Home at OpenSolaris.org
Sun have now made OpenSolaris available. There are still encumbered bits of Solaris in there, but they've made the tools available to build Solaris on Sparc and on x86/x64.
Anyone can get an account (you need to register). Solaris is a good operating system, whether this will make a dent in the Linux market is debatable, but since they're giving away Forte development tools (which produce highly optimised code for at least the Sparc architechture) it should attract quite a few developers.
2005/06/17
| ARCchart | Blueprint : WiMAX hype becomes hysteria
| ARCchart | Blueprint : WiMAX hype becomes hysteria
Arcchart's view on why WiMAX hype has reached hysteria. Intel claiming broadband wasn't fast enough and WiMAX offering 100Mb/s was the answer.
Unfortunately what Intel don't say is that to achieve 100Mb/s you need about 30MHz of spectrum, which is difficult to get hold of. Most operators (say operating in 3.4 or 3.5GHz or in the UK even 5.8GHz) have maybe 10MHz - which supports about 30Mb/s payload.
30Mb/s isn't bad at all, but that's the bandwidth available from the basestation and it's shared between all the end users. Someone could offer it all to one customer, but then it's unlikely the economics wouldn't stack up. Offering 1Mb/s at 20:1 contention (equiv to BT's business ADSL service) that would support 600 users, at 5Mb/s it goes down to 120 and at 10Mb/s only 60 customers. Basestation equipment runs at £20K+ so the more customers you can support, the better.
Consider the wholesale price of a LAN Extension Service (LES) in Central London, about £6K install, and £1.2K pa. OK that's a point to point service with no Internet bandwidth, but it shows how wired connectivity pricing is dropping (and it can be upgraded to 100Mb/s or even Gb/s as it's fibre).
But that's not the end of the story, even taking DSL technology the ITU have just ratified VDSL2 which now supports 100Mb/s, it doesn't support long distances but there's already chipsets available. ADSL2+ is storming ahead and that offers 20Mb/s (short distances) but does better over long distances than VDSL(2), so most providers are opting for it.
Yes there may be a market for WiMAX to reach the areas DSL doesn't, but it's diminishing and the economics are not proven.
Arcchart's view on why WiMAX hype has reached hysteria. Intel claiming broadband wasn't fast enough and WiMAX offering 100Mb/s was the answer.
Unfortunately what Intel don't say is that to achieve 100Mb/s you need about 30MHz of spectrum, which is difficult to get hold of. Most operators (say operating in 3.4 or 3.5GHz or in the UK even 5.8GHz) have maybe 10MHz - which supports about 30Mb/s payload.
30Mb/s isn't bad at all, but that's the bandwidth available from the basestation and it's shared between all the end users. Someone could offer it all to one customer, but then it's unlikely the economics wouldn't stack up. Offering 1Mb/s at 20:1 contention (equiv to BT's business ADSL service) that would support 600 users, at 5Mb/s it goes down to 120 and at 10Mb/s only 60 customers. Basestation equipment runs at £20K+ so the more customers you can support, the better.
Consider the wholesale price of a LAN Extension Service (LES) in Central London, about £6K install, and £1.2K pa. OK that's a point to point service with no Internet bandwidth, but it shows how wired connectivity pricing is dropping (and it can be upgraded to 100Mb/s or even Gb/s as it's fibre).
But that's not the end of the story, even taking DSL technology the ITU have just ratified VDSL2 which now supports 100Mb/s, it doesn't support long distances but there's already chipsets available. ADSL2+ is storming ahead and that offers 20Mb/s (short distances) but does better over long distances than VDSL(2), so most providers are opting for it.
Yes there may be a market for WiMAX to reach the areas DSL doesn't, but it's diminishing and the economics are not proven.
2005/06/16
metranet
metranet
Interesting service, offering a WiMAX network in the Brighton and Hove area. Not much technical flesh on the site, but seems they're offering 2Mb/s, 5M/bs and 10Mb/s symmetrical broadband access over wireless (contended at 10:1).
They don't say what equipment they're using nor what spectrum. Do Ofcom know about them?
Also if they were founded by the council, they may fall foul of state aid regulation?
Does look like an interesting system though.
Interesting service, offering a WiMAX network in the Brighton and Hove area. Not much technical flesh on the site, but seems they're offering 2Mb/s, 5M/bs and 10Mb/s symmetrical broadband access over wireless (contended at 10:1).
They don't say what equipment they're using nor what spectrum. Do Ofcom know about them?
Also if they were founded by the council, they may fall foul of state aid regulation?
Does look like an interesting system though.
2005/06/14
BT finally ready to launch Bluephone
BT finally ready to launch Bluephone
BT have at last got their act together and will be lauching their Bluephone technology. This is where a dual-mode handset use GSM most of the time, and roam on to a Bluetooth basestation in the home (or office). BT have actually launched this in partnership with Vodafone.
The Bluetooth basestation is connected to the customers' broadband connection and the voice call will be backhauled via IP.
Unfortunately calls to the handset will always go via GSM at normal Vodafone rates, but BT will offer landline rates for the outgoing calls via the Bluetooth basestation.
The technology is actually part of the UMA (Unlicensed Mobile Access) and anyone can download the specifications from the UMA Technology site. Maybe someone can provide an alternative basestation that is compatible with Bluephone.
BT have at last got their act together and will be lauching their Bluephone technology. This is where a dual-mode handset use GSM most of the time, and roam on to a Bluetooth basestation in the home (or office). BT have actually launched this in partnership with Vodafone.
The Bluetooth basestation is connected to the customers' broadband connection and the voice call will be backhauled via IP.
Unfortunately calls to the handset will always go via GSM at normal Vodafone rates, but BT will offer landline rates for the outgoing calls via the Bluetooth basestation.
The technology is actually part of the UMA (Unlicensed Mobile Access) and anyone can download the specifications from the UMA Technology site. Maybe someone can provide an alternative basestation that is compatible with Bluephone.
Nokia: Skype must change or die - silicon.com
Nokia: Skype must change or die - silicon.com
Well there's a suprise, Skype has to find a business model or it wont survive? Isn't thast true for any business? Skype have a huge user base and their model could be to just sell out to another company?
Nokia are pushing standards based VoIP (SIP) over mobile data. That's all very well, but at the moment (in the UK at least) data charges are rediculously high on most networks, 3 don't even offer a data service to the Internet (walled garden).
Even if data charges drop dramatically, they'll have to drop a long way to get close to bundled telephony charges, if the operators don't block access to VoIP gateways.
Well there's a suprise, Skype has to find a business model or it wont survive? Isn't thast true for any business? Skype have a huge user base and their model could be to just sell out to another company?
Nokia are pushing standards based VoIP (SIP) over mobile data. That's all very well, but at the moment (in the UK at least) data charges are rediculously high on most networks, 3 don't even offer a data service to the Internet (walled garden).
Even if data charges drop dramatically, they'll have to drop a long way to get close to bundled telephony charges, if the operators don't block access to VoIP gateways.
Rivals \'could beat BT\' in the next-generation game - ZDNet UK News
Rivals \'could beat BT\' in the next-generation game - ZDNet UK News
The article is related to the ADSLguide one about IP infrastructure and rolling-out all IP networks.
This article goes on about Softswitching and implying it's the best thing since sliced bread. Well it may be.
In a regular telephony switch (like a System X) there's a bunch of intelligence that knows how to handle phone call set-up, call routing etc. and some line cards that actually connect to things and move calls around. It can run out of capacity once the CPU runs out of steam (i.e. it cant handle call processing anymore) or it physically cant handle any more calls through its interfaces.
A softswitch modularises things, you run the call intelligence on some CPU (which is "normal" hardware i.e. Sun servers or equiv) and you splash media gateways around the network. The media gateways interface with legacy PSTN or handle trunking etc.
Why? Because it costs much less to build IP packet networks, than legacy TDM networks (about 40%). Softswitches are also scalable, run out of CPU and you just add some more. Need more PSTN interfaces, add some more media gateways.
However it's not quite as easy as it seems. Softswitches do have lots of functionality, but they are bits of telecoms kit. Say someone wants to launch a VoIP service, just having a Softswitch doesn't give them anything but a platform to build something on. It then gets complicated as web interfaces, provisioning, billing and everything else that telcos take months to actually get working have to be built (if they have the resources to do it in the first place). They may well install a Softswitch just for the cost savings without launching any sexy services on it at all.
The article is related to the ADSLguide one about IP infrastructure and rolling-out all IP networks.
This article goes on about Softswitching and implying it's the best thing since sliced bread. Well it may be.
In a regular telephony switch (like a System X) there's a bunch of intelligence that knows how to handle phone call set-up, call routing etc. and some line cards that actually connect to things and move calls around. It can run out of capacity once the CPU runs out of steam (i.e. it cant handle call processing anymore) or it physically cant handle any more calls through its interfaces.
A softswitch modularises things, you run the call intelligence on some CPU (which is "normal" hardware i.e. Sun servers or equiv) and you splash media gateways around the network. The media gateways interface with legacy PSTN or handle trunking etc.
Why? Because it costs much less to build IP packet networks, than legacy TDM networks (about 40%). Softswitches are also scalable, run out of CPU and you just add some more. Need more PSTN interfaces, add some more media gateways.
However it's not quite as easy as it seems. Softswitches do have lots of functionality, but they are bits of telecoms kit. Say someone wants to launch a VoIP service, just having a Softswitch doesn't give them anything but a platform to build something on. It then gets complicated as web interfaces, provisioning, billing and everything else that telcos take months to actually get working have to be built (if they have the resources to do it in the first place). They may well install a Softswitch just for the cost savings without launching any sexy services on it at all.
ADSLguide: News Archive
ADSLguide: News Archive
Marconi are claiming a rival telco may beat BT at their own game and have an IP only network 1st.
This may well be true, THUS already has a complete IP core, and surely others do too. Unfortunately it's a meaningless comment. BT has 5,600 digital local exchanges in the UK and when they roll-out their 21CN then all of them (or at least anyone that is a real DLE) will be IP enabled. None of the LLU entrants is going into anywhere near this number, most for 3-400, Wanadoo maybe 1000. That's still under a 5th of BT's roll-out.
So until someone has an IP core and unbundles ALL the DLE's, BT still don't have any real competition.
Marconi are claiming a rival telco may beat BT at their own game and have an IP only network 1st.
This may well be true, THUS already has a complete IP core, and surely others do too. Unfortunately it's a meaningless comment. BT has 5,600 digital local exchanges in the UK and when they roll-out their 21CN then all of them (or at least anyone that is a real DLE) will be IP enabled. None of the LLU entrants is going into anywhere near this number, most for 3-400, Wanadoo maybe 1000. That's still under a 5th of BT's roll-out.
So until someone has an IP core and unbundles ALL the DLE's, BT still don't have any real competition.
2005/06/10
ISPs and telcos have to retain data
Net4Nowt :: News Story
The law will mean ISPs will have to retain logs of who sent an Email where at what time (though the content of the Email doesn't need to be stored) and telcos will have to log call information. The logs will have to be retained for 12 to 36 months.
There is already criticism saying that criminals will just use public phones, pay as you go mobile and Email accounts outside Europe, however it's now law.
This will put a big burden on ISPs who will have to find ways to log the data (which increases loading on mail systems) and of course where to store it all. Since 70%+ of mail is SPAM, that could lead to a very watefull log of SPAM messages.
Telcos are in a less difficult position as they already log call data for billing, and generally billing data has to be retained for seven years anyway.
The law will mean ISPs will have to retain logs of who sent an Email where at what time (though the content of the Email doesn't need to be stored) and telcos will have to log call information. The logs will have to be retained for 12 to 36 months.
There is already criticism saying that criminals will just use public phones, pay as you go mobile and Email accounts outside Europe, however it's now law.
This will put a big burden on ISPs who will have to find ways to log the data (which increases loading on mail systems) and of course where to store it all. Since 70%+ of mail is SPAM, that could lead to a very watefull log of SPAM messages.
Telcos are in a less difficult position as they already log call data for billing, and generally billing data has to be retained for seven years anyway.
2005/06/08
BBC NEWS | Technology | Apple Intel move 'could confuse'
BBC NEWS | Technology | Apple Intel move 'could confuse'
Apple's move to Intel is a bold move. IBM/Motorola have had some supply problems with the PowerPC's used in current Macs and IBM has so far been unable to produce a G5 CPU that's cool enough to run in a laptop configuration.
Intel have had their Pentium-M for a while and it's a proven laptop worthy chip. Intel are still the biggest chip manufacturer on the planet, though they are suffering form increased competition.
It's always been rumoured that MacOS X has been available on Intel hardware inside Apple for sometime, and Steve Jobs told the world it was true at the developers conference.
This is a drastic move for Apple, especially with the rest of the world jumping on the PowerPC bandwagon (Xbox360, PSP3 using Cell and Nintendo Evolution), maybe Apple felt that as a "small" player compared to the console giants - Apple developments would be pushed to the side.
With Intel now supporting the x64 architechture and dual-cores, it could be a good move for Apple. Though it will be very interesting to see if Apple go for standard Wintel hardware or will have some Apple proprietry technology so MacOS X will only run on their speicific hardware. It will also be interesting to see if Apple stick with OpenBoot (whihc is actually a decent powerfull mini-OS all to itself - running Forth in the ROM) or move to the generalised PC BIOS. That could be the MacOS X lock-down (though as an open spec, other manufacturers could produce OpenBoot ROMs for their designs).
Apple's move to Intel is a bold move. IBM/Motorola have had some supply problems with the PowerPC's used in current Macs and IBM has so far been unable to produce a G5 CPU that's cool enough to run in a laptop configuration.
Intel have had their Pentium-M for a while and it's a proven laptop worthy chip. Intel are still the biggest chip manufacturer on the planet, though they are suffering form increased competition.
It's always been rumoured that MacOS X has been available on Intel hardware inside Apple for sometime, and Steve Jobs told the world it was true at the developers conference.
This is a drastic move for Apple, especially with the rest of the world jumping on the PowerPC bandwagon (Xbox360, PSP3 using Cell and Nintendo Evolution), maybe Apple felt that as a "small" player compared to the console giants - Apple developments would be pushed to the side.
With Intel now supporting the x64 architechture and dual-cores, it could be a good move for Apple. Though it will be very interesting to see if Apple go for standard Wintel hardware or will have some Apple proprietry technology so MacOS X will only run on their speicific hardware. It will also be interesting to see if Apple stick with OpenBoot (whihc is actually a decent powerfull mini-OS all to itself - running Forth in the ROM) or move to the generalised PC BIOS. That could be the MacOS X lock-down (though as an open spec, other manufacturers could produce OpenBoot ROMs for their designs).
2005/06/07
UK developer quits DVD decrypting - ZDNet UK News
UK developer quits DVD decrypting - ZDNet UK News
There are other systems out there that can do this, but DVD Drecryptor wrapped it all together in a nice Windows program. Mac the Ripper is a similar tool for MacOS X users.
It looks like a big movie company (Sony?) served a writ on the author and he fell foul of the Copyright and Related Rights Regulations 2003 (the UK's implementation of the European Copyright Directive), which amongst others things disallows breaking of copyright protection schemes.
This happened previously with the DeCSS case in Sweden, but a judge ruled there that the program itself wasn't illegal. Unfortunately it does look the author has given up without a fight.
There are other systems out there that can do this, but DVD Drecryptor wrapped it all together in a nice Windows program. Mac the Ripper is a similar tool for MacOS X users.
It looks like a big movie company (Sony?) served a writ on the author and he fell foul of the Copyright and Related Rights Regulations 2003 (the UK's implementation of the European Copyright Directive), which amongst others things disallows breaking of copyright protection schemes.
This happened previously with the DeCSS case in Sweden, but a judge ruled there that the program itself wasn't illegal. Unfortunately it does look the author has given up without a fight.
2005/06/02
Google Code: Summer of Code
Google Code: Summer of Code
If there are any budding programmers out there, now's your chance to earn some money.
Google are making awards for students to earn some money over the summer by contributing to Open Source efforts. You can either contribute your own ideas/code or help out with ideas submitted by various open source organisations. There's still time for more organisations to get involved too.
If there are any budding programmers out there, now's your chance to earn some money.
Google are making awards for students to earn some money over the summer by contributing to Open Source efforts. You can either contribute your own ideas/code or help out with ideas submitted by various open source organisations. There's still time for more organisations to get involved too.
Internet News Article | Reuters.co.uk
Internet News Article | Reuters.co.uk
Bulldog has announced speed upgrades from 4 to 8Mb/s for some of its offerings. This follows UKOnline (the consumer arm of Easynet) launching a service last November.
Bulldogs pricing starts at £15.50 per month rising to £41.50 pm including unlimted Internet and local and national (UK) calls.
Broadband is starting to reach commodity pricing, though it hasn't yet dropped as far as in France where ADSL2+ has been rolled-out allowing Internet speeds of 18Mb/s and unlimited national calls for less than 30 Euros per month.
Bulldog has announced speed upgrades from 4 to 8Mb/s for some of its offerings. This follows UKOnline (the consumer arm of Easynet) launching a service last November.
Bulldogs pricing starts at £15.50 per month rising to £41.50 pm including unlimted Internet and local and national (UK) calls.
Broadband is starting to reach commodity pricing, though it hasn't yet dropped as far as in France where ADSL2+ has been rolled-out allowing Internet speeds of 18Mb/s and unlimited national calls for less than 30 Euros per month.
UMA Technology : Extending Mobile Services to unlicensed Spectrum
UMA Technology : Extending Mobile Services to unlicensed Spectrum
UMA (Unlicensed Mobile Access) allows mobile terminals (i.e. phones) to roam on to local networks using technology like Bluetooth or WiFi. In terms of technology it extends the mobile roaming capabilies to cover the Internet.
The site has a full set of specifications available to download (in PDF), though it's not easy reading.
This is what BT are trying to do with "Bluephone", though their trials are meant tohave been too successful to date.
If the technology can be made to work then it should allow the cost of calls to reduce when on a local network, since the mobile operator no longer has to transport the call over the cellular airwaves as the call traffic will be sent over the Internet (which is someone else's infrastructure).
Calling it "UMA" is a bit misleading in the UK (and in fact most of Europe) as there is no unlicensed spectrum. Ofcom still require licenses (as per the Wireless Telegraphy Act) to use any part of the radio spectrum, just that some bands (like 2.4GHz) are license exempt. License exempt spectrum means that if you stick to the license published by Ofcom, you don't need a specific one.
UMA (Unlicensed Mobile Access) allows mobile terminals (i.e. phones) to roam on to local networks using technology like Bluetooth or WiFi. In terms of technology it extends the mobile roaming capabilies to cover the Internet.
The site has a full set of specifications available to download (in PDF), though it's not easy reading.
This is what BT are trying to do with "Bluephone", though their trials are meant tohave been too successful to date.
If the technology can be made to work then it should allow the cost of calls to reduce when on a local network, since the mobile operator no longer has to transport the call over the cellular airwaves as the call traffic will be sent over the Internet (which is someone else's infrastructure).
Calling it "UMA" is a bit misleading in the UK (and in fact most of Europe) as there is no unlicensed spectrum. Ofcom still require licenses (as per the Wireless Telegraphy Act) to use any part of the radio spectrum, just that some bands (like 2.4GHz) are license exempt. License exempt spectrum means that if you stick to the license published by Ofcom, you don't need a specific one.
2005/05/31
ADSLguide: News Archive
ADSLguide: News Archive
Although VDSL (and now VDSL2) offer substantially higher speeds than ADSL variants (including ADSL2+) it also suffers major distance limitations. VDSL is also not approved for use in the UK.
ADSL allows for distances of several miles whereas VDSL is much better suited to several hundred metres (or at least under 1Km) which gives it very limited coverage from BT local exchanges - even in urban environments.
VDSL has achieved good results for in-building use (i.e. fibre to the building, and then local VDSL connectivity to tennants) and even street cabinet DSLAMs. Unfortunately the only people with fibre to street cabinets are cable providers, which and they tend to use cable modem technology.
Unless BT decide to rewire the uK with fibre to each street cab (which is a very costly exercise), and there's a major change to existing Access Network Frequency Plans (ANFP), VDSL(2) is a white elephant in the UK.
Although VDSL (and now VDSL2) offer substantially higher speeds than ADSL variants (including ADSL2+) it also suffers major distance limitations. VDSL is also not approved for use in the UK.
ADSL allows for distances of several miles whereas VDSL is much better suited to several hundred metres (or at least under 1Km) which gives it very limited coverage from BT local exchanges - even in urban environments.
VDSL has achieved good results for in-building use (i.e. fibre to the building, and then local VDSL connectivity to tennants) and even street cabinet DSLAMs. Unfortunately the only people with fibre to street cabinets are cable providers, which and they tend to use cable modem technology.
Unless BT decide to rewire the uK with fibre to each street cab (which is a very costly exercise), and there's a major change to existing Access Network Frequency Plans (ANFP), VDSL(2) is a white elephant in the UK.
2005/05/24
Ofcom rings the changes with new London code - vnunet.com
Ofcom rings the changes with new London code - vnunet.com
London's getting a new phone number, the old inner London (020 7) and outer London (020 8) snobbery will have to go - there's a new kid in town and that's "3" (or really 020 3). Hopefully no relation to the 3G network of the same name.
Ofcom is releasing the number after June 1st, both for businesses and home users.
Though no existing users have to change, it's likely some will, and there'll be confusion as to what 020 3 means. So much so that Ofcom are featuring 4,000 adverts on the London Underground and leafleting public buildings.
020 3 will also different in that they will not reflect geographic location. This will allow another 10 million London numbers.
London's getting a new phone number, the old inner London (020 7) and outer London (020 8) snobbery will have to go - there's a new kid in town and that's "3" (or really 020 3). Hopefully no relation to the 3G network of the same name.
Ofcom is releasing the number after June 1st, both for businesses and home users.
Though no existing users have to change, it's likely some will, and there'll be confusion as to what 020 3 means. So much so that Ofcom are featuring 4,000 adverts on the London Underground and leafleting public buildings.
020 3 will also different in that they will not reflect geographic location. This will allow another 10 million London numbers.
ElectricNews.net:News:Tech giants fight wireless patent
ElectricNews.net:News:Tech giants fight wireless patent
This could be bad news for Wireless networks if it goes through. It seems that Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation filed some patents for Wireless LAN technolody sometime after 1989 when ther research was carried out, and was awarded the patent in 1996.
Various companies, including Dell, HP, Apple, Microsoft, Netgear and Intel, have initiated legal action to have the patent overturned or they could be liable for patent infringment and have to pay fees to CSIRO.
Is this another Xerox looking for license fees (from Apple for their WIMP interface) long after the horse has bolted.
This could be bad news for Wireless networks if it goes through. It seems that Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation filed some patents for Wireless LAN technolody sometime after 1989 when ther research was carried out, and was awarded the patent in 1996.
Various companies, including Dell, HP, Apple, Microsoft, Netgear and Intel, have initiated legal action to have the patent overturned or they could be liable for patent infringment and have to pay fees to CSIRO.
Is this another Xerox looking for license fees (from Apple for their WIMP interface) long after the horse has bolted.
Microsoft plugs in major VoIP push - vnunet.com
Microsoft plugs in major VoIP push - vnunet.com
Microsoft has been quietly adopting VoIP (and specifically SIP) for several years. Windows XP has been VoIP enabled for some time and Windows Messenger included a VoIP stack since version 4.7 or thereabouts.
Microsoft are going to fire their big guns with Live Communications Server 2005 and have announed parterships with companies in the IP PBX space like Siemens and Alcatel.
Though Instant Messaging (IM) and real-time collaboration tools can be of great benefit, business users tend to like using real phones (rather than PC based softphones) to make actual calls.
Though Microsoft will make a big song and dance, most people will still want a real phone on their desk.
Microsoft has been quietly adopting VoIP (and specifically SIP) for several years. Windows XP has been VoIP enabled for some time and Windows Messenger included a VoIP stack since version 4.7 or thereabouts.
Microsoft are going to fire their big guns with Live Communications Server 2005 and have announed parterships with companies in the IP PBX space like Siemens and Alcatel.
Though Instant Messaging (IM) and real-time collaboration tools can be of great benefit, business users tend to like using real phones (rather than PC based softphones) to make actual calls.
Though Microsoft will make a big song and dance, most people will still want a real phone on their desk.
BitTorrent drops its trackers - ZDNet UK News
BitTorrent drops its trackers - ZDNet UK News
Trackers have been the flaw of BitTorrent, whereby a website has to maintain a copy of the tracker which maintains state about where a torrent is. Recently the record and motion picture associations have just gone for major sites (like SuprNova) that host the trackers.
Now BitTorrent is trackerless and doesn't need to store trackers in single sites that can be closed down.
Already there are BitTorrent clients available supporting the new protocol (search for Azuerus as an example of a multi-platform Java version).
Trackers have been the flaw of BitTorrent, whereby a website has to maintain a copy of the tracker which maintains state about where a torrent is. Recently the record and motion picture associations have just gone for major sites (like SuprNova) that host the trackers.
Now BitTorrent is trackerless and doesn't need to store trackers in single sites that can be closed down.
Already there are BitTorrent clients available supporting the new protocol (search for Azuerus as an example of a multi-platform Java version).
2005/05/19
BBC trials broadband broadcasting - silicon.com
BBC trials broadband broadcasting - silicon.com
Things are moving in the right direction. The Beeb are putting up various TV programmes so they can be downloaded and viewed up to 7 days after they've aired on TV. They've already done this successfully with radio programmes.
They say they're going to use a P2P system, so content is exchanged between users (BitTorrent?) but it will be DRM'ed such that only BBC license fee payers can use it (in the UK you need a license to watch any kind of broadcast TV). The license fees generate about £2.5bn annually for them.
If it all works, it might make PVR's a thing of the past ...
Things are moving in the right direction. The Beeb are putting up various TV programmes so they can be downloaded and viewed up to 7 days after they've aired on TV. They've already done this successfully with radio programmes.
They say they're going to use a P2P system, so content is exchanged between users (BitTorrent?) but it will be DRM'ed such that only BBC license fee payers can use it (in the UK you need a license to watch any kind of broadcast TV). The license fees generate about £2.5bn annually for them.
If it all works, it might make PVR's a thing of the past ...
2005/05/18
Skype Supernodes
Imagine a normal broadband user, they've installed Skype on their PC and are happily chatting away. It's likely they're behind a NATted connection. They're probably talking to another user behind a NATted connection. In the IP world this makes life particularly difficult, so how do Skype get around it?
The answer is to use a man-in-the-middle who isn't NATted (I think what Skype call a Supernode).
So if 1st NATted user (a) calls 2nd NATted user (b) all their traffic goes through non-NATted user (c) who has twice the traffic going through their connection. Skype will actually try to put lots of connections through (c).
So if you're on a high bandwidth connection not using NAT and running Skype - you'll probably find it's not just your Skype calls you're handling. The traffic is encrypted, so the you cant actually intercept the voice traffic, but your bandwidth might diminish radipdly.
The answer is to use a man-in-the-middle who isn't NATted (I think what Skype call a Supernode).
So if 1st NATted user (a) calls 2nd NATted user (b) all their traffic goes through non-NATted user (c) who has twice the traffic going through their connection. Skype will actually try to put lots of connections through (c).
So if you're on a high bandwidth connection not using NAT and running Skype - you'll probably find it's not just your Skype calls you're handling. The traffic is encrypted, so the you cant actually intercept the voice traffic, but your bandwidth might diminish radipdly.
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