Tech Update - The future is coming!

This is an interesting article featured on Zdnet.com on stuff I would consider way into the future. The only problem now is worrying about your TV crashing. :D

Taken from http://netscape.com.com/2100-1104-938110.html?type=pt

Microsoft tests home-network PC

Microsoft has shipped an early trial version of "Freestyle"--its new entertainment-centric PC design--to some beta testers, a company representative confirmed Thursday.
PCs equipped with a remote control and an early, pre-beta release of the Freestyle software were sent to a small group of testers that have been accepted into the Freestyle beta program, said Jodie Cadieux, marketing manager for Microsoft's eHome division. She said comments from the advance test will help decide the nature and release date of a full beta version of Freestyle.

Announced early this year at the Consumer Electronics Show, Freestyle is a part of Microsoft's eHome strategy to shift personal computing to the living room. PCs equipped with Freestyle software and hardware add-ons would act as a digital entertainment jukebox, distributing music, video and photos throughout a networked home.

Initial incarnations of Freestyle--expected to go on sale by the end of this year--will be much more modest, however. The early version will be similar to current PCs, but with a remote control and a somewhat redesigned user interface to make it easier to access certain functions from a couch.

Some analysts have said that for Freestyle to catch on with consumers, it will need to be combined with Mira, Microsoft's design for touch-screen wireless monitors that can access PC functions from anywhere in the home.

Oh no!!! It's a nightmare!

2 or 3 years ago Microsoft wanted to implent Windows in cars and some people laughted we would have to use the start menu to stop our car.
But, for me, a house comanded by Windows could only be a good horror movie subject.

I didn't even read your post, you spooked the crap out of me.... The Future is coming...

Will the house go crazy and slaughter all inside? What if windows crashed? Do the people then have to starve to death. Watch that ice cube maker in the fridge never work again. I really hope some japanese company just comes out with something faster and makes microsoft's work useless, hehe.:)

yeah you have a complete freeze and everything in the house locks down... the air starts to fade.... then you black out... it'd be the new black screen of death but this time it's all you'll see from then on!!!! Death to windows. actually I have lots of windows in my house, it'd just be another one to break :-)

It's very interesting that *cough* Found to be Monopolistic in court of law *cough* Microsoft seems to be spreading it's tentacles.

Not much information there. But it isn't surprising. There are quite a few ppl now using their PC as the hub for their entertainment. Watch movies on their TV, which is playing off of their HD. Play music on their computer, which is linked to their HI-FI stereo.

And of course, the home LAN.
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This isn't the future. It is already here. You just need to take the initiative, and implement it yourself.
So what exactly does this "Freestyle" do, that we aren't doing already?

Its all an evil plot of Microsoft to take over our homes. Beware they are only in our computers now, but they are spreading.

Did you forget the Xbox? They are already spreading.

Hell, this dosn'e surprise me at all. I already use my palm pilot to operate my TV, VCR, DVD, Stereo, Garage Door, Inerface with my computer, cell phone, ect.. Its only at matter of time till everything we have will be, in some way, influenced by computers.

Of course the artice also sounds like Microcarp is trying to resell Web TV to everyone after it bombed big time. Oh well

Peace

Ok, first off.. I am glad the future is comming.. I was watching the movie "Minority Report" (you know with tom cruise) and he walks into his lil apartment and says "I'm Home" and the lights turn on and his whole apartment comes to life.


Personally I hope Linux would run the digital home.

LOL! Microsoft is a virus that spreads through out homes. I bet that this system will fully fail as you will need a wireless keyboard and mouse to access everything. Touch screens are too expensive. Also, we DO NOT need microsoft to shift PCs to the living room. After AMD releases it's 64-bit "Hammer" processers, I will get a dual AMD "Hammer" or "Op." processer system. Guess where will I put this system? In my living room! It will be attached to my 5.1 system, TV, and most of all, will put monitors there too to hi-resolution gaming! NOW! DID THAT NEED THAT MONEY GRABBING SOB to get my PC to my living room? HECK NO! I would also attach it to my Satelite to record, pause, and replay living programmings.

I would rather install the IBM something "HOME" system.

What would win this, for any company, would be ease of use....
And whether you like Microsoft or not, you've gotta admit, they make things easy...

Nothing would kill this idea off quicker than the average user, in this case, the average couch potato, having to actually think *heaven forbid ;)* about how to turn on the radio, or the tv... they wouldn't care if their TV crashed once in a while, if they can just point, and press a button on the remote, and have their favourite movie just pop up onscreen...

/me wonders how long it would take to reboot a house...


GEL

Hey, I would love an interactive house, that sounds excellent! But more advanced than in the article. I once read some cheesy 80s SF novel called Mercedes Nights, think it was Michael Weaver wrote it, and while it wasn't exactly a mesmerising plot I really loved how in the time the story was set, all the houses were run by computers with AI I think, they would assess stress levels in the occupants and offer narcotics, medication and appropriate music when necessary. Those houses were brilliant, roll on the future!

XXX

Personally, I worry about the "true" internet appliances... that is, times where you dishwasher, frig, washing machine, etc... they'll all be hooked up to the internet and will automatically do things like keep the inventory of your fridge and order your groceries for you based on your usage. Of course, it'll all be done by Microsoft first... and then the fridge will GPF and lock the crisper drawer and you'll need to back, but... HeHe...

But just imagine the real security implications... fridge is running SNMP or something equivalent and somewhere in the OID there's a "light" status indicating the last time it was turned on. What do you think the chances of someone hacking in to someone's fridge and seeing that indicator? Furthermore, what do you think it tells them if the light hasn't been on in, say, the last few days or even a week or two?

I'm with gstudios all of this has been done already. Simple freware programs already to read bar codes if you have a scanner, feed a DVD from the computer to the TV why when DVD players are like 89 bucks. Anway thing is if you do it yourself none of the stuff is going to phone home or anyone. Excuse me I do not want my local food store to keep track of what I may eat or drink, watch on my TV or where I surf. Use this product the EULA from M$ makes the the owner of all your information. Currently there is a civil case where Safeway used it customer card to prove in court a person injured in their place of business purchased beer real regular more so then other customers and it is not their fault this person must have been drunk. Funny thing about this is Safeway knows the beer was purchased but don't know who drank it now do they. This product is like the old 12 foot long stereo console any part of it breaks and the entire system is junk. No doubt more added customer need this stuff from M$ even the security path to their media player EULA gives them the right to get on your computer, want your grocery store in your frig next?