When Google announced their intentions to deploy a gigabit broadband service, the entire U.S. stood up and took notice, and for several good reasons.  Gigabit connections would put the U.S. back in the driver’s seat, and there are countless applications that could benefit from incredibly fast broadband connectivity.  Online backups, video on demand services, video gaming, and general downloading can all be enhanced with gigabit class broadband, so it is not surprising to see cities, counties, and even states clamoring for a piece of the action.  After all, Google was intentionally vague when it came to outlining just where and when their gigabit broadband service would be available.

Topeka Goes Gaga for Google’s Gigabit

The first sign that Google had indeed stirred public interest was when Topeka changed its name to Google for a month.  The gauntlet was officially thrown down, even though the act was more of a publicity stunt than anything else.  Some may have thought that nothing would come of what appeared to be an idle challenge, but the exact opposite seems to be the case.  Every city in the nation seems to be clamoring to get Google’s attention in some way, shape or form.  Good PR has never been so cheap for those willing to at least commit to thinking about broadband progress.

More Cities Line Up to Make Their Case for Gigabit Broadband

Greensboro is making an attempt to grab Google’s attention by passing out Google/Greensboro shirts and trinkets at the Greensboro Coliseum.  This giveaway is part of a larger plan that includes an advertising campaign complete with social networking, incentives, and hopefully jobs for a lot of out of work citizens.  While Greensboro seems to be focusing more on creating a PR win for Google by helping a downtrodden city in the worst of times, Tempe is making a slightly different kind of bid.

Tempe’s bid apparently comes as a product of interest from its citizens, at least that is what Chair of Tempe City Council’s Committee on Technology, Economic and Community Development, Onnie Shekerjian had to say on the subject.  Tempe is allegedly willing to offer Google a very attractive package of incentives in exchange for the strong probability that Google’s gigabit network could not only connect government bodies and schools more effectively, but also because Tempe is already a burgeoning tech hotbed.  Gigabit broadband would be the proverbial icing on the cake necessary to attract the right types of talent and companies to one of Arizona’s finest cities.

Sarasota is in on the action as well, as is Cincinnati, Grand Rapid, Rochester, New Jersey, and even Duluth Minnesota are all trying to attract Google’s broadband business.  In fact, some Duluthians even posted a tongue in cheek YouTube pronouncement declaring every firstborn male child in their city would be named “Google Fiber” and each firstborn female would be renamed to “Gogglette Fiber.”  All joking aside, the fact is that the ball is rolling in a very large way.

Companies Are Getting in on the Action Too

Many believed that Google’s announcement was not meant to formally herald their entry into the broadband arena so much as it was to put the existing broadband providers on notice.  The future of broadband is progressing too slowly for Google’s tastes, as well as the tastes of those who follow technology in general.  The United States is desperately in danger of falling behind when it comes to broadband performance, despite valiant efforts from services such as AT&T’s U-verse and Verizon’s FiOS network.  These high speed networks serve only a small portion of the United States, and while they offer speeds unheard of by their competition, those speeds are starting to lag behind the rest of the world’s broadband connectivity.

The FCC has taken note of this and issued guidelines that will help broadband providers deliver 100 Mbps downstream connections to 100 million households and/or businesses by the close of the decade, but those speeds are already on the horizon for many consumers in European countries.  These incentives are allowing companies such as Globe Communications to expand their fiber optic network ahead of schedule.  This is very good news, and there are even rumblings in the Verizon camp that their next-generation FiOS network may be deployed in new markets instead of only offered as an upgrade to residents of existing FiOS markets.

In short, Google’s challenge seems to have paid off in terms of people, government bodies, and businesses taking notice.  With millions of Americans out of work, it would seem like a great time for the government to get the ball rolling on programs to put people to work developing and deploying new fiber optic networks.  Hopefully Google’s political clout and marketing genius will inspire providers to fall in line and get onboard.

The average wireless network can be both a blessing and a curse at the same time.  On one hand, it is often possible to connect everything from laptops, Skype phones, and even set top boxes (STBs) to a single wireless network.  This enables sharing of resources such as files on computers, NAS boxes, countless digital devices, and of course, the latest and greatest broadband connections that are set to become incredibly fast data pipes before the end of the decade.  Some services, such as AT&T’s U-verse and Verizon’s FiOS already integrate amazing features that rely on wireless networks.  The downside is that wireless networks do not always work as advertised, and troubleshooting them can be a daunting task for those who do not even know where to begin.

Fear not, what follows is a basic overview of a typical wireless network and how to determine what is going wrong so that a solution can be found.  This being the first part of a wireless network troubleshooting series, the main emphasis will be placed on understanding the typical wireless network.  Further installments in the series will answer specific questions, so feel free to leave questions in the comments section.

Wires Be Gone!

There are many times when wires are just not a great idea.  If one is renting a house or apartment, the idea of tearing up the carpeting might seem daunting or impractical on some level.  The downside is that wires are very reliable in terms of a medium, but air is far less so.  Not only can the physical properties of air change (density, temperature, humidity, and so on), but there can also be interference from other devices and even weather conditions that can disrupt a wireless network.

The first troubleshooting tip for anyone experiencing a flaky wireless connection would be to try to remove as many of the environmental variable as possible.  If the windows are open, try closing them as they allow environmental factors to be an issue and they allow radio waves to easily propagate inside the volume of air that the wireless network is trying to use.  There are also specialized windows, sealers and paints that block electromagnetic transmissions from entering a property, but not everyone has access to these.  Furthermore, committing time and money to such projects is probably not advisable at this stage; there are a few other tricks to determine whether interference is an issue.

Many forms of interference start with items in the home.  Many microwave ovens emit powerful yet invisible forms of energy that can utterly decimate a wireless connection for a short period of time.  Likewise, many cordless phones operate on the same 2.4 GHz frequency that many home networking devices use.  A simple test would be to unplug anything in the house that might be using or creating electromagnetic waves.  Microwaves, radios, mobile phones, and chargers of any kind should all be unplugged to see if they are interfering with network.  It is also worth noting that some motion sensing systems that are integrated into home security devices are also likely to emit potentially disruptive forms of energy.

If unplugging everything results in a more stable network with higher connectivity rates (usually wirelessly connected devices will display this in some way), then it should be easy to find the culprit(s) by plugging devices in one at a time and seeing which device(s) creates problems on the wireless network.  Note that some wireless devices themselves can be damaged or poorly designed, and may themselves be causing problems with the wireless network.  When in doubt, start with a single device and the wireless router.

Change the Frequency!

The problem is that while many wireless routers can use a new 5 GHz portion of the band, not all devices that can connect to such routers on that frequency.  This problem has been getting better with each and every hardware revision, but not all devices are entirely ready for the new 5 GHz spectrum.  Affordable, quality 5 GHz band routers are just now becoming readily available, and affordable devices are following suit.  Gaming consoles, wireless printers, and electronics of all types supporting the 5 GHz spectrum are cropping up almost every day, which might make shopping for wireless network components easier over time.  The good news is that by keeping the entire wireless network on one frequency, and other devices such as cordless phones on another, it is possible to have everything plugged in at once without devices causing interference with one another.  Less interference can also translate into a faster wireless network as well, which is also important for gamers and home entertainment enthusiasts who feed their passion with broadband.

More Next Time

This won’t be the last time that High Speed Experts takes a look at troubleshooting connections and devices.  We’ve heard the questions people have asked us via e-mail, and hope that this guide and the guides that follow will serve as invaluable troubleshoot tools.  Getting a home theater and/or home network running smoothly can be a real challenge, and it is no secret the technicians cost a bundle.  If anything can be taken away from this first guide, it should be that the easiest way to troubleshoot any wireless connection is to be aware of potential sources/causes, and remove them all before systematically turning wireless devices back on individually.  This is generally referred to as ‘going vanilla’ and in our next installment there will be additional topics covered, mostly relating to signal strength and how a stronger signal can help keep a wirelessly connected house or businesses running strong.

When Google announced plans for a groundbreaking fiber optic network that would offer broadband speeds of up to 1 Gbps directly to consumers, it turned more than a few heads.  Google did not announce exactly where this network would be, and they were rather vague as to how many customers it would serve only offering a somewhat ill-defined range that started at 50,000 and may scale up to 500,000 people.  The question is: what would one do to be one of the lucky consumers to have an ultra-fast broadband connection?

Easier Question: What Wouldn’t One Do?

Answering the question of what would one do for a gigabit connection to the Internet is probably not a good idea, at least not in public.  Let’s face it, there are a lot of things we might do without for such raw, unadulterated speed: beer, showering, a job, a spouse, a limb, and perhaps even a soul.  Would an entire city be capable of having its interest so piqued that it would give something else up?  A sports stadium?  A street?  How about the name of the city, at least for a period of time.

That is the exact solution that Topeka’s mayor, Bill Bunten, came up with.  Until the end of March, the capital of Kansas and seat of Shawnee county will be officially referred to as Google Kansas, the Capital City of Fiber Optics.  In a clear bid to save citizens from leveraging their souls for such speed, Google (the city) has raised the bar in a big way.  It would be nice to see a few tourist traps with a little Google Kansas flavor, but please do not change the delicious barbecue.

Can Anyone Top a Name Change?

With the bar set so high, it is worth questioning whether any other city, county, and/or state can match or beat Topeka’s bold move.  Given the stakes, it is probably best not to say that it will never happen.  Just consider what is at stake: jobs, infrastructure growth, the chance to attract residents and businesses based on a world-leading fiber optic network that is years ahead of the competition, and certainly ages ahead of the 100 Mbps by 2020 standard recently outlined by the FCC.  For some cities, that could be a very major change to their public image, possibly to the point where economies could be saved and tax revenues could return.  If such a change came about, perhaps the name Google Kansas would stick.

Just what would a government body or collective need to do to top the renaming of a city on a temporary basis?  Whatever they do, it is likely to need to be permanent and probably beneficial to Google the company, not the city.  Tax breaks and other incentives are likely to lure the industry titan more than simple publicity stunts, but that does not mean that a publicity stunt does not have to be part of the package.  The problem is that publicity today means little to consumers tomorrow, and even less next week.  By the time that Google’s network is ready, which will probably be measured in years, any publicity offered today will likely be long forgotten.

Will The Competition Keep Up?

The biggest question on everyone’s mind is whether the competition will try to keep pace with Google’s (the company’s) offerings.  The easiest company to draw parallels with is Verizon due to the fact that they offer their own fiber optic system that they refer to as the Verizon FiOS network.  FiOS is here today, and serving millions of customers with dizzyingly fast download speeds of up to 50 Mbps.  Given the fact that Verizon’s FiOS network rolled out of testing and into reality approximately 5 years ago, and the company is already testing faster services, it may not be long before Verizon is somewhere between the 100 Mbps/2020 standard and the 1 Gbps by whenever plan that Google (not the city) has only vaguely outlined.  Being a FTTH (Fiber To The House) vendor, much like Google’s (maybe both) network is expected to be, Verizon’s FiOS makes the best apples-to-apples comparison.  Even if the company could sustain a 50% increase in performance every 18 months or so, it would be nearly 2020 by the time that Verizon’s FiOS network could reach gigabit speeds.  It is worth noting that Verizon’s FiOS network does serve a lot more customers, but those relying on metal wiring have a much longer and harder road ahead of them.

Metal Can’t Can Do Gigabit?

Many customers have gigabit networks in their properties and know full well that metal wires can actually handle gigabit speeds, but these wires are not exactly the same kind of wires that are run from the curb-side boxes to houses.  Many curb-side boxes are serviced by fiber optic cables, which makes upgrading to and beyond gigabit possible, but that is not always the case.  Laying fiber optic cabling right to the property line is probably a better choice than running CAT-6, but it is possible that the entire fiber/gigabit demand might cause a severe shift in price and/or demand for fiber optics.  If that happens, metal wire based network components might see a resurgence in popularity for a while, but it seems unlikely that gigabit to the home will be commonly served with anything but fiber.

Bottom Line: Everyone Wins?

It is too early for a bottom line, but broadband enthusiasts everywhere should be happy to see cities change their names temporarily to try and build public interest in faster broadband services.  The United States is in dire need of rebuilding its IT infrastructure, and may be left in the proverbial dust if it cannot compete with other nations that have faster broadband services.  Google (the company) also benefits from the exposure and faster broadband connectivity, but ultimately the customers are going to win and the country may have been put back on the path to economic recovery with a single gigabit-sized gauntlet thrown down by the town formerly known as Topeka.

TiVo has long since been a mainstay in the home theater arena, but their new release looks to take things up a notch or ten.  Dubbed TiVo premier, the new version of TiVo includes some serious software tweaks and even some new hardware such as an eSata port and large internal hard drives.  And, yes, a TiVo capacity gauge is finally available.  The combination of the two is nearly ready for prime time, so the company that they would show it off to the public.  The TiVo Premier’s debut has seen a lot of positive press, and it certainly is not surprising.  The wedding of television and Internet technology that form the foundation of TiVo Premier can use broadband to amazing effect.

Before getting into the broadband-derived benefits offered by the TiVo Premier, it would probably be helpful to look at the incredibly impressive TiVo Premier user interface.  After all, the best technology in the world is essentially worthless without a proper user interface (UI) and the designers of the new TiVo system certainly seem to understand that.

The New Remote

At first glance the new TiVo Premier remote may not seem that interesting or amazing, but that is only at first glance.  Just like cell phones with slide out keyboards, the TiVo Premier comes complete with a full qwerty keyboard complete with chiclet keys are pleasant to the touch and easy to type with.  The ability to transform from an otherwise mundane looking remote control into a serious tool to interface with one’s television set.  Interaction would seem to be the future of viewing, and broadband will be the fuel that keep people tuned in with their hands gripped firmly to their remotes.  Texting, browsing, linking, twittering and who knows what else about the show one is watching will become common place, and TiVo seems poised to keep their name alive on the lips of consumers for years to come.

Flash Lives On

Despite Flash taking flak from developers and being all but banned from Apple’s mobile platforms, it seems that the standard has found a home in the TiVo Premier.  The entire user interface seems to use rich Flash elements but does not seem to be slow or ungainly.  The progress made by Flash on mobile phones probably carries over to making Flash run well on boxes such as the newer TiVo systems, but there are obviously other factors at work as well.  Regardless of why it works, the fact is that the implementation of Flash in the TiVo Premier system does seem to work fairly well but there are still a few kinks that need to be ironed out.

The problems with Flash and the TiVo premier may be ironed out with highly optimized caching, which certainly makes one wonder what the initial user experience will be like.  Chances are that the device will seem a little slower the first time it is used than it will after repeated usage, but that may not be a bad thing as users will often spend a few seconds gazing at the gorgeous user interface.  The new user interface is not only stunning to look at, it is also very useful.

Jump Around

The Flash powered user interface will allow users to jump around from one place to another in a way that seems intuitive yet powerful.  The result is a viewing experience that has elements of browsing, social networking, and other data-based services all wrapped up into one slick package.  The graduated blue background with roaming video clips and bold menu items forms the basis for a user interface that simply begs to be used.  So, how will using the Interface work?  One example would be the ability to browse and purchase and download on demand content from Blockbuster, Amazon Video on Demand, YouTube, NetFlix, and attached media devices or network sources for content.  Find a movie that looks great?  Look it up IMDB style.  Find an actor that is a true hunk or an actress who needs to grace your small screen more often?  Look them up and see what other movies and/or TV shows they have been in.  The entire experience is very fluid and dynamic, yet media rich.

Programs and content of all time are presented in a way that makes the Apple TV and Boxee Box look like they should take some notes.  A combination of large fonts and Flash-powered media selections is impressive, and yet the entire process feels surprisingly organic.  The best part is that the already amazingly slick user interface is far from final.  As any TiVo owner knows, tweaks and revisions are part of the experience, and the prototype units are not running final software.  While no major changes are expected, it is possible that minor tweaks will improve the already impressive user interface.

One of the best things about the Internet is that it allows virtually everyone with a connection to have a voice, or almost everyone.  Anyone who happens to live in a country with very strict Internet censorship guidelines may find that their voice is not welcome and that they may be cut off from the world at large or even worse.  While few people do not know that China often takes flak for its ‘net censorship, what some may find surprising is that countries people tend to associate with freedom are now following suit.  Countries such as Australia and France are now publicly unveiling plans to censor the content of the Internet, at least on a selective basis.  While France may serve as the  butt of many American jokes, keep in mind that the French people have staged violent uprisings against their own government over issues relating to civil liberties in the past, though it seems unlikely that any lives will be lost over the idea of Internet censorship in either country.  The fact is that a significant portion of the residents of Australia and France actually seem to support government-run Internet censorship.

Could the United States be one of the next countries to introduce Internet censorship?  Possibly, as the entire concept of ‘net neutrality is not well understood by the average person.  Those who enjoy broadband have a vested interest in following online censorship, but not everyone is looking for a truly open Internet.  Some, especially those with more traditional values, may actually welcome censorship as it is not entirely possible for them to avoid objectionable material with the technology in place today.

Australia and Censorship

The Labour Party of Australia has really gone against the proverbial grain by repeatedly attempting to pass a ‘net censorship bill in much the same way that Democrats in the United States have repeatedly tried to launch a public health care system.  The problem is that neither those on the left nor those on the right in Australia have seemed inclined to sponsor such a program until just recently.  In 2009, the Australian Communications and Media Authority Act (ACMA) was launched on a trial basis to see what legal saber rattling would do.  After all, the RIAA’s flurry of litigation seemed to work well against file sharers for a while and other examples from other countries seem to bear out the idea that citizens and businesses respond to legal threats.  Of course, the RIAA eventually adopt other tactics to achieve their goals, but the point is still valid: a little litigation scares the masses into compliance.

The ACMA essentially is more or less a government run and operated blacklist that sites hosted in Australia are not allowed to link to.  Additionally, Australian ISPs are required to filter traffic in such a way that content deemed inappropriate is shot down while in transit from one computer to another.  While that does not sound horrible or dangerous yet, it is a slippery slope.  After all, who sets the standards for what is and is not offensive?  But there is also a bigger question: how can one censor the entire Internet?  China certainly tries, but offensive material still slips in and out even with a massive government infrastructure and complete control of local telecoms.

France’s Route to Censorship

The French Assembly passed an Internet censorship bill that was not dissimilar to the Australian bill, but the major difference being that the bill is not being adopted tentatively.  In the case of France, the bill is expected to become a permanent fixture in French government and society.  What this might mean for models and/or producers of adult content in France is unclear, as is the situation for France’s legal sex industry.

Is Censorship Practical?

The additional processing power and network capacity required to manage ISP-based filtering may require substantial upgrades on the part of service providers and/or those that own extensive networks.  Whether government incentives would make such a feat financially feasible or not is anyone’s guess at this point in time, but there may be a silver lining to an otherwise ominous looking cloud: more hardware means more money in the economy and more IT administrators.

Could The U.S. Follow Suit?

The million dollar question is whether the U.S. will jump on the Internet censorship bandwagon in any meaningful way.  There are some strong arguments that the United States needs to take a more active role in securing the Internet, especially in light of recent security and preparedness reviews by third parties hired by the government.  In short, the U.S. is very dependent on the Internet, and stands a lot to lose by leaving it unprotected from a security standpoint.  Will getting these security holes plugged require a country-wide firewall similar to the Great Firewall of China?  If so, would censorship be part of the package in the U.S. too?

These are certainly questions to ponder, but one thing is clear: in light of security breaches, it is probably only a matter of time until the ‘net in the U.S. becomes hardened and protected.  When they happens, the censorship debate is almost certain to heat up.  It does not matter which side of the argument one happens to be on, there is a good chance that the future of the Internet might be changing rapidly.  Will that change be for the best?  It is hard to say, and no two people are likely to agree to what they consider ‘best’ in this regard.

The Upside

The good news is that protecting citizens from unwanted pornography and content might help reduce crime, but then again Internet censorship might do nothing or even cause an increase in crime.  The Internet is still a place where people are exploited every single day, and a little protection might be nice.  As so-called state sponsored hackers continue to breach corporate security and businesses lose personal information due to malfeasance, the public may actually cry out for protection even if that same protection comes with censorship that not everyone will agree on.

Broadband services have a way of leapfrogging each other in small increments.  One providers offers 10 Mbps downstream speeds and 2 Mbps upstream speeds, and another comes out with a 12 Mbps/3 Mbps plan.  The recession seems to have slowed this trend, and some cities have not seem the fierce competition that parts of California and New England have due to their comparatively high population densities.  In fact, some major markets are still being served by providers offering broadband limited in performance to 10 Mbps downstream speeds or less due to the lack of infrastructure investment.  At the same time companies such as Verizon offer blazing fast FiOS services with 50 Mbps downstream speeds and Comcast has even started deploying services with 100 Mbps downstream speeds.

Unfortunately, these deployments are not serving the bulk of American households and businesses at this time.  This profit motive based problem has led the FCC to get involved in order to ensure that America does not lose its competitive edge in the broadband arena.

100 is the Magic Number

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski announced a bold plan that will forever change the landscape of broadband in the United States.  The plan itself is the culmination of several months worth of meetings with technical experts in various fields, the goal is simple: to ensure that 100 million homes have access to broadband service that offers at least 100 Mbps  downstream speeds by the year 2020.  While the goal certainly sounds lofty, a decade is a long time and many are also questioning how the FCC can motivate broadband providers to get the ball rolling.  Incentives are likely to be offered in many forms, but there was surprisingly little mention of a stick to go along with these carrots.  It is unclear whether taxes or other penalties might await providers that decide that the new broadband plan is not something that they feel safe enough to invest in, and would rather make smaller incremental gains to receive the greatest return on their investments in marketing and infrastructure.

With just over 100 months to go until the start of 2020, the challenge of expanding networks to the doorsteps of millions of new customers coupled with the increase in performance of nearly 1 Mbps worth of downstream speed every month or two seems hard to swallow from the perspective of a provider.

Density Matters to Providers

After all, the U.S. is a very large geographical region and its population density is less than 85 per square mile.  This places the U.S. someplace around the 175^th in the world in terms of population density, but certain regions of the U.S. have far higher population densities than the national average.  These areas are almost uniformly those that are served by faster broadband connections while areas that are sparsely populated tend to be stuck with 1 Mbps download speeds at best, or perhaps relegated to using wireless broadband and/or satellite broadband services.

This trend is no coincidence, it is simply good business and it helps to illustrate why infrastructure investment is much easier to justify in densely packed European nations such as Italy with its population density of over 500 per square mile, the United Kingdom with a collective population density of over 650 per square mile, and Germany with approximately 600 people per square mile.  With so many customers and economies that typically do quite well, these countries are cash cows for service providers.  From the perspective of a broadband provider here in the U.S. it must seem difficult to justify the expenses involved with increasing broadband performance so dramatically in such a short period of time.  This ultimately makes it understandable why some publicly wonder if the entire plan will happen or just go down in the history books as another lesson in the difference between a great idea and a cold reality.

Is 2020 Too Late?

British Telecom plans to release 100 Mbps broadband services in the U.K. by 2012, and may be well on their way to gigabit connections that are not dissimilar to Google’s planned broadband offerings by the time that 100 Mbps connections are available to the majority of U.S. households and businesses.  France and other leading European nations are also planning similar networks to serve their citizens and businesses with the latest and greatest broadband services.  Perhaps it is a game of one-upmanship between European nations combined with their high population densities that creates such rapid advances, but it certainly leaves the state of broadband in the U.S. looking pale and sickly by comparison.

The big question is: what can people do with the extra bandwidth that they could not do at a slower pace with less bandwidth.  That is certainly a valid question to ask, but by the time someone answers that question with a new must-have technology, the U.S. could be a decade behind in terms of broadband infrastructure.  A current example of this limitation might be found in certain IPTV implementations that only stream two or three HD channels to a given consumer.  For the average American family that is not a problem, but it is unacceptable for a small hotel, or many other small and medium sized businesses that cannot afford enterprise class services.

At CES 2010 it was clear that the future of mobile devices is about to change course in a potentially game-changing way.  What was missing, and on the lips of many was the follow-up to Windows Mobile 6.5.  Unfortunately, no Windows Mobile update was unveiled at CES 2010, but you know what they say about good things; they come to those who wait.  And wait people have, Windows Mobile 6.5 was released in May of last year, and Windows Phone Series 7 should be in phones that hit store shelves by this holiday season.  That is a very long wait for an OS that usually takes a year or so between iterations.  The first question many people might have is: why the long wait?

A Clean Tablet Slate

The long wait is because Windows Phone Series 7 is not just an update to aging code that started accumulating when Plam ruled the smartphone/PDA roost and Apple was a failing company in dire need of new leadership that it eventually found in one of their ousted founders, Steve Jobs.  Microsoft is hoping that their new approach to Windows Mobile will attract a whole new generation of clients.  What is Microsoft’s approach?  A clean slate; Windows Phone Series 7 is not based on Windows Mobile code at all, but rather it is a close cousin to the Zune operating system.  No backwards compatibility for older Windows Mobile apps are planned, but that may not be a bad thing.  In fact, the new OS seems to be a fresh take on the entire mobile handset/PDA theme and it might even be used to power slates, tablets, and pads in 2011 and beyond.

Starting new also offers a few major advantages to Microsoft.  The first advantage is that they get to see what has worked and what has not worked in many mobile operating systems and app/media stores.  Being late to the game let Palm deliver a comparatively inexpensive new phone and OS that won the company rave reviews, and BlackBerry’s constant evolution continues to impress critics and reviewers.  Android is still somewhat nascent, but Microsoft will get to learn from their successes and shortcomings as well.  In short, sometimes it is good to be last.

The Hardware is Here

What is a good multi-touch OS without the hardware to back it up?  One of the best things about the technology shown off at CES 2010 from the perspective of a broadband enthusiast would have to be the mobile-platforms.  The latest hardware has enough horsepower to make mobile computing fast, visually compelling and less of a gimmick.  The latest hardware is already starting to appear in devices, but even faster and more efficient parts will be available by the holiday season.  With devices capable of driving apps that people actually want to use, mobile broadband use should skyrocket.  This may or may not present a problem depending on the level of preparedness carriers exhibit in any given market.  4G-capable models may be available at launch, further propelling Windows Phone Series 7 models ahead of the competition.

As with all previous versions of Windows and Windows Mobile, it is likely that Windows Phone Series 7 will allow for a wide variety of hardware choices.  One of the factors crippling the iPhone from the perspective of serious business use is the lack of a physical keyboard.  Android-powered phones and the newest Palm phones have keyboards, which only serves to make Apple more of a target for phone makers.  Unfortunately, all the hardware in the world is nothing without a solid OS and great programs, and this is where Windows Phone Series 7 hopes to fill a gap that not many even knew existed.

Out-Apple Apple

It would not be an understatement to suggest that Microsoft and Apple have been rivals for a very long time, and the iPhone’s amazing success must have taken the staff at Redmond by surprise.  After all, the Apple iPhone became a nearly overnight sensation and its integrated app store.  In fact, the entire industry was turned on its head by Apple, and competitors are only now starting to catch up.  The Palm Pre and Android-based phones have respectable libraries, but Microsoft does not want a small slice of the pie.  They are looking to invent a whole new pie with Windows Phone Series 7 and offer access to different kinds of stores including a media store and app store.  Microsoft is already talking about plans to link Windows Phone Series 7 to their Xbox Live service, which might indicate the possibility of devices powered by Windows Phone Series 7 becoming the next must-have mobile gaming devices.  Considering the amount of top-notch games on the iPhone and iPad, that does not seem too far-fetched.

One of the other features of the Windows Phone Series 7 OS is the fact that it is constantly updating contacts and other information based a number of social networking sites.  The data is constantly updated, letting people with Windows Phone Series 7 devices keep up to the second with thousands of contacts regardless of where they are.  This feature is likely to prove to be second only to the customization of the UI, which combines a high contrast/minimalistic approach with snappy transitions.  The ability to promote or demote items up and down the main menu makes a lot of sense, and allows people to sort their favorite functions easily.  One thing that is particularly interesting and iPhone-esque is the fact that Microsoft is being very coy regarding multitasking.  At this point it would seem that some applications can receive push notifications, but true multitasking may be a thing of the past.  Whether or not this is true or a good idea are subject to debate, but Apple has done quite well with a similar arrangement.

Can Microsoft out-do Apple at their own game, especially when nobody else seems able to?  Don’t count Microsoft out when it comes to gathering developers.  The company essentially railroaded DirectX adoption by buying out a laundry list of developers in the 1990s and early 2000s, and chances are good that the firm could use a similar brute force approach to spur adoption again.  Of course, subtler methods may also work now that Microsoft has proven that they can make developer friendly OSes.  They jury is out on whether Microsoft’s app, media, and/or other online stores can outdo Apple’s offerings, but one thing is sure: these stores are likely to give wireless broadband connections a real workout.

Hints of Windows 8?

While Windows Phone Series 7 seems exciting in its own right, the idea of reinventing a core OS offering may be a hint of what is to come in the next version of Windows for personal computers.  Apple has reinvented itself a few times in terms of OS, but Microsoft has essentially provided a very long line of backwards compatible OSes, some more than others.  If Windows Phone Series 7 takes off, it could be taken as an indication that the public accepts the idea of Microsoft starting anew if they have a great series of new ideas.  While a clean slate approach may not work for Microsoft, it may not be a fantasy worth giving up on just yet.  Having a unified OS that covers mobile devices, gaming consoles, and personal computers is certainly an appealing concept from a software management point of view.  Will it ever happen?  Possibly, but maybe not in time for Windows 8.

Waiting…

With several months left to wait for announcements, it is likely that a stream of information on Windows Phone Series 7 will slowly scale into a full-scale information eruption just prior to the official launch.  Until then we can just sit back and watch for rumors and hope that wireless carriers are preparing for the showdown between Android, WebOS, the iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch OS, and Windows Phone Series 7 devices.  Note to wireless carriers: 5GB caps on unlimited plans may have been a good idea before there were so many highly desirable and useful mobile devices, but that is about to change.  Please be ready.

One of the best things about signing up for the latest and greatest broadband service is the speed, but how can one really measure the speed of their connection?  After all, is there really a difference between a 15 Mbps per second DSL connection and the performance offered by a 15 Mbps cable modem service?  Certainly not, if one listens to people complaining on various forums around the Internet.  The answer to that question might depend on a great number of factors, and surprisingly, there are two different ways to measure broadband performance.  Before looking at the two different kinds of tests, it is worth looking at a few key terms that many people overlook.

A Few Helpful Definitions

Downstream : Downstream is the speed at which a computer can download data through its internet connection.  Examples of when downstream performance comes in handy include downloading large files and watching streaming video.

Upstream : Upstream is the measurement of speed leaving he computer, bound for some destination on the Internet.  Examples of situations where high upstream speeds come in handy include updating blogs, posting pictures to sites such as Flickr, and adding videos to one’s YouTube account.

Ping : Ping is a measurement of how long it takes a piece of data to travel to a specific destination and return.  Low pings are important for video conferencing, voice communications such as VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), and gaming.  In fact, low ping times are essentially for gaming, but no less important for real-time communications.

Synthetic Tests and the Shape of Things to Come

One of the most common ways that people measure broadband performance is to visit sites that offer synthetic performance tests.  These tests are called synthetic because they measure abstract tasks that are often simulations of real-world tests.  Almost everyone has heard that there is a significant difference between theory and reality, and this same gap may appear when trying to use a synthetic benchmark for a broadband system.  That is to say that real world usage patterns may produce different results than a synthetic test, most often on the lower side.

The reason for this could be attributable to Internet traffic shaping, which is essentially a way of saying data-prioritization.  Some data is very time sensitive, such as real-time voice and video conferencing data, but less so in other applications such as uploading and/or downloading large files.  For example, if a few data packets containing video and/or audio information are delayed in a real-time conference, the results would be notable distortion.  On the other hand, people may not notice a few hundred bytes per second fluctuation in a large upload or download; in fact, such fluctuations are quite normal.

The reason that such fluctuations are normal is the aforementioned traffic shaping.  The further the data is from where it is going, the more networks it has to go through, and thus the more chances are that the data will be delayed due to traffic shaping.  This makes trusting ping times particularly difficult when it comes to synthetic tests, because they are essentially a controlled environment.  Upstream and downstream speeds may be more reliable, but they too change over the course a day.  Why?  Because people use the Internet more during some hours than others, and many upload/download tests used to measure upstream and downstream are impacted by the additional traffic.

Real World Testing

The best kind of testing is probably that of real world testing.  After all, who buys a connection only for the purposes of running synthetic tests?  If things that used to be sluggish seem fast, then chances are good that the new broadband connection is better suited to one’s needs.  Real world tests are rarely easily and unequivocally measured, but they are the tests that matter.  Unfortunately, the real world often makes for unreliable tests; one day the connection will feel blazing fast, while the next day it might not seem so quick.  There are simply too many factors to consider in many real world tests, but that does not make them any less important.

Additionally, some benefits of faster connections are only apparently when and if multiple applications are running and using the Internet at the same time.  For example, ultra fast connections might be able to handle downloading a full season of Lost at a reasonable ratewhile not causing tangible increases in ping times.  Slower connections might make downloading large videos while playing a game a high-ping experience that results in a bad experience.  Worse, the download speeds are likely to be negatively affected as well.

On top of all this, measuring broadband performance in a real world setting is often subject to more influence by the number of users on the Internet that are using servers between the test site and where data is going to/coming from.  In a synthetic test, all of the data is coming from and going to a single destination in most cases, but that is rarely the case in the real world.  People are downloading video files and software patches while uploading photos to Flickr, or streaming video to a media box while playing World of Warcraft.  The bottom line is that real world speed tests offer so many factors, but that does not mean that they cannot be tested.  It just means that the results are based on one’s own usage patterns, schedule, and the schedule and usage patterns of other groups of users that create a sort of ‘Internet interference’ that results in slower data packet processing.

Summary

Measuring broadband performance can be done in many ways, but real world tests are often more important than synthetic tests for any number of reasons.  That does not mean that synthetic benchmarks are unimportant, but they are ultimately less important than they might make themselves seem.  The best way to measure broadband speed is simply to give it a try.  Unfortunately, that can be quite expensive, and the apprehension borne from this quandary has given root to all manner of myths regarding why DSL is better than cable, or why cable is better than DSL, or even why people should just go back to dial-up.

While the 3G wireless price wars are still red-hot, only a few companies seem poised for the next pricing and performance battleground: 4G.  Surprisingly, Sprint is one of those carriers and the company is looking to make a preemptive strike by selling 4G phones and services soon.  This does leave a few questions, however, some of which are harder to answer than others.

The Big Question: When?

There are two different timetables floating around the Internet, some simply saying that Sprint’s 4G service will be available by the end of 2010 while the other rumor suggests that Sprint will start offering 4G services sometime in the second quarter.  While many might hope for a second quarter launch, nobody wants to see Sprint launch a service before they are ready from a technical standpoint.  The results could be nothing short of calamitous, but there honestly seems little chance of Sprint launching something half-baked given the company’s track record.

What makes a sooner-rather-than-later release seem more likely is that Sprint and Clearwire opted to go the WiMAX route for their 4G technology.  AT&T and Verizon went with an updated version of LTE, which may ultimately prove to be superior from a technical standpoint, but industry analysts suggest that the amount of time that it takes to deploy an LTE upgrade is far greater than the time it takes to deploy a new WiMAX network.  Will being first be more important than offering a few Kbps more speed?  Ask original iPhone owners, some of which are just now getting out of their initial contract and upgrading to new phones, but the answer is probably yes.

On the subject of answers, the crystal ball is certainly cloudy but a second quarter launch would seem possible.  The technology is here, the next generation of mobile devices are right around the corner, and the competition might be left in the rearview mirror, at least for a few months.  The best evidence of the readiness might be the fact that Sprint has recently deployed WiMAX in 5 major markets, while ultra-fast 4G LTE services are still being tested in very select areas.

Question Number Two: What (Phones/Devices)?

CES 2010 showed a great number of portable devices that have the power to fully utilize today’s 3G technology.  While older silicon lacked the computational horsepower to keep applications moving and data flowing at full tilt, that is not going to be a problem for much longer.  A slew of new handsets using Android are upon us and Windows Phone 7 series is due to launch by the end of the year.  Palm and other mobile phone designers may also have a few interesting updates based on the latest silicon, so there is a good chance that products will be on the market and ready to take advantage of WiMAX by the time that Sprint is ready to open 4G services nationwide.

The Eternal Question: Why?

Out of all the questions, this is perhaps the easiest to answer.  Sprint has never really achieved the market penetration and mindshare of rivals such as Verizon and AT&T.  While AT&T and Sprint were not as flashy as T-Mobile and Verizon only a few years ago, AT&T changed their position by partnering with Apple.  Millions of iPhones later, AT&T is on the map and on everyone’s tongue.  Sprint has been picking up as many high caliber mobile phones and smartphones as they can, especially those that they can get for an exclusive period such as the Palm Pre and Pixi.  With a reasonable assortment of high quality phones available, Sprint still needs something to give their name that extra push into the public’s eye.

That very thing may be 4G, and the competition’s lack of it.  If Sprint can be the first or even the second carrier to offer nation-wide 4G services, they will be in an incredible position from a bragging-rights perspective.  4G services are due to be incredibly fast, and the devices that can make good use of that speed should be here by the time that Sprint is ready.  If Sprint can craft a clever marketing campaign, they might put themselves in a position to sign a lot of new contracts and sell a lot of mobile phones and devices.  A win for Sprint could be a win for consumers too, as it could drive prices of 3G services down and spur 4G development as competitors rush to catch up.

HBO has long since been acknowledged as one of the industry leaders in providing excellent television, even if they do cancel some of their best series right when they start getting interesting.  Instead of offering a moratorium for great shows such as Deadwood and Rome, this post is dedicated to an interesting use of the Internet: streaming content, and a lot of it.

HBOGO, The Best Reason To Have Broadband EVERYWHERE You Go

Despite HBO’s penchant to cancel great shows in or just before their prime, the fact of the matter is that HBO literally owns a mountain of amazing content.  Little Britain USA, Extras, Rome, Deadwood, Carnivale, OZ, Six Feet Under, Sex and the City, The Sopranos, Band of Brothers, Da Ali G Show, Def Comedy Jam, and True Blood are just a few of HBO’s amazing programs, and that list is already quite extensive.  In addition to the television shows, HBO has long since been known as a major carrier of top-notch sporting events, unique movies, and documentaries that currently appear under the America Undercover brand.  The point is that HBO has a library that has something it it for everyone.  Add in content from HBO’s other channels, especially HBO Family, and one would be hard pressed to browse through the entire library of content and not find something that they aren’t absolutely taken by.

The question many might be asking about now is: what is HBOGO and how does all this content fit in with HBOGO?  The answer is the HBOGO is a website, but it is also a content delivery method.  HBOGO offers select HBO content anywhere that a broadband connection is available, even over wireless devices that are connected via some form of suitably fast mobile broadband.  This happens to be nearly perfect timing because the Apple iPad and other amazing mobile devices seem poised to build up public interest in wireless broadband technologies.  Of course, a desktop or laptop can also be used to access HBOGO, but what makes today’s news truly interesting is that Verizon FiOS customers can also access HBOGO content if they have a subscription to the HBO package.

If that news has one scratching their head, then it might be worth noting that Comcast customers have also had access to this same content for a short while, and the venture seems to have merit in the eyes of HBO executives and the powers that they answer to.  Explaining the appeal of this approach to everyone outside the boardroom probably requires a brief overview of IPTV, so without further adieu…

HBOGo is a Sure Sign That IPTV is Changing the Game

While it is no secret that IPTV is likely to change the very future of broadcasting, only a handful of studios have really started exploring alternate methods of content delivery.  This apprehension is certainly understandable, as some may not really have any amazing ideas on how to bring that content to the masses.  While some studios are stuck waiting for the next big thing, others are naturally reticent, perhaps fearing a deterioration in their relationship with local carriers.  A few major names have made bold progress, taking enormous steps forward and delivering content online.  HBO is joining these ranks, but the question many might have is simple: Why?

From HBO’s prspective, the answer is that the company is completely at the mercy of an intermediary: the cable companies around the country.  Most other industries at least offer producers of goods and/or services the choice of dealing directly with customers, but the cable industry is quite different.  Giving HBOGo away to Verizon FiOS customers that already have HBOGO certainly makes sense for HBO, but why would Verizon go along with it?  Chances are that Verizon realizes that the writing is on the wall, after all they use a form of IPTV in their FIOS system and offer wireless broadband, DSL and fiber optic broadband to millions of customers.  In short, Verizon is not a company mired in the past, but looking into the future, and that future is IPTV powered by broadband.

What could Verizon have in mind?  One possible idea would be for HBO to deliver content via an app or even allow new FiOS customers who do not opt for HBOGO to have a trial.  That trial might drive sales, and HBO has placed a few limits as to the content available on HBOGO.  Current limitations may be in place to keep from ruffling feathers and generating law suits, which would certainly but a damper on inter-company relationships and rule out such future cross-promotional possibilities.

What is truly amazing is that the customers win with the current and possible future arrangements between HBOGO and digital cable providers.  When was the last time that two major companies got together and the result was good for their customers and/or the general public?  That rarely, if ever happens.  IPTV is essentially to the dawn of a new era in television consumption and advertising, and HBO is near the forefront.  Hopefully their example will inspire others, and hopefully carriers will gracefully permit the change instead of fighting tooth and nail like the music industry did over digital content distribution.