By 2013, the average household will have 2.5x as many digital media devices (computing, gaming, stationary digital consumer electronics, portable and mobile wireless devices) in use as in 2008, according to In-Stat. Accompanying this adoption will be a rise in the number of these devices that are network-enabled, leveraging various wired mediums and wireless technologies, like coax, phone wiring, powerline, Ethernet, and Wi-Fi. Networking over wiring that already exists in homes is becoming increasingly important. This is particularly the case among service provider entertainment networks that connect set-top boxes together and to residential gateways.

 

“Over the next few years, service providers will drive the growth of in-home networks” says Joyce Putscher, In-Stat analyst. “Entertainment networks tie set-top boxes together, enabling additional services, such as whole-home DVR. Providers will encourage more PC home networks by replacing modem-only households with residential gateways.”

 

The recent research by In-Stat found the following:

• Two segregated home networks (HN) have been evolving – a service provider-centric network, and a PC-centric network. Each is leveraging different business models and technologies.
• While consumers want to be able to move content and services between the two types of networks, both technical and business model barriers will continue to stand in their way.
• Average PC home network throughput will rise by more than 70% from 2008 to 2013.
• Nearly 2/3 of consumer respondents from In-Stat’s survey expressed an interest in watching Internet video on their TV.
• Thus far, most service provider deployments using MoCA and HomePNA have been in North America, in terms of volume.

 

Interesting research, but haven't they missed the wireless technology DECT / CAT-iq?

Gigaset use sophisticated VoIP technology to meet human needs. They have created Gigaset.net, a unique online community to connect people. And being part of this community is even good for your budget.

 

Via Gigaset.net, users make free calls with their Gigaset IP handset to all other Gigaset IP phones. Brazil, China, France, Japan, or even the neighbour next door – the Gigaset.net free-calling community knows no boundaries.
On Gigaset.net, the user can configure and manage info services.

A user can join the community by buying any Gigaset IP phone and he will automatically become a member of the Gigaset.net community.

As a member he will be able to:

 - Speak to the people you love most for free.
 - Quickly find friends and be found by them in the Gigaset.net phonebook.
 - Easily phone over the internet without using a PC.

As this platform is able to integrate CAT-iq, we thought it is interesting for all CAT-iq interested people.

Metrological Media Innovations and 2L International today introduce the first ready-to-market media product based on the Intel® Media Processor CE 3100, the first in a new family of purpose-built System on Chips (SoCs) for the Consumer Electronics market and built on Intel's popular IA Architecture. The SoC brings a great visual and audio experience to the Consumer Electronics market space.

Metrological Media Innovations and 2L International will market, together with Intel, new CE media devices. Thanks to strong synergies between Metrological and 2L International, they will present multiple solutions based on one platform for the retail market as well as one for cable- and telecom providers, content distributors and producers.

With the Intel® Media Processor CE 3100, Metrological and 2L will bring the next generation media player, based on the Mediaconnect TV technology. The device is the next generation all-round media platform offering the highest quality possible, full high-definition audio and video. The software is highly stable and easy to customise. The Mediaconnect TV is a consumer product with consumer based requirements such as direct on, no loading screens, silent and low power usage. Because of the enormous possibilities of the CE 3100 SoC, Metrological and 2L see this as the new alternative for advanced media products. Companies can port their existing software solution and content directly or they can request a tailor made solution. Metrological and 2L present a combination of on demand services together with a full advanced HD media player in multiple countries.

 

 

The retail solutions with the brand name Conceptronic will have full high-definition user experience including full high-definition video and audio. The Mediaconnect TV software supports DLNA (In Home Content Sharing) as a client and even as a server, which makes multi-room easily enabled. The device can be connected via wired Ethernet or wireless via 802.11n. The local storage of the device will be available up to 2TB. Dual DVB-T tuners can be added for Free-To-Air channels or PVR functionality.

The user-friendly user interface is optimised to run natively on the OpenGL ES and OpenVG technologies.
Possibilities are to make playlists, sort music by album or artist and a search function to have fast access into the music library. The option with harddisk will be positioned as the main home device expandable with the streaming version as a client into other rooms. The family household will be media enabled and each family member can enjoy their multimedia experience in different rooms wired or wireless.

The option for cable- and telecom providers, content distributors has the capability of connecting to unmanaged and managed IP services including optional hybrid DVB® solutions. The Mediaconnect TV software is a Linux-based high performance firmware, with fast boot times, high uptime, device management and a high performance framework to access all hardware layers. The Mediaconnect TV software can be integrated within middleware platforms and other back-end solutions.

"Experience Fast TV and Internet at home as experienced never before"
The framework has Application Programming Interfaces (API) for the media player, webcam, local or USB(tm) storage, EPG and User Interface (UI). The media player is capable of playing all major codecs. The video and audio codecs are hardware accelerated by the Intel media processor, drivers included as well. The framework can use up to four hardware optimised graphical layers with optional alpha channels. The layers support a resolution up to 1080p full High-Definition on HDMI(tm) 1.3a and are downscaled on component to 1080i and up to 576p on the composite.

 

 

The framework supports one-way traffic via DVB-T/S(2)/C and two-way via IP (Ethernet, Wi-Fi(tm) and Cellular), as well as hybrid two-way solutions through combinations of DVB® and IP. Over IP it is possible to use peer-to-peer technology for media distribution and any type of streaming for live content. Recorded, local or USB(tm) stored content can be distributed via DLNA® /UPnP(tm) AV to other enabled UPnP devices within the home. This enables consumers to watch User Generated Content (UGC) via the MediaConnect TV.

"One platform, multiple solutions"
"In order to create maximum flexibility one platform has been created with the possibilities to add features and to build a tailor made solution for different customers. Thanks to the different layers, the Graphical User experience can be optimized by combining multiple functions in just one view. The modular device connects seamless to existing services like Video-on-Demand, TV channels or other Internet services. By offering additional features new markets can easily be explored. Add an internal HDD, integrated wireless 802.11n, SD/MMC card reader, IR and Bluetooth to connect a mouse, keyboard or remote control and you will have a completely different product.

The Mobile Broadband Modems market has transitioned from a high-end niche device market to a lower-margin mass market with the increased penetration of Chinese players Huawei and ZTE. Telecompaper's latest research report shows that the mobile broadband modem market, including USB modem devices, PC Cards, ExpressCards, and internal cellular modems for laptops and mini-laptops, reached around 10.5 million units in Western Europe in 2008, more than doubling from 4.3 million in 2007.

Demand was fuelled by declining prices, both of modems and packages offered by operators, heavy promotions, improved performance and consumer-oriented packages including free USB modems with mini-laptops. Telecompaper estimates around 18.3 million mobile data modem subscribers in Western Europe in 2008, which is around 3.6 percent of the total mobile subscriber base. Around 62 percent of the mobile data modem subscribers were situated in the UK, Germany and Italy.

“Growth in 2009 is expected to be tempered due to the economic uncertainty,” said Alejandra van de Roer, Telecompaper research analyst and author of the report. All traditional players in this market segment are feeling the impact of the softening economy, as seen by the decline in recently reported first-quarter revenues. Nevertheless, over the next five years, overall demand for mobile broadband modems will continue and see a compound annual growth rate of 19 percent, reaching shipments of 25 million units by 2013.

The USB modem form factor became in 2008 the preferred method for connecting a laptop to the internet. It will continue to show stable, but slower growth during the forecast period. Embedded modems for laptops are expected to exceed the number of external modems by 2012, mainly through further push and collaboration by the operator and laptop vendor community.


 

Ubee Interactive (formerly known as Ambit Broadband), will be showcasing its EuroDOCSISTM certified DOCSIS 3.0 products at the upcoming ANGA Cable Show 2009, held in Cologne, Germany from May 26 – 28 (Booth D68). Along with these innovative broadband products, Ubee will feature the company’s “U-Gateway TM ” convergence platform; a revolutionary product, which allows operators to supports digital voice, IPTV, and DVB-C, all through a single home gateway.  

“Given the comprehensive testing performed as part of the EuroDOCSIS process, achieving certification on the first round is especially gratifying, “said Morad Sbahi, Ubee’s VP of Marketing and Business Development (EMEA). “It’s demonstrates our commitment to be a market leader who stands poised to meet the rapidly-evolving needs of the marketplace.”

The EDM3500 data modem (8 downstream channels & 4 upstream channels, or “8 x 4” capability) can deliver up to 400 Mbps downstream, and 120 Mbps upstream. Leveraging the same 8 x 4 functionality, the Model EVM3200 2-line EMTA was also awarded certification for EuroCertWave 34. With its EuroPacketCable 2.0 support, the EVM3200 can readily enable applications developed within the IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) architecture.

To complement its DOCSIS 3.0 portfolio, Ubee will also be demonstrating its industry-leading U-Gateway.  This revolutionary product allows service providers to integrate digital voice, IPTV, as well as the DVB-C transmission standard through the U-Gateway terminal.

As we still think that it would be great to have CAT-iq products based on Android or other existing open OS standars, we thought this information is interesting to you.

SDG Systems announced today the availability and support of a developer version of the Trimble® (TDSTM) Nomad running Google® Android. The Nomad-Android developer system incorporates the Google Android 1.5 software release and utilizes features specific to the "cupcake" release, like the on-screen keyboard. The Nomad-Android developer system allows developers to implement and test Android 1.5 commercial applications on a ultra-rugged mobile system with a fast 806 MHz processor, up to 2 GB of Flash storage and a full-VGA (640x480 resolution) screen.

In addition, SDG Systems is providing development and support services to organizations with special hardware needs. SDG Systems has developed Linux operating system support for various USB, Bluetooth® and CompactFlash® devices, including USB cellular support and supporting a partner to enable communication with military radios. SDG Systems is capable of implementing full Linux ports to various hardware platforms.

"SDG Systems has been developing and supporting Linux-based mobile devices since 2001," said Todd Blumer, President of SDG Systems. "We have the experienced team to develop and support a commercial-quality version of Google Android on rugged mobile platforms. SDG has worldwide deployments of Linux running on the Trimble Nomad and the Google Android platform is a natural extension of our existing Linux implementations. Our goal is to continue to be a world-wide leader of Linux-based software running on rugged mobile platforms."

Google Android's cross-platform development environment offers great benefits to organizations. It allows developers to use their preferred desktop platform for the development of Android applications. The Android 1.5 SDK supports the EclipseTM Integrated Development Environment (IDE) on Windows®, Mac OS X®, and Linux®. SDG's implementation of Android on the Nomad currently supports adb (the Android Debug Bridge), GPS, 802.11b/g wireless, bar code scanning, touchscreen, backlight, and key entry.  Support for the camera, Bluetooth and unlocked GSM (quad-band with EDGE data capability) is expected soon.

 

Developers who want to get in touch with the android team of SDG, click here.