The WAVE Report on Digital Media
3D --- Media Creation --- Shared Space
---Published by 4th Wave, Inc.---
Issue #0344------------------01/02/04

 

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0344.1 Hot Topics

0344.3 Wireless

0344.4 Software

0344.5 Broadband

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0344.1 Hot Topics

*** New Product Introductions at Macworld Conference & Expo: Next Week in San Francisco
(December 30)

The WAVE Report will not be at the 20th Macworld Conference & Expo in San Francisco which runs from Monday through Friday, January 5-9, 2004 at San Francisco's Moscone Center. We will be at CES. There are some announcements that might interest our Mac user readers.

Camdynamics GmbH will launch lens& light optimizer, an image editing software that allows localized correction of lens imperfections.

Chaparral Network Storage will introduce the RIO eXp Storage Solution, the addition to its RAID storage family.

CRYPTOCard Corporation will introduce CRYPTO-Server X, an authentication solution designed specifically for Mac OS X.

EJ Enterprises Worldwide will announce the release of ScratchTV Remix, an expanded version of their video playback software.

Harman Multimedia will debut JBL Creature II, the next version of the 'plug and play' three-piece speaker system compatible with all Macs, PCs and MP3 players.

Intelli Innovations, Inc. will showcase IntelliScanner Collector, which uses barcode technology to automatically catalog books, CDs and DVDs on Mac OS X.

Red Rock Software will introduce two new versions of DeltaGraph, its data analysis and charting software.

http://www.macworldexpo.com/


*** Mailbox Filter 4.0 Provides Smart Spam Control for Outlook, Eudora, Netscape, AOL, Hotmail, MSN and Yahoo Users
(December 29)

Triumvirate Technologies, announced the release of Mailbox Filter v.4.0, compatible with all standard (POP3) email programs including Outlook, Outlook Express, Netscape, Eudora and Incredimail, along with AOL, Hotmail, MSN and Yahoo web mail accounts.

Mailbox Filter 4.0 uses Smart Filter Technology which observes and remembers user choices -- the email users want to read.

Additional product features include:

Smart Link Wizard -- Makes Mailbox Filter self-configuring and includes automatic email address book import.

SmartView -- Disables all images and scripts for preview of HTML messages and includes optional Text Only preview.

Smart ID -- Spam-proofs email by certifying an email sender is 100% verified as someone the user wants to get mail from.

Smart MailRouter -- Lets users specify how to route mail by email address, keywords, domains, sub-domains, parts of an address or domain or parts of keywords.

Mailbox Filter 4.0 supports multiple email accounts. Mailbox Filter 4.0 Standard Version for two email accounts sells for $37.00 and for 12 email accounts sells for $67.00. Mailbox Filter PLUS Unlimited Accounts sells for $97.00.

http://www.mailboxfilter.com

*** Hitachi Adds movian by Certicom to Its G1000 Pocket PC Multimedia Communicator
(December 31)

Hitachi, Ltd. and Certicom Corp. announced an agreement in which movian by Certicom will be available on the Hitachi G1000 Multimedia Pocket PC CDMA Phone. This collaboration enables mobile workers to deploy wireless access to enterprise applications on the Hitachi G1000 smart phone.

The Hitachi G1000, available to Sprint customers, comes loaded with Windows Mobile software for Pocket PCs, 32 MB of memory, 400 MHz Intel XScale Processor, 65K Thin Film Transistor color display, built-in QWERTY keypad and scroll dial.

movianVPN is a software client that establishes a tunnel from the device to the existing corporate VPN gateway, encrypting data end-to-end. It interoperates with more than 13 VPN gateways, including those from Cisco, Netscreen and Nortel.

http://www.certicom.com/
http://www.hitachi.com/

0344.2 Story of the Issue

*** PT Wireless & Networks Comm China 2003
By John Latta

November 12-15
Beijing, China

Here at the China International Exhibition Center there were 7 halls filled with telecommunications equipment. Virtually every major supplier was present. The action in many markets has shifted to Asia and the epicenter is China. Those that ignore China, especially as it relates to telecommunications, are missing the next major market window. Now some highlights.

Cisco/Linksys

In a section of the Cisco booth was a mockup of a living room with a television. In the light stand to the left of the couch was a glass case with Linksys products. In the information section of the booth Cisco was passing out literature on Linksys products in Chinese. In October retail sales began of Linksys products in China.

China Mobil

Tucked away in a corner of the booth was a demonstration of USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data). As part of this demonstration was a light, A/C, window and fish tank. We were shown how, from a cell phone, one could determine the status of these devices and control them. Turing the light on and off was shown. The cost for the control is one yuan.

Samsung

Samsung continues to be a leader in home gateways. Here is some information we picked up at the booth.

Expect an announcement from KT and Samsung in January on the latest Integrated Gateway. Samsung has been working for 2 years on these products with KT. The specification for the Integrated Gateway is a joint effort between KT and Samsung. In spite of the fact that Samsung is a larger company than KT, KT drives the requirements and what gets delivered. This is due to the reality that they own the customer.

Samsung has built a product similar to the Fujitsu Siemens ACTIVY Media Center, FiTV but it is not clear at these price points there will be much of a market. However, Samsung’s product does not have the tight integration with DT that FiTV does.

FiTV, as covered in the Wave Report 0337, Story of the Issue, Broadband World Forum 2003, is a multiple purpose CE device based on a media PC using an embedded version of Windows XP, having a 3GHz Intel processor and hard disk has the ability to receive all TV formats including Analog, Digital and Pay-TV, has Interface to the Broadband network just as any PC would, PVR, DVD Recorder, Home networking gateway, Internet browsing on the television, E-mail on the television, DRM and is accessible from the Internet for programming.

China Telecom

Off in the corner of the China Telecom booth was an AP and some PCs. When asked we found that China Telecom has launched in Guangdong Province a wireless home network service. This includes an ADSL modem and wireless AP. The cost is 200RMB per month and the consumer is not charged for the CPE. The rate is 2Mb/s down, 512Kb up.

CNC

CNC has a WLAN service for businesses. They have not launched it for the home. Also in the booth was a demonstration of VoD. Currently this is in trial in Beijing and it is free. After the first of the year subscribers will pay but the amount has not been decided.

China Putin

This is a Chinese supplier of broadband products. They have DSLAMS, routers and WLAN equipment. All the ADSL modem sales are to the carriers. In spite of having WLAN AP and other products in the booth they commented it was too early for the home market. The emergence of this market will come as the number of PCs in the home increases beyond 1.

Huawei Technologies

This is the IP equipment powerhouse in China. In the Huawei booth were access points and equipment which could be used in a home network. Huawei stated that they felt the WLAN market; even in small businesses was too early. Most of the equipment they are selling is to create hot spots run as a part of a business.

We went to a number of non-Chinese companies to explore if there is a sustainable market in China. Lucent felt the market is so large that there is and continues to be opportunities for non-Chinese companies. Alcatel was much more reserved. They have the strongest position in the infrastructure for ADSL, being the largest supplier of DSLAMS. They claim 70% market share for DSLAMS in China, being the established company, both here and worldwide. But when it comes to the CPE all I got from them was a laugh. It is near impossible to compete in this market due to cost and the local advantage Chinese companies have. Currently the CPE for home networking is going to Huawei Technologies as the carriers buy for the initial deployments. Further, given that the CPE is provided gratis as a part of the service start-up, the prices must be low.

Wave Comments

Any entrant into technology based market in China must have a compelling technical and support advantage. Equally as important the prices must be aligned with what the Chinese are willing to pay. As Samsung said – we make no profits in China and India the price pressures are so great. As the China’s technical base continues to grow, the vicissitudes of the China market become even more complex and, at the same time, more difficult for outside companies to compete.

We are reminded of the eyes open eyes shut analogy. Eyes shut tell us that the huge China market is a vast opportunity only waiting to being harvested. Eyes open brings the reality that outside companies may have an early market advantage but the market forces in China will rapidly erode any such position.

0344.3 Wireless

*** Fujitsu introduces LifeBook N5000 Notebook
(December 29)

Fujitsu introduced its addition to LifeBook product line -- the LifeBook N5000 notebook that utilizes Hyper-Threading Technology enabling the processor to execute two threads (parts of a software program) in parallel.

N5000 Specifications

Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 Processor at 3.0 GHz or 2.8 GHz
Display: 16" SXGA+ TFT Crystal View display
Memory: DDR 333; 2 DIMM slots, 2 GB maximum
Hard Drive: Choice of 80 GB, 60 GB, or 40 GB ATA 100 hard drives
Optical Drive: DVD-RW or DVD/CD-RW
Floppy Disk Drive: Integrated
Communications: Ethernet, modem and optional wireless LAN (IEEE 802.11a+b/g)
PC Card Slots: Two Type I/II or one Type III
Media Slot: Memory Stick / Secure Digital (SD) slot
Ports: Four USB 2.0, IEEE 1394, S-video out, external monitor, modem (RJ-11), Ethernet (RJ-45), and headphone and microphone jacks
Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Home or Windows XP Professional Dimensions: 14" (w) x 11.85" (d) x 1.57/1.73" (h)
Weight: Approximately 10.34 lbs.

The N5000 notebook comes pre-installed with Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, Windows XP Professional or Windows 2000 Professional. Users can choose among the recommended configurations or customize their notebook using the Fujitsu Configure To Order (CTO) program.

Fujitsu notebooks can be purchased at us.fujitsu.com/computers with pricing for a recommended configuration with a DVD-RW drive starting at $2,049.

http://us.fujitsu.com/computers/
http://www.fujitsu.com/

0344.4 Software

*** EOptimize Delivers Smart Scheduling In Over 40 European Languages
(December 29)

EOptimize Advanced Systems Inc., announced its wholly owned subsidiary, eOptimize Inc., has introduced multi-language support for it’s About:Time for Exchange Server and About:Time for Small Business Server products.

The enhancements provide data entry and presentation support in over 40 European languages, including French, German, Italian, Spanish, and Swedish.

eOptimize develops software that offers mathematical optimization capabilities on the Microsoft .NET platform to schedule corporate activities. The .NET-connected About: Time smart scheduling suite introduces automated scheduling features to the Microsoft Exchange Server and Small Business Server environments.

http://www.eoptimize.com/

0344.5 Broadband

*** Motorola Broadband to Integrate Altera FPGAs in New High-Definition Satellite Receiver
(December 29)

Altera Corporation announced that Motorola, Inc. Broadband Communications Sector has selected Altera Cyclone FPGAs for use in the new Motorola Digital Satellite Receiver 500 family of high-definition (HD) satellite receivers.

The Motorola DSR500 is a next-generation consumer satellite receiver with integrated HD decoder, supporting home entertainment options, including HD-capable TVs and monitors, standard television sets, VCRs and home theater systems. The Altera Cyclone FPGA bridges decoder and processor circuits and manages bandwidth from the front-end satellite tuners and demodulators in the DSR500 family of products.

http://www.motorola.com/broadband
http://www.motorola.com/
http://www.altera.com/cyclone
http://www.altera.com/

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