They are ’skinnable’, and support plugin architecture but none go that extra mile to be truly extensible so that end users, or dedicated content providers can integrate a product seamlessly.

Online mobility is increasingly becoming common place, and therein lies the answer. The product you need is right here in what I’m saying, I can see it.

Like you say Dan, the winner could take all in this gap-filled market and it’s there with horizontal market opportunities!

What it needs is some dedicated people to get together and piece together this puzzle.

]]> Comment on PhatNoise: From concept to launch by Dan http://dan.benyamin.org/2008/09/02/phatnoise-from-concept-to-launch/#comment-1175 Dan Fri, 31 Oct 2008 18:18:16 +0000 http://dan.benyamin.org/?p=32#comment-1175 VorTech: That's a name from the past -- if I remember from the VW forums? You have always been instrumental in keeping the community going, and I know the whole PN gang is pretty amazed at what the phathack guys have done. As Vince once told me, you aint nothing until someone has hacked you. And at this point you guys probably know more about the box then we do! ;) Feel free to contact me in the future. VorTech: That’s a name from the past — if I remember from the VW forums? You have always been instrumental in keeping the community going, and I know the whole PN gang is pretty amazed at what the phathack guys have done.

As Vince once told me, you aint nothing until someone has hacked you. And at this point you guys probably know more about the box then we do! ;) Feel free to contact me in the future.

]]> Comment on PhatNoise: From concept to launch by VorTechS http://dan.benyamin.org/2008/09/02/phatnoise-from-concept-to-launch/#comment-1162 VorTechS Mon, 27 Oct 2008 09:51:58 +0000 http://dan.benyamin.org/?p=32#comment-1162 I spent a long time looking for a Kenwood Keg that I could get in the U.K. that wouldn't cost me £1000+ for the older C710 version. I eventually got the 910 for a bargain £400 from someone that had an Apple and couldn't get it working. Since then I, along with many other enthusiasts have forged slowly but surely ahead to keeping the PhatBox alive... and we continue to do so. I personally have a 250GB drive in mine (as well as 120GB, 60GB and the original 20GB drive the box came with). I am also the author of PhatHack Media Manager, a replacement product for the original Media Manager (http://www.phathackmm.com), as well as the new DMS Tools (which also helps unlock certain features of the PhatBox - the URL that you mention Dan), but more importantly help revive/reset your DMS to a stock version (or a hacked version) without intervention, as well as prepare new drives for use in a PhatBox system. If we had the right information, we would unlock more potential from this fantastic device because it is very effective for it's now relatively small cost! What we really want to do, and what we are working on slowly, is to unlock the 'secrets' of the firmware process. We've gotten some way there, but unfortunately at the expense of that fantastic safe flashing process the PhatBox had. We love our PhatBoxes, and despite appearances (as per comments I have seen in various automobile forums) we are active! PhatNoise may be gone, PhatNoise.com may be a shadow of it's former self, but PhaHack.com, PhatHackMM.com and PhatNoise.org live on! I spent a long time looking for a Kenwood Keg that I could get in the U.K. that wouldn’t cost me £1000+ for the older C710 version. I eventually got the 910 for a bargain £400 from someone that had an Apple and couldn’t get it working.

Since then I, along with many other enthusiasts have forged slowly but surely ahead to keeping the PhatBox alive… and we continue to do so. I personally have a 250GB drive in mine (as well as 120GB, 60GB and the original 20GB drive the box came with). I am also the author of PhatHack Media Manager, a replacement product for the original Media Manager (http://www.phathackmm.com), as well as the new DMS Tools (which also helps unlock certain features of the PhatBox - the URL that you mention Dan), but more importantly help revive/reset your DMS to a stock version (or a hacked version) without intervention, as well as prepare new drives for use in a PhatBox system.

If we had the right information, we would unlock more potential from this fantastic device because it is very effective for it’s now relatively small cost!

What we really want to do, and what we are working on slowly, is to unlock the ’secrets’ of the firmware process.
We’ve gotten some way there, but unfortunately at the expense of that fantastic safe flashing process the PhatBox had.

We love our PhatBoxes, and despite appearances (as per comments I have seen in various automobile forums) we are active!

PhatNoise may be gone, PhatNoise.com may be a shadow of it’s former self, but PhaHack.com, PhatHackMM.com and PhatNoise.org live on!

]]> Comment on PhatNoise: From concept to launch by Dan http://dan.benyamin.org/2008/09/02/phatnoise-from-concept-to-launch/#comment-1116 Dan Fri, 03 Oct 2008 17:34:17 +0000 http://dan.benyamin.org/?p=32#comment-1116 Thanks Jarrod! The phatbox was (is?) in many ways ahead of its time, and I am glad you have enjoyed it. The various iPod solutions out there are getting better, though most are still a PITA to use while driving. I would recommend the Harman Drive + Play 2 since I worked on that product as well ;) Keep in mind there is still a very active PhatNoise hacker community at http://www.phathack.com/ These guys are by far the best way of keeping your system up and running... Thanks Jarrod! The phatbox was (is?) in many ways ahead of its time, and I am glad you have enjoyed it. The various iPod solutions out there are getting better, though most are still a PITA to use while driving. I would recommend the Harman Drive + Play 2 since I worked on that product as well ;)

Keep in mind there is still a very active PhatNoise hacker community at http://www.phathack.com/ These guys are by far the best way of keeping your system up and running…

]]> Comment on PhatNoise: From concept to launch by Jarrod Groves http://dan.benyamin.org/2008/09/02/phatnoise-from-concept-to-launch/#comment-1114 Jarrod Groves Fri, 03 Oct 2008 04:10:35 +0000 http://dan.benyamin.org/?p=32#comment-1114 I have a Phatbox, and have had one since 2003. It is the best there is, bar none. Ive been in Iraq for 2 years (Sep 06-Sep 08) and came back ready to load it up, buy a bigger drive for it, and load it up. I checked the sites, and seems like Phatnoise has quietly closed its doors and walked away. I hope something serious more mainstream is coming, because even 5 years later, people still dont understand how I have thousands of songs in my vehicle (BMW X5) without some iPod thingy connected (How do I keep it charged? How do I get my music on it? How does it annouce this and that?) Mind you, I also have a PS2, a 10-disc DVD changer, 5 screens, navigation system, a TV tuner, and an audio/video switcher with four control centers (so four of the screens can watch what they want). By far...Id give them all up and keep the Phatbox. Way to go... I have a Phatbox, and have had one since 2003. It is the best there is, bar none. Ive been in Iraq for 2 years (Sep 06-Sep 08) and came back ready to load it up, buy a bigger drive for it, and load it up. I checked the sites, and seems like Phatnoise has quietly closed its doors and walked away. I hope something serious more mainstream is coming, because even 5 years later, people still dont understand how I have thousands of songs in my vehicle (BMW X5) without some iPod thingy connected (How do I keep it charged? How do I get my music on it? How does it annouce this and that?) Mind you, I also have a PS2, a 10-disc DVD changer, 5 screens, navigation system, a TV tuner, and an audio/video switcher with four control centers (so four of the screens can watch what they want). By far…Id give them all up and keep the Phatbox. Way to go…

]]> Comment on Life Archiving by Function Unit Specialization through Code Analysis | dan.benyamin.org http://dan.benyamin.org/2008/07/28/life-archiving/#comment-1104 Function Unit Specialization through Code Analysis | dan.benyamin.org Fri, 26 Sep 2008 04:25:54 +0000 http://dan.benyamin.org/?p=21#comment-1104 [...] post is another entry in my life-archive series, and also from my academic career.  This paper was actually accidental:  I was enrolled in a [...] [...] post is another entry in my life-archive series, and also from my academic career.  This paper was actually accidental:  I was enrolled in a [...]

]]> Comment on About Dan by PhatNoise: From concept to launch | dan.benyamin.org http://dan.benyamin.org/about/#comment-889 PhatNoise: From concept to launch | dan.benyamin.org Tue, 02 Sep 2008 06:19:41 +0000 #comment-889 [...] About Dan « Optimizing FPGA-based vector product designs [...] [...] About Dan « Optimizing FPGA-based vector product designs [...]

]]> Comment on Life Archiving by Optimizing FPGA-based vector product designs | dan.benyamin.org http://dan.benyamin.org/2008/07/28/life-archiving/#comment-803 Optimizing FPGA-based vector product designs | dan.benyamin.org Mon, 28 Jul 2008 23:24:53 +0000 http://dan.benyamin.org/?p=21#comment-803 [...] About Dan « Life Archiving [...] [...] About Dan « Life Archiving [...]

]]> Comment on Why isn’t there an open source Twitter? by Dan http://dan.benyamin.org/2008/05/21/why-isnt-there-an-open-source-twitter/#comment-14 Dan Thu, 19 Jun 2008 19:25:48 +0000 http://dan.benyamin.org/?p=18#comment-14 Thanks Chris, this is very cool: http://laconi.ca/ The pub/sub interoperability is key. Is open microblogging going to be a capability of Diso? Thanks Chris, this is very cool:

http://laconi.ca/

The pub/sub interoperability is key. Is open microblogging going to be a capability of Diso?

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